12/21/24
April 17, 2003
NBA Playoffs are set.: Now it's time for debate and predictions. (more inside)
posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 01:11 PM - 20 comments
Spurs over the Suns Kings over the Jazz Jailblazers over the Mavs Timberwovles over the Shaqers Magic over the Pistons Nets over the Bucks Pacers over the Celtics Hornets over the Sixers
posted by corpse at 01:15 PM on April 17, 2003
Spurs over the Suns Kings over the Jazz Mavs over the Trailblazers Lakers over the Timberwolves Pistons over the Magic Nets over the Bucks Pacers over the Celtics Hornets over the Sixers Second Round Lakers over San Antonio Sacramento over the Mavs Detroit over Philadelphia Indiana over Nets Semis Sacramento over the Lakers Indiana over Detroit Finals Sacramento over Indiana
posted by Bryant at 01:29 PM on April 17, 2003
Mouth-breathing. Make that Detroit over the Hornets. Philly's so bad they'll get beat twice!
posted by Bryant at 01:37 PM on April 17, 2003
The bigger question is, does anyone care? I'd much rather watch hockey or football (Euro, American, or Aussie) than pro basketball (or any form of baseball, baseball sucks). From what little I know, I think the Lakers have been getting it together lately, saving their energy, and even from the five slot have to be the favorites for another trophy.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:38 PM on April 17, 2003
Suns over Spurs (in 7) Kings over Jazz Trailgangstas over Dallas Lakers over Wolves Pistons over Magic Nets over Bucs Pacers over Celtics (in 7) 76ers over Hornets As much as I'd love the hometown Blazers to win it all I'm thinking that it's going to be the Kings, probably over the Nets. Lakers will bow out in the Western Conference finals...
posted by togdon at 03:10 PM on April 17, 2003
Although they could get beat finally this year (look out for that hedge!) I agree with billsaysthis...all the Lakers had to do was get into the playoffs and the Big Two and the Fill In the Crew will win another title.
posted by vito90 at 03:23 PM on April 17, 2003
The Lakers, if they do win again, will have to play harder than they're used to. They showed a vulnerability this year that has allowed every team to know that they can be beaten, even if they have Shaq. Plus, the West is probably stronger this year than it has been for any of the previous Laker championship seasons. That said, can anyone in the East beat whoever becomes the Western Conference Champion?
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:31 PM on April 17, 2003
That said, can anyone in the East beat whoever becomes the Western Conference Champion? HA HA HA HA HA, thanks for the laugh Ufez!
posted by billsaysthis at 03:44 PM on April 17, 2003
I'm taking all home teams, except the Trailblazers will beat the Mavs (too physical), and the Lakers will beat the Twolves (two star players against one).
posted by dusted at 04:48 PM on April 17, 2003
Spurs Kings Mavs Timberwolves Pistons Nets Celtics Sixers
posted by jennyb at 07:50 PM on April 17, 2003
Blazers! I wish, but I can say that I am 95% sure it will be the Kings, Spurs or Mavs, who are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the league.
posted by djacobs at 09:45 PM on April 17, 2003
West : 1) Spurs v. 8) Suns (Spurs in five) 2) Kings v. 7) Jazz (Kings in six) 3) Mavs! v. 6) Trailblazers (Mavs in seven) 4) Timberwolves v. 5) Lakers (Lakers in six) Second round: Spurs over Lakers; Kings over Mavs Conference finals: Spurs over Kings East 1) Pistons v. 8) Magic (Pistons in six) 2) Nets v. 7) Bucks (Nets in seven) 3) Pacer v. 6) Celtics (Pacers in seven) 4) Sixers v. 5) Hornets (Sixers in five) Second round: Pistons over Sixers; Nets over Pacers Conference finals: Pistons over Nets NBA Finals: Spurs over Pistons
posted by jasonbondshow at 12:00 AM on April 18, 2003
West: Spurs over Suns (in 6) Kings over Jazz (in 5) Mavs over Trailblazers (in 6) Lakers over Timberwolves (in 6) Lakers over Spurs (in 7) Kings over Mavs (in 6) Kings over Lakers (in 6) East: Magic over Piston (in 6) Nets over Bucks (in 6) Pacers over Celtics (in 5) Hornets over Sixers (in 7) Hornets over Magic (in 6) Pacers over Nets (in 7) Pacers over Hornets (in 6) Pacers over Kings (in 7) Yes, the Pacers win! The Pacers win! They redeem the last half of the season. East beats West! A round of beers for everyone! *Bryant, I almost love you. Shame on you jennyb. Shame on you.
posted by jacknose at 07:14 AM on April 18, 2003
jacknose: Lakers over Spurs (in 7) Kings over Mavs (in 6) Hornets over Sixers (in 7) And you shame me???
posted by jennyb at 09:53 AM on April 18, 2003
Pacers over Kings (in 7) Jacknose, whaatever you're drinking, send me some.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:11 AM on April 18, 2003
bill, he's just drinking some good old idealistic vodka. Everyone in the East is too damn streaky to do anything, Pacers especially. And the Nets. They have a losing record after the All-Star break and still get the number one seed? Can we really take this team seriously? And a big thank you to those that at least believe the Mavs can beat the Blazers. Never have I put so much importance on a game 1 in a series.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:49 AM on April 19, 2003
jacknose, I'm an idealist and a romantic... but bear in mind that at this time of the year all my wishful thinking energy goes towards the Red Sox. "Hey, that bullpen by committee is looking pretty good this week! And Doug Mirabelli is a bona fide All Star!"
posted by Bryant at 07:20 AM on April 19, 2003
I shame anyone who has the Pacers losing in the first or second round. Ufez, of course, is right. This is the time of the year that I start consuming idealistic vodka non-stop, that is, until the Pacers lose, and I find myself woefully ashamed for shaming others.
posted by jacknose at 08:08 AM on April 19, 2003
jack, I can easily see the Pacers beating the Celtics in round one but not the Nets in the second. Sorry, bubble bursting, etc. Enjoy the vodka.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:08 AM on April 19, 2003
In the West we have: 1) Spurs v. 8) Suns (but the Suns took the regular season series 3-1) 2) Kings v. 7) Jazz (who played last night in the reg. season finale) 3) Mavs! v. 6) Trailblazers (thank god it wasn't the Lakers 4) Timberwolves v. 5) Lakers (good luck getting your first ever playoff series win, KG) In the East 1) Pistons v. 8) Magic (can defense win a championship in basketball?) 2) Nets v. 7) Bucks (we'll see how well that big trade paid off) 3) Pacer v. 6) Celtics (both very very streaky teams, could be over quickly one way or the other) 4) Sixers v. 5) Hornets (um, I don't know what to say here) So who takes it? Who's the biggest disappointment? How can anyone pick a favorite in the East? It's so wide open. How great are the second round matchups in the West going to be? Put your predictions here.