WESTERN CONFERENCE MATCHUPS (1) San Antonio Spurs (61-21) vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies (46-36) Regular-season series tied 2-2 (2) Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets (46-36) Lakers won regular-season series 4-0 (3) Dallas Mavericks (57-25) vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers (48-34) Regular-season series tied 2-2 (4) Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27) vs. (5) Denver Nuggets (50-32) Thunder won regular-season series 3-1 EASTERN CONFERENCE MATCHUPS (1) Chicago Bulls (62-20) vs. (8) Indiana Pacers (37-45) Bulls won regular-season series 3-1 (2) Miami Heat (58-24) vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers (41-41) Heat won regular-season series 3-0 (3) Boston Celtics (56-26) vs. (6) New York Knicks (42-40) Celtics won regular-season series 4-0 (4) Orlando Magic (52-30) vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks (44-38) Hawks won regular-season series 3-1 2011 NBA PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE The playoffs tip off on Saturday, April 16, with Game 1 of the Chicago Bulls-Indiana Pacers Series. Here's the full opening-round schedule (all times Eastern; tipoff times and TV channels included if they've already been announced — subject to change): Saturday, April 16 Game 1: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls, 1 p.m. (ESPN) Game 1: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat, 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Game 1: Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Game 1: Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Sunday, April 17 Game 1: Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs, 1 p.m. (TNT) Game 1: New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers, 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Game 1: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. (TNT) Game 1: Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. (TNT) Monday, April 18 Game 2: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat, 7 p.m. (TNT) Game 2: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls, 9:30 p.m. (TNT) Tuesday, April 19 Game 2: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. (TNT) Game 2: Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic, 7:30 p.m. (NBATV) Game 2: Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 Game 2: Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. (TNT) Game 2: Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. (NBATV) Game 2: New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (TNT) Thursday, April 21 Game 3: Chicago Bulls at Indiana, TBD (NBATV) Game 3: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers, TBD (TNT) Game 3: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers, 10:30 p.m. (TNT) Friday, April 22 Game 3: Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks, TBD (ESPN2) Game 3: Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, TBD (ESPN) Game 3: Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Hornets, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday, April 23 Game 4: Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers, 2 p.m. (TNT) Game 4: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers, 5 p.m. (TNT) Game 4: San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. Sunday, April 24 Game 4: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers, 1 p.m. (ABC) Game 4: Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Game 4: Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. (TNT) Game 4: Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Hornets, 9:30 p.m. Monday, April 25 Game 5: Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks*, TBD Game 4: San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies, TBD Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 Game 5: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics*, TBD Game 5: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls*, TBD Game 5: New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers*, TBD Game 5: Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic*, TBD Wednesday, April 27 Game 5: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat*, TBD Game 5: Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs*, TBD Game 5: Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder*, TBD Thursday, April 28 Game 6: Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks*, TBD Game 6: Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Hornets*, TBD Game 6: Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers*, TBD Game 6: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers*, TBD Friday, April 29 Game 6: Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets* TBD Game 6: Boston Celtics at New York Knicks*, TBD Game 6: Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers*, TBD Game 6: San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies*, TBD Saturday, April 30 Game 7: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls*, TBD Game 7: Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks*, TBD Game 7: New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers*, TBD Game 7: Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic*, TBD Sunday, May 1 Game 7: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics*, TBD Game 7: Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat*, TBD Game 7: Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs*, TBD Game 7: Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder*, TBD *—if necessary http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Agdkrk5JZJdB8c5FRhVNPOC8vLYF?slug=ycn-8291177 Thread title courtesy by Morbo.
I am so looking forward to seeing Denver vs OKC in the West and Boston vs NY in the East. I think OKC and Boston should advance.
I couldn't think of any good titles. NBA Playoffs Thread - Winner is the next Mike, 2nd place has to wear Mike's mustache NBA Playoffs Thread - Nailbiters, Crybabies, Kings, and Queens... and that's just the Heat locker room Predictions 1.0 (young'uns edition) Spurs over Grizz Lakers over Hornets Blazers over Mavs Thunder over Nugs Bulls over Pacers Heat over Sixers Celtics over Knicks Magic over Hawks Blazers over Spurs Thunder over Lakers Bulls over Magic Heat over Celtics Thunder over Blazers Heat over Bulls Heat over Thunder in five (maybe a little wishful thinking )
We will use your number 2 next year for the regular season title I cannot think too ahead about the next round. Sorry DK, I.T, and Ross, but there is a real possibility that the Grizz could beat the Spurs. Also, as I said, no love for the Mavs on this board. While I would say there is a real possibility that the Grizz could beat the Spurs, I would still predict that the Spurs would get out of it. But the Mavs on the other hand is a different story. The Blazers are one good team and a force to be reckon. I would have to agree with you, OS, on all of your first rounds. Regarding the East... it is such a gap between 4 - 5. I fully expect all of your East predictions to be true.
