It’s playoff time in the NBA and we here at Razzball would like to share our picks. Please feel free to comment and/or mock (strongly encouraged) our picks and share your own. NOTE: The selections were made before Derrick Rose tore his ACL (and Iman Shumpert but if you picked the Knicks to beat the Heat then you either are 1.) from New York or 2.) a huge LeBron/Heat hater)
James Redacted:
Eastern Conference Finals (ECF): Heat/Bulls – Heat in 5
I made this selection before Rose tore his ACL and I’m keeping it. The Heat did it last year in 5 without Rose missing significant playing time so I didn’t see much reason to pick the Bulls this year (What about Rip Hamilton you say? I say, what about Rip Hamilton?). Even with Rose being out I think the Bulls defense is too good for the aging Celtics or Hawks to overcome.
Western Conference Finals (WCF): Thunder/Grizzlies – Thunder in 7
Love them Grizzlies. The best defensive team in the western conference is going to be hard to take down. They match up well against the Clips (who have liabilities on defense… sorry Blake Griffin) and the Spurs (see last year). Ultimately I think the Thunder have too much talent to succumb to the Grizzlies’ defensive prowess.
Finals: Heat/Thunder – Heat in 6
Heat win and Chris Bosh wins Finals MVP just so everyone can further ridicule LeBron James.
JashFath (CAPS = WINNER):
BULLS – sixers
*D-Rose’s health could limit the Bulls from making a deep run, but the Sixers are a mess right now.
HEAT – knickerbockers
*May be closer than most think, but gotta roll with the Heat on this one.
PACERS – magic
*Big Baby can’t do it all
CELTICS – hawks
*Hate picking them, but they have experience and a real point guard on their side, don’t think they make it out of the next round though.
SPURS – jazz
*Chance for upset, but I don’t see it happening.
THUNDER – mavs
*No contest here, I’d be shocked if this wasn’t a sweep or a five-game series.
LAKERS – nuggets
*I would have went Nugs if they didn’t make that boneheaded trade at the deadline. Andrew Bynum will eat JaVale McGee for breakfast, no milk.
CLIPS – grizzlies
*Pretty even, but Chris Paul has been money in the clutch this season, and it is hard to bank against that.
FINALS:
THUNDER – heat (big surprise, huh?)
*Everyone and their momma, and momma’s mommas are picking this finals matchup, but these two teams are clearly the best. I would put the Bulls in, but not having Rose at 100% will hurt them. Thunder are the most complete team, I see them winning in 6 or 7.
ChrisV82:
ECF: Heat/Bulls – Bulls in 7
WCF: Thunder/Clippers – Thunder in 6
Finals: Thunder/Bulls – Bulls in 6 (reminder: pre-Rose ACL injury)
Eric:
East 2nd Round: Bulls over Celtics in 6 (I’d much prefer the Heat for my rebound-deficient squad)
