Lowest seed to advance to NBA 2nd round?

[Immanuel Kant]

My money's on Dallas (7) to get by NO (2) @ +134

[SniperSB23]

Denver over LA wouldn't surprise me in the least. Anything can happen in the west.

[horseofcourse]

I also think Dallas is the most likely to advance seeded lower than 5. Only other below 5 seed with a shot is Phoenix. Both 5 seeds have good shots...(Utah and Washington...I know Utah is officially 4 but Houston has home court.).

[declansharbor]

Look out for the Sixers.

They are young, can run with anybody, and match up better with Detroit than they would have against Orlando. Andre Miller (one of the most underrated point gaurds playing) is the captain of the ship, and they all seem to be jelling around him. If my man Roscoe doesnt show up this series, the Pistons could be in REAL trouble. They definitely have the 6ers in the experience dept, which could prove costly.

Things are only going to get better for this team. Thaddeus Young and Rodney Carney have promising upsides. One more solid big man and they will be perennial post-seasoners.

Mo Cheeks turned this team around, a team that was expected to finish in the bottom percentile of the league. He'd be my candidate for Coach of teh Year if Byron Scott wasnt having so much success witht the Hornets. Big props to both of them.

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Denver over LA wouldn't surprise me in the least. Anything can happen in the west.

This would be the biggest suprise
to me in the West out of the 4 series.

Denver plays no D. The Lakers dont
play very good D, but they can play it.

For those that like scoring in the playoffs,
which almost always drops off because defensive
effort picks up, this is the series for you.

If you want a bang-up tough series you should
watch Utah-Houston. Although Houston has
been compromised with the loss of Rafer (I think
for the 1st two games) Alston is one guy who
really has played much better and learned to
run the team after Yao got hurt.

The only upset I see is the Suns over the Spurs. Maybe.

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

The only upset I see is the Suns over the Spurs. Maybe.

The way I read it, this would
not be an upset. I wonder what the
Vegas numbers are. ESPN "experts" are
on Phoenix big time.

[Cannon Shell]

East
Boston over Atlanta 4-0
Detroit over Philly 4-1
Raptors over Magic 4-3
Cavs over Wizards 4-3

West
Lakers over Nuggets 4-2
Hornets over Dallas 4-2
Spurs over Suns 4-3
Jazz over Rockets 4-1

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

East
Boston over Atlanta 4-0
Detroit over Philly 4-1
Raptors over Magic 4-3
Cavs over Wizards 4-3

West
Lakers over Nuggets 4-2
Hornets over Dallas 4-2
Spurs over Suns 4-3
Jazz over Rockets 4-1

Looks pretty reasonable.

Think the Dallas Hornets series
could go either way 4-2. I think
these might be your more "mental"
teams that have a meltdown if things
go wrong, or might look very good
if they dont face adversity in the series.

Hoping you are right about the Spurs.
Shaq makes them more competititive
against us. Maybe a liability in other series.

Oh the Raptors... Thats diff. Thats your
big call.

[whodey17]

East
Boston over Atlanta 4-0
Detroit over Philly 4-0
Magic over Raptors 4-2
Wizards over Cavs 4-3

West
Nuggets over Lakers 4-2
Hornets over Dallas 4-2
Spurs over Suns 4-2
Jazz over Rockets 4-1

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Looks pretty reasonable.

Think the Dallas Hornets series
could go either way 4-2. I think
these might be your more "mental"
teams that have a meltdown if things
go wrong, or might look very good
if they dont face adversity in the series.

Hoping you are right about the Spurs.
Shaq makes them more competititive
against us. Maybe a liability in other series.

Oh the Raptors... Thats diff. Thats your
big call.

I think NO will wear them down.
I like the Spurs to edge the Suns in a great series.
I dont believe in Orlando. Toronto is a tough team to play against.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Jazz over Rockets 4-1

Jazz in five?

Of course I'm a Rockets fan but am also realistic and we are definitely the underdogs in this series, but don't forget that Utah is horrendous on the road and the Rockets actually match up better defensively with the Jazz without Yao. The offensive end is another question.

Hopefully the country will be able to see what a promising young player Carl Landry is and how much a guy like Luis Scola upgraded this team. Then there's the whole T-Mac thing...

