Post by mops on Apr 13, 2009 20:36:36 GMT -5
Going into the playoffs the UOSLR has some very good story lines. How far can the Timberwolves go now with the roster moves they made before the season via probable GM of the Year from ‘Trunks. There is also the skyrocketing rise from the Denver Nuggets getting the 6th seed. GM Mops had seen his team plummet to the 3rd worse record in the west and the 5th overall in the league, then the Nuggets traded Clyde Drexler and it seemed as if a cloud had been lifted and the Nuggets went 30-8 after the All-Star break to land the 6 seed. Out East the Charlotte Hornets made a big push late in the season and nabbed the 1st seed overall in the entire playoffs beating out the Jordan led Raptors. However the Hornets are going to be without the veteran presence of Kevin McHale for the first 22 days.
East Round 1
#1 Hornets(59-23) vs. #8 Cavs(44-38)
Maybe on the best match-ups in all of the playoffs. Young stud Shawn Kemp vs. in his prime Karl Malone. The Cavs stack up well with their own big 3(Kemp, Kenny Anderson, Nick Anderson) against the big 3 of Malone, Larry Johnson, and Michael Adams. However after that the Hornets will beat the Cavs with their overall better depth from John Salley, Rickey Pierce, Darrell Armstrong, and Alonzo Mourning.
Prediction: Hornets 4-0
#4 Washington Bullets(50-32) vs. #5 Orlando Magic(47-35)
The battle of the bigs in this series. The Dream vs. Dike’. Hakeem Olajuwon has been the best player in the league for the past few years and this year was no different as the Dream went on to win POY and the DPOY while averaging 34ppg, 14rpg, and 3bpg as he guided the Bullets to a home series against the Magic. Mutombo might not have the scoring punch that Olajuwon has but he certainly can stand tall against him on the defensive side of the ball. Scottie Pippen will be the wildcard in this series and if he can raise his game just a tad more then in the regular season the Magic will win.
Prediction: Magic 4-3
#3 Toronto Raptors(58-24) vs. #6 Philadelphia 76ers(47-35)
The Raptors are led by perhaps the league’s best overall player in the Great One or Michael Jordan as he is mostly known as. Jordan enters the playoffs averaging 30ppg, 7rpg, 5apg, and 2spg. Jordan however doesn’t have much help after Chuck Person that can take over a game. That said, they are very balanced across the board and as long as Jordan and Person are on their games they will be in good shape. Its up to David Robinson to extend the series long enough to allow fellow 7-footer Benoit Benjamin to get back into the game from his broken collarbone injury. If the sixers can push it to 6 games expect them to win.
Prediction: 76ers 4-3
#Boston Celtics(53-29) vs. Detroit Pistons(47-35)
The C’s are lead by pretty boy Jeff Hornacek and Mad Max Vernon Maxwell as both score over 20 ppg and grab 5 rebounds each a game. Hornacek also dishes out 8 assists a game. The Vet Dominique Wilkins is also a big time player for the C’s and more time with the team should help their chances down the road. The Pistons enter the tough task of beating the Celtics but have hope with the duo of Hu Weidong and Glen Rice. After Rice and Weidong the Pistons look to Mark Price but don’t expect Price to be a go-to-scorer in the playoffs.
Prediction: Celtics 4-1
#1 Minnesota Timberwolves(53-29) vs. #8 Phoenix Suns(39-43)
The Timberwolves enter the top seed and face a Suns team that lost its last 7 games and some how found its way still in the playoffs with the 8 seed. The Suns have talent but cant seem to get it together. They do have a chance as the Wolves only center, Andrew Lang, is out 8 days, so there is the chance they could pull off the shocker, but that said, theres a slim chance of it happening.
Prediction: Timberwolves 4-2
#4 Vancouver Grizzlies(51-31) vs. #5 Houston Rockets(49-33)
The Grizz are the story of the season this year. They went from bottom feeder to title contender with the additions of Shaq, Allan Houston, and Charles Oakley. The Rockets are a good story themselves as they drew luck and climbed the lotto charts to nab Chris Webber with the 2nd pick. Then the Rockets added All-Star Clyde Drexler after the AB and they look poised for a playoff title push. Shaq dominates but the Rockets prevail.
Prediction: Rockets 4-3
#3 San Antonio Spurs(52-30) vs. #6 Denver Nuggets(47-35)
The spurs are led by Patrick Ewing and Reggie Lewis with the help of crafty vet Larry Bird. With the addition of Bird the Spurs were climbing the charts and looking good till Mark Jackson got hurt. The Nuggets enter the playoffs winning 30 of their last 38 games and look like a totally different team than they did pre Drexler Trade. Blair Rasmussen has been the biggest benefactor of the Drexler trade scoring over 20 points in over 15 games since the trade. Wildcard is how effective can Terrell Brandon be with Jackson out.
