NBA PLAYOFFS ROUND 2 PREDICTIONS

Well now that we're moving on to the next round, this is where the "good teams" will start to get tested (tell that to the Lakers, I know you were thinking it). This is the round where we get some substance, some actual meat and potatoes if you will. All the side salads (Chicago, Miami, Charlotte, and Milwaukee[?]) have been removed from the table and it is time for the main entrees to be brought out! The 2nd round offers some promising match-ups that should be fun to watch. I'll breakdown the semifinal match-ups and predict who i think will win each series. Enjoy!


I'll start out in the Eastern conference where I think the eventual NBA champion will come from.

1 Cleveland
4 Boston

This series should be the better of the 2 in the Eastern Conference. You have the NBA champion of 2 years ago vs the NBA champion from last....O wait, I forgot they had a major choke job last year that would have made Nick Anderson proud! Unlike Anderson, who after his choke job became a shell of his former self the remainder of his career, the Cavs didn't hide in some hole. GM Danny Ferry went out and reloaded with the biggest weapon (literally) the NBA has in Shaq. Shaq at 38 still has some gas in the tank and he looks to help King James finally be crowned as an NBA champion. The team in their way is a Boston Celtics team that is getting older by the second. The Celts looked great vs. the DWades, but I honestly can't see them beating this Cavs team 4 out of 7 games. I also don't see LBJ losing in the 2nd round for the next decade. Cavs in 6


2 Orlando
3/6 Atlanta/Milwaukee

The Orlando Magic swept their first round opponent, the Charlotte Bobcats. The sweep was rather impressive considering their self-proclaimed superstar Dwight Howard played roughly 106 minutes more than I did. And their high-priced off season pickup, Vince Carter, showed up normally a few hours after the games had started. He did make some clutch shots in the series, so I won't pile on him for now. He had better show up in the next rounds because Orlando will need him. The Magic's opponents for the next round is still TBD. Not like it matters though...the Hawks are abysmal on the road, going 5 up and 10 down in there last 15 road games. Mike Woodson is no Phil Jackson either; more like Tito (shout out Miami Heat).The Magic are 36-7 at home, including playoffs, and went 3-1 vs the Hawks in the regular season with the average margin of victory being 22 points. Oh yeah, the one loss was a tip-in dunk at the buzzer by Josh Smith. Bottom line is the Hawks can't win on the road and can't beat the Magic. End of discussion. As for the Deer, I'm impressed with how hard they've played without the big fella in the middle, Mr. Bogut, and the super rook Jennings is a baller, but the Bucks couldn't beat the Magic's second team. No matter who the opponent is it really doesn't matter. Magic in 5

Now lets' take it out West.

1 Los Angeles
4 Utah

I love how the Utah Jazz have responded after losing Mehmet Okur for the remainder of the season and Andrei Kirilenko for the 1st round. I told anyone that would listen to me that the Jazz are the scariest non-title contending team in the playoffs. They could definitely dash some dreams, but I just don't see them winning it all. LA took a couple of games off vs. the young upstart OKC Thunder, but they played hard when it mattered and I believe they will play this way the remainder of the playoffs. I also don't buy into this Kobe is getting old crap. He is banged up and needs some rest. He'll return to his MVP form vs. the Jazz. It will be a good series, but I see Utah taking one in LA, but the Lakers will take care of business. The "Black Mamba" will see to it. Lakers in 6

3 Phoenix
7 San Antonio

This series is kind of perplexing to me. I'm a Spurs fan so I can't really be that unbiased. Phoenix is a good team. They spread the ball around really well, and they can fill it up from 3. Amare is playing out of his mind lately, and they have home court where they are 34-10 counting the playoffs. With all that said I just can't buy into them beating MY Spurs, and here is why: Spurs play defense, Suns don't. Spurs have championship pedigree, Suns don't. Spurs have coach Pop, Suns don't. Spurs win, Suns don't. Spurs in 6