The NBA season's here!!!

[Arkhams Finest]

The Lakers will destroy defeat Denver; Denver has a hard time playing away from home.

There u go.

[blyempowered]

The Lakers will destroy Denver; Denver has a hard time playing away from home.

Idk about that. I could see a Lakers/Nuggets matchup going to 6 games if Lakers are focused.

But again, a Lakers/Thunder matchup scares me the most. I'm beginning to believe that series will go to 7 and maybe could go either way (especially if Lakers some how drop to #4 seed and have to have a potential game 7 on the road). This year will probably be the hardest (and we thought last year was rough.....lol) year for Lakers to win the title because Lakers are older, Artest is not focused and Thunder match up well. This is going to be fun!

[cordney]

Idk about that. I could see a Lakers/Nuggets matchup going to 6 games if Lakers are focused.

But again, a Lakers/Thunder matchup scares me the most. I'm beginning to believe that series will go to 7 and maybe could go either way (especially if Lakers some how drop to #4 seed and have to have a potential game 7 on the road). This year will probably be the hardest (and we thought last year was rough.....lol) year for Lakers to win the title because Lakers are older, Artest is not focused and Thunder match up well. This is going to be fun!

The Thunder are the only team in the west that scares me.  With that being said, anything can happen. 

[Arkhams Finest]

The Thunder are the only team in the west that scares me.  With that being said, anything can happen.

Absolutely.  They're big, young, athletic, and they have two top notch scorers in Durant and Westbrook.  The Spurs have fallen off and the Mavs are only good in the regular season.  The Nuggets are a darkhorse, but they don't have what it takes.

[blyempowered]

So the Heat can wrap up the #2 seed tonight if they win AND Boston lose. The way it looks Heat will face 76ers in the 1st round. I'm kind of disappointed because I kind of wanted to see a Heat/Knicks 1st round. I think the Knicks could push that series to a 6 or 7 game series.

[blyempowered]

So I'm watching the NBA show on ESPN. They were talking about how Lakers could drop to #4 seed. I think I talked about this already, but I do NOT want Lakers as #4 seed facing Denver in 1st round. Denver is dangerous. I can't wait till everything is settled so I can give my predictions. Again, like it was said today, Oklahoma City is a team that is danger and probably has the BEST chance to eliminate Lakers. Wow!

[blyempowered]

Also, I'd like to make the prediction that if the Lakers lose before getting to the Finals, I will make the Heat the favorite to win it all. Bulls are good but I'm not quite convinced they can win it all THIS YEAR because if you slow down Rose, you can slow down the bulls.

[blyempowered]

So the Eastern Conference Playoff seedings are set.

1st round:
(1) Bulls vs ( Pacers
(2) Heat vs (7) 76ers
(3) Celtics vs (6) Knicks
(4) Magics vs (5) Hawks

I believe the Bulls will beat the Pacers in 5 games. I think the Heat will beat the 76ers in 5 games even though 76ers won't be an easy out. Celtics/Knicks may be the most exciting 1st round matchup of the playoffs. Right now I will go with the upset of Knicks beating Celtics in 7 games. Last, I think the Magic/Hawks series could go either way but I will stick reluctantly with Magic beating Hawks in 7 games.

[chevonee]

So the Eastern Conference Playoff seedings are set.

1st round:
(1) Bulls vs ( Pacers
(2) Heat vs (7) 76ers
(3) Celtics vs (6) Knicks
(4) Magics vs (5) Hawks

I believe the Bulls will beat the Pacers in 5 games. I think the Heat will beat the 76ers in 5 games even though 76ers won't be an easy out. Celtics/Knicks may be the most exciting 1st round matchup of the playoffs. Right now I will go with the upset of Knicks beating Celtics in 7 games. Last, I think the Magic/Hawks series could go either way but I will stick reluctantly with Magic beating Hawks in 7 games.

I think the Celtics/Knicks series will go 7 games with the Celtics pulling it off. I think the Hawks/Magic series will be very exciting but the Magic should win in 7 games. I still wish they would shorten the first round. I watched the NBDL playoffs last night and it was exciting because their series goes 3 games.

[PianoClubhouse]

ive said it before.....will say it again....the HEAT will be the next NBA champions!! I'm not a fan of them, i just know they can, and will destroy everything in their path once the playoffs begin!

[Arkhams Finest]

So the Eastern Conference Playoff seedings are set.

