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2009 First Round Playoff Predictions
By MATT ROCHINSKI
bobcats.com
April 18, 2009
Second Round Predictions | Conference Finals Predictions
The 2009 NBA Playoffs get underway today, and with the Bobcats on the outside looking after making a push for their first playoff berth, I checked in with Bobcats Television Play-By-Play Announcer Steve Martin to get his take and some predictions on the first round matchups in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. I also reached out to Bobcats fans across the web to get their take and will do the same thing before Round 2, so stay tuned if you want to get your opinion out there.
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CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (1) vs DETROIT PISTONS (8)
MARTIN: Detroit earned the right to be the first piece of rubble to roll out from under LeBron’s wheels. Their fate was sealed when they sent the heart of the franchise to Denver for Allen Iverson in the season’s first week. Remember, cap space doesn’t have a jump shot. Cavs move on in the shortest possible time.
PREDICTION: Cavaliers sweep.
ROCHINSKI: I've never hidden the fact that as a Detroit native, I have always been a fan of the Detroit Pistons, so I think I've seen this song and dance before. In the late 80's, the Bad Boys owned the NBA, winning titles in 1988-89 and 1989-90. To do so they always had to get past the Chicago Bulls, but in the early 90's, Michael Jordan and the Bulls took control, winning six of the next eight NBA Championships. Now, granted, the Cavs haven't lost to the Pistons in the playoffs since 2006, but I think this is the year LeBron and Cleveland begin to establish dominance in the playoffs. And with the season they've had, a title run might be just what Cleveland needs to convince LeBron to stick around in 2010.
PREDICTION: Cavaliers in five.
FAN ANALYSIS (LaMichael; Charlotte, North Carolina): I believe that this matchup could go seven games, and I would like to see Cleveland prevail over a long-time rival like Detroit.
PREDICTION: Cavaliers in seven.
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MARTIN: Doc Rivers says Kevin Garnett may miss the postseason with his knee injury. It looks like he’s down for at least the first round. Celtics beat the pre-trade Bulls twice…but became part of the 15-2 post All-Star home court run when John Salmons and Brad Miller came East. Great match-up within the series - Ben Gordon vs Ray Allen. The Celtics are short of bigs even with Garnett. This is the best series of the first round and it will go seven with or without KG.
PREDICTION: Celtics in seven.
ROCHINSKI: So it looks like the Celtics are going to be without perennial All-Star Kevin Garnett as they prepare to defend their 2008 NBA Championship. Without K.G., I don't think I'm the only person who thinks they won't be able to go back-to-back, but the question is who is going to be able to knock off the champs? Will it be the Bulls? Led by rookie point guard - and more than likely, the Rookie of the Year - Derrick Rose, Chicago went 5-1 in April to lock up a playoff berth. But even without Garnett, Boston was 6-1 in April and has the experience to handle the Bulls.
PREDICTION: Celtics in seven.
FAN ANALYSIS (James; Tarlac City, Philippines): Celtics in four. Celtics back-to-back champs!
PREDICTION: Celtics sweep.
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MARTIN: I score three points-you score two. It’s not hard to see who comes ahead with that arithmetic. The Magic are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA. The Sixers are the worst. What the Magic miss from long range, Dwight Howard rebounds. He also blocks more 2-pointers than 3-pointers. The key for the Magic will be can they get Rashard Lewis (knee) and Hedo Turkoglu (ankle) into this series in better health. Rafer Alston brings an attitude that is the perfect fuel to help the Magic stay in playoff mode all the way to June-assuming they get healthy again. Won’t matter against the flailing Sixers.
PREDICTION: Magic in five.
ROCHINSKI: Yes, Orlando's health is in question with Rashard Lewis (three games with knee tendinitis) and Hedo Turkoglu (two games with a sprained left ankle) both missing games to close the season, but what would have been the point of trying to play through those injuries once the Magic was locked in at the three spot? Something tells me we'll see both helping Orlando hand it to a Sixers team that lost six straight before topping the Cavaliers in Cleveland without LeBron James to close the season. Andre Iguodala can do some special things, but he doesn't have enough kryptonite to help the Sixers get past "Superman" Dwight Howard and friends.
PREDICTION: Magic in six.
FAN ANALYSIS (Pete; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): The Sixers are going to win this in four - break out the brooms!
PREDICTION: 76ers sweep.
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MARTIN: Home court advantage means a lot. The Hawks learned that last year against Boston. Now they get to put it to use against Miami. Remember their seven-game home stand in March. They won all seven against all comers and without Marvin Williams. Dwayne Wade and Joe Johnson square off to see who can carry their team the farthest. Don’t get to used to that home court thing because you know who’s waiting in the Conference semifinal.
PREDICTION: Hawks in six.
ROCHINSKI: Atlanta took the Celtics to the limit in the first round last year as an eighth seed, forcing a seventh game in Boston before eventually being eliminated. This year, the Hawks have earned home court advantage and will welcome Dwyane Wade and the Heat. Without Wade, Miami fell 81-79 in Atlanta on Tuesday, but the Hawks starters only averaged about 13 minutes. Wade has been unbelievable this season and will more than likely will the Heat to a win or two, but Atlanta's experience last year should pay off as they move on to face the Cavs.
