NBA Playoffs 1st Round Predictions

Kept this post short because I really want to play Mario 2 (sorry guys, I have my priorities). That and there won't be any drama in the NBA until Round 2. To put it in perspective, I made a 5-team series parlay today that I would be shocked if it failed.

#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #8 Philadelphia 76ers
            Derrick Rose missed roughly 40% of the games this season, and yet the Bulls still finished with the best record in the East. I’m not sure how they will hold up going forward, but this series will be a walk in the park.

Bulls over 76ers 4-0

#2 Miami Heat vs. #7 New York Knicks

            I’ll give New York one emotional victory in MSG, and that’s about it.

Heat over Knicks 4-1

#3 Indiana Pacers vs. #6 Orlando Magic

            Unless Orlando puts in a historic 3-point performance in this series, they don’t have a chance without Dwight Howard.

Pacers over Magic 4-2

#4 Boston Celtics vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks

            Doesn’t it seem like 40 years ago when the #8 seed Hawks were pushing the 2008 Celtics to a seven-game series in the first round? This series would be much more compelling if a healthy Al Horford was available for Atlanta.

Celtics over Hawks 4-2

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #8 Utah Jazz

            Utah has made a nice return to relevance this season (their first full season since the early-80s without Jerry Sloan on the bench), but this Spurs team is too deep. Guys like Gary Neal and Tiago Splitter will be the difference in this series.

Spurs over Jazz 4-2

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks

            Dirk Nowitzki will have to go bonkers for Dallas to have any chance of even winning two games in this series. Oklahoma City has its flaws, but they should blow the doors off the Mavericks.

Thunder over Mavericks 4-0

#3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #6 Denver Nuggets

            This series is more compelling with the absence of Ron Artest (sorry Ron, can’t call you Metta World Peace after you almost ripped James Harden head off last week), the Gasol/Bynum tandem will be more than enough to push the Lakers into round 2 without their psychotic small forward.

Lakers over Nuggets 4-2

#4 Memphis Grizzlies vs. #5 Los Angeles Clippers

            The Grizzlies are a bunch of scary dudes. L.A. is a swingman short in this series.

Grizzlies over Clippers 4-1