April 15, 2004

EAST: 1. Indiana v 8. Boston 2. Detroit v 7. Milwaukee 3. New Jersey v 6. New York 4. Miami v 5. New Orleans WEST: 1. Minnesota v 8. Denver 2. Los Angeles v 7. Houston 3. San Antonio v 6. Memphis 4. Sacramento v 5. Dallas

posted by Ufez Jones at 12:58 PM on April 15, 2004

East: 1. Indiana v 8. Boston - Pacers - Danny Ainge's ego will prevent any attempt at a Celtic insurrection 2. Detroit v 7. Milwaukee - I haven't watched the Bucks at all this year, but I've got good reason to root for them, seeing as how I frothed over Desmond Mason during his days at OK State and watched Brian Skinner carry the Baylor Bears to the NIT my freshman year (sure, laugh all you want, it was a big deal down there). That said, I don't think they can take on the law firm of Wallace & Wallace. I'll be pulling for them, though. 3. New Jersey v 6. New York - This is great for the people up in the area. Should be a great series too. Tim Thomas has been playing his ass off up there and Marbury is getting his first serious crack at a second round playoff series. I think they'll pull it off, especially if/when Kidd or K-Mart gets hurt again. 4. Miami v 5. New Orleans - The Hornets have been on a sinking ship the entire 2nd half of the season. The streaking Heat will put them out of their misery. West 1. Minnesota v 8. Denver - This will be great experience for 'Melo and give him a leg up on LeBron in the experience area. KG will finally get to celebrate his first playoff victory. Good on both of 'em. 2. Los Angeles v 7. Houston - Yeah, it can be said that Yao plays Shaq as well as anyone in the league (and it's true). Malone's ankle may be a problem. But Houston's got no answer for Kobe and when you're forced to turn to Steve Francis for leadership, you're forcably fucked. 3. San Antonio v 6. Memphis - The hottest team in the NBA. If the Grizz can get healthy, they'll make a run at it since they're a superior offensive team. I'd love love love to see an upset here, but I doubt it'll happen. 4. Sacramento v 5. Dallas - Thank god we drew the Kings and not the Lakers. The Kings are volatile and the Mavs are pesky. Watch Vlade and Webber turn on each other as Nash throws down another teardrop runner from the top of the key. I love watching these two teams run each other all over the court. If the NBA was smart, they double the size of the court and let 'em each have 8 players at a time. So entertaining. And I've got tickets to at least one of the games. Mavs in 6.

posted by Ufez Jones at 01:45 PM on April 15, 2004

Hmm, had a coworker point out to me that NBA brackets (unlike NHL) are static, so I have to amend my East. East: 2nd Round: Pacers over Heat, Knicks over Pistons Conf Final: Pacers over Knicks.

posted by Ufez Jones at 02:39 PM on April 15, 2004

EAST: 1. Indiana v 8. Boston There is no way a 36-46 team should be in the playoffs. Every move made by the Celtics front office and coaching staff this season has looked like sabotage, and even then they couldn't get into the draft lottery. They can't even tank successfully. Indiana in five. 2. Detroit v 7. Milwaukee Detroit is on a nice roll coming in and Milwaukee isn't, but it probably wouldn't matter anyway. Detroit has suffocating defense and four starters that can drop 30 any given night. Detroit in four. 3. New Jersey v 6. New York New Jersey wins this matchup based on a deeper bench and playoff experience. Lucious Harris and Rodney Rogers have great porn names (and can play well) should Kidd or Gomp! go down. New Jersey in seven. 4. Miami v 5. New Orleans These two teams are heading in different directions. The Hornets have declined from their hot start, while the Heat have steadily played well after a horrible start. Miami in six. WEST: 1. Minnesota v 8. Denver We'll get our first change to see if Bone Thug-n-Ugly equals the second round. It won't - Carmelo will settle the "best rookie" debate once and for all. Denver in seven. 2. Los Angeles v 7. Houston Shaq-Yao, The Playoff Years. The centers are fairly even, so this contest will come down to the play of the guards and team defense. Los Angeles in five. 3. San Antonio v 6. Memphis Memphis is one of the most interesting teams in the league, but San Antonio is the most dominant. They've won 11 straight games and have quietly earned the third-best record in the league. San Antonio in six. 4. Sacramento v 5. Dallas This should be fun to watch. Two teams with great offense, no defense and dubious mental toughness. Both coaches are looking for good combos, but Nellie looks smarter, at least for now. Who would have predicted that Marquis Daniels would have this type of success? Dallas in seven.

