The NBA playoffs...where something happens
Off the Foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
With the NBA playoffs set to begin, it's time once again for the Off the Foul Pohl playoff predictions.
We're going to count down the teams, from No. 16 to No. 1, based on the order they will be eliminated from the playoffs.
Without further ado…
16. Detroit Pistons - This isn't the same Pistons team that upset the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals. In fact, it's not even close. While Allen Iverson sits on the bench, pouting about practice and playing time, Detroit doesn't stand a chance against Cleveland. The NBA…where crying happens.
15. Utah Jazz - The Jazz might be the NBA's most unlucky team this season. Utah has dealt with injuries all season long, as has been without All-Star forward Carlos Boozer for much of the year. This team is better than a No. 8 seed, and is deserving of an easier first-round matchup, but either way, the Jazz won't take down the Lakers.
14. Chicago Bulls - The Bulls are one of the great stories of the NBA this season, thanks in large part to rookie point guard Derrick Rose, who carried Chicago into the playoffs. Depending on Kevin Garnett's availability, the Bulls might be able to steal one or two games from the Celtics, but they won't win the series. Either way, watching Derrick Rose vs. Rajon Rondo will be fun.
13. Philadelphia 76ers - Last year, Philly hung tough with Detroit in the first round of the playoffs before eventually running out of gas. Expect more of the same this year. Philly will hang tough with Orlando before eventually running out of gas. Hey, at least the Phillies won a championship!
12. Dallas Mavericks - Somehow, Dallas ended up with the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. The Mavs aren't that good. It's really surprising that they even made the playoffs. Dirk is becoming more and more of a stiff as his career goes on and he advances in age. If he has to guard Tim Duncan, he will be embarrassed.
11. Atlanta Hawks - The high-flying Hawks were the surprise of the playoffs last season, extending their series with the Celtics to seven games before falling short. This team is a year older and wiser, but too much Dwyane Wade will spell a first-round exit for Atlanta.
10. New Orleans Hornets - The Hornets are fun to watch, have the best point guard in the NBA in Chris Paul and have a legitimate shot at upsetting the Nuggets in the first round. If they are to have a shot at the upset, the Hornets will need more than Chris Paul, as good as he is. Without a supporting cast playing well, Denver will win this serious.
9. Houston Rockets - Yao Ming will not win an NBA title. This will not change this year. End of story.
8. Miami Heat - With apologies to LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or any other player in the association, Dwyane Wade should be the NBA's MVP. There, I said it. Without Wade, the Heat are the worst team in the league. Wade has carried the Heat all season despite not having any help whatsoever. (For the record, 30-year-old Jermaine O'Neal playing like 50-year-old Jermaine O'Neal does not count as help.)
7. Denver Nuggets - If the Nuggets escape the Hornets in round one, don't expect them to get past the Spurs in round two. Injuries could play a factor in the series for San Antonio, but too much Tim (Duncan) and Tony (Parker) will send the Nuggets back to the Colorado mountains. At least the Rockies are still playing, right?
6. Portland Trail Blazers - The young Blazers have been a trendy breakthrough pick for the last several seasons. This year, they finally managed to live up to the hype, securing the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Brandon Roy is as fun to watch as almost anyone in the league, and yes, Greg Oden still looks like he's 40 years old. Regardless, the Blazers will eventually run into the Lakers, and that won't end well.
5. Orlando Magic - The Magic were really good this year…until Jameer Nelson went down. Since Nelson's injury, Orlando hasn't been the same. The Magic are still good (they do have Superman, after all), but without Nelson, they won't be able to beat the Celtics, even if Garnett is out for the playoffs.
4. Boston Celtics - The champs are going to do everything in their power to defend their title. With Garnett, the Celtics are the only team in the East capable of stopping the Cavs. Without him, they will play gritty and gutsy, but will come up short. It will be a valiant effort, but this time, anything is not possible.
3. San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs have been banged up all season long, and Manu Ginobili is out for the season. But if there's one thing we've learned over the past several seasons, it's to never count out this team. Whether Gregg Popovich looks like Tom Hanks from "Castaway" or not, he's one of the best coaches of all time. Add to that Duncan and Parker, and you never know how far they could go.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers - For the second time in three seasons, the Cavs will make it to the NBA Finals. If they don't, it will be one of the biggest choke jobs in sports history, joining the likes of the New York Mets, Jean Van de Velde and, most recently, Kenny Perry. LeBron is really, really, really, really, really good. We know that. We don't know how his teammates will play when all the marbles are on the line. (On a side note, reason No. 1 for why LeBron shouldn't win the MVP: Mo Williams. As great as LeBron is, without Williams, the Cavs aren't the top seed and don't make the Finals.)
1. Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers will be back in the Finals for the second straight season, and this time, expect them to take the title back to Los Angeles. Pau Gasol has become one of the best big men in the league, and Kobe is still capable of dropping 60 on any given night. The Cavs can't beat the Lakers in a seven-game series, even if the Cavs have home court advantage. The Los Angles Lakers…your 2009 NBA Champions.
