NBA
PLAYOFFS - - - - -
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NBA
Playoff Preview By
SHANNON BOOHER Ann
Arbor, MI
LineOfTheNight.com
(L.O.N.) puts on its Swami hat and gives ya'll a little
Western
and Eastern Conference Playoffs Prognostication.
WESTERN
CONFERENCE
1st
Round ----------
San
Antonio vs. Minnesota
Sorry
KG, but it's another first round exit. It could be a sweep,
but
I'll give the Wolves the benefit of the doubt and say Spurs in 4.
Portland
vs. L.A. Lakers
Undoubtedly
the best first round series in the playoffs. Although
we
hate Kobe like hell, and a first round exit for the Lakers would
virtually
lock some sort of Kobe trade, I don't see it happening. I
definitely
think this'll go the full 5 though, as these teams battled for
the
West Title last year and there's still some bad blood. Portland's
not
your
father's 7th seed. Bottom line: Lakers in 5.
Phoenix
vs. Sacramento
Does
Phoenix ever do anything in the playoffs? NO. Sacramento in
4.
Dallas
vs. Utah
We
here at L.O.N. have a confession to make. After years of utter
and
pure hatred for Stocktontomalone, we actually have developed a soft
spot
for the guys. We don't now what it is. Maybe it was the kindler
gentler
Malone at All-Star Weekend. Maybe it's two, count 'em two! Utah
players
with braids. We don't know what it is, but we actually considered
rooting
for them this year. Then we remembered the names Padgett,
Ostertaag,
Jacque Vaughn, and Hornacek and we came to our senses.
That
being said, they're still going to win this series.
Historically,
teams don't make the playoffs for the first time and then go
on
a run. Historically, Utah is a veteran playoff tested team.
Utah in
5.
2nd
Round ---------
Spurs
vs. Utah
A
tough series, but in the end Utah still just doesn't have
enought
to handle Duncan and the Spurs. Spurs in 6.
Sacramento
vs. LA Lakers
Similar
to what we said about Dallas, playoff success year to year
is
usually "one step at a time." Sacramento hasn't gotten past the first
round
before this year. The Lakers won the title last year. Lakers
in 6.
Conference
Championship -----------------------
Spurs
vs. Lakers
This
is a tough one and will be a great series. I know I'm
biased,
but I gotta go with the Spurs. The Lakers have TWO options they
can
rely on night to night, and that's it. The rest of their team is
made
up
of role players. The Spurs have 3 big time options in Duncan,
Robinson,
and The D.A. Granted no two of the Spurs players can match with
the
Lakers two, but I love the depth. It's going 7, but the Spurs take
it.
Now
for the "L.O.N. Perfect World Playoffs."
*note
in a perfect world, all series will go the distance, nothing better than
a 7th and deciding game.
1st
Round ---------
Spurs
vs. Minnesota
Duncan
and Garnett go head to head for 5 great games of basket.
Spurs
in 5.
Lakers
vs. Blazers
In
a battle every bit as good as last year's ( except 2 games
shorter
), the Blazers get an 18 pt lead in the fourth quarter of the last
game
and DON'T blow it. Instead they pour it on and beat the Lakers by
40.
As the buzzer sounds, 'Sheed dunks on Kobe so hard that both of
Kobe's
legs are broken and his career is over.
Phoenix
vs. Sacramento
Another
5 gamer. In this wonderful display of basketball at it's
high
scoring best, both teams average 150 pts a game. In the final
minutes
of the fifth and final game, Peja Stojakovich, who's known for
never
closing is mouth (as my mom would say, you're going to swallow a fly
Peja),
hits a game winning 3 to seal the series. And like we said, even
in
a fantasy world, does Phoenix ever do anything in the playoffs? No.
Utah
vs. Dallas
Dallas
runs Utah off the court in a 3 game sweep. Sorry, but
there's
some basketball we just don't want to watch.
2nd
Round ---------
San
Antonio vs. Dallas
In
this monumental "Battle of Texas" series, we see another great
7
gamer, but the playoff rookies can't handle the former world champion
Spurs.
Portland
vs. Sacramento
A
great power forward matchup here, 'Sheed vs. Webbles. Both guys
average
40 and 20, but in the final game, Stacey "The Plastic Man" Augmon
drops
33 points with 12 steals, sealing the series.
Conference
Championship -----------------------
San
Antonio vs. Portland
The
Black On Black Crime Series (see team colors). The Good Guys
vs.
the Bad Guys. Duncan vs. 'Sheed. The NBA is fantastic.
Spurs in 7.
(funny
how the Spurs win in both scenarios huh?)
EASTERN
CONFERENCE
1st
Round ---------
Philly
vs. Indiana
I'm
the Answer like Allen I. The Sixers are going to win this,
but
it should be interesting given the Pacers playoff pedigree, and given
the
fact how hot the Pacers have been down the stretch. Not to mention
the
fact you can never count Reggie Miller out in the playoffs. That
being
said, I'm going with Philly in 4, maybe even 5, but count on most of
those
games being close.
New
York vs. Toronto
If
Toronto was holding down the 4 seed, this might be a different
story.
They play far better at home than they do on road. In addition,
other
than Oakley, they don't have any one else with any sort of playoff
experience.
The Knicks on the other hand, are known for playing their
best
basketball this time of year. I'm going with the Knicks, but it'll
take
5 as the Raptors win both of their games at home.
