NBA Playoffs

My favorite time of the year has finally arrived, "40 games in 40 nights".  And don't get me wrong, I love the World Cup and the NCAA tournament, a full month of buzzer beaters and vuvuzelas.  Sadly the Cup is only every four years and college basketball really just looked awful this year.  The NBA playoffs' excitement far exceed any event for one reason, game are aired every night for over a month.  Monday through Sunday there will be games on, sometimes more during the first round.  Sure the regular season can be a little long and drawn out but the "2nd season" of the NBA makes it worth the wait.  And yes the first round will be as chalky as "Ashy Larry" but when that second round rolls around the real fun begins.

Bulls vs Pacers:

• Not going be much of a contest, wouldn't be surprised if it was a 4-0 sweep.  Derrick Rose won't be contained by Collison so let’s not waste time on this.  
• Bulls in 5

Heat vs 76ers

• Less of a chance of getting a win than the Pacers.
• Heat in 4

Celtics vs Knicks

• If KG goes down then yes, maybe the Knicks can win.  It won't be an easy road for the Celtics but they are the savvy vets against a team that hasn't full morphed into the team we expected since the Melo trade.
• Superior defense and clutch play wins championships and the C's have both with the Big 3 still
• Celtics in 6

Magic vs Heat

• Know that the Magic had a tough time with the Hawks in the regular season but does anyone really see the Hawks taking this one?
• Hawks have hit their plateau, they will never be better than they are now without a major acquisition.  What is worse is that they know it, hence their 54% winning percentage (they'd be the 9th seed in the West)
• Magic in 6 

Spurs vs Grizzlies

• Manu is the most important players this year (sorry Duncan fans) and was involved in their top 5 most productive line ups.  On top of Manu being banged up, they split the regular season with the Griz.
• The Griz are a scrappy team with a big time scorer in Randolph and loads of defenders.  This is going to be one hell of a series for the Spurs and probably kill any Finals hopes they had. Oklahoma City should be writing their thank you letters to Memphis.
• Spurs in 6

Lakers vs Hornets

• 4-0 vs the Hornets in the regular season with an average point differential of 10.7 points and this was with West playing.
• Lakers in 4

Mavericks vs Trailblazers

• Too many people are taking the Blazers for my liking. Only 16-9 since the Wallace trade and a shell of Roy is all that is left.  Going to be a very competitive series and no one would be surprised if the Blazers upset them.  While all of this is going on the Lakers are going to be sitting back loving every moment of them beating each other up.
• Mavs in 6

Thunder vs Nuggets

• You have to be excited for this series.  Youth, athleticism, two legit super stars on the Thunder, and a team that goes 11-12 deep in Denver.  Thunder are everyone's "sleeper" to win the West but the Nuggets are being overlooked in this series.  Playing good basketball despite losing their two best players because they gained ridiculous depth.  There is no drop off at any point of the game for the Nuggets, that is scary.  
• That being said...
• Thunder in 6