2010 NBA Playoff Preview

I thought I would get a jump on the NBA Playoffs before the mainstream media hypes this one to unwatchable proportions. Here we go.

Eastern Conference

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #8 Chicago Bulls

First thought, the Bulls don't stand a chance against a rested and motivated El BJ. But on second thought, yeah, the Bulls don't stand a chance.

Prediction: 4-0 Cleveland.

Margin of error: 0.0000000001%, but seriously, there is no way in hell Chicago is winning this series. If they got two wins Vinnie Del Negro would save his job till after The Finals.

#2 Orlando Magic vs. #7 Charlotte Bobcats

I don't see why Orlando shouldn't win this series. They are clicking as a team when matters most but you can never underestimate a Larry Brown coached team.

Prediction: 4-2 Orlando

Margin of error: 10%. If Orlando is looking ahead to a match up with Cleveland they could be looking at a game 7.

#3 Atlanta Hawks vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks

My wife still doesn't think that Milwaukee actually has a NBA basketball team and that matters. And with Andrew Bogut out for the season the positive vibe surrounding this Buck team took a big hit.

Predication: 4-1 Atlanta

Margin of error: 30%. I still think Milwaukee has a lot of heart and will be tough on the Hawks but Joe Johnson and Seattle's own Jamal Crawford will carry Atlanta.

#4 Boston Celtics vs. #5 Miami Heat

No winners here. Boston is really lucky to avoid Milwaukee even with Bogut out but Miami was red hot to finish the season. However, I think the Heat's recent success is a little bit of smoke and mirrors.

Prediction: 4-2 Boston

Margin of error: 45%. Rats are jumping off the Boston ship faster then front running Cowboy fans with the Pierce/Garnett/Allen age coming to an end. And what if Miami is actually playing good basketball right now?

Western Conference

#1 LA Lakers vs. #8 OKC ball club.

Let's just get to the point. If Seattle still had the Sonics this town would be erupting right now. Shoot, you'd probably get a $500 million stadium approved even with the crappy economy (No, seriously, the tax on Safeco and Qwest is expiring and you don't think the voters wouldn't roll that over to a Key Arena renovation?).

This match up just reeks of an upset. Kevin Durant gets so many calls that it would offset the biased officiating to get a Kobe/El BJ match up in the finals. Plus the Lakers are playing their worst ball of the season with Black Mamba back in the line up with his injured finger that he has not allowed to heal for the past two years.

Prediction: 4-2 OKC

Margin of error: 75%. The Lakers are still the world champs and I admit that I am biased against them. But I seriously smell and upset, or am I just rooting for one. It should be noted that I hate OKC too.

#2 Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs

I guess the Spurs are playing better and every expert is saying that San Antonio should be rated higher then a #7 seed. But I think the experts are just hedging their early season predictions that this team would compete for a championship.

Plus I think that Dallas is playing their best ball right now and it has to do with their toughness. I'm glad the Blazers are not playing them even though Utah would be worse.

Prediction: 4-1 Dallas

Margin of error: 25%. Maybe the experts are right but my margin of error represents my trust in the "experts."

#3 Phoenix Suns vs. #6 Portland Trail Blazers

Pretty much everyone thinks that the success of Portland depends on Brandon Roy's injured knee. While I think that a healthy Brandon Roy helps the Blazers chances, I still think this team minus a healthy Roy will surprise some casual observers out there. The addition of Marcus Camby has made Portland one of the toughest defensive teams in the league (something that Roy has not excelled in this year) and the depth of this team has been tested all year long with over 300 player games lost to injuries.

But Phoenix is red hot and has a pretty solid bench. Steve Nash has not lost a step since his MVP seasons and Amare Stoudemire is playing his best basketball of his career (I even think I saw him play defense for an entire possession against Denver but I was half asleep).

Prediction: 4-2 Portland

Margin of error: 60%. I'm a huge Portland homer so I do not see things clearly when predicting Blazer games. But Portland won the series 2-1 with a win in Phoenix and was a horrific shooting performance in the last game from a sweep.

#4 Denver Nuggets vs. #5 Utah Jazz

I'm not sure how much gas is left in the tank for Denver. With the Birdman and K-Mart playing injured the middle is soft and with Coach Karl still fighting throat cancer focusing Carmelo will be a challenge for interm coach Adrian Dantley. But they have great leadership in Chauncy Billips and Nene is the most underrated center in the league.

Utah is playing surprising well for the season and Derron Williams will just abuse a slower Billups throughout the series. But the Jazz are still not a good road team even for a veteran team. You can't trust that kind of stuff.

Prediction: 4-3 Denver

Margin of error: 50%. It all comes down if the Jazz can show up on the road. They are 21-20 away from home this season so I think 50% is a correct assumption.

-Beavers415