NBA Playoff Predictions (after game 1):
(1) Miami vs [8] Milwaukie (Miami in 4 or 5)
Likely to be 4, because Milwaukie could catch fire in one game, but there's no way they'll push it farther than 5. Miami is too good and too focused to let this series drag on.
(2) New York vs (7) Boston (New York in 5 or 7)
I don't think New York will be able to close this one on the road. Boston has a good coach and a lot of playoff experience and won't go down without a fight. Don't expect another 4th quarter collapse for Boston like in game 1 to happen again.
(*NOTE - Why don't the Celtics get Anthony with the stupid offensive intiated rip-through every single time down the floor?)
(3) Indiana vs (6) Atlanta (Indiana in 5)
Remember the days when Atlanta would always get to the 2nd round and then lose? Of late, they've become a one-and-done team, and that will continue this year. They just don't match up well with Indiana, and will have to give it their all just to pull out one win in the series.
(4) Brooklyn vs (5) Chicago (Brooklyn in 6 or 7)
Don't expect a repeat of game 1. As Noah gets healthier, Brooklyn will have a harder time doing what they did in the first game. Chicago doesn't have enough offensive weapons to keep up with Brooklyn, which can really start to hurt in the playoffs.
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(1) Oklahoma City vs [8] Houston (Oklahoma City in 5)
Houston had a chance to avoid OKC in the first round by defeating the Lakers; they failed and are now going to be outmatched by a far superior OKC team. OKC has a more effecient offense and a much better defense. If Harden and Lin can't get a large amount of offensive-player-contact-initiated-defensive-fouls, then they don't have any chance of winning even one game.
(2) San Antonio vs (7) LA Lakers (San Antonio in 5 or 6)
From the look at the score and what the media has been saying, you would think the Spurs had their way with the Lakers in the first game. But, I doubt even the Spurs feel that way. This game was relatively close deep into the 3rd quarter, when Manu Ginobili caught fire and push the Spurs lead into double digits. If you were watching the game, you would know that the Lakers were doing well on offense and getting good shots, they just kept missing them. If this happens again, will they adjust and look more inside? They better, Howard and Gasol are both premier post players and they need to be utilized some more. The Lakers can't be a team that lives and dies by the jumper, because they will most assuredly lose. If they don't adjust this series will end in 5.
(3) Denver vs (6) Golden State (Denver in 5)
Denver was a little antsy in game 1. None of these players have every been on a team where they were considered in the championship picture. That's a lot of pressure, which almost cost them the first game. With Lee out, Golden State lost any chance they had to make this series competitive. Faried should be back soon and Denver will roll into the 2nd round.
(4) LA Clippers vs (5) Memphis (TBD)
Another game where the score may not reflect how the series will go. Most of the Memphis bigs were in foul trouble for the majority of the game. The Clippers are good at exploiting the foul rule (where an offensive player can just into a defender's body and draw a foul), so the Grizzlies need to hope the refs watching closely on the foul calls.
