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2008 NBA Playoff Predictions
The NBA playoffs are set to get under way on Saturday April 19. While the Western Conference is hands down the better of the two conferences, there can be some claim that the 2008 NBA Champion could be coming out of the Eastern Conference. With the regular season finally completed we can break down the playoffs round by round all the way to our prediction on who will be this year’s NBA Champion.
Western Conference 1st Round
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. Denver Nuggets
This is about as easy as it will get in the West, as the Lakers are just a far better team than the Nuggets. The Nuggets definitely have the scoring talent to keep up with the Lakers, it’s just a matter of defense, and they don’t play it. LA wins pretty easy in round 1. We are taking the Lakers in 5.
2. New Orleans Hornets vs. 7. Dallas Mavericks
Here is when things start to get a lot tougher. Your reward for finishing with the 2nd best record in the west you get to play last season’s best regular season team in the Mavericks. The Hornets come inexperienced but we don’t think it will cost them an early exit in the playoffs. We are taking the Hornets in 7.
3. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Phoenix Suns
How about this for a first round matchup, you get Shaq vs. Duncan, and that’s just the start of it. The Spurs are your defending champs and it’s hard to see them losing this early in the playoffs, but when you play in the West it doesn’t matter where you finish. We are taking the Suns in 7.
4. Utah Jazz vs. 5. Houston Rockets
This is going to be a lot closer than people might think, The Jazz are not near as good on the road and the Rockets are still going to be without Yao Ming. Though we love what the Rockets did this season it’s going to be another early exit for superstar Tracy McGrady. We are taking the Jazz in 6.
Eastern Conference 1st Round
1. Boston Celtics vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks
The Eastern Conference is just so much weaker at the bottom. The Celtics have the best record in the NBA and will easily take care of the Hawks, but we give the Hawks props for finally getting back in the playoffs. We are taking Boston in 5
2. Detroit Pistons vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers
Here again we get another dominant team against a mediocre team with no real shot at taking home a series victory. The 76ers had a great season with the talent they got, but won’t have enough to beat Detroit. We are taking Detroit in 4
3.Orlando Magic vs. 6. Toronto Raptors
This one might be a little closer than you might think. The Raptors are a solid team, but the Magic have a beast in the middle in Dwight Howard. This one might go deep but the Magic will be the team moving on. We are taking the Magic in 6,
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Washington Wizards
Everyone should remember what Lebron James did last season in the playoffs when he took his team all the way to the NBA Championship. Things won’t be any different here as a good Wizards team won’t be able to compete with the king. We are taking Cleveland in 5.
Western Conference Semifinals
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 4. Utah Jazz
Deron Williams made a name for himself last season in the playoffs, and will be the main reason Utah has any chance of getting out of the 2nd round. The thing is Kobe and the Lakers could have Andrew Bynum back for this series and he could make them even better. We are taking the Lakers in 6,
2. New Orleans Hornets vs. 6. Phoenix Suns
This is where the inexperience is going to catch up with the Hornets. Shaq is going to make everyone in Phoenix a believer after he leads the Suns to another Western Conference final. We are taking the Suns in 7.
Western Conference Finals
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 6. Phoenix Suns
The matchup everyone is dying to see, has magically appeared before us with a Kobe vs. Shaq battle for the rights to be the team out of the West to represent in the NBA finals. This is going to come down to the wire but the Lakers will be much more rested than the Suns. We are taking the Lakers in 7.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
1. Boston Celtics vs. 4. Cleveland Cavaliers
This is the first real matchup out of the Eastern Conference and though Lebron was the man last year, he just doesn’t have the supporting cast to get by a team led by KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. We are taking the Celtics in 6.
2. Detroit Pistons vs. 3. Orlando Magic
The Pistons are a playoff team and the Magic are not. Though the Magic are getting better they are still a couple players from being title contenders. The Pistons are moving on once more and will be just one game from another NBA final appearance. We are taking the Pistons in 6.
Eastern Conference Finals
1. Boston Celtics vs. 2. Detroit Pistons
It’s been all chalk in the Eastern Conference as we have all the high seeds moving on as planned. That stops here as we think the Pistons are going to be too much for the Celtics in one of the most exciting playoff matchups in the East since the Jordan era. We are taking the Pistons in 7.
NBA Finals
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 2. Detroit Pistons
This isn’t the Lakers vs. Celtics matchup that so many want to see, but should be a great battle for the NBA crown. Many people believe that whoever comes out of the West will have no chance against an East team who has faced far less competition, but we aren’t buying that. The best team will win and that’s the Lakers. We are taking the Lakers in 6.
For all your NBA playoff betting head to Sportsbook.com. Also all you horse racing fans be sure to check back soon for an in-depth look at the Kentucky Derby. As always feel free to leave any comments in our comment box.
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