NBA Playoffs picks...?

IN THE EAST...IF THEY STARTED TODAY

1. CHI vs 8. PHI. Philadelphia matches up very well with Chicago, however with no consistent offensive threat for PHI...the Bulls should wrap this series up in 5 games.

2. MIA vs 7. NY. This may be the highest rated series in the 1st round. NY is still getting their lineup together and Melo is playing great basketball. MIA has floudered a bit, but once these playoffs begin we all should see the MIA everyones expects to be in the Eastern Conference Finals. Stoudamire & Melo will be factors if Mike Woodson can find a way for them to co-exist at the same time on the court. MIA does not have the bigs to compete in the paint with NY, but they do have James, Wade and Bosh...this series should be a barn burner. MIA in 6.

3. IND vs 6. ORL. No Howard, No Nelson (maybe)...no ORL wins. IND in a sweep. nuff said.

4. BOS vs 5 ATL. That 7 game series these two teams played a few years ago should be a light drama compared to this time around. Both are 7-3 in their last 10 games they match with each other very well. Both have coaches who have similar coaching styles. Both lineup are laced with veteran players. Both play very good defense, and they dont seem to like each other either. The one x-factor which could sway to one side or the other in my opinion is Rajon Rondo. If Rondo is healthy...then BOS should win. BOS in 7.

1. CHI vs 4. BOS. Another barn burner and these two teams will not disappoint. This series will go 7 games. The two best defensive teams in the league battling it out like a couple of pit bulls. Tom Thibadeux against the team he assisted to help win a title. Rose vs Rondo, Noah vs Garnett...OMG!!! I cant wait for this one. Home cooking rules though with CHI in 7.

2. MIA vs 3. IND. Let start by saying that if any of you sleep on IND...you will have nightmares. This team is much better now than they were prior to the All Star break. Hibbert and West could be the best PF/C combo in the East and MIA will find that out early. Both coaches are very inexperienced by NBA coaching standards, both are in their 2nd season as coaches. I do like IND very much, if they pound the inside, use their length to stay in front of Wade and James, MIA could be having an early summer. Bosh will have to "take his talents" to the perimeter, and MIA should get Hibbert in pick and roll situations. Hibbert is easily attracted into foul trouble, and that should be the story for IND. MIA in 7.

1. CHI vs 2. MIA. We all know what these two teams can do, question is...can either one force the other to get out of their comfort zone. The Bulls have proven they can beat MIA without Rose, but MIA proved that CHI is a different team when you attack them physically. James and Wade should log heavy minutes this series and if Wade is not 100%, this could be a short series. The key will be the Bulls bench. If the "Bench Mob" plays good basketball then CHI will see another NBA Finals. In my opinion, that will be the case as the bench wears down James, Wade and Bosh to the point wher they don't have much steam. CHI in 7.

IN THE WEST...

1. SA vs 8 UT. SA is playing the best basketball in the league right now, and UT can't stop them, they'll get competitive, but not enough to slow this train down. SA in 5.

2. OKC vs 7 DAL. OKC's title runs was halted by DAL in this rematch of the Western Conference Finals. OKC will be more focused to repay a debt. OKC in 6.

3 LAL vs 6 DEN. LAL is back and although they are having issues with Bynum, MWP, age, immaturity, and Mike Brown coaching style. DEN is not good enough to beat them 4 times. LAL in 6.

4 LAC vs 5 MEM. MEM is the one team that no one wants to play, and they will show that to the Clippers. Paul is great, Griffin is great, the Clips bench is great, but infortunately Del ***** is not. He gets out coached again while the Grizz moves on. MEM in 7.

1 SA vs 5 MEM. Last season SA was too old and beaten up to take on a young hungry Grizzles team. Can't say that this year. SA is a perfect mix of experience, youth, and added some hungry players of their own in Diaw and Jackson. This mix will end the season for MEM. SA in 6.

2 OKC vs 3 LAL. Young vs Old. New Hotness vs Old and Busted. Kobe vs Durant. OH! I forgot Metta World Peace will be back this season after missing the 1st round due to suspension. As much as I think LAL will win the series, I cannot get past Mike Brown. He makes me weary to say that LAL can win. OKC in 7.

1 SA vs 2 OKC. Coach Pop is a very good coach, maybe the best in the league. Pop has a way of exploiting your weakness and using it as an advantage. Enter: Russell Westbrook. When Westbrook uses his teammates, they roll. When he puts himself before the team (3-22 against LAL) they lose. Westbrook shoots OKC out of the playoffs. SA in 7.

NBA FINALS

SA vs CHI