Lakers vs. Utah: Ehh. As much as I like D Will vs Fish, Brown, and Farmar, I don’t see the Lake Show losing this one. I’ll be rooting for D Will and Millsap. It would have been epic to see the trio of Bynum, Odom, and Gasol fight Booz, Okur, and Millsap. Another fun matchup would be Artest vs. Kirilenko. Both my kind of guys. Neither is very good at anything, but competent at so many things. As it is, DWill will overmatch his counterparts, as will Kobe. Speaking of Kobe…Pretty soon we’ll have to field a team of my favorite players who over the hill and overhyped: Kidd (or Iverson if he comes back), Kobe, Artest, KG, Shaq. Special mention goes out to Sheed. Lakers in 5

Orlando vs. ATL: I can’t convince myself the Hawks can win. Maybe the Bucks series was an anomaly. I’m rooting for them. I hope Horford takes it to Howard. He’s overhyped. Freakishly athletic, no doubt. But he has easily the worst skill set out of any prominent big man I’ve seen in a long time. Can you imagine a “Skills Challenge” competition between Shaq, The Dream, Duncan, Howard, Vlade, etc. Howard can’t dribble, he’s uncoordinated, blah, blah. But he’s a freak. He’s rookie year Lebron on the post. With that in mind, I’m sure he’ll destroy Horford, too big and strong. I can’t wait to watch Vince Carter do jack shyt some more… Orlando in 6.

Spurs vs. Suns: hate the Spurs, let’s focus on the Suns. Duncan is having trouble staying with Amare. Lateral movement has begun to fade from the Big Fundamental. Too bad Amare isn’t as good as he thinks. I can’t imagine Nash will dominate Parker and Hill again. Those two should wear him out eventually. Richardson/Hill vs. Manu/Jefferson is intriguing. I like it. Somehow, I just see the Spurs winning, unfortunately, in 7. I hope I’m wrong.

Celtics vs. the team moving to LA/Seattle after Lebron leaves: Is there any question that Rondo is a top PG? Who is better? Maybe CP3 and DWill. I’d take him over current Nash any day. He’s a two way player who brings it. His decisions are stupid smart (get it?). I loved seeing the Cavs take a beating in Game 2. My Celtics have life! Oh, good job Charles Barkley, saying Jamison will own Garnett. Garnett, on the decline, is much better than Jamison, also on the decline. After the series I’ll assess that matchup and pretend Chuck is reading it to rub it in his face. Ughh, Pierce sucks. Why does he play for my 2nd favorite team? I hope he picks it up. If not, put in Tony Allen or something…Celtics in 6.

It's about time you show up to give your thoughts on the playoffs.

I love making over-the-hill-never-won-a-ring teams on NBA2k.

PG: Nash
SG: Iverson
SF: Grant Hill
PF: Dirk (not over the hill, but you get the point)
C: Camby

Kidd, Mcdyess, T-Mac and others are possibilities.

I still have faith in the Jazz.

I want the Spurs to beat the Suns for the simple fact that I don't think the Suns have a shot in hell of beating the Lakers, but you never know with the Spurs. Anybody but the Lakers in the Finals for the WC is fine with me.

Richard Jefferson is worthless.

I'd take KG on the decline over Antawn in his prime any day of the week, not taking age/contract/etc into consideration. Has he ever even been on a good team besides this year with the Cavs? And let's face it, he's not the reason the Cavs are good, he's just along for the ride.

I missed you Daddy.

Howl for the awesome post (as always), and the timeliness.

How about ATL losing by 40+

Wow. Fail of all Fails. Never saw that coming.

Seems like EVERYONE and their Grandma is picking the Spurs to win the series. In Bonk and I's playoff pick'em bet, I picked the Suns to win in 7. They have home court, and I have faith in them. Would anyone have predicted the Suns to make the WCF at the start of this season? I don't think anyone outside the state of AZ. Nice story, that team.

Rondo is a Top 3 NBA PG. I feel special because, along with you, we've said how good he was gonna be since his rookie year. I also put him on my All-NBA 2nd team. He's the best all-around player on the Celtics, imo. I love that dude. He's probably my 3rd favorite player in the NBA (of non-TWolves.)

KG is bringing it. So great to see after his pretty bad season. I was hoping he wouldn't just drop off and disappear.

Back when the Big Alco was still good and everybody loved him I said that Rondo would be an all star before Al ever was. That's got to count for something.

roundhouse wrote:
True dat. Half a Timberpup to you!

College Wolf wrote:
I have to say it just seems all the weirder thinking back on Rondo being supposedly on the trading block last off-season when he was fresh off taking his game to the next level. The guy was almost averaging a triple double through the first playoff series last year.

God I (%)*$@#_)@$(*_@!$ hate the Lakers. They are so whiny, stupid, entitled, douchey, and pretentious. I hate all their players. Well, I kinda like Artest and MBENGA. But they're the only guys. The rest of them can go fist themselves.

Any team please win games except them. ANY team.

This ATL meltdown should be a widow maker for the staff. It reminds me of when Glen Mason blew that 30 point lead in a bowl game and got the boot.

pants wrote:
I can't believe it took that long to fire him. He was Dwayne Casey-esque awful at coaching.

College Wolf wrote:
Aren't the Hornets among other teams looking at Casey for their head coaching jobs? Why don't they just hire Avery Johnson (who's from Louisiana) already and stop with this nonsense.

pants wrote:
Hopefully they blow the whole team up and trade us Josh Smith

roundhouse wrote:
And/Or Marvin Williams and/or Joe Johnson...

The Spurs/Suns series has me torn. On the one hand, I want the Suns to win because I've like them ever since Barkley was there and they always seem to get taken out by the Spurs. On the other hand, I think the Spurs have a much better shot at knocking off the Lakers, and I don't think I can stand another offseason of duchey Lakers (Kobe) fans gloating about another title.

I just think the Suns match up poorly with the Lakers. J-Rich has had a decent playoffs so far, but I don't think you can rely on him to show up every game. And Amar'e will get torched by Pao and Bynum and won't be able to find much room to operate when he's on offense. Nash is a stud, of course, but the Suns just don't have any depth, especially without Lopez.

The Spurs will give the Lakers much more of a problem because they can play a more physical game with Duncan and Blair, and we all know the Lakers tend to play soft. Hill and Parker will blow up Fisher. Manu has been bringing it lately, even with a feminine hygiene products on his nose. If Richard Jefferson ever shows up, that team is really tough to beat. And I also think the Spurs don't give a crap that the Lakers are the favorites. I like how they approach games mentally and I think Pop can out-coach Phil.

Man I hate the Lakers.

College Wolf wrote:
Marvin Williams... snore.