|
NBA Roundup
NBA First Round Playoff Preview and
Predictions
It's playoff time! It all comes down to this as sixteen teams battle it out for
the most coveted of NBA hardware - the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The
storylines abound as the Celtics try to continue their amazing turnaround with a
run at the trophy, the Suns get their arch nemesis Spurs in the first round,
only this time they think Shaq is the difference maker, and the surprising
Hornets try to keep their young team going and Kobe leads the Lakers against
Iverson and Anthony.
|
|
Our Pick: Celtics 4-1
The Celtics' incredible 66 win
regular season, which represents the greatest turnaround in NBA history,
will mean little if the "Boston Three Party" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen
and Paul Pierce fail to bring home a championship. The young Hawks wont
be able to stop them. The Celtics are just too talented, experienced,
and hungry. |
|
1. Sun, Apr 20 at Bos, 8:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
2. Wed, Apr 23 at Bos, 8:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
3. Sat, Apr 26 at Atl, 8:00 pm EDT
(ESPN) |
4. Mon, Apr 28 at Atl, 8:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
*5. Wed,
Apr 30 at Bos *6. Fri, May 2
at Atl *7. Sun, May 4 at Bos |
|
|
Our Pick: Pistons 4-1
The playoff tested Pistons probably don't
have much to worry about with the 76ers, a team most figured would be
lottery-bound before the season. Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala had
wonderful seasons for the Sixers but figure to have trouble with
Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace. |
|
1. Sun, Apr 20 at Det, 6:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
2. Wed, Apr 23 at Det, 7:30 pm EDT
(NBA) |
|
3. Fri, Apr 25 at Phi, 7:00 pm EDT
(ESPN2) |
4. Sun, Apr 27 at Phi, 7:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
*5. Tue,
Apr 29 at Det *6. Thu, May 1
at Phi *7. Sat, May 3 at Det
(TNT) |
|
|
Our Pick: Magic 4-1
Two of the best big men in the East, Chris
Bosh and Dwight Howard, figure to lock horns, but with the Raptors it
pretty much begins and ends with Bosh. that wont be enough to stop
Orlando. |
|
1. Sun, Apr 20 at Orl, 12:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
2. Tue, Apr 22 at Orl, 7:30 pm EDT
(NBA) |
|
3. Thu, Apr 24 at Tor, 7:30 pm EDT
(NBA) |
4. Sat, Apr 26 at Tor, 3:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
*5. Mon,
Apr 28 at Orl, 7:30 pm EDT (NBA) *6.
Thu, May 1 at Tor *7. Sat, May
3 at Orl (TNT) |
|
|
Our Pick: Cavaliers 4-3
The Cavaliers still have LeBron James but
the rest of the team is markedly different as they prepare to take on
Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards. Look for LeBron and the homecourt to be
the difference. |
|
1. Sat, Apr 19 at Cle, 12:30 pm EDT
(ESPN) |
2. Mon, Apr 21 at Cle, 7:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
3. Thu, Apr 24 at Was, 8:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
4. Sun, Apr 27 at Was, 1:00 pm EDT
(ABC) |
|
*5. Wed,
Apr 30 at Cle *6. Fri, May 2
at Was *7. Sun, May 4 at Cle |
|
|
Our Pick: Lakers 4-1
The Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant,
prepare to welcome Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets
to the Staples Center in a series that should feature a ton of scoring.
The difference here is in the 9 rings that the Zenmaster sports and
Kobe's unbelievable abilities. |
|
1. Sun, Apr 20 at LAL, 3:00 pm EDT
(ABC) |
2. Wed, Apr 23 at LAL, 10:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
3. Sat, Apr 26 at Den, 5:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
4. Mon, Apr 28 at Den, 10:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
*5. Wed,
Apr 30 at LAL *6. Fri, May 2
at Den *7. Sun, May 4 at LAL |
|
|
Our Pick: Mavericks 4-3
The 56-win Hornets club that features a
legitimate MVP candidate in Chris Paul and one of the NBA's most
underrated players in David West, but they have to face an experienced
Mavericks squad and the always deadly Dirk Nowitski and a Mavericks team
not at all happy with last years first round exit. |
|
1. Sat, Apr 19 at NO, 7:00 pm EDT
(ESPN) |
2. Tue, Apr 22 at NO, 7:00 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
3. Fri, Apr 25 at Dal, 8:00 pm EDT
(ESPN) |
4. Sun, Apr 27 at Dal, 9:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
*5. Tue,
Apr 29 at NO *6. Thu, May 1
at Dal *7. Sat, May 3 at NO
(TNT) |
|
|
Our Pick: Suns 4-3
The San Antonio Spurs begin defense of
their NBA championship against the team that blew itself up just for
this scenario. Shaquille O'Neal and the Phoenix Suns carry a grudge into
the playoffs and get the matchup that will define the season and the
trade right off the bat. |
|
1. Sat, Apr 19 at SA, 3:00 pm EDT
(ABC) |
2. Tue, Apr 22 at SA, 9:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
3. Fri, Apr 25 at Pho, 10:30 pm EDT
(ESPN) |
4. Sun, Apr 27 at Pho, 3:30 pm EDT
(ABC) |
|
*5. Tue,
Apr 29 at SA *6. Thu, May 1
at Pho *7. Sat, May 3 at SA
(TNT) |
|
|
Our Pick: Jazz 4-1
The Rockets will be without All-Star
center Yao Ming, and star swingman Tracy McGrady carries the monkey of
never having won a playoff series while the Jazz are darn near
unbeatable at home. |
|
1. Sat, Apr 19 at Hou, 9:30 pm EDT
(ESPN) |
2. Mon, Apr 21 at Hou, 9:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
|
3. Thu, Apr 24 at Uta, 10:30 pm EDT
(TNT) |
4. Sat, Apr 26 at Uta, 10:30 pm EDT
(ESPN) |
|
*5. Tue,
Apr 29 at Hou *6. Fri, May 2
at Uta *7. Sun, May 4 at Hou |
Information
provided in NBA Roundup has been gathered from A.P. reports, ESPN.com,
Sportsline.com, NBA.com and numerous other e-sources.
Archives
IF YOU THINK
THE NBA MVP IS OUT WEST? GUESS AGAIN
Great
Basketball Out West, Shaq trade paying dividends for the Suns, and just who does
Charles Barkley think is the best.
What's wrong with the Phoenix Suns?
Tim Donaghy, former NBA referee, pleads guilty to felony charges
Add
This Column To Your Site for free
Visit SportzNutz.com
for more great columns and opinion
|