Miami
vs. Charlotte
This
is the worst series in the first round. Boring with a
capital
B. Although the fact that these teams seem to swap players all
the
time does provide a little of a story at least. Charlotte is
basically
worthless, as their coach said, "As soft as toilet tissue."
Miami
brings out the brooms here and wins in 3. (At least we hope it's
over
in 3 games.)
Milwaukee
vs. Orlando
Now
THIS is a good matchup. There's the feud between the
coaches,
there's "I Don't Know Nothing 'Bout No Art" vs. the
Neo-Renaissance
man, and there's some tremendous players involved. Watch
for
McGrady to try and single-handedly carry the Magic ala Penny Hardaway
a
couple years back. He could average 40 a game. Shit, since he's playing
the
Bucks porous D, he may average 50! Milwaukee, who's never gotten
past
the
first round under Karl, will struggle, but will get it done in 5.
2nd
Round ---------
Philly
vs. New York
This
is playoff basketball. A tough, grind-it-out defensive
series.
Not as entertaining as say, a Sacramento-Phoenix series, but
great
in it's own way. Both of these teams have been some what
hampered
by injuries, and who is available to play could be very
important
in this series. Philly wins in 6.
Miami
vs. Milwaukee
In
other year, this would be a no-brainer, because in any
other
year you'd have to go with the defensive-minded Heat. But with
'Zo
missing most of the year, this team has really never found a
comfort
zone with each other. Milwaukee is a fine-tuned offensive
juggernaut
with no such worries. That's why I'm going with Milwaukee,
although
don't be surprise if Miami wins this series if they can get
into
a groove. Milwaukee in 7.
Conference
Championship
-----------------------
Philly
vs. Milwaukee
A
battle of clashing styles. Philly, the hard-nosed defensive
team
with the run-out-the-shot-clock-let-Allen-shoot offense, versus
Milwaukee,
the "defense is only in football right?" team, with a
high-scoring
three-headed monster offensive attack. Should be an
excellent
series. Sam Cassell will try to will his team to victory, but
in
the end they won't have enough for the Sixers. Philly in 7.
World
Championsip
-----------------
San
Antonio vs. Philly
At
this point Philly probably won't even be able to field a full
team,
with their history of injuries. They'll fight though, it's their
nature.
Unfortunately, Mutombo can't guard two men at once, so in the
end,
San Antonio will just be too much for Philly. San Antonio wins the
title
in 6.
Now
for the real fun, the "L.O.N. Perfect World Playoffs."
*unless
otherwise noted all these series go the distance, nothing better than
a 7th game in the playoffs.
1st
Round ---------
Philly
vs. Indiana
Iverson
dazzles the world, averaging 40. Mutombo, playing
superior
D, has 8 blocks a game. Isiah Thomas finally settles on a 8 man
rotation,
which includes Al Harrington. Harrington, finally playing with
confidence
shows a glimpse of his future, averaging 20 and 10. In one
game,
down 8 with 40 seconds to go, Reggie Miller pulls another tremendous
come
back out of his hat, hitting 3 straight 3's to win the game for the
Pacers.
Philly's too much in the end though and wins it.
New
York vs. Toronto
Ohhh
the Vinsanity!!!!!! Vince puts on a show like we've never
seen
before. Averaging 52 ppg, and with two games in the 60's, he carries
his
team to a first round victory. He repeatedly dunks on Marcus
Camby,
who by the end of series says he is retiring because, "My
feelings
are hurt." The Knicks immediately make arrangements to
draft
Camby's perfect replacement, Loren Woods. After every game
Vince
wears
a t-shirt to the press conference that reads, "EFF a Kobe."
Beautiful
in it's simplicity huh?
Miami
vs. Charlotte
Thank
God this series is a sweep. The general public is not
tortured
with any more than 3 Miami Heat games, as Derrick Coleman
resurrects
his career, averaging 30 pts, 12 boards, and 7 assists, and
leads
the Teile Warriors to victory.
Milwaukee
vs. Orlando
Milwaukee
displays it's offensive brilliance as a different player
leads
them in scoring in each of the five games. Ray Allen, Lindsey
Hunter,
Tim Thomas, G-Rob, and Sam Cassell, in that order. Orlando, the
direct
opposite, has T-Mac average 50 a game, and no other player averages
double
figures. Milwaukee's all-around game is too much and they move on.
2nd
Round ---------
Philly
vs. Toronto
Iverson
vs. Carter lives up to, and exceeds, everyone's
expectations.
The two guys go head to head the entire series, with one or
the
other hitting the game winning shot in each game. Game 7 seven is
a
classic.
Iverson scores 32 in the 4th, but is out-gunned by Half Man Half
Amazing,
who has 33. He wins the game on one of the nastiest dunks we've
ever
seen, over Mutombo.
Charlotte
vs. Milwaukee
We
don't want to watch Charlotte play. Milwaukee sweeps them.
Quickly.
Conference
Championship -----------------------
Toronto
vs. Milwaukee
Vince
continues the onslaught, posting unimaginable numbers.
Milwaukee,
however, proves it's still a team game, and let's face it, Alvin
Williams
and Mo' Peterson just don't match up too well with Sam-I-Am and
Glenn
Robinson. Milwaukee continues on to meet the Spurs.
World
Title -----------
Milwaukee
has nothing inside to match up with the Spiddurs (Scott
Williams
vs Tim Duncan? please.), but their sheer offensive genius gets
them
a few games. In the end the Spurs ride again.
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