My 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions

Here are my 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions, Please don’t bet the ranch, farm or junior’s college fund based on my predictability (or lack thereof.

Here we go:

Eastern Conference First Round:

(1) Chicago vs. (8) Indiana – The ugliest girl goes home before the red cups are empty. Bulls in 4

(4) Orlando vs. (5) Atlanta – The Hawks played worse than a fifth seed down the stretch and the Magic played better than a four at times. Magic in 6

(3) Boston vs. (6) New York – Can the C’s put the Perkins trade in the rear view and stay healthy? The Knicks will give Boston all that they can handle. Boston in a hard 7

(2) Miami vs. (7) Philadelphia – Philly played the Heat tough in the regular season – moral victories don’t count here. Heat in 6

Western Conference First Round:

(1) San Antonio vs. (8) Memphis – The Grizzlies could do some damage here but they killed themselves just to stay in the playoff picture. Spurs in 6

(4) Oklahoma City vs. (5) Denver – Will battle the Celtics/Knicks for the best first round series. Thunder in 7

(3) Dallas vs. (6) Portland – The Mavericks are who we thought they were. Blazers in 6

(2) LA Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans – The moving van is idling outside of Chris Paul’s home, destination: stay tuned. Lakers in 4

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals:

(1) Chicago vs. (4) Orlando – Superman, meet Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
Bulls in 6

(3) Boston vs. (2) Miami – Boston digs down deep, defying time and the
odds. Celtics in 7

Western Conference Semi Finals:

(1) San Antonio vs. (4) Oklahoma City – The Spurs can’t keep up with the younger, athletic Thunder. Thunder in 6

(2) LA Lakers vs. (6) Portland – The Blazers give the Lakers a war but Kobe & Co. move on. Lakers in 6

Eastern Conference Finals:

(1) Chicago vs. (3) Boston – Chicago is no city for old men – Bulls in 6

Western Conference Finals:

(2) LA Lakers vs. (4) Oklahoma City – The Thunder get closer but are a year away from dethroning the Lakers. Lakers in 7

NBA Finals:

Chicago vs. LA Lakers – Twenty years since Michael vs. Magic – same result. Bulls in 6

This wasn’t easy because there is room for an upset or two – Denver, one of the hottest teams in the second half could upset the Thunder. and the Knicks could very well send Boston packing. But I’ll live with these picks.