1st round:
(1) Bulls vs ( Pacers
(2) Heat vs (7) 76ers
(3) Celtics vs (6) Knicks
(4) Magics vs (5) Hawks

I believe the Bulls will beat the Pacers in 5 games. I think the Heat will beat the 76ers in 5 games even though 76ers won't be an easy out. Celtics/Knicks may be the most exciting 1st round matchup of the playoffs. Right now I will go with the upset of Knicks beating Celtics in 7 games. Last, I think the Magic/Hawks series could go either way but I will stick reluctantly with Magic beating Hawks in 7 games.

As much as I'd love to see that, I don't think it happens.  Melo and Stoudamire are great but they don't do defense.  The rest of the team follows their example.

I agree with the Heat going to the Finals.  Wade is a great defender and if you put him on Rose you can slow him down.  Wade is a VERY good defender.  He really frustrated Kobe, which is saying something.  He racks up steals and blocks and he has good quickness.

On that note, is anyone else amazed at Wade's timing when it comes to blocking shots?  It's pretty ridiculous.  He waits, waits, waits, then swats your shot away!  He did it twice in the Boston game.  Looked like a young Mutumbo!     It's really quite amazing to see a 6'4 Guard swatting shots like that.

Anyway, D-Wade + Lebron in the playoffs is just too much for the Bulls IMO.

I agree with the Magic beating the Hawks.  I also agree it will be a closer series than many expect.

[chevonee]

ive said it before.....will say it again....the HEAT will be the next NBA champions!! I'm not a fan of them, i just know they can, and will destroy everything in their path once the playoffs begin!

I hope you're right because I would love to see Heat vs Lakers in the finals. That would be must see TV simply because Kobe hates Lebron.

[Arkhams Finest]

I hope you're right because I would love to see Heat vs Lakers in the finals. That would be must see TV simply because Kobe hates Lebron.

Kobe, Pau, Lebron, Wade, Bosh, all on the same court for the NBA Championship?

You KNOW David Stern wants that matchup.  It would have the best ratings the NBA Finals have seen in years.

[SirTJ]

Sorry, but I just don't see the Lakers in the finals. They are a banged up team. No one likes to talk about the Spurs because they're roster doesn't boast any of the NBA's marquee names, but they are the most complete TEAM in the league right now -- and I'm not just saying that as a die hard fan. I'm thinking Bulls-Spurs in the Finals. Maybe Heat-Spurs.

[blyempowered]

@TJ I kind of think that's possible but I think Thunder/Heat final is a heavy possibility.

[cordney]

Sorry, but I just don't see the Lakers in the finals. They are a banged up team. No one likes to talk about the Spurs because they're roster doesn't boast any of the NBA's marquee names, but they are the most complete TEAM in the league right now -- and I'm not just saying that as a die hard fan. I'm thinking Bulls-Spurs in the Finals. Maybe Heat-Spurs.

TJ,

The Spurs are a great team, but I don't see them coming out the West.  They might have trouble in the 1st round, depending on matchups.  The Lakers aren't really banged up...they just aren't playing that well.  Hopefully, we can change that tonight.  I do believe we are the best team in the West; however, I feel the western conference is a two man race (La & OKC.)

The Bulls are the most complete team in the East...hands down!  However, the Heat will always have the best two players on the court, in the eastern conference, whenever they play.  I think the Bulls match up pretty well against the Heat as far as athleticism, if they meet, it should be a good series.  I don't think we can count out the Knicks, the Celtics, or the Magic.  They all have what it takes physically to win a championship.  The question is:  Do they have what it takes mentally?

NBA Finals Prediciton:  Lakers vs who cares....Lakers win!!!

[SirTJ]

I don't think Phil Jackson is going to play the starters very much tonight, and I pretty much know Popovich isn't going to play his starters much. Too risky, and no gain. Tonight's Lakers-Spurs game won't mean much.

[blyempowered]

@TJ Lakers have to win next 2 games to avoid possibly being #4 seed...SMH!

[SirTJ]

@TJ Lakers have to win next 2 games to avoid possibly being #4 seed...SMH!

Kobe said a few weeks ago that they don't care what seed they are.

[blyempowered]

Kobe said a few weeks ago that they don't care what seed they are.

Lakers SHOULD care what seed they get. With Oklahoma City being a team that I think is capable of upsetting Lakers, Lakers need home court...SMH!