LAKERS IN SIX!

Seeing as the playoffs are about to start, I thought I'd throw down my NBA predictions for posterity.

Before I get into it, I'd like to put my support behind Steve Nash for the MVP. As I said in one of my first posts on this thing, Kobe just didn't lift the team up enough to deserve it under my definition of that award. If you have a "most outstanding player", then by far, it's him. But for an MVP, it's gotta go to Nash. Who would have imagined the Suns as the #2 seed after Amare went down? Not me for damn sure. The guy went above and beyond to keep his team in the elite and to me, he takes that award hands down.

Not that I'll complain if Kobe wins, mind you. But just saying.

Okay! Prediction time!

I'll preface this by saying that while I consider myself an NBA fan, I'm primarily a Lakers fan. As such, the teams throughout the league will be judged mostly on what I saw of them against the Lakers. And it'll also explain things like "LAKERS IN SIX!"

Here we go...


(8) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (1) Detroit Pistons
The Bucks? Milwaukee?! To quote Major League, "I didn't know they still had a team." So, it's the team that time forgot taking on the brutal juggernaut from Detroit. How the hell could you pick against the Pistons? They just seem so incredibly unstoppable at times.

PISTONS IN FOUR


(7) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat
What I'd like to see happen is for Dwayne Wade to take a billion shots in Game One ending in a Bulls win... then Shaq going insane, screaming at everyone in sight, demanding someone get him the fucking ball, and ending with something about not getting paid enough. Game Two would see Shaq slaughter his own teammates in an attempt to get more touches, culminating in him ripping out Alonzo Mourning's good kidney as the PA announcer calls out "FATALITY!" The rest of the series would see Shaq play one on five and still say, "I'm the most dominant player in the league. They can't stop me unless they foul me. And Kobe eats ass." Bulls in the most shocking sweep ever.

But that won't happen.

HEAT IN FIVE


(6) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) New Jersey Nets
Well... the Pacers seem to be on life support to me. They dumped Artest [and rightfully so] and really seemed in shambles for the bulk of the year. The Nets somehow managed to not have Vince Carter's leg explode at the All Star Break and are really making one hell of a run. And to think they wanted to trade Kidd... for three years.

NETS IN FIVE


(5) Washington Wizards vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers
Admittedly, I haven't seen much from the Wizards this season but I'd almost have to imagine they're the worst five seed in quite some time. King James shall not be denied in his postseason debut... not this early anyways. He'll will his team of scrubs to victory... but it may take some time.

CAVS IN SIX

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(8) Sacramento Kings vs. (1) San Antonio Spurs
The West is a very dangerous place this year. It's not completely out of the realm of possibility to envision the Kings beating the Spurs... four times in seven games though? Not too likely. The Kings will show some toughness and make it a series that'll take some wind out of the Spurs' sails.

SPURS IN SIX


(7) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Phoenix Suns
Lemme start this one by saying that I'm damn proud of this team this year. They've gone from a lottery team to a seven seed based on one of the greatest individual seasons in league history... plus the sudden decision from Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown to actually... you know... play! The Lakers can't run with the Suns and expect to win. Games that break the hundred point mark are likely Suns victories. They need to slow down the tempo... they need to clog the paint... they need to post Kwame and Odom as much as possible and grind the game out. It may not be fast-paced and exciting, but to win, it's what they need to do. Let Nash get his. Don't double. Don't crowd when he penetrates. Stay at home on his shooters. Let Nash get 40 but if you can make the other guys shoot with a hand in their face, you might have a chance.

And now that my amateur strategy session is over, I say that the Lakers have had a hell of a season... and I think they just might extend it.

Of course... I could be biased.

LAKERS IN SEVEN


(6) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (3) Denver Nuggets
Well, well, well... the Clips have made it to the dance. And you know what? They're not half-bad. On a "normal" team, Elton Brand would be a major MVP contender. Unfortunately, he's on the Clippers... and like it or not, the Clippers will always be seen as a wannabe until they win in the postseason.

Luckily for them... this is that year.

CLIPPERS IN SIX


(5) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks
Memphis put together a great season and major props to Jerry West for dragging his team out of mediocrity. The former Canadian team has gotten to the playoffs... which is more than the horrid Toronto franchise can manage. Unfortunately, the Mavs look just too strong for them. Plus? Somewhere along the way, the Mavs learned how to play some defense. Gasp. Shock. Horror.

MAVS IN FIVE

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Second Round!
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Pistons vs Cavs
In what should be a network showcase for Lebron and a cash cow for the league, the Pistons will continue to show why overwhelming defense and incredible team play will shut down an individual player [and has] every time. Sorry, King James. Not your year to take the throne.

PISTONS IN FIVE


Nets vs Heat
After attempting to become the Yankees of the NBA by stocking up on overpriced veterans and going with "star power" over designing a team, I'm sure Pat Riley never dreamed he'd be staring down a possible second round exit. But with the roll that the Nets have been on, that's exactly what he's doing. This should be a tremendous series to watch though and the league will be very happy to see Kidd and Carter vs Shaq and Wade. In the end, I expect the Heat to "find a way."

HEAT IN SEVEN


Spurs vs Mavs
The reason that the seeding system will change next year, the two best teams currently in the West meet in the second round in what should be a damn fun series. Unfortunately for Mavs fans [that's you, Ivar], it'll also be the series that shows why the Spurs a step above the Mavs still.

SPURS IN SIX


Lakers vs Clippers
In the series that the fans of LA will love and the rest of the nation will hate, cross-town rivals will square off in the postseason. It'll be a tremendously exciting series with both teams getting home-court advantage. In the end, Number 8 will wlll his team into the WCF by showing the postseason experience that the Clips are lacking.

LAKERS IN SIX


Conference Finals
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Pistons vs Heat
Since Day One of the season, everyone guessed this would be the ECF and they won't be wrong. Barring any severe injuries, this should be your showdown that the Heat have waited for since getting bounced last year. They went out and re-tooled, stocked up on firepower, hoping to outgun the Pistons when this came around again.

But I just don't see it. I look for this to be the Heat at their finest... bickering, fighting over the ball, and total rage because their number isn't getting called enough. Which means once again the Pistons will show why this is a team game.

PISTONS IN SIX


Spurs vs Lakers
Well, it's been a good run for my Purple and Gold... but if they make it this far, this is likely where the Cinderella story ends. The other teams, while maybe unlikely, I can see a win. If the Mavs got here over the Spurs, I could even imagine the Lakers beating them to make the finals. But I've just seen the Spurs kick us around like dogs for too long now. I don't see it happening. Not this year anyways. So while my heart will pick the Lakers to win the whole thing to bring another trophy home... my brain picks the Spurs.

SPURS IN SIX


FINALS
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Pistons vs Spurs
The big rematch that both teams have expected since last June... and I still don't know what to think. Last year, I rooted against the Pistons to drive a co-worker crazy but... they're just so damn good. I have a lot of respect for the Pistons since they offed the Lakers in the Finals in a season I thought that title was a lock. The Spurs are scary good as well though. It should be another tremendous series but in the end?

PISTONS IN SEVEN


And that's that. Enjoy your weekend and GO LAKERS!