posted by dusted at 04:52 PM on April 15, 2004

EAST: 1. Indiana v 8. Boston Indiana wins 4-0 and makes Boston look terrible doing it. 2. Detroit v 7. Milwaukee Detroit wins 4-0, though one game will be a squeaker. 3. New Jersey v 6. New York New Jersey in 6. Starbury will be fun to watch at MSG, but experience will prevail if Nets stay healthy. 4. Miami v 5. New Orleans New Orleans in 7 as they salvage the season. WEST: 1. Minnesota v 8. Denver Minny in 6. It might seem a little closer though, as Denver plays very loose and Melo keeps them in it. 2. Los Angeles v 7. Houston LA wins in 5. Shaq will annihilate Yao (who I really like) and Kobe outplays Franchise. 3. San Antonio v 6. Memphis Spurs in 5. Hate to see Grizz go. 4. Sacramento v 5. Dallas Which team will implode first? I like Dallas to win in 6. After that? Detroit beats Indiana in the Eastern finals. And San Antonio beats Minnesota in the West. San Antonio beats Detroit in the finals in 6 in what will be a VERY LOW SCORING championship. The ratings will match...

posted by smithers at 10:17 PM on April 15, 2004

No, it's not that, smithers. I'm just not sure if the Pistons style of play can't be defeated in a 7 game series. Granted, I haven't watched them much since 'Sheed came on, but I don't see that style of play as being championship caliber. That said, my original (impossible) notion of the Heat beating them seems more likely, but still.... And to think about the most boring NBA finals ever....Spurs v. Pistons. Avg score: Winner 64 - Loser 58. *yawns*

posted by Ufez Jones at 11:12 PM on April 15, 2004

EAST: 1. Indiana v. 8. Boston, 4-1. 2. Detroit v. 7. Milwaukee, 4-1. 3. New Jersey v. 6. New York, 4-2. 4. Miami v. 5. New Orleans, 4-3. WEST: 1. Minnesota v. 8. Denver, 4-2. 2. Los Angeles v. 7. Houston, 4-3. 3. San Antonio v. 6. Memphis, 4-1. 4. Sacramento v. 5. Dallas, 4-1 No sweeps. My upset picks are the Knicks over the Nets and Yao over Shaq.

posted by jasonspaceman at 06:16 AM on April 16, 2004

EAST: 1. Indiana v. 8. Boston, 4-0. 2. Detroit v. 7. Milwaukee, 4-2. 3. New Jersey v. 6. New York, 4-2. 4. Miami v. 5. New Orleans, 4-3. WEST: 1. Minnesota v. 8. Denver, 4-1. 2. Los Angeles v. 7. Houston, 4-1. 3. San Antonio v. 6. Memphis, 4-1. 4. Sacramento v. 5. Dallas, 4-3 I've never been one to pick many upsets and I barely see the Mavs as an upset. No way the Knicks get past the Nets (though you should all now go out and lay money on this happening given my track record!). Second round: Pacers over Heat: no more than one W for the Heat Nets over Detroit: KMart and Kidd are healthy and hungry Mavs over T'Wolves: KG not enough by himself Lakers over Kings: Kobe wants another ring, dammit! 3rd: Pacers over Nets: No Conf 3Peat! Lakers over Mavs: Kobe?!?!?! Title: Lakers over Pacers: East is still East.

posted by billsaysthis at 08:28 PM on April 16, 2004