OK, step right up here for NBA playoff predictions!!!

I think it's really gonna be an exciting playoff season this year. Of course, I'm looking for my Wolves to win the whole thing. Here's my predictions:

EAST FIRST ROUND

1) Indiana over 8) Boston
4) Miami over 5) New Orleans
3) Detroit over 6) Milwaukee
2) New Jersey over 7) New York

WEST FIRST ROUND

1) Minnesota over 8) Denver
5) Dallas over 4) Sacramento
3) San Antonio over 6) Memphis
2) LA Lakers over 7) Houston

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS

1) Indiana over 4) Miami
3) Detroit over 2) New Jersey

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS

1) Minnesota over 5) Dallas
3) San Antonio over 2) LA Lakers

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS

1) Indiana over 3) Detroit

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS

1) Minnesota over 3) San Antonio

NBA FINALS

Minnesota over Indiana

So what's your prediction???

:)

I'm 6 foot 3 1/2 and sweat out basketball games every night. Too frazzled to watch the clanked free throws down the stretch, so I follow the games via my little black score ticker box.

Based on the college postseason, my most reliable prediction: there shalt be overtime(s) only when I need the under.

That's why I quit watching the NBA.

I'm ignoring the East. It'll be either Detroit or Indiana, probably Detroit. None of the rest of the teams in the East matter, or have a prayer.

Now, on to the West:

1) Minnesota over 8) Denver
5) Dallas over 4) Sacramento
3) San Antonio over 6) Memphis
2) LA Lakers over 7) Houston

I'm picking Minnesota over Denver, and Dallas to upset Sacramento.

In the other bracket, San Antonio over Memphis, and LA over Houston, but there's a strong chance of an upset there. I really wish Houston had a decent coach.

In the semis, I'm picking San Antonio over whoever comes out of the other match, and Minnesota over Dallas.

San Antonio over Minnesota. It's been a nice run, but the last few games, the Spurs have shown what it means to step it up yet another notch. (They held Denver to 67 tonight. Scary defense.) Also, apparently Troy Hudson is going to be out for a while for surgery of some type, I heard. That'll hurt. We're missing Devin Brown, which hurts a bit, but not as much.

It'll be a great series, either way.

Finals: San Antonio over Detroit or Indiana, most likely Detroit. And if it is Detroit, get ready for more wailing and gnashing of teeth, as the announcers don't have a clue how to call a defensive game.

Defensive games are fun to watch in football and baseball, why can't these people understand how much fun a good defensive struggle is in basketball, as well?

Oh, word has it that Karl Malone seriously sprained his ankle. Move the chances of that Houston upset to about 40/60. Still picking the Lakers, but Houston's got a shot.

But the champion is the winner of the Minnesota/San Antonio series, in all likelihood.

Both the Wolves and Spurs have played very well, and I think the conference finals will go down to 7 games. But the team with homecourt will win Game 7 IMO, and we all know who that is...

Duncan won't let it. Besides, KG doesn't know what the second round even looks like.

Home court doesn't matter to a team with the defensive pressure that San Antonio can bring.

Either way, it's going to be a fun series.

Excuse me who has the best record in the NBA? As for defensive struggle, Indiana has the best defensive player in the game. Ron Artest's guy only gets off 9.4 shots per game and around 8 points per game.

I'll take Bowen. The difference being, Bowen does it in the West, not the weak East.

Same with the record of the Pacers. Sheesh, you've got a bunch of teams in the playoffs who couldn't even put together a winning record. I wouldn't be bragging too much about that.

Every team in the Midwest Conference topped .500. Every single one. The Wolves and Spurs are by far the class of the league.

But Artest was better this year. Lets talk about the West. He held Kobe Bryant to 12 points in the first game, Kobe didn't play in the 2nd but he held his man Devean George to 4 points. San Antonio(Pacers loss 88-89 in overtime at their house)? He held his man Bruce Bowen to 5 points while dropping 21 points on the Spurs ass. In the Pacers house, he held Bruce Bowen to 5 points not to mention the Pacers won 89-79. 1st game against Sac-town, he held Doug Christie to 4 points, the 2nd game he held Christie to 8 points. He plays killer D all the time, the Pacers have a 20-8 record against the West. X that by 2 they would have a 40-16 record against the West if they played in the west(instead of twice a year, 4 times a year). Which is pretty equal to the Twolves and San Antonio's records in the west. But it's hard to predict how the Pacers would do against the West playing their, but they have the best winning percentage against Western Conference Teams in the NBA. Don't downgrade a team's talent because they play in a weaker conference, Artest has had to matchup against great players in the East and shut them down. The West vs East all star game has been close the last 2 years, last year the game went into 2 overtimes. This year East lost by 4 points, so it's not like the East has no stars, the top players in the East are obviously as good as the top players in the west based on that. The Pacers is one of the most talented teams and they have a deep bench, I wish you would underestimate them because this team has more then the ability to win a championship. Ron Artest is a big reason why they do.

EAST FIRST ROUND

1) Indiana over 8) Boston
5) New Orleans over 5) Miami
3) Detroit over 6) Milwaukee
7) New York over 2) New Jersey

WEST FIRST ROUND

1) Minnesota over 8) Denver
4) Sacramento over 5) Dallas
3) San Antonio over 6) Memphis
2) LA Lakers over 7) Houston

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS

1) Indiana over 5) New Orleans
3) Detroit over 7) New York

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS

1) Minnesota over 4) Sacramento
2) LA Lakers over 3) San Antonio

EAST CONFERENCE FINALS

1) Indiana over 3) Detroit

WEST CONFERENCE FINALS

2) LA Lakers over 1) Minnesota

NBA FINALS

INDIANA OVER LOS ANGELES LAKERS

I hear the second place team gets a new iPod in the gift basket. If I was them I would lose on purpose in the finals. The iPod is way cooler then the ring. They could get some Runner-UP laser engraving..

{edit= way != was}

:kick:

The East is a total cakewalk for Indy and I think they're going to play Detroit in the ECF.

The West is a little tougher. I have Minny getting out of the first round at last, but falling to Sacto who will prove that "old age and treachery will beat the youth and skill" of the _allas Mavericks.

I think the Lakers will prevail over the Rockets but have a tough time doing it. Spurs should finish off Memphis quickly.

But this is where I'm stuck: Spurs/Lakers. My gut says Spurs. If I were a betting woman I'd put my $$$ on Timmy Duncan.

But I really really really want Karl Malone to be standing at center court holding the trophy with tears streaming down his cheeks as he dedicates it to his late mom and to John Stockton, who had his heart ripped out of his chest of June 14, 1998.

But since that is not meant to be I take the Spurs to win it all again.

KG will be MVP
Hubie Brown will be COY (unless Sloan wins it as Lifetime Achievement)
DPOY is Ben Wallace
ROY is Carmelo Anthony