Hahahaha. That and golf. I found my swing today. I wonder if the table had anything to do with that! Naaaaaah! Credit has got to go to my golf smith. The guy tweaked my clubs perfectly!
Meanwhile in the East, Miami is going to have a virtual cakewalk the first 2 rounds. Will likely sweep the Bucks in Rd. 1, then meet the winner of the Brooklyn-Atlanta series which they will easily win over either teams. The Knicks, Celtics, Pacers and Bulls will have to eliminate each other and the lone survivor faces the Heat in the Eastern Finals. Heat won't even drop a sweat to get to the Finals.
Don't write off the Nets. Know the Heat won't. Joe Johnson, Derron Williams and Brook Lopez are a damn good core. Blatche is arguably (maybe next to JR Smith) one of the best sixth men off the bench in the NBA. They are capably assisted by Wallace, Brooks, Humphries and Evans.
while i do not doubt the manpower of the nets, i don't see much consistency in their plays, even on an individual basis. there are nights when derron or joe johnson would sizzle and then go quiet the next. pj has yet to show a potent offensive system other than simple plays which avery johnson could have designed. defense is yet another area to be proven by pj. to beat the heat, you gotta be consistent on both ends, for a possible 7 games.
I think the problem was more Williams and Johnson (particularly the latter) had injuries. But look at their record in the last month with Williams healthy and after PJ took over. PJ deserves a round of applause for what he did. That team was going no where with Avery Johnson. One or two draft picks and this team is also poised to make a statement.
I've always believed that Howard is capable of monster games of domination if only he wills it. Maybe getting his first ring may not be that far fetched now, even in this season. The ball is round. And basketball is a team game, and if jells with the rest of the Lakers, the might make a lot of heads turn despite Kobe's absence. And Kobe can whip up the team on the bench if only to get his 6th ring. It would be really an incredible ending to an equally incredible start to LAL.
And PAU GASOL is ALIVE!
Spurs I think they have a good chance. Beyond that, the teams are younger and that's where the Lakers have difficulty with. If Meeks, Blake,, Jamison and MWP can be consistent from outside and Nash is even only 60-70% of his prime years, maybe, just maybe....but probably a miracle needed to beat the Thunder.
Grizzlies - Clippers, it'll be a tough first round exit for the loser. Both deserve to advance deeper in the playoffs. While the clippers are stronger on paper, I don't feel Griffin's type of play is geared for playoff basketball. This is Chris Paul's team to carry. Sorry bout that to Clippers fans....btw are Grant Hill and Billups playing?
Clippers muzzle the Grizzlies 112-91 in the first game of their playoff series.