Post by Jahallstar on Apr 13, 2009 18:46:47 GMT -5
#1 Charlotte Hornets
vs
#8 Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Match-up : Shawn Kemp vs Alonzo Mourning
Injuries : Hornets - Kevin McHale (Series) Cavs - None
Season Series : Hornets 3-1
Hornets 102, CAVALIERS 100
Hornets 122, CAVALIERS 92
HORNETS 128, Cavaliers 105
Cavaliers 111, HORNETS 105
Outlook : The Hornets are probably the odds on favorite to win the championship this year. They are stacked at pretty much every position. Now they are coming into the series with their number one big man off the bench injured. If Shawn Kemp can dictate the pace and get the Hornets bigs into foul trouble they could have a chance. Now while this is possible it is not likley. The Cavs will probably win a game in Cleveland and keep a game or two interesting in the first half. Besides that it will be all Hornets
Prediction : Hornets in 5
#2 Boston Celtics
vs
#7 Detroit Pistons
Key Match-up : Glenn Rice vs Dominique Wilkins
Injuries : Boston - Tony Massenburg (Games 1-4) , Detroit : None
Season Series : 2-1 Celtics
CELTICS 109, Pistons 98
Pistons 110, CELTICS 107
Celtics 123, PISTONS 100
Outlook : Detroit comes into Boston with one of the best scorers in the league in Glen Rice. He may be the only player in Detroit ready for this kind of series though. The Celtics counter with Dominique Wilkins and his great D at SF to go along with star PG Jeff Hornacek. The Celtics have had a great season and are looking to make up for disspointing past playoff series. I look for Boston to establish the pace early and coast to a series victory.
Prediction : Celtics in 5
#3 Toronto Raptors
vs
#6 Philadelphia 76ers
Key Match-up : Muggsy Bogues vs Pooh Richardson
Injuries : Toronto : None , Philadelphia : Benoit Benjamin (Games 1-2), Tony Campbell (Game 1)
Season Series : Raptors 2-1
76ers 113, RAPTORS 108
RAPTORS 107, 76ers 90
Raptors 110, 76ERS 94
Outlook : Talk about a style clash. The 76ers win their games with their bigmen. The Raptors win their games with a man named Jordan. This series might come down to tempo. The 76ers take a major blow by missing Benoit Benjamin for the first two games of the series. This series might come down to the floor generals. Muggsey Bogues and Pooh Richardson are going to try and establish tempo for their respective teams. With such a differing style this series might come down to which PG can get their stars involved more.
Prediction : Raptors in 7
#4 Washington Bullets
vs
#5 Orlando Magic
Key Match-up :Dikembe Mutombo vs Hakeem Olajuwon
Injuries : None
Season Series : Orlando 3-1
MAGIC 104, Bullets 99
MAGIC 98, Bullets 92
BULLETS 88, Magic 82
Magic 84, BULLETS 74
Outlook : What a great matchup down low with these teams. Hakeem is everything to the Bullets. Deke on the other side is a monster defender and will try to stop Hakeems offensive assault. If he can do this it will be lights out for the Bullets. With Scottie Pippen helping out and Waymond Tisdale adding an offensive punch I beleive the Magic will be to much for the Bullets to handle. I don't think it will be an easy series but I do think the Magic will come out on top. There is only so much one man can do for the Bullets hopes.
Prediction : Magic in 6
vs
#8 Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Match-up : Shawn Kemp vs Alonzo Mourning
Injuries : Hornets - Kevin McHale (Series) Cavs - None
Season Series : Hornets 3-1
Hornets 102, CAVALIERS 100
Hornets 122, CAVALIERS 92
HORNETS 128, Cavaliers 105
Cavaliers 111, HORNETS 105
Outlook : The Hornets are probably the odds on favorite to win the championship this year. They are stacked at pretty much every position. Now they are coming into the series with their number one big man off the bench injured. If Shawn Kemp can dictate the pace and get the Hornets bigs into foul trouble they could have a chance. Now while this is possible it is not likley. The Cavs will probably win a game in Cleveland and keep a game or two interesting in the first half. Besides that it will be all Hornets
Prediction : Hornets in 5
#2 Boston Celtics
vs
#7 Detroit Pistons
Key Match-up : Glenn Rice vs Dominique Wilkins
Injuries : Boston - Tony Massenburg (Games 1-4) , Detroit : None
Season Series : 2-1 Celtics
CELTICS 109, Pistons 98
Pistons 110, CELTICS 107
Celtics 123, PISTONS 100
Outlook : Detroit comes into Boston with one of the best scorers in the league in Glen Rice. He may be the only player in Detroit ready for this kind of series though. The Celtics counter with Dominique Wilkins and his great D at SF to go along with star PG Jeff Hornacek. The Celtics have had a great season and are looking to make up for disspointing past playoff series. I look for Boston to establish the pace early and coast to a series victory.
Prediction : Celtics in 5
#3 Toronto Raptors
vs
#6 Philadelphia 76ers
Key Match-up : Muggsy Bogues vs Pooh Richardson
Injuries : Toronto : None , Philadelphia : Benoit Benjamin (Games 1-2), Tony Campbell (Game 1)
Season Series : Raptors 2-1
76ers 113, RAPTORS 108
RAPTORS 107, 76ers 90
Raptors 110, 76ERS 94
Outlook : Talk about a style clash. The 76ers win their games with their bigmen. The Raptors win their games with a man named Jordan. This series might come down to tempo. The 76ers take a major blow by missing Benoit Benjamin for the first two games of the series. This series might come down to the floor generals. Muggsey Bogues and Pooh Richardson are going to try and establish tempo for their respective teams. With such a differing style this series might come down to which PG can get their stars involved more.
Prediction : Raptors in 7
#4 Washington Bullets
vs
#5 Orlando Magic
Key Match-up :Dikembe Mutombo vs Hakeem Olajuwon
Injuries : None
Season Series : Orlando 3-1
MAGIC 104, Bullets 99
MAGIC 98, Bullets 92
BULLETS 88, Magic 82
Magic 84, BULLETS 74
Outlook : What a great matchup down low with these teams. Hakeem is everything to the Bullets. Deke on the other side is a monster defender and will try to stop Hakeems offensive assault. If he can do this it will be lights out for the Bullets. With Scottie Pippen helping out and Waymond Tisdale adding an offensive punch I beleive the Magic will be to much for the Bullets to handle. I don't think it will be an easy series but I do think the Magic will come out on top. There is only so much one man can do for the Bullets hopes.
Prediction : Magic in 6
