The NBA Playoffs are properly underway, with the 1st round in the books. A few surprises, and 1 pretty much gigantic upset for the ages.

NBA West

San Antonio Spurs – Phoenix Suns

Prediction – Spurs in 6

Actual – Spurs in 5

The Suns rolled more than and played dead for the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. With Shaquille O’Neal, it still didn’t matter for the Suns. They rolled the dice with the big trade for Shaq, and it failed miserably, at least this time about. Mike D’Antoni’s job is in question, while the Spurs march on for a hoped-for repeat of their NBA Finals victory last year.

New Orleans Hornets – Dallas Mavericks

Prediction – Mavericks in 6

Actual – Hornets in 5

Speaking of laying down dead, the Mavericks have performed so now for the second straight year, and it has price Avery Johnson his Head Coaching job with Dallas. The Jason Kidd trade, like the Shaq deal for Phoenix, produced one playoff win. Congrats. Two lessons learned by me in predicting the Mavericks over the Hornets. In no way underestimate Chris Paul, and by no means overestimate Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.

Los Angeles Lakers – Denver Nuggets

Prediction – Lakers in five

Actual – Lakers in four

Speaking of laying down dead (a trend?), the Nuggets were pathetic in trying to defend the Lakers. The Nuggets deserve what they got, a initially-round burial at the hands of the Lakers. The Lakers move on to play the Utah Jazz.

Utah Jazz – Houston Rockets

Prediction – Jazz in 5

Actual – Jazz in 6
The best series in the West in the opening round, the Jazz prevailed thanks to better team play and far better team leaders in Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Tracy McGrady falls to -7 in the post-season, nonetheless in no way reaching the second-round…a sad state of affairs.

NBA East

Boston Celtics – Atlanta Hawks

Prediction – Celtics in four

Actual – Celtics in 7

What the heck happened here, or at least practically occurred here? The Celtics have some answering to do. The Hawks, and I don’t care how several games they won in the series, had no right getting anywhere near a game 6 or game 7 versus the Boston Celtics. The Celtics took the Hawks lightly, which is a major surprise with all those battle-tested Celtics like Garnett, Allen, and Pierce. Things only get tougher, and the question is, which Celtics team will show up versus the Cavaliers? The 66-win team from the typical-season, or their imposters from the Atlanta debacle?

Cleveland Cavaliers – Washington Wizards

Prediction – Cavaliers in 6

Actual – Cavaliers in 6

The LeBron’s move on. They ought to have and did beat the Wizards, but it was a tough series nonetheless. LeBron James and organization will have their hands full with the Boston Celtics, but there is a chance given what occurred to the Celtics at the hands of the Hawks in the 1st-round.

Orlando Magic – Toronto Raptors

Prediction – Magic in 7

Actual – Magic in 5

The Magic did a fantastic job in quietly dispatching the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors did not show up for the series, and they sleepwalked a bit for the duration of the standard-season in the same fashion. Orlando moves on to face the Pistons.

Detroit Pistons – Philadelphia 76ers

Prediction – Pistons in 6

Actual – Pistons in 6

The Pistons in no way alter. Talented but bored-looking, they are generally prepared to give games away in the course of crucial series’. This one was no exception, producing things hard for themselves when a fast series and some rest was the prescription for good results. The Magic await, and the Celtics have opened the door for Detroit to believe about big things as nicely.

Please read our another article:Fans’ Kevin Durant.