No doubt. Memphis "tanked" their last two to make sure they avoided LA and drew SA, who they feel confident against. Add to that Manu is doubtful for game 1. I still like the Spurs in this series but it will be a fight.
Dude although I love underdogs and support them, what they did was a slap in the face. Who the *** are they to rest their players and want to face the number 1 seed in any conference? I understand the record between the two clubs are equal during the regular season and the the personnel matches up, but Spurs are the number 1 seed for a reason.
I agree. But if I'm Memphis I probably make the same choice. I think you have to avoid the Lakers if possible. They're not the 1 seed, but they're still the best team in the league. In any event, it should give the Spurs some edge and hopefully will jumpstart them on a good playoff run.
I'd be very surprised if somebody besides Lakers, Bulls, or Heat wins the title. The Lakers are the Lakers, the Bulls have been the best team in the NBA since November (which is well past just being a hot streak), the Heat has the unparalleled duo and has been the #2 team in the NBA since November. Just don't see any story as compelling from the other 13 teams in the playoffs.
Cool with me, because I think I got the seeding wrong in the 2nd round anyway. I think it's true that the only feasible upsets in the 1st round are Grizz over Spurs and Portland over Dallas. I'd be shocked if any others happened. Having said that, Spurs should win and although I picked Portland as an upset I think Dallas is still a little bit better than them. I can see Dirk and Kidd playing like vets and Portland shooting like crap enough to swing a couple games.
Prediction time. Spurs over Grizz- 6 games. Lakers over Hornets - 5 games. Mavs over Portland - 6 games Thunders over Nuggets - 6 games. Bulls over Pacers - 4 games. Heat over Sixers - 5 games. Celtics over NY- 6 games. Magic over Hawks - 6 games. Spurs over Dallas - 6 games. Lakers over OKC - 5 games. Bulls over Magic - 6 games. Celtics over Miami - 6 games. Lakers over Spurs - 6 games Celtics over Bulls - 6 games Lakers over Boston - 6 games. Phil to go out on top.
My revised predictions now that we have the definitive seedings: San Antonio over Memphis in six games OKC over Denver in six games Lakers over New Orleans in five games Portland over Dallas in six games Chicago over Indiana in five games Orlando over Atlanta in seven games Miami over Philadelphia in six games Boston over the Knicks in six games OKC over Spurs in seven games Lakers over Portland in seven games Chicago over Orlando in six games Miami over Boston in seven games OKC over Lakers in seven games Chicago over Miami in seven games Chicago over OKC in seven games
No offense to Spurs fans, but OKC is the odd ball team that could give both Spurs and the Lakers some real problems. They have penetration and outside shots, with the middle presence now that they have Perkins (if he can stay healthy). Those are the kind of teams that gives our teams some major trouble. Even before Perkins, their defense has exponentially improved since last year and, even then, the Lakers barely edged out OKC. Haha it is actually a football reference by a quote by from Dennis Green, Cardinal coach, who lost to an embarrassing game against Chicago. It is almost pop culture in football. I figured it has something to do with LeBron James, the whole royalty and King James reference. Personally, I liked both of Os' suggestions,and did not get the reference to it in a basketball thread. "Nailbiters, Crybabies, Kings, and Queens... and that's just the Heat locker room" Sorry for not running this by you. I figured you are an office room, on Bigsoccer 24-7, Red Bull cans, with 6 different computer screens, pizza boxes and Chinese food take out, dealing with constant complaints from our posters Edit - here is the wiki webpage of Dennis Green http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Green
1st: Bulls, Heat, Celtics, Magic 1st: Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets 2nd: Heat, Magic 2nd: Spurs, Lakers Finals: Lakers over Heat with Gasol or Bynum as MVP
I'm definitely not on the OKC bandwagon....I just don't buy it. Perkins somehow makes them Championship contenders?LMAO.
Getting Perkins plugged a huge hole in their interior defense. Ibaka + Perk is a frontcourt that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the West. But Durant + the greatly improved Westbrook make them championship contenders. No one is saying they are favorites, but it's preposterous not to count them amongst the contenders.
I do. They finally could and have matched up to the Lakers big guys. Even so, Spurs should advance, but will not be a 4 game sweep. Go for it. The title is not a biggy to me, just the discussions that happen on here, which I am loving btw. It is April-May madness !
On a serious note, if Spurs struggle with Grizz and eek out of the first round and if OKC is dominant over Denver, then I would put them in the western finals with the Lakers.