2011 NBA Playoff Predictions
The 2011 NBA playoffs are all set to get underway Saturday, April 16th. Here’s how I have them playing out.
Eastern Conference Playoffs 1st Round:
#1 seed Chicago Bulls v. #8 seed Indiana Pacers – Chicago took the regular season series 3-1 with those three wins coming by at least 13 points. The Pacers are good enough offensively to get a game at home if they’re hot but I can’t see them getting two. Bulls in 5.
#2 seed Miami Heat v. #7 seed Philadelphia 76ers – Miami won all three regular season meetings by nine points or more but Philly won’t go down without a fight. Heat in 6.
#3 seed Boston Celtics v. #6 seed New York Knicks – Boston took all four meetings during the regular season and showed the Knicks what they were in for by handing them a 10-point loss in the regular season finale. Still, Boston has let a lot of teams hang around in recent years. Celtics in 6.
#4 seed Orlando Magic v. #5 seed Atlanta Hawks – Atlanta won the regular season series 3-1 but it will have a tough time winning this series without home court. Plus, the Hawks are limping into the playoffs with six straight defeats. Magic in 7.
Eastern Conference Semifinals:
#1 seed Chicago Bulls v. #4 seed Orlando Magic – The Magic won the season’s first meeting but the Bulls took the next three while holding Orlando to an average of 90.0 points. Chicago’s defense will be the difference. Bulls in 6.
#2 seed Miami Heat v. #3 seed Boston Celtics – The Heat enter the playoffs playing their best ball of the season, winning 15 of their last 18 games. They lost their first three to Boston but proved what they are capable of with a 100-77 victory over the Celtics down the stretch. Miami’s big three is better and LeBron James is hungry for his first title. Heat in 7.
Eastern Conference Finals:
#1 seed Chicago Bulls v. #2 seed Miami Heat – The Heat lost three tight games to the Bulls during the season, but I like them in this series. The top-seeded Cavs went home early in last year’s playoffs, a victim of being too reliant on one player. I expect a similar fate for the Bulls, who depend so heavily on Derrick Rose. The playoffs are a different animal and it will serve Miami well to have three great scoring options in this series. Heat in 7. You can bet the Heat at +160 to win the East.
Western Conference Playoffs 1st Round:
#1 seed San Antonio Spurs v. #8 seed Memphis Grizzlies – The Spurs split with the Grizzlies during the season and figure to have a tough first round series ahead of them. Still, home court and a deeper bench should serve them well. Spurs in 6.
#2 seed Los Angeles Lakers v. #7 seed New Orleans Hornets – The Hornets, which lost all four regular season contests with the Lakers, have no shot without David West. Lakers in 4.
#3 seed Dallas Mavericks v. #6 seed Portland Trail Blazers – These teams split the season series and this series figures to be neck-and-neck as well. Home court and great depth should get Dallas into the semis. Mavs in 7.
#4 seed Oklahoma City Thunder v. #5 seed Denver Nuggets – There’s a reason why George Karl said he wanted the Mavs. His team lost three of four to Oklahoma City, which held the high-scoring Nuggets to 94 and 89 points respectively in two April matchups. Thunder in 6.
Western Conference Semifinals:
#1 seed San Antonio Spurs v. #4 seed Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder gained a lot of confidence by playing the Lakers so tough in last year’s playoffs. That confidence, and the addition of Perkins, will come in handy as they shock the veteran Spurs. Thunder in 7.
#2 seed Los Angeles Lakers v. #3 seed Dallas Mavericks – Dallas is deep and talented but relies too heavily on perimeter scoring. The Lakers should move on with a big edge in points in the paint. Lakers in 6.
Western Conference Finals:
#2 seed Los Angeles Lakers v. #4 seed Oklahoma City Thunder – The Lakers were pushed hard by the Thunder in the first round a season ago and will be again if they meet up in the conference finals, but I expect L.A. to once again come out on top. Perkins can’t defend Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum at the same time. The Lakers have too much size and too much experience. Lakers in 7. You can bet the Lakers at -145 to win the West.
NBA Finals:
Los Angeles Lakers v. Miami Heat – The Heat should be able to get a title out of their tremendous trio but not before Kobe Bryant adds a sixth championship ring. Lakers in 6. NBA odds makers have listed the Lakers at +220 to win the 2011 NBA championship.