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
We're going to count down the teams, from No. 16 to No. 1, based on the order they will be eliminated from the playoffs.
Without further ado…
16. Detroit Pistons - This isn't the same Pistons team that upset the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals. In fact, it's not even close. While Allen Iverson sits on the bench, pouting about practice and playing time, Detroit doesn't stand a chance against Cleveland. The NBA…where crying happens.
15. Utah Jazz - The Jazz might be the NBA's most unlucky team this season. Utah has dealt with injuries all season long, as has been without All-Star forward Carlos Boozer for much of the year. This team is better than a No. 8 seed, and is deserving of an easier first-round matchup, but either way, the Jazz won't take down the Lakers.
14. Chicago Bulls - The Bulls are one of the great stories of the NBA this season, thanks in large part to rookie point guard Derrick Rose, who carried Chicago into the playoffs. Depending on Kevin Garnett's availability, the Bulls might be able to steal one or two games from the Celtics, but they won't win the series. Either way, watching Derrick Rose vs. Rajon Rondo will be fun.
13. Philadelphia 76ers - Last year, Philly hung tough with Detroit in the first round of the playoffs before eventually running out of gas. Expect more of the same this year. Philly will hang tough with Orlando before eventually running out of gas. Hey, at least the Phillies won a championship!
12. Dallas Mavericks - Somehow, Dallas ended up with the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. The Mavs aren't that good. It's really surprising that they even made the playoffs. Dirk is becoming more and more of a stiff as his career goes on and he advances in age. If he has to guard Tim Duncan, he will be embarrassed.
11. Atlanta Hawks - The high-flying Hawks were the surprise of the playoffs last season, extending their series with the Celtics to seven games before falling short. This team is a year older and wiser, but too much Dwyane Wade will spell a first-round exit for Atlanta.
10. New Orleans Hornets - The Hornets are fun to watch, have the best point guard in the NBA in Chris Paul and have a legitimate shot at upsetting the Nuggets in the first round. If they are to have a shot at the upset, the Hornets will need more than Chris Paul, as good as he is. Without a supporting cast playing well, Denver will win this serious.
9. Houston Rockets - Yao Ming will not win an NBA title. This will not change this year. End of story.
8. Miami Heat - With apologies to LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or any other player in the association, Dwyane Wade should be the NBA's MVP. There, I said it. Without Wade, the Heat are the worst team in the league. Wade has carried the Heat all season despite not having any help whatsoever. (For the record, 30-year-old Jermaine O'Neal playing like 50-year-old Jermaine O'Neal does not count as help.)
7. Denver Nuggets - If the Nuggets escape the Hornets in round one, don't expect them to get past the Spurs in round two. Injuries could play a factor in the series for San Antonio, but too much Tim (Duncan) and Tony (Parker) will send the Nuggets back to the Colorado mountains. At least the Rockies are still playing, right?
6. Portland Trail Blazers - The young Blazers have been a trendy breakthrough pick for the last several seasons. This year, they finally managed to live up to the hype, securing the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Brandon Roy is as fun to watch as almost anyone in the league, and yes, Greg Oden still looks like he's 40 years old. Regardless, the Blazers will eventually run into the Lakers, and that won't end well.
5. Orlando Magic - The Magic were really good this year…until Jameer Nelson went down. Since Nelson's injury, Orlando hasn't been the same. The Magic are still good (they do have Superman, after all), but without Nelson, they won't be able to beat the Celtics, even if Garnett is out for the playoffs.
4. Boston Celtics - The champs are going to do everything in their power to defend their title. With Garnett, the Celtics are the only team in the East capable of stopping the Cavs. Without him, they will play gritty and gutsy, but will come up short. It will be a valiant effort, but this time, anything is not possible.
3. San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs have been banged up all season long, and Manu Ginobili is out for the season. But if there's one thing we've learned over the past several seasons, it's to never count out this team. Whether Gregg Popovich looks like Tom Hanks from "Castaway" or not, he's one of the best coaches of all time. Add to that Duncan and Parker, and you never know how far they could go.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers - For the second time in three seasons, the Cavs will make it to the NBA Finals. If they don't, it will be one of the biggest choke jobs in sports history, joining the likes of the New York Mets, Jean Van de Velde and, most recently, Kenny Perry. LeBron is really, really, really, really, really good. We know that. We don't know how his teammates will play when all the marbles are on the line. (On a side note, reason No. 1 for why LeBron shouldn't win the MVP: Mo Williams. As great as LeBron is, without Williams, the Cavs aren't the top seed and don't make the Finals.)
1. Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers will be back in the Finals for the second straight season, and this time, expect them to take the title back to Los Angeles. Pau Gasol has become one of the best big men in the league, and Kobe is still capable of dropping 60 on any given night. The Cavs can't beat the Lakers in a seven-game series, even if the Cavs have home court advantage. The Los Angles Lakers…your 2009 NBA Champions.
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
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