Playoffs prediction contest, round 3!

[MC KAos]

i wont be able to tally the totals from last round till later, but we gotta get our picks in before the next round starts tonight...

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

1-Bulls vs 2-Heat

Heat in 6


WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

3-Mavericks vs 4-Thunder

Mavericks in 6

 

[The30YardSlant]

Bulls in 7, Miami has not yet faced a young dynamic scorer who can match Lebron/Wade in this postseason. Chicago swept the regular season series and their interior defense really gave the Heat trouble.

Mavs in 7, both teams have two dynamic scorers (Westbrook and Durant; Dirk and Terry) but Dallas has more scoring depth. Memphis missed a lot of open jump shots that Dallas will make. The Thunder will win a couple games with youth and that incredible crowd, but I also think they'll cost themselves a game or two with youthful mistakes. The series will go seven, with OKC's youth folding in Dallas in game 7. They are still a year away IMO, NBA history says that youthful teams rarely fare well in their first game 7 on the road and Dirk has never lost a game 7.

 

[laythewood28]

heat in 6.
mavericks in 5.

 

[UnoDallas]

Heat in 5
Mavs in 6

Heat win the whole thing in 5

not that I like Heat

Dallas's Dirk has a way of folding under pressure

 

[The30YardSlant]

Dallas's Dirk has a way of folding under pressure

Huge misconception. Statistically, Dirk is one of the most clutch players in the HISTORY of the NBA. In his career, Dirk has hit 46 shots in the final minute of regulation or overtime to tie the game or give his team the lead. Only five players in league history (Jordan, Kobe, Wilt, Abdul-Jabar and Moses malone) have more. Since 2003, nobody in the NBA has a higher FG % in the final five minutes of games and only Dwight Howard has a higher FG % in the final five minutes of postseason games in that time. He shoots an incredible 54% from three point range in the fourth quarter of playoff games and 94% from the free throw line (both are the best all-time). Only one player (Kobe) averages more points in the final five minutes. Dirk is one of only four players in league history to average 25 and 10 for their career in the postseason. Dirk has never lost a deciding game five or game seven in the postseason (He is 5-0) and averages 28 and 13 in such games, including three 30+ and 15+ games.

Dirk's lack of rings has zero to do with him and everything to do with key role players (Finley, Terry and Howard most notably) failing to show up in key moments. Dirk took a team to the finals by literally himself in 2006. Terry has actually shown up this postseason, as has Peja, Chandler, Kidd and Barea.

 

[kmp77]

Gibson just had a MONSTER dunk...wow.....

 

[The30YardSlant]

I thought Chicago would win the series, but they just completely outclassed Miami tonight. This series won't go more than 5 if this keeps up.

 

[MC KAos]

Dallas's Dirk has a way of folding under pressure

that's not really true, but his teammates do, and that might be due to happen

 

[MC KAos]

Gibson just had a MONSTER dunk...wow.....

The one on DWade was disgusting as well!

I thought Chicago would win the series, but they just completely outclassed Miami tonight. This series won't go more than 5 if this keeps up.

Hell, it wont go more than 4 if it keeps up

 

[The30YardSlant]

Hell, it wont go more than 4 if it keeps up

Miami will get at least one at home. It's almost impossible to sweep a team as talented as Miami, and they'd easily be the best team ever to get swept in a four game series.

The biggest reason Chicago blew them out tonight, along with great defense, was the fact that they hit everything. they had about four three hit the rim, roll around and fall in. They will be cold at least once, but if Miami doesnt figure out their defense it will be a short series regardless.

 

[DFWJC]

Bulls in 7
Mavs in 5

 

[DFWJC]

Miami will get at least one at home. It's almost impossible to sweep a team as talented as Miami, and they'd easily be the best team ever to get swept in a four game series.
.

Would you have said they were better than the Lakers before the playoffs began? Most people would not have even said they would win the East.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Would you have said they were better than the Lakers before the playoffs began? Most people would not have even said they would win the East.

Yes, for a couple reasons. First, Miami won both games against LA this year including a blowout win at Staples, Los Angeles could not cover Lebron and Wade at all. Second, Miami ended the year white hot winning 15 of their last 17 while the Lakers stumbled down the stretch. The Lakers' issues were visible long before Dallas swept them.

 

[BigWillie]

Gibson just had a MONSTER dunk...wow.....

Gibson deserves a starting job in this league.

I said in the Dwight Howard thread that the Bulls have some intriguing options if the Magic are interested. With the play of Asik and Gibson this postseason, they are definitely increasing their potential value with each game.

 

[DFWJC]

Yes, for a couple reasons. First, Miami won both games against LA this year including a blowout win at Staples, Los Angeles could not cover Lebron and Wade at all. Second, Miami ended the year white hot winning 15 of their last 17 while the Lakers stumbled down the stretch. The Lakers' issues were visible long before Dallas swept them.

Fair enough...point taken.

 

[MC KAos]

I think the 99 lakers were better when the spurs swept them, that 99 spurs team Is extremely underrated

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Heat in 7
Mavs in 7

 

[DFWJC]

Heat in 5
Mavs in 6

Heat win the whole thing in 5

not that I like Heat

Dallas's Dirk has a way of folding under pressure

Dirk has had some epic big game performances.

In fact, he has one of the best big game scoring and rebound averages in the history of the game. He is always at or near the top in the league in "crunch-time" efficiency.

Here's a stat or two for you:

Kareem Jabbar and Dirk Nowitzki are the only two players in NBA Playoff history to have 4 straight 40 point 15 rebound games.

Dirk is one of only 3 players in NBA history to average more than 25 points and 10 rebounds for his Playoff career.

In the 2006 year, people forget that the Mavs had to get past very strong Phoenix team to get to the finals. In the pivotable game of the series, Dirk had 50 points.

In that same run, Dirk had 37 points and 15 rebound AT San Antonio to close out the Spurs.

The dude is very clutch. He has just gotten double and triple teamed so many times in the past that people get on him if he has one or two average games.

 

[DFWJC]

I think the 99 lakers were better when the spurs swept them, that 99 spurs team Is extremely underrated

Also, the 2-time defending champion Pistons got swept by the Bulls back in 1991

 

[MC KAos]

Also, the 2-time defending champion Pistons got swept by the Bulls back in 1991

yup, thats two teams better than the heat are