The NBA Playoffs are the favorite part of every basketball fan's season. They are filled with upsets and surprise performances by under rated players. All of these surprises make it hard to predict what will happen, but based on what I have seen all year here are my predictions for the 2009 NBA Playoffs.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers over No. 8 Detroit Pistons, 4-0
- The Cavaliers are already up 2-0 and the Pistons cannot stop LeBron James.
No. 2 Boston Celtics over No. 7 Chicago Bulls, 4-3
- Despite losing forwards Leon Powe and Kevin Garnett to injuries, the Celtics will steal a game in Chicago and take the series with a win at home.
No. 3 Orlando Magic over No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
- Despite a comeback victory in game one, the 76ers do not have the firepower to win the series. Elton Brand also does not have the agility to stop Dwight Howard. The series will be competitive but my money is on Orlando.
No. 4 Atlanta Hawks over No. 5 Miami Heat, 4-1
- The Hawks have found a way to stop Dwayne Wade. This means trouble for the Miami Heat since they cannot win with out Wade.
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers over No. 4 Atlanta Hawks, 4-2
- Can anyone stop LeBron? Maybe someone can stop him but they are not part of Atlanta. The play from Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mo Williams will lift the Cavs over the Hawks.
No. 3 Orlando Magic over No. 2 Boston Celtics, 4-2
- Without Powe or KG the Celtics are hopeless in trying to stop Howard. Hedo Turkoglu matches up well with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis can match up with Paul Pierce. The Celtics don't have anyone who can match up against Howard, which will make it hard for Boston to win. Orlando will upset the 2008 champions.
Eastern Conference Champions
No. 3 Orlando Magic over No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-2
- A very competitive series, but the Magic have something the other teams do not: someone who can guard LeBron. Rashard Lewis is the type of player who has been absent from the other Eastern Conference teams. There is also no Cavalier that can guard Dwight Howard. We saw this when the Magic handed the Cavs a 25-point loss just three weeks ago.
Eastern Conference Champions
Orlando Magic
WESTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers over No. 8 Utah Jazz, 4-1
- The Jazz do not have anyway to stop the Lakers big men. Not only do the Jazz struggle on defense, but they also lack a real offense. Both of these factors point to a quick series.
No. 2 Denver Nuggets over No. 7 New Orleans Hornets, 4-1
- J.R. Smith is the X-factor for the Nuggets and the Hornets will struggle to find an answer to him. Even though Chris Paul is an all-star, his play will not be enough to stop the sinking ship that is the New Orleans Hornets.
No. 6 Dallas Mavericks over No. 3 San Antonio Spurs, 4-2
- The Spurs will not have much of a chance in containing the Mavericks guards without Manu Ginobili. The Mavs have already stolen a game in San Antonio and will not lose at home.
No. 5 Houston Rockets over No. 4 Portland Trail Blazers, 4-2
- No Portland Trail Blazer can stop Yao Ming in the playoffs. Yao often has a mediocre regular season, but pulls it together when it counts. If he pulls it together again this year the Rockets will win in six.
Western Conference Semi-Finals
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers over No. 5 Houston Rockets, 4-1
- Pau Gasol will stop Yao Ming. Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum will do the rest on offense propelling the Lakers to a quick series win.
No. 6 Dallas Mavericks over No. 2 Denver Nuggets, 4-3
- Dirk Nowitski and Jason Kidd will be too much for the Nuggets to handle. It will be a long series but eventually the Nuggets will lose at home in Game Seven.
Western Conference Finals
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers over No. 6 Dallas Mavericks, 4-1
- Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd will be worn down from a rough and tumble serious with Denver. With little energy they will slump off to the powerful Lakers. The Mavs will be tired and as a result will fall to the Lakers quickly.
Western Conference Champion
Los Angeles Lakers
NBA FINALS
Los Angeles Lakers over Orlando Magic, 4-3
- Dwight Howard can match up to Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol rendering the big men useless for both teams. Kobe will prove too much for a drained Rashard Lewis though and that will be the Magic's biggest problem. The Lakers will finally be back to the top after a long fight with a tough Magic team.
NBA Champions
Los Angeles Lakers
You can reach this staff writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
