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NBA Playoffs 2008, What Will the West Be Like?

Thursday Apr 17, 2008

A full season, 81 games, and still the last game needed to decide places 3 through 8 in the West, that's something that I can't remember, and I have been following the NBA for a long time. Now that the schedule is fixed, let's try to make some predicitions.

East - who is willing to bet against a Celtics-Pistons Eastern Conference final? Not me, I don't see any team that is capable to keep either of the two teams out of the final. Last year was exceptional, I don't think this will be repeated. I don't see a repeat of LeBron and the Cavs, especially as they are up against the Celtics in the semi-finals. So I predict the Celtics to win it in 6 to progress to the Finals.

West - phew, do I really risk a prediction here? Sure, let me give you my take:

Lakers-Nuggets: don't see how Iverson and Anthony can stop Bryant and co, Lakers win it in 5
Hornets-Mavericks: will Dallas relive the first round nightmare of 2007? They will give it 200%, but I still think the Hornets will be the better team, Hornets win it in 6
Spurs-Suns: for some reason I never liked the Spurs, and since last year's disgrace in the playoffs I hate them, so any team that plays the Spurs gets my support. Suns will take it in 7, with Stoudemire dunking in the last second to win it ;-)
Jazz-Rockets: I think the Rockets are playing great, even without Ming, but I still think the Jazz will be the winner of this series, Utah to take it in 6

In the semi-finals the Suns will beat the Jazz, and the Lakers will conquer the Hornets to set up what I think will be a classic, one matchup that will be talked about for years to come. In the Western Conference final I think the Lakers will edge out the Suns, this time with a buzzer beater from Bryant from way-way downtown ;-)

As for the Big Winner, the Celtics will have played a lot less games than the Lakers, so I think they will be the better rested team, and take it in 6.

OK, that's my take, any comments? Who is your favourite team to take the 2008 NBA title?

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Posted at 11:31AM Apr 17, 2008 by Marc Dierens in Personal
Tags: nba

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Wednesday Apr 16, 2008

My cable company offers Prime Sports, with about 10 live soccer games each week, but more importantly 2 NBA games per week. Being a very big fan of basketball this subscription is a no-brainer.

During the broadcast of tonight's game (Hornets beat the Clippers), I heard the commentators talk about an interesting phenomenon of community building. The Hornets guard, Chris Paul, has other NBA stars stay over at his house if these players are in New Orleans. The mentioned LeBron James, Dwight Howard and others. If Chris and LeBron each have a night of, they will connect over the phone and start playing each other online.

The commentator mentioned that he could not imagine staying at another player's house when he was playing 20 years ago. His co-commentator rightly replied by stating that times have changed, and that connecting with other players has become much easier.

All in all, this is not something new that happens. People have been connecting with people forever. What is different now is that the way we connect is so radically different. 20 years ago I would connect with the neighbours, kids at school, at the snooker club. Now I am connecting with people all over the world, not only for work purposes, but also for fun.

Boy, have the times changed... I like it! Do you often feel nostalgic for earlier decades with no mobile phone, no internet, your Atari game computer? Let me know how you feel.

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