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Predictions for the 2002 Playoffs
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Another
year, another 10-5 season for me!
And now,
it's on to The Finals!
Well,
I almost got it perfectly right in the conference finals, except
that the Kings couldn't make their free throws, and the Lakers
played 8 vs. 5 (yes, I'm counting the referees!). Now I'm 9-5,
heading into the big show:
Nets (East
1) vs. Lakers (West 3): Well, the Nets
have had a great run, and the Lakers
have looked more vulnerable than they have in years. Still,
it's hard to overlook the fact that the Lakers beat the best
team in the league this year, Sacramento, including winning
game 7 on the road. In the Finals, L.A. has home court advantage,
and once again they'll get every call. The Nets are game, and
have a better all around team, but will come up a little short.
Lakers in 6. The sweep hurts.
Here's
my analysis of Round 3, the Conference Finals:
By now you
may be thinking, "What does Marty know about basketball?"
I went 2-2 in the 2nd round, making me 8-4 overall. But I have
my excuses. Mashburn's mysterious illness certainly killed the
Hornets, and no one knew he would miss the entire series with
the Nets. And the Mavs were in almost every game, but couldn't
make the big plays down the stretch. The real killer was game
4, with Webber and Divac fouling out, and Stojakovic spraining
his ankle, but the Kings still found a way to win. Oh well,
I still must go on:
East
Nets (1) vs. Celtics (3): Now I am a believer. The Nets
are playing beautiful team ball, and Captain
Kidd won't let this team lose. This will be a lot of fun,
but the two headed monster in Boston
can't be enough to match New Jersey's balanced attack.
Nets in 7. N-E-T-S, Nets, Nets, Nets!
West
Kings (1) vs. Lakers (3): The Lakers
are still formidable, running right through the so-called MVP
in San
Antonio in 5 games, even with a banged up Shaq.
But Sacramento
is feeling it, looking confident, and had an equally easy series
with the high flying Mavericks. This will be an unbelievable,
epic battle. I'm counting on Predrag
contributing by game 3, because I'm taking the:
Kings in 7. Close, but no cigar.
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Here's
my analysis of Round 2:
Well we
took it on the chin in the Nets/Pacers series, going into double
overtime before being knocked off. And of course we got smoked
in game 5 of the Boston- Philly series. So we're only 6-2 in
the first round. Nevertheless, we plunge boldly into our second
round predictions:
East
Nets (1) vs. Hornets (4): Yes, the Nets
surprised me in getting by the Pacers. Reggie Miller did what
I expected, but his supporting cast, especially Jermaine O'Neal,
were mostly AWOL for the series. But the Hornets
are a different animal. They have a solid starting lineup at
every position and a deep bench. They have a very good shot
even if Mashburn
misses some games. And they have the playoff experience to get
it done. No surprises this round.
Hornets in 6. No Mash hurt a lot.
Pistons
(2) vs. Celtics (3): Both teams here have little in the way
of playoff experience, but one of them has to advance to the
conference finals by default. The Pistons
underwhelmed me in their first round series with Toronto, while
the Celtics
showed me something in knocking off the Eastern Conference champs.
If Boston can continue to shoot the lights out, Detroit will
have trouble here.
Celtics in 6. Even better!
West
Kings (1) vs. Mavericks (4): No doubt about it, this will be
the most entertaining series in maybe the last five years. Both
teams can score in bunches from every position on the floor.
But I think the Mavs
have more scorers than the Kings,
plus they have the best player on the floor: Dirk
Nowitzki.
Mavericks in 6. What do Dairy Queen
and the Mavs have in common? Soft.
Lakers (3)
vs. Spurs (2): Not much to say here. The Lakers
are still the Lakers, and the Spurs
are still the Spurs, plus they may have to play without David
Robinson. Duncan
can't do it alone. Another year, but the same result. We'll
be charitable and give the Spurs one game.
Lakers in 5. Exactly!
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Here's
my analysis of Round 1:
East
Nets (1) vs. Pacers (8): These two teams have a lot of young
exciting players, most of whom have never been to the playoffs
before. The only exceptions are Jason
Kidd (undoubtedly the league's MVP this year) and Reggie
Miller (one of the all time clutch guys in the playoffs.
While the Nets
ran roughshod over the East throughout the year, the playoffs
are a different matter. The Pacers
have been fighting for their lives the last few weeks, and have
come through battle hardened and tested. This will be a hard
fought series, with Mr. Clutch proving his mettle in the end.
Pacers in 5. I was oh so close here!
Pistons
(2) vs. Raptors (7): While Toronto
has had an unbelievable run without Vince
Carter just to get into the playoffs, the Pistons
are for real. Stack
is playing some of the best basketball of his career, and Ben
Wallace will have his way inside.
Pistons in 4. A struggle, but a win.
Celtics
(3) vs. SIxers (6): Mark this down:
With or without Iverson,
there is no way the Sixers
are going out in the first round to a Boston
team that has never seen the playoffs, except on TV. The Sixers
with Iverson (who I expect to play on Sunday) will play unselfishly,
quarterbacked by the very underrated Snowman
at point. When the Sixers suit up their top 6 players for this
series, it won't even be close.
Sixers in 3. Or Not!
Hornets
(4) vs. Magic (5): This should be a very entertaining series,
with the forgotten Charlotte
franchise already halfway out the door and heading to the Big
Easy next season. The Magic
are young and fun to watch, but essentially have one marquee
player in T-Mac,
while the Hornets are a veteran team who blitzed the Heat last
year in the first round and pushed the Bucks to the limit.
Hornets in 5. Even easier than expected.
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West
Kings (1) vs. Jazz (8): A couple of years ago, it used to be
that the Kings
couldn't beat the Jazz
when it counted. Stockton
or Malone
would always step up and break Sacramento's heart. But that
was then, and now the Kings are on the fast track to elite status.
They'll go over Utah like it's nothing more than a speed bump.
Kings in 3. The Jazz still have moxie,
but not enough players.
Spurs (2)
vs. Sonics (7): After last year's disintegration against the
Lakers, I thought the Spurs
would have to revamp. They didn't, but they are peaking for
the playoffs, having caught the front running Mavericks and
taken the division title. Seattle
has been the surprise team in the West this year, with the
Glove settling his differences and taking new owner Howard
Schultz's team into the playoffs for the first time. Maybe it's
the caramel
macchiatos! But in the end, it's the:
Spurs in 4. Injuries could undo the
Spurs.
Lakers (3)
vs. Blazers (6): A couple of years ago, the Blazers
were 10 minutes away from beating the Lakers
in game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. But they choked
it away, wandered around last year, and finally got it together
this year. They're a respectable team this year, but the
Diesel is unstoppable in the paint.
Lakers in 4. A romp!
Mavericks
(4) vs. Timberwolves (5): Will the T-Wolves
ever get home court advantage in the playoffs? This year they
had a chance, but hit the skids and are once again the 5th seed.
The Mavericks
also looked a little soft down the stretch. In the end, I think
Dirk
has a better supporting cast than KG,
and the homecourt advantage counts for something.
Mavericks in 4. Much easier than expected!
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—
The Commissioner