NT

P.S. I think Dallas is going to take out New Orleans in six- playoff experience and Dallas having a loose demeanor is going to be a big factor.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I think NO will wear them down.
I like the Spurs to edge the Suns in a great series.
I dont believe in Orlando. Toronto is a tough team to play against.

They need TJ Ford to get hurt again, they are a much better team without him. Calderon this month has an absolutely absurd 64 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. I've never seen anything like that.

Rasho Nesto on D. Howard is
an athletic mismatch of epic
proportions.

But since Howard is a cleanup
center with very few real plays run
for him... Just give him the ball. They
have to come at him from other spots.
Hedo and Lewis rain 3's.

LA/ Denver ESPN: LA 6/Den 0
Dall/NO ESPN: Dall 4/ NO 2
Pho/SA ESPN: Pho 5/ SA 1
Utah/Hous ESPN: Utah 6/ Hous 0

Bos/ATl ESPN: Bos 10/ Atl 0
Det/76 ESPN: Det 10/ sixes 0
Orl/Tor ESPN: Orl 9/ Tor 1
Clev/Wsh ESPN: Cle 5/ Wsh 5

Number of "analysts" picking series winners...

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Jazz in five?

Of course I'm a Rockets fan but am also realistic and we are definitely the underdogs in this series, but don't forget that Utah is horrendous on the road and the Rockets actually match up better defensively with the Jazz without Yao. The offensive end is another question.

Hopefully the country will be able to see what a promising young player Carl Landry is and how much a guy like Luis Scola upgraded this team. Then there's the whole T-Mac thing...

NT

P.S. I think Dallas is going to take out New Orleans in six- playoff experience and Dallas having a loose demeanor is going to be a big factor.

I think the Rockets are done

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I think the Rockets are done

I agree. Listening to them speak during and after the "Streak", it appeared to me that this was their playoffs, if you will, their accomplishment for this season. That is when I thought they were done.

[Immanuel Kant]

For the Raptors to win the series against Orlando they must change the way they play basketball. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I am saying that it would be an a enormous shock, not to mention an enormous beating to my bankroll.

I'm not an expert, but I have seen every game in the regular season and playoffs they have played, going back to year 1 of the franchise, 1995.

The Raptors are a jump-shooting team that cannot get a rebound at the offensive end and only get defensive rebounds if the ball falls into their hands.
They are the softest collection of players from 1 through 12 in the NBA. You know you're in trouble when the toughest guy on your team is the coach dressed in $2000 suits. In the playoffs this lack of physicality is magnified.

When the Raptors playbook gets beyond play #1: pick and roll, let me know. I think Kevin O'Neill tried to have another play during his tenure as coach, but he gave up after 15 games into the season. A good coach can easily develop a game plan to stop their offense.

Their star Bosh is very capable, but he does not require a double team (ref. NJ v Tor 2007 playoffs) and therfore perimeter jump shooters are always contested....no open looks, no easy baskets.

Their pg TJ ("Me J") Ford, reminds me of Steve Francis at his most charitable moments.

But it's on defense where this team really shines!...

The only players who understand the concept of team defense are Parker and Nesterovich. When they apply the principles, they are left hung out to dry. Bosh will not play defense because he does not want to get into foul trouble. Ford's defense is non existent. They make the same mistakes on defense game after game after game.

Dwight Howard should have a field day. Van Gundy will out-coach Mitchell. Magic have the extra home game if they need it.

I give the Raps 1 win at home...maybe two in the series if the Magic get a big injury or the refs decide to whistle them out of a win.

Laying lumber is not my cup of tea, but I think the -288 I got the Magic to win the series was a gift!

[whodey17]

Originally Posted by golfer

I agree. Listening to them speak during and after the "Streak", it appeared to me that this was their playoffs, if you will, their accomplishment for this season. That is when I thought they were done.

The big story here is that Alston is out at least for the 1st two games.

[horseofcourse]

Celtics in 4
Pistons in 6
Magic in 6
Cavaliers in 7

Mavericks in 7
Jazz in 6
Spurs in 6
Lakers in 6

Celtics in 4 over Cleve
Pistons in 7 over Magic

Spurs in 5 over Dallas
Lakers in 7 over Jazz

Celtics in 5 over Detroit
Spurs in 7 over Lakers

Celtics in 6...NBA champions over Spurs.