Predication: Nuggets 4-3
#2 Golden State Warriors(52-30) vs. #7 Seattle Supersonics(44-38)
The Warriors are one of the oldest teams in the league but they should know how to win as they have vet all-stars across the board and players that know their way around the league. Add in the fact that the Sonics enter the playoffs with Roy Tarpley and Will Perdue both are out the first six days of the game.
Prediction: Warriors 4-0
East Round 1
#1 Hornets(59-23) vs. #8 Cavs(44-38)
Maybe on the best match-ups in all of the playoffs. Young stud Shawn Kemp vs. in his prime Karl Malone. The Cavs stack up well with their own big 3(Kemp, Kenny Anderson, Nick Anderson) against the big 3 of Malone, Larry Johnson, and Michael Adams. However after that the Hornets will beat the Cavs with their overall better depth from John Salley, Rickey Pierce, Darrell Armstrong, and Alonzo Mourning.
Prediction: Hornets 4-0
#4 Washington Bullets(50-32) vs. #5 Orlando Magic(47-35)
The battle of the bigs in this series. The Dream vs. Dike’. Hakeem Olajuwon has been the best player in the league for the past few years and this year was no different as the Dream went on to win POY and the DPOY while averaging 34ppg, 14rpg, and 3bpg as he guided the Bullets to a home series against the Magic. Mutombo might not have the scoring punch that Olajuwon has but he certainly can stand tall against him on the defensive side of the ball. Scottie Pippen will be the wildcard in this series and if he can raise his game just a tad more then in the regular season the Magic will win.
Prediction: Magic 4-3
#3 Toronto Raptors(58-24) vs. #6 Philadelphia 76ers(47-35)
The Raptors are led by perhaps the league’s best overall player in the Great One or Michael Jordan as he is mostly known as. Jordan enters the playoffs averaging 30ppg, 7rpg, 5apg, and 2spg. Jordan however doesn’t have much help after Chuck Person that can take over a game. That said, they are very balanced across the board and as long as Jordan and Person are on their games they will be in good shape. Its up to David Robinson to extend the series long enough to allow fellow 7-footer Benoit Benjamin to get back into the game from his broken collarbone injury. If the sixers can push it to 6 games expect them to win.
Prediction: 76ers 4-3
#Boston Celtics(53-29) vs. Detroit Pistons(47-35)
The C’s are lead by pretty boy Jeff Hornacek and Mad Max Vernon Maxwell as both score over 20 ppg and grab 5 rebounds each a game. Hornacek also dishes out 8 assists a game. The Vet Dominique Wilkins is also a big time player for the C’s and more time with the team should help their chances down the road. The Pistons enter the tough task of beating the Celtics but have hope with the duo of Hu Weidong and Glen Rice. After Rice and Weidong the Pistons look to Mark Price but don’t expect Price to be a go-to-scorer in the playoffs.
Prediction: Celtics 4-1
#1 Minnesota Timberwolves(53-29) vs. #8 Phoenix Suns(39-43)
The Timberwolves enter the top seed and face a Suns team that lost its last 7 games and some how found its way still in the playoffs with the 8 seed. The Suns have talent but cant seem to get it together. They do have a chance as the Wolves only center, Andrew Lang, is out 8 days, so there is the chance they could pull off the shocker, but that said, theres a slim chance of it happening.
Prediction: Timberwolves 4-2
#4 Vancouver Grizzlies(51-31) vs. #5 Houston Rockets(49-33)
The Grizz are the story of the season this year. They went from bottom feeder to title contender with the additions of Shaq, Allan Houston, and Charles Oakley. The Rockets are a good story themselves as they drew luck and climbed the lotto charts to nab Chris Webber with the 2nd pick. Then the Rockets added All-Star Clyde Drexler after the AB and they look poised for a playoff title push. Shaq dominates but the Rockets prevail.
Prediction: Rockets 4-3
#3 San Antonio Spurs(52-30) vs. #6 Denver Nuggets(47-35)
The spurs are led by Patrick Ewing and Reggie Lewis with the help of crafty vet Larry Bird. With the addition of Bird the Spurs were climbing the charts and looking good till Mark Jackson got hurt. The Nuggets enter the playoffs winning 30 of their last 38 games and look like a totally different team than they did pre Drexler Trade. Blair Rasmussen has been the biggest benefactor of the Drexler trade scoring over 20 points in over 15 games since the trade. Wildcard is how effective can Terrell Brandon be with Jackson out.
Predication: Nuggets 4-3
#2 Golden State Warriors(52-30) vs. #7 Seattle Supersonics(44-38)
The Warriors are one of the oldest teams in the league but they should know how to win as they have vet all-stars across the board and players that know their way around the league. Add in the fact that the Sonics enter the playoffs with Roy Tarpley and Will Perdue both are out the first six days of the game.
Prediction: Warriors 4-0
