Post by Jahallstar on Feb 28, 2009 9:10:35 GMT -5
#1 Washington Bullets
vs
#8 Buffalo Braves
Key Match-up : Lionel Simmons vs Vernon Maxwell
Injuries : Was - None Buf - Dreling (Out), Johnson (Games 1-5), Barkley (Games 1-2)
Season Series : 3-1 Bullets
BULLETS 122, Braves* 113
Bullets 119, BRAVES* 79
Braves* 97, BULLETS 90
Bullets 115, BRAVES* 93
Outlook : This is not your normal 1 vs 8 match-up. The defending champs will not go down without a fight. The Braves have tons of firepower with Barkley, Simmons and Richmond. We all know about the Bullets and their two stars. Hakeem was no question the MVP of the league and he is looking to carry the team to a title. The guy that most people don't know about is Vernon Maxwell. He quietly earned himself a spot on the all league 1st team this season. Overall it should be a very tight series. I could see it going either way. However with Barkley out the first two games I see the Bullets going up 2-0 and that being to much for the Braves to overcome.
Prediction : Bullets in 7
#2 Toronto Raptors
vs
#7 New York Knicks
Key Match-up : Michael Jordan vs Reggie Miller
Injuries : NONE
Season Series : 2-2
Knicks 124, RAPTORS 113
KNICKS 104, Raptors 101
Raptors 105, KNICKS 95
RAPTORS 101, Knicks 94
Outlook :
Now this is what the playoffs are all about. Two superstars going head to head. Jordan is going into this postseason with something to prove. He feels he was snubbed of the MVP and he still has last years playoffs in the back of his head. Don't be surprised if Jordan ends up a one man show and puts up around 40 PPG this series. On the other side of the court is Reggie. We all know how pumped up Reggie gets when it comes to playoff time in the Garden. I think a big part of this series will be how well Terry Cummings performs. Chuck Person is not known for his defense and the Knicks may be able to take advantage of this. This series is nearly impossible to call. In the end I'll go with Jordan and the home court advantage. I would not be surprised if Reggie pulled off some 4th quarter magic though.
Prediction : Raptors in 7
#3 Indiana Pacers
vs
#6 Philadelphia 76ers
Key Match-up : Tony Campbell vs Tom Chambers
Injuries : NONE
Season Series : Pacers 3-1
Pacers 107, 76ERS 83
PACERS 106, 76ers 98
76ers 88, PACERS 78
Pacers 112, 76ERS 95
Outlook : This series is a big time contrast in style. The 76ers have the imposing big-man in David Robinson while the Pacers have the dynamic guard duo of Mullin and Dumars. During the regular season David Robinson put up monster numbers against the Pacers. He was pretty much a one man show though. If this continues to be the theme in the playoffs the much more versatile Pacers will take this series without much trouble. I personally think the dynamic back-court that the Pacers have will just end up being to much for the 76ers to handle.
Prediction : Pacers in 5
#4 Chicago Bulls
vs
#5 Detroit Pistons
Key Match-up : Glen Rice vs Larry Bird
Injuries : Bulls - Ainge (Out) , Pistons - Longley (Out)
Season Series : 2-2
Pistons 112, BULLS 94
BULLS 105, Pistons 92
PISTONS 96, Bulls 86
Bulls 117, PISTONS 97
Outlook : In a series that pits the aging Bulls against the much younger Pistons injuries have taken center stage. The bulls have been playing without Ainge for a while now and I don't think it will effect them that much. On the other end of the court rookie center Luc Longley is out. I think this will be huge. Longley is the pistons only real presence down-low and without him I am not so sure they can put up much of a fight. Larry Bird and Orlando Woolridge might be on their last legs in this league but they do not want to go out with one last moment of glory. Expect Bogues to slow down Mark Price and Bird to outplay Glen Rice. I expect this series to be fairly short with the Pistons maybe stealing one game at home.
Prediction : Bulls in 5
vs
#8 Buffalo Braves
Key Match-up : Lionel Simmons vs Vernon Maxwell
Injuries : Was - None Buf - Dreling (Out), Johnson (Games 1-5), Barkley (Games 1-2)
Season Series : 3-1 Bullets
BULLETS 122, Braves* 113
Bullets 119, BRAVES* 79
Braves* 97, BULLETS 90
Bullets 115, BRAVES* 93
Outlook : This is not your normal 1 vs 8 match-up. The defending champs will not go down without a fight. The Braves have tons of firepower with Barkley, Simmons and Richmond. We all know about the Bullets and their two stars. Hakeem was no question the MVP of the league and he is looking to carry the team to a title. The guy that most people don't know about is Vernon Maxwell. He quietly earned himself a spot on the all league 1st team this season. Overall it should be a very tight series. I could see it going either way. However with Barkley out the first two games I see the Bullets going up 2-0 and that being to much for the Braves to overcome.
Prediction : Bullets in 7
#2 Toronto Raptors
vs
#7 New York Knicks
Key Match-up : Michael Jordan vs Reggie Miller
Injuries : NONE
Season Series : 2-2
Knicks 124, RAPTORS 113
KNICKS 104, Raptors 101
Raptors 105, KNICKS 95
RAPTORS 101, Knicks 94
Outlook :
Now this is what the playoffs are all about. Two superstars going head to head. Jordan is going into this postseason with something to prove. He feels he was snubbed of the MVP and he still has last years playoffs in the back of his head. Don't be surprised if Jordan ends up a one man show and puts up around 40 PPG this series. On the other side of the court is Reggie. We all know how pumped up Reggie gets when it comes to playoff time in the Garden. I think a big part of this series will be how well Terry Cummings performs. Chuck Person is not known for his defense and the Knicks may be able to take advantage of this. This series is nearly impossible to call. In the end I'll go with Jordan and the home court advantage. I would not be surprised if Reggie pulled off some 4th quarter magic though.
Prediction : Raptors in 7
#3 Indiana Pacers
vs
#6 Philadelphia 76ers
Key Match-up : Tony Campbell vs Tom Chambers
Injuries : NONE
Season Series : Pacers 3-1
Pacers 107, 76ERS 83
PACERS 106, 76ers 98
76ers 88, PACERS 78
Pacers 112, 76ERS 95
Outlook : This series is a big time contrast in style. The 76ers have the imposing big-man in David Robinson while the Pacers have the dynamic guard duo of Mullin and Dumars. During the regular season David Robinson put up monster numbers against the Pacers. He was pretty much a one man show though. If this continues to be the theme in the playoffs the much more versatile Pacers will take this series without much trouble. I personally think the dynamic back-court that the Pacers have will just end up being to much for the 76ers to handle.
Prediction : Pacers in 5
#4 Chicago Bulls
vs
#5 Detroit Pistons
Key Match-up : Glen Rice vs Larry Bird
Injuries : Bulls - Ainge (Out) , Pistons - Longley (Out)
Season Series : 2-2
Pistons 112, BULLS 94
BULLS 105, Pistons 92
PISTONS 96, Bulls 86
Bulls 117, PISTONS 97
Outlook : In a series that pits the aging Bulls against the much younger Pistons injuries have taken center stage. The bulls have been playing without Ainge for a while now and I don't think it will effect them that much. On the other end of the court rookie center Luc Longley is out. I think this will be huge. Longley is the pistons only real presence down-low and without him I am not so sure they can put up much of a fight. Larry Bird and Orlando Woolridge might be on their last legs in this league but they do not want to go out with one last moment of glory. Expect Bogues to slow down Mark Price and Bird to outplay Glen Rice. I expect this series to be fairly short with the Pistons maybe stealing one game at home.
Prediction : Bulls in 5
