Quick playoff predictions

by Mike Prada on Apr 16, 2009 7:06 PM EDT in Off Topic

I reserve the right to change these anytime between now and Saturday, but regardless.

Cavs over Pistons in 5

Celtics over Bulls in 6

Magic over 76ers in 5

Heat over Hawks in 6

Lakers over Jazz in 4

Nuggets over Hornets in 7

Mavs over Spurs in 6

Blazers over Rockets in 7

Wizards over Clippers in lottery tiebreaker

Oh, and for the hell of it, a look back at how I did on my preseason predictions, from most on point to least on point:

Dallas Mavericks: 50-32 (Prediction: 50-32) 0
Los Angeles Lakers: 65-17 (Prediction: 65-17) 0
Golden State Warriors: 29-53 (Prediction: 28-54) +1
Milwaukee Bucks: 34-48 (Prediction: 32-50) +2
Phoenix Suns: 46-36 (Prediction: 48-34) -2
Houston Rockets: 53-29 (Prediction: 55-27) -2
San Antonio Spurs: 54-28 (Prediction: 51-31)*** +3
Boston Celtics: 62-20 (Prediction: 58-24) +4
Charlotte Bobcats: 35-47 (Prediction: 31-51) +4
Indiana Pacers: 36-46 (Prediction: 40-42) -4
Memphis Grizzlies: 24-58 (Prediction: 19-63) +5
Oklahoma City Thunder: 23-59 (Prediction: 18-64) +5
Miami Heat: 43-39 (Prediction: 37-45) +6
Minnesota Timberwolves: 24-58 (Prediction: 30-52) -6
New York Knicks: 32-50 (Prediction: 25-57) +7
Philadelphia 76ers: 41-41 (Prediction: 48-34)** -7
Utah Jazz: 48-34 (Prediction: 55-27) -7
Chicago Bulls: 41-41 (Prediction: 33-49) +8
New Orleans Hornets: 49-33 (Prediction: 57-25) -8
Portland Trailblazers: 54-28 (Prediction: 45-37) +9
Orlando Magic: 59-23 (Prediction: 50-32) +9
Denver Nuggets: 54-28 (Prediction: 43-39)* +11
Toronto Raptors: 33-49 (Prediction: 44-38) -11
Atlanta Hawks: 47-35 (Prediction: 35-47) +12
Cleveland Cavaliers: 66-16 (Prediction: 54-28) +12
Sacramento Kings: 17-65 (Prediction: 29-53) -12
New Jersey Nets: 34-48 (Prediction: 21-61) +13
Detroit Pistons: 39-43 (Prediction: 53-29)* -14
Los Angeles Clippers: 19-63 (Prediction: 36-46) -17
Washington Wizards: 19-63 (Prediction: 40-42) -21

*=Didn't account for Billups/Iverson trade. **=Didn't account for Elton Brand injury. ***=Didn't account for season-ending Ginobili injury.

Nice to know I did the worst on my team. Maybe I should find someone else to blog about.

Predictions go here.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Mavs over Spurs in 7 (Repeat of 2006)
Rockets over Blazers in 6 (Rockets are the one team in West who has Portland’s number even w/o HCA)
Lakers over Jazz in 5 (One game where Boozer remembers his contract is up)
Hawks over Heat in 6. (Wade avgs. 40 point and 40 minutes)

I agree with the rest.

by Fundefined on Apr 16, 2009 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

The Houston series is tough

Houston did have Portland’s number, but that was much earlier in the season. Portland’s played so well down the stretch.

It’s too bad they have to play each other. They’re my #2 and #3 in the West.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Apr 16, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope Portland wins

I think they’re the only team with a shot at beating the Lakers — as small of a chance as that is.

Krem's Sports Blog

by Matt K. on Apr 17, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Love it

Nice to know I did the worst on my team. Maybe I should find someone else to blog about.

That’s just freakin’ hilarious. Did you make that prediction after the news of Gil & Haywood being out? I can’t remember… Fan-loyalty clouds our judgments. Here I am thinking Arenas is going to be the next Chauncey Billups.

by se7en on Apr 16, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

To be fair

A lot of people here (like myself, I think) were still optimistic even after Arenas and Haywood went down. Of course, we also believes the “Arenas will be back by December/January” talk.

Now writing for Ridiculous Upside, where we knew who Mike Taylor was before you did.

by Jon L on Apr 16, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

The playoffs are going to be incredibly boring this year.

With KG out, Cleveland pretty much has the East locked down. The Lakers were always going to win the West and the finals will be fun (go Lakers, fuck the cavs). Some of the west matchups will be fun since the teams are all around the same, but the certainty of the finals will take the fun out of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Apr 16, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions

I need to preview my writing before posting

but you get the idea. My mistake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk

by hibachi on Apr 16, 2009 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Boring?

I have never found the NBA playoffs boring… I agree it sucks KG is out, but the loss of one man isn’t going to make these playoffs boring…

I am giddy at the thought of those late nights watching TNT…

by se7en on Apr 16, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

My picks

Cavs in 4
Celtics in 6
Magic in 6
Hawks in 6

Lakers in 5
Nuggets in 7
Spurs in 7 (Even though my gut is telling me Mavs in 6)
Rockets in 6

Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.

by Jake Whitacre on Apr 16, 2009 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

I like the Hawks and the Mavs

And those are the only ones I differ with you on. If Houston can’t win without T-Mac on the floor this year, are they ever going to win another playoff series?

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Apr 17, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions