7:40am Eastern
Last night on “HOOPS” … Jack Armstrong, Paul Jones and I weighed-in on the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Here’s how we all see things shaking down:
BOSTON (1) vs ATLANTA (8)
Jack - Boston
Paul - Boston
Eric - Boston
DETROIT (2) vs PHILADELPHIA (7)
Jack - Detroit
Paul - Detroit
Eric - Detroit
ORLANDO (3) vs TORONTO (6)
Jack - Toronto
Paul - Toronto
Eric - Toronto
CLEVELAND (4) vs WASHINGTON (5)
Jack - Cleveland
Paul - Washington
Eric - Washington
L.A. LAKERS (1) vs DENVER (8)
Jack - L.A. Lakers
Paul - L.A. Lakers
Eric - L.A. Lakers
NEW ORLEANS (2) vs DALLAS (7)
Jack - Dallas
Paul - Dallas
Eric - Dallas
SAN ANTONIO (3) vs PHOENIX (6)
Jack - Phoenix
Paul - Phoenix
Eric - Phoenix
UTAH (4) vs HOUSTON (5)
Jack - Utah
Paul - Houston
Eric - Utah
As for who we each see in the FINALS?
Jack: Lakers/Celtics.
Paul: Suns/Celtics.
Eric: Lakers/Celtics
E. Smith
We all know what happened last year when the local media UNANIMOUSLY picked the Raptors to beat the Nets
- MichaelLet’s hope that’s not the case this year Michael!
- E. SmithI hope you’re right about the Raps and the Suns. If Nash and the boys miss their window this year, it’s uncertain how many more shots they’ll get.
- EllieI watched Hoops last night, and the only picks I really disagreed with were Dallas over New Orleans and Washington over Cleveland.
I think the NO/Dallas series is going to go 7 games, but I think it will be the Hornets who walk away with the win. I think it will be the official welcoming party for Chris Paul in the elite of NBA point guards, getting to play against one of the best.
I don’t think Washington is going to beat Cleveland. It might be a longer series, but I think they’ll definitely lose to LeBron. With all the comments that various Wizards have made lately about Cleveland (Arenas and his “everyone wants to play them” thing, for instance), I think LeBron is going to be fired up, and they will for sure be headed to Washington up 2-0.
Nobody in the East stands a chance against Boston. We played them well in three of our four games against them this year, but only managed a win once. I just think there’s too much talent and veteran savvy on that team for anyone in the East to beat ‘em.
The finals, I *want* Phoenix/Boston, but I think it’s going to be LA/Boston.
If it is LA/Boston, I think the series ends in a landslide win for Boston, 5 games, maybe 4. I think KG is going to remember the decade or so of barely making the playoffs or getting booted out early, and he’ll punish whichever team emerges from the meat grinder that is the West.
PS: I sincerely hope Jack returns. I love when he does colour for the games. He’s both knowledgeable and entertaining, and we’d be losing a massive asset if he were unable to return.
PPS: Props to you on calling out Raptorize John last night.
- ShepPPPS: Props to Raptorize John for stepping up when he was called out.
How could you guys pick the raps in this series. The magic have an advantage in every position besides point guard and bosh. Plus, players like Turkoglu and lewis have playoff experience. The raps shoot WAY too many jump shots. Orlando has an inside presence in howard. I cant believe one or two of you guys did not pick Orlando. Now you sound like total homers when the rest of the media like ESPN is picking the magic in as little as 5 games.
- aviEast:Celtics-Pistons-Wizards-Raptors
- AviWest:Lakers-Hornets-Suns-Jazz
Finals:Pistons-Suns
I am happy for Sam
After a terrible failure in the play-offs last year and terribly disappointing year it looks like Sam has a great shot at a win in the play-offs. It is a dream match up for us. After two major failures it is time for Sam to show us what he has. I know he will not blow three in a row. No good coach would ever do that.
- MilesAvi … “every position but point guard and Bosh”.
Hmm ..okay … that’s 2/5th’s of the starters.
And you’re telling me you’d take Bogans or Evans over Parker? Hmm.
And you’d rather have Foyle, Arroyo, Garrity, Dooling … then … Bargnani, Calderon, Delfino, and even Kapono (who has struggled)?
Okay, to each his own. I think you’re way off though.
This wasn’t a ‘homer’ pick. This was based on … I think the Raptors will have an ‘easier’ time (and I use that term loosely) with single coverage on Howard … then Orlando will … if they decide to not double-team Bosh.
- E. SmithI think the Raps have an xellent chance to beat the Magic..but they have to play well and not like the way they have been playing off late…they need to pick up the intensity level and bring it….Raps in 6
- WaqasHey Avi,
Why on earth would you trust ESPN?! Last year, basically all of their ‘experts’ picked the Nets. (Yeah, sure, they were right), but ESPN as well as most U.S. sports outlets are biased against the Raps.
Whoever wins, this should be a pretty good (and long) series.
- RichardHey Eric,
What’s with the clean sweep (i.e. you, Jack and Jonesy) of the Suns over the Spurs?!
San Antonio always steps up this time of year. And they’re better defensively and have more depth overall.
Why’d you pick the Suns?
- RichardI agree the Raps can cover Howard more easily than Orlando can cover Bosh, if only because:
a) Rasho!!!!!
b) Hump and Brezec’s 12 fouls
The only concern I have is if Rashard guards Bosh - he tends to have trouble using his size to take advantage of quicker, smaller players.
(Not that there’s a huge size difference, but there is one)
- Dan HI honestly have no idea how the Raps/Magic series will go down. I think we all know it’ll go to at least 6 games, but who knows which team will step up. Both teams can shoot, both teams have dominant bigs.. I say the first team that commits to playing solid D wins.
- Amanda FThe Hornets will beat the Mavs in 5
- JamieEverything comes down to the first 2 games imo. IF the Raps can get a split, all they have to do is hold serve at home.
If Orlando holds down home court and we go down 0-2, forget it. What was our longest win streak this year, 4 games? Just too much inconsistency - IMO attributed to a team that relies almost completely on shooting jumpers and 3pt’rs, which of course are much higher variance than scoring in the post or generating a tonne of free throws.
- MichaelI agree with most of those picks.The major one i don’t agree with sadly is Phoenix beating the spurs. I say the spurs and Lakers are the Teams to beat in the west. As for the raptors, they are better at the point and off the bench, so if they play some D and contain Heidu than they win in 6.Second round depending on who they play they’re probably swept.
- jeffBoston will lose to ATL in first round.
- D12Lakers will win the championship this year due to Kobe’s amazing MVP performance.
- StevenLaker’s over the Celtics in 6