PREDICTION: Hawks in seven.
FAN ANALYSIS (David; Ellenwood, Georgia): Hawks have better personnel but have the worst coach. D-Wade is going to get his, but I think the Hawks have too much for the Heat overall. It should be an interesting series that goes the distance.
PREDICTION: Hawks in seven.
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LOS ANGELES LAKERS (1) vs UTAH JAZZ (8)
MARTIN: The crusade is on for the purple and gold in LA. Kobe is Kobe, Lamar Odom knows his role and Andrew Bynum is back. Utah stumbles into this series having lost seven of their last nine. The Lakers drown the musicians in four games. Don’t forget to leave a tip in the hat when you walk by.
PREDICTION: Lakers sweep.
ROCHINSKI: After last year's performance in the NBA Finals, the Lakers have been on a mission to get back and win an NBA Championship in 2009. The first obstacle in their path is Utah, and with Andrew Bynum back and the Jazz in a free fall, Kobe and crew should make quick work of the Jazz. Jerry Sloan will find a way to have his squad steal one win in this series, but that's going to be it.
PREDICTION: Lakers in five.
FAN ANALYSIS (Russell; Charlotte, North Carolina): The Lakers have been dominant throughout the entire season, losing eight games in the Western Conference. The Jazz haven't been playing well as of late, losing seven of their last nine games, including the last game of the season against the Lakers. Kobe Bryant will dominate this series, and the Lakers will be glad to have Bynum back for the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Lakers sweep.
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MARTIN: How’s this for irony? New Orleans gave Birdman his real first NBA chance at being an icon (a weird one, but one just the same). And now he gets to spank their shots to kingdom come. But there’s more to the Nuggets than Chris Anderson. Lots more. The Nuggets have the length and athleticism to bottle up Chris Paul, who will need more than a healthy Tyson Chandler to win this series. Both have the ability to win on the other’s home court.
PREDICTION: Nuggets in six.
ROCHINSKI: Of all the teams in the playoffs, the Nuggets made the best in-season acquisition when they traded Allen Iverson to the Pistons for Chauncey Billups on November 3. Billups has been a stabilizing force for the Nuggets this season and helped lead them to a 54-28 record and the No. 2 seed in the West. With a healthy roster that goes 9-10 deep, Denver has too much it can throw at Chris Paul and an injury-plagued Hornets team. Peja Stojakovic (back) and Tyson Chandler (ankle) have both missed extended time this season, and if either go down in this series, it will be over for the Hornets fast. If neither goes down, it should end a bit slower.
PREDICTION: Nuggets in seven.
FAN ANALYSIS (Milton; Oakland, California): You heard it here first - the Hornets are going to take down the Nuggests in this one.
PREDICTION: Hornets in six.
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MARTIN: Season series was split between these two and it took the Spurs till the season’s last day to win the Southwest title. Can Roger Mason’s improvement offset what the Spurs lost with Ginobli out? Can Dallas find a way to win on the road (4-10 after the break)? Both teams come into the playoffs on a roll, but the Spurs get the nod here.
PREDICTION: Spurs in five.
ROCHINSKI: The Spurs have no Manu and an ailing Tim Duncan but somehow managed to secure a No. 3 seed in the West. They won their last four games to do so, with wins over Utah, in Sacramento, in Golden State and vs New Orleans, so it's hard for me to hand this series to the Mavericks. But Dallas has turned it on late in the season, taking five of their last six to move up to the No. 6 spot. Add to that, the Mavs are 15-1 at home since the All-Star break and Dirk Nowitzki has scored 20-or-more points in 25-straight games as Dallas has gone 16-9, and its tough to pick San Antonio in this one.
PREDICTION: Mavericks in six.
FAN ANALYSIS (Treshawn; Lansing, Michigan): Dallas is a team that might be a finals contender team this year. They look more focused this year i think they can go far if they play the way they been playing.
PREDICTION: Mavericks in six.
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MARTIN: Best series of the bunch, beats Boston-Chicago hands down. This series has a mean quotient built in. I know the popular pick here is Portland, but experience and meanness count. Portland’s roster brings to the table five games of playoff experience. Who’s meaner than Ron Artest, especially with a 7-6 center to back him up? The Rockets steal one of the first two in Portland and blaze a trail to the second round .
PREDICTION: Rockets in six.
ROCHINSKI: Houston fell from a potential No. 3 seed to the No. 5 seed with a single loss in Dallas on the season's last day that cost them the Southwest Division. They entered Dallas on a six-game winning streak and would have began the playoffs as the hottest team in the league with a win. Instead, the hottest team in the NBA entering postseason play is the Portland Trail Blazers, who finished the season with six-straight wins and took 10 of their last 11. Three things really matter in the NBA playoffs: if you have the best players, if you get on a roll and if you can keep home court advantage. We could debate which of these teams has the better players, but there is no question that Portland is hot right now and had the second-best record in the Western Conference on its home court at 34-7. That's going to make a difference in this series.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers in seven.
FAN ANALYSIS (Edward; Thomas, Oklahoma): Trail Blazers are going to stomp Houston in this one. It won't be close.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers sweep.
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