2009 NBA Playoffs: First Round

The 2009 NBA Playoffs are here and it took all 82 games of the regular season to determine their match-ups. Check to see whom your favorite NBA team will be up against in the first round of the NBA postseason, as well as my predictions for each first round series.

















EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers (66-16) vs. (8) Detroit Pistons (39-43)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Cavaliers wins 4-0
game 1: Pistons 84 at Cavaliers 102
game 2: Pistons 82 at Cavaliers 94
game 3: Cavaliers 79 at Pistons 68
game 4: Cavaliers 99 at Pistons 78

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Cavaliers won series 3-1
Nov. 19: at Pistons 96, Cavaliers 89
Feb. 1: Cavaliers 90 at Pistons 80
Feb. 22: at Cavaliers 99, Pistons 78
Mar. 31: at Cavaliers 79, Pistons 73

King James and his knights are simply rolling. Heading into the playoffs they seemed to be at the top of their game and that's a bad thing for the other playoff teams. The Cavs finished with the best record in the NBA and will have home court advantage through out the play offs. LeBron seems to not only have found his Scottie Pippen in Mo Williams to his Michael Jordan, but the other players around them have elevated their games. Since the trade Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson, the Pistons seemed to be a totally different team and the chemistry between Iverson and the team never happened. This series will end after four games. Cavs win with a sweep 4-0.


(2) Boston Celtics (62-20) vs. (7) Chicago Bulls (41-41)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Celtics wins 4-3
game 1: Bulls 105 at Celtics 103
game 2: Bulls 115 at Celtics 118
game 3: Celtics 107 at Bulls 86
game 4: Celtics 118 at Bulls 121
game 5: Bulls 104 at Celtics 106
game 6: Celtics 127 at Bulls 128
game 7: Bulls 99 at Celtics 109

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Celtics won series 2-1
Oct. 31: at Celtics 96, Bulls 80
Dec. 19: at Celtics 126, Bulls 108
Mar. 17: at Bulls 127, Celtics 121

It looks like the Big Ticket, the key piece to their NBA championship run last season will miss all of the 2009 playoffs, which makes the goal of a repeat a very difficult task. But ofcourse, you can't overlook Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and the rest of the Celtics, but Garnett is the heart and soul of the team. The Celtics should get past the much improved Bulls and their young dynamic guard, Derrick Rose, but the road to the finals is much much tougher. Especially if they come face to face with the Cavs. Celtics takes the series 4-2.


(3) Orlando Magic (59-23) vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers (41-41)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Magic wins 4-2
game 1: 76ers 100 at Magic 98
game 2: 76ers 87 at Magic 96
game 3: Magic 94 at 76ers 96
game 4: Magic 84 at 76ers 81
game 5: 76ers 78 at Magic 91
game 6: Magic 114 at 76ers 89

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Magic won series 3-0
Nov. 6: at Magic 98, 76ers 88
Nov. 26: Magic 96 at 76ers 94
Feb. 28: Magic 106 at 76ers 100

The Magic is one of the teams I'm rooting for to go far in thie years playoffs. With undoubtedly the Best Young Big Men of the game today, Dwight Howard & His two outside gunners Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, who open things up for the big guy to wrech havoc on the inside. I thought they we're a goner when they lost Jameer Nelson to injury, but, the trade for Rafer Alston was a life saver.
Before the Sixers lost Elton Brand due to season ending injury. they were a heavy favorites to go far in the playoffs.However, they were able to emerge with a .500 record and made it into the playoffs. The Magic should win this series 4-2.


(4) Atlanta Hawks (47-35) vs. (5) Miami Heat (43-39)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Series tied 3-3
game 1: Heat 64 at Hawks 90
game 2: Heat 108 at Hawks 93
game 3: Hawks 78 at Heat 107
game 4: Hawks 81 at Heat 71
game 5: Heat 91 at Hawks 106
game 6: Hawks 72 at Heat 98
game 7: Heat 74 at Hawks 91

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Hawks won series 3-1
Dec. 12: Hawks 87 at Heat 73
Jan. 26: at Heat 95, Hawks 79
Feb. 27: at Hawks 91, Heat 83
Apr. 14: at Hawks 81, Heat 79

This is by far, the most interesting Eastern Conference match-up to watch. The Hawks improved on their under-.500 record last year and really stepped up their game. They've got great talent in Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, not to mention the veteren Sharp Shooter Mike Bibby, but they will be going up against My main Man Dwyane 'The Flash' Wade on this series. Despite the Hawks winning the regular season series, I think scoring champs ability of taking over games and series, which he has shown before during the 2006 NBA Finals leading to the Heat's only NBA title, is a big hurdle for the Hawks to get past first round. This series will go to game seven, Heat burning Hawks 4-3.



WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Los Angeles Lakers (65-17) vs. (8) Utah Jazz (48-34)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Lakers wins 4-1
game 1: Jazz 100 at Lakers 113
game 2: Jazz 109 at Lakers 119
game 3: Lakers 86 at Jazz 88
game 4: Lakers 108 at Jazz 94
game 5: Jazz 96 at Lakers 107

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Lakers won series 2-1
Jan. 2: at Lakers 113, Jazz 100
Feb. 11: at Jazz 113, Lakers 109
Apr. 14: at Lakers 125, Jazz 112

The Lakers, with Andrew Bynum back, won't even be slightly intimidated by the tough and always surprising Jazz. They'll never be more complete to take the NBA championship than today, with Kobe Bryant being himself. Plus, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher. This will be a very close and hard-fought series, but i'm still hoping that the Lakers will sweep the Jazz. Lakers move to the second round 4-0.


(2) Denver Nuggets (54-28) vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets (49-33)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Nuggets wins 4-1
game 1: Hornets 84 at Nuggets 113
game 2: Hornets 93 at Nuggets 108
game 3: Nuggets 93 at Hornets 95
game 4: Nuggets 121 at Hornets 63
game 5: Hornets 86 at Nuggets 107

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Series tied 2-2
Nov. 27: Hornets 105 at Nuggets 101
Jan. 3: at Nuggets 105, Hornets 100
Jan. 28: at Hornets 94, Nuggets 81
Mar. 25: Nuggets 101 at Hornets 88

Getting Chauncey Billups is the best thing that had happen to the Nuggets since acquiring Carmelo Anthony in the drafts. Lets just hope that the whole team will get some of Billups postsason efficiency.
Chris Paul will have to do more on this series, with his teammates Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic not being 100%, he should continue to take over games this post season to push through to the next round.
Nuggets continue from there regular season momentum and will win this round 4-2.


(3) San Antonio Spurs (54-28) vs. (6) Dallas Mavericks (50-32)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Mavericks wins 4-1
game 1: Mavericks 105 at Spurs 97
game 2: Mavericks 84 at Spurs 105
game 3: Spurs 67 at Mavericks 88
game 4: Spurs 90 at Mavericks 99
game 5: Mavericks 106 at Spurs 93


REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Series tied 2-2
Nov. 4: Mavericks 98 at Spurs 81
Dec. 9: Spurs 133 at Mavericks 126 (OT)
Feb. 24: at Spurs 93, Mavericks 76
Mar. 4: at Mavericks 107, Spurs 102

This will be a tough 2009 Playoffs for the used to be NBA champs Spurs, not having the energy booster and all around scoring of Manu Ginobili due to injury. But don't count them out, The Spurs are known to step their game up during tha post season. With Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in this team, they still are a team to beat. The Mavericks with Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd & Josh Howard, this will be an interesting match-up to watch. But still, I would have to go with the proven Spurs winning in games seven 4-3.


(4) Portland Trail Blazers (54-28) vs. (5) Houston Rockets (53-29)

PLAYOFFS SERIES
Rockets wins 4-2
game 1: Rockets 108 at Trail Blazers 81
game 2: Rockets 103 at Trail Blazers 107
game 3: Trail Blazers 83 at Rockets 86
game 4: Trail Blazers 88 at Rockets 89
game 5: Rockets 77 at Trail Blazers 88
game 6: Trail Blazers 76 at Rockets 92

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Rockets won series 2-1
Nov. 6: at Trail Blazers 101, Rockets 99 (OT)
Feb. 24: at Rockets 98, Trail Blazers 94
Apr. 5: at Rockets 102, Trail Blazers 88

The Rockets, with Yao Ming and Ron Artest, will have to get through Brandon Roy and the young talented Trail Blazers to get over the first round curse. This will be a very hard-fought series and I'll still go with My Team ofcourse getting through the second round with a win in game seven 4-3.

There you go. This is all just my insight and some of it are just based on who the team I like in the match-up.