NBA Playoff Predictions 2011: Which Teams Will Surprise in the Postseason?
NBA playoff predictions 2011 are here and it's time to break down both conferences and get a read for what teams will be playing for the championship come summer time.
We predict the seeds and how the tournament is going to break down with explanations for each choice. If you agree or disagree, make sure to let it be known in the comments. Who do you think is going to win it all this year?
The playoffs are going to be here before you know it, so get excited.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal: No. 1 Boston vs. No. 8 Indiana
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Even though the Boston Celtics traded Kendrick Perkins, the defending Eastern Conference champions should clinch the top seed.
In the first round, the Indiana Pacers, who have played much better since firing Jim O'Brien, will likely draw the unfortunate task of taking on the Celtics. Indiana will have no answer for Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen or the rest of the Celtics' core.
Boston should cruise to the first round.
Prediction: Boston in four games.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal: No. 4: Orlando vs. No. 5: New York
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This is a playoff series everyone would love to see.
I'm not a big fan of Atlanta's, and the six-seed Knicks are only three games behind the five-seed Hawks in the loss column. I see Carmelo Anthony and company passing Atlanta and drawing the Orlando Magic.
This would be a great matchup, but with Orlando's struggles this year, I like the Knicks' chances of beating the Magic.
Prediction: New York in seven games.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal: No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Atlanta
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I'm sorry Atlanta, but it's going to be a short stay.
The Miami Heat won't be one of the top two seeds, but LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are more than enough to take care of the Hawks. Atlanta has talented players, but doesn't have enough to take down the Heat.
Miami will make quick work of the Hawks.
Prediction: Miami in five games.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: No. 2 Chicago vs. No. 7 Philadelphia
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The Chicago Bulls are a very dangerous team and with Derrick Rose running the point, the sky is the limit.
I see Chicago getting the second seed, and that means a matchup with Philadelphia. The Sixers have been playing great basketball, and Doug Collins has the team believing. The Sixers also have one of the deepest benches in the entire league.
The Sixers will be a very game opponent, but the Bulls will come out on top.
Prediction: Chicago in six games
Western Conference Quarterfinals: No. 1 San Antonio vs. No. 8 Phoenix
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Despite Tony Parker's injury, San Antonio should have no problem grabbing home court throughout the playoffs.
With Memphis playing without Rudy Gay and Utah having traded Deron Williams, this opens the door for the Phoenix Suns to slide right in. Phoenix has escaped with wins on two late shots, but with Steve Nash running the show, the Suns will be in the hunt for that eighth spot.
It won't be like the old wars, but Phoenix won't go too quietly.
Prediction: San Antonio in five games.
Western Conference Quarterfinals: No. 4: Oklahoma City vs. No. 5: Portland
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This is another intriguing series between two division rivals.
Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder should be dangerous in the West with the addition of Kendrick Perkins to the lineup. However, I see the Thunder getting a tough draw in the Portland Trail Blazers.
Portland has a front line of Gerald Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marcus Camby that will be tough to combat, but with Russell Westbrook and Durant, I see the Thunder grinding out a tough series win.
Prediction: Oklahoma City in seven games
Western Conference Quarterfinals: No. 3 Los Angeles vs. No. 6 Denver
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The Los Angeles Lakers haven't been as impressive as we thought the team would be this year, but they'll be good enough to get the third seed in the West.
In the first round, I think we'll see the Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets, who are playing inspired basketball after the Carmelo Anthony trade. Denver will be scrappy, but it won't be enough to get by a veteran team like the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant and company should be able to get by this series with limited issues.
Prediction: Los Angeles in five games.
Western Conference Quarterfinals: No. 2: Dallas vs. No. 7 New Orleans
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The Dallas Mavericks don't get a lot of recognition in the Western Conference, despite the success the team has had this year.
Dirk Nowitzki is playing great basketball and Caron Butler could be back for the playoffs, which would be a huge addition for the Mavericks, arguably the best team in basketball earlier in the season when Butler was in the lineup.
New Orleans has been wildly inconsistent this year, but will put up somewhat of a fight with Chris Paul and David West.
Prediction: Dallas in five games.
Eastern Conference Semifinals: No. 1 Boston vs. No. 5 New York
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After getting past each of their first round playoff series, this would be an awesome matchup.
We saw earlier this year how good a game between these two sides can be. However, Boston is a great defensive team and that's going to give the Knicks a lot of problems. There are a lot of great matchups in this series, and with all of that talent on one court, we could have a classic matchup on our hands.
In the end though, I see Boston getting a tough series win.
Prediction: Boston in six games.
Eastern Conference Semifinals: No. 2 Chicago vs. No. 3 Miami
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This would be an awesome matchup between two teams with a ton of talent.
These two squads gave us a thriller last Thursday, and it would be a great battle and a chance for LeBron James and company to get past a top team, something Miami hasn't done for most of the season. The Heat will give Chicago all it can handle.
If Chris Bosh can give Miami a big presence, the Heat can pull this off. However, there is not enough depth for the Heat, especially on the front line.
Prediction: Chicago in seven games.
Western Conference Semifinals: No. 1 San Antonio vs. No. 4 Oklahoma City
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The San Antonio Spurs are a team full of veterans nearing the ends of their careers and could take on Oklahoma City, a team at the opposite end of the spectrum.
While Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and company have a high ceiling, this group still has a lot to learn, and the Spurs will be able to get by a feisty Oklahoma City team that will give them a run for their money.
It feels like Oklahoma City is still a year away.
Prediction: San Antonio in six games
Western Conference Semifinals: No. 2 Dallas vs. No. 3 Los Angeles
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With how well Dallas has played this year and the Los Angeles Lakers' struggles, some may think the defending champions are in trouble.
Well, not so fast. I like Dallas, but I just don't love this team. Los Angeles has Kobe Bryant, not to mention size and depth in the front line with Lamar Odom. With that roster still in place, I think the Lakers find a way to overcome the Mavericks.
It won't be easy, but the Lakers have had tougher tests.
Prediction: Los Angeles in six games
Eastern Conference Finals: No. 1 Boston vs. No. 2 Chicago
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Chicago is a great team with a lot of young talent and the Boston Celtics have a ton of veteran experience.
It's also a matchup of two of the best point guards in the game in Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose. However, in the end, the Celtics are the better team and will advance to the NBA Finals. Ray Allen should be big in this series along with Kevin Garnett.
It won't be a quick series and it should give us a lot of entertainment, especially with Rose and Rondo going at it.
Prediction: Boston in six games.
Western Conference Finals: No. 1 San Antonio vs. No. 3 Los Angeles
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This series would almost be like hitting the rewind button on the NBA.
These two teams have been playoff fixtures in the NBA and there's plenty of star power to go around. However, I think this is the end of the line for the Los Angeles Lakers. This group has played a lot of basketball over the past three years and at some point, the run has to end.
San Antonio will win, but this series would be a total war.
Prediction: San Antonio in seven games
NBA Finals: San Antonio vs. Boston
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With all of the youth and the super teams out there, we've come down to two veteran teams.
This is a great matchup with two of the best franchises in the NBA but in the end, this is the Boston Celtics' series to take. Yes, the loss of Kendrick Perkins is a big one, but Boston is not a team to be written off and this group is certainly capable of winning another title.
It won't be as wildly popular as the past couple of Finals, but it should be great basketball if this matchup happens.
Prediction: Boston in six games
