Showtime redux going for the sweep.

[seshomoru]

As great as the Western Conference was this year, the playoffs are kind of laughable so far. All the West series are 3-1, except for the Lakers who have a 3-0 lead over Denver. All the top seeds are on top, too. Sort of blah, but it will make for a great semi-final round.

The East has been much the same, except that Philly has managed to sneak into a 2-2 series with Detroit, and should Atlanta win at home again tonight, they'll be even with Boston 2-2. Hmmm... Oh, and Lebron is really good.

As the first round winds down, who are you going with.

Give me Lakers and Celtics still.

 

[dawgstudent]

Lakers and Celtics and that will be one amazing series.

 

[patdog]

since the 2 dominant franchises in NBA history have squared off in the finals.

Lakers - 28 finals, 14 titles
Celtics - 19 finals, 16 titles

Nobody else has more than 9 finals (Sixers) or 6 titles (Bulls).

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I would absolutely love to see that as well. It will be amazing.

 

[dawgstudent]

Except for the coaching matchup. I could coach the Celtics to the Finals.

 

[dogfan96]

I think the WCF will be a rematch from last year.. Spurs/Jazz with the Spurs advancing once again.. I won't believe anyone can beat the Spurs 4 out of 7 when it counts until I see it happen. Spurs/Celtics (however, be wary of the King in Round 2) looks like it. I can't call that one. Two great defensive teams and a lot of star power.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I won't believe anyone can beat the Spurs 4 out of 7 when it counts until I see it happen.

You and I are on the same page. They have another year or two left in them after this, and while they are playing at this level, they are the team to beat in the playoffs regardless of seed.
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[dogfan96]

but really their main players are either in their prime (Ginobili), maybe on the back end of their prime (Duncan), or not even in their prime yet (Parker). Michael Finley is getting on in years but really all he does is shoot jumpshots. Oberto is a great role player and Bowen just does what he does. And Horry is always lurking to stick the dagger in your heart with a huge shot. Their big 3 guys create all their offense. All the other guys have to do is make open shots. The main reason I can't get behind the Lakers is because they don't defend well enough. You can get whatever shot you want against the Lakers at almost any time. They're not as bad as the Suns but still I don't think they defend well enough to win a title.

 

[bulldogs726]

I am biased but i would not count out the Hornets just yet. They had a better record than the mighty Lakers until about 2 weeks to go in the season. They set NBA record for most victories by fifteen or more in a row. They swept PHX and split with the Lakers and SA. The Jazz are actually the last team the Hornets would like to play. They also split with Boston this year as well blowing them out once and losing a blowout as well. They are for the most part very young and very high energy players. They could make a legitimate run this year at a title. Of course everyone in the West could say that.

 

[HD6]

WE LOVE IT!

I think in the East, the Cavs still have a shot, because in basketball the best player can sometimes win singlehandedly. But I do like the Lakers here, and it's probably a homer pick.

 

[lawdawg02]

i hate i'll miss tomorrow night's nbatv game. after losing two at home, the rockets won a tough game in utah, then lost a close one in game 4 (got hosed, in my completely biased opinion). without yao, it's like they're trying to run uphill. watch out for them next year, if t-mac and yao stay healthy. that's a HUGE if.

i think i like the spurs to beat the lakers. and celtics all the way in the east. garnett is an absolute beast.

 

[BewareOfMSUDawg]

Yeah, once it goes to the second round things will get very interesting. I do agree with others in the thread that I have to see someone beat the Spurs in a 7 game series before I'll believe it.

I've got a Spurs-Celtics final, although a Lakers-Celtics final would be a lot of fun to watch. Even the folks who say they've written off the NBA would tune in for that.