2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: 8 Teams Destined for a 1st-Round Exit
The NBA playoffs are right around the corner and I am pumped!
We have been waiting all season for the race for the trophy to begin and this weekend all of our waiting will finally come to some solid matter.
While it is certainly a reason to celebrate, we should take a look at the teams that in no time at all will be sitting back at home after an early elimination.
There are 16 teams and only eight will make it out of the first round! Let's see who won't!
Indiana Pacers
1 of 8
No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Indiana Pacers
It's hard to bet on any team when they are facing the Chicago Bulls, but if the team opposing them just happens to have a negative record, then the job becomes a lot easier.
There is simply no way the Pacers have any chance in this series, this could easily be a sweep and I don't see any argument that could suggest otherwise.
The only thing that could make this series just a bit entertaining would be the return to form of Danny Granger from when he was named the Most Improved Player in the league.
Again, I doubt this game will have any sort of competition and while the Pacers are not a terrible team, the Bulls are on a mission.
To stop the Bulls you would need something as ridiculous as maybe LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the same team! Like that could ever happen!
Philadelphia 76ers
2 of 8
No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadephia 76ers
This pick is also very easy to make, but I have no doubt that the Sixers will have some highlight-reel moments and at times might give wind of an upset.
However, out of all the matchups in the first round, this one will most likely be the most one-sided.
The Sixers just don't match up with the Heat (who does?) in any way. They have no advantages over them and fall short by a large margin in nearly every matchup.
The Heat have LeBron, Wade, Bosh and we might even see the return of Udonis Haslem.
There is no way the Sixers can stop that. I wouldn't be surprised if in every game the Heat get to rest their starters in the end.
Philly has a good team, but they are facing the wrong opponent—one designed to dominate them.
Atlanta Hawks
3 of 8
No. 4 Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
The Orlando Magic have faced some big criticisms this season and that is mostly due to their very inconsistent play and what seems like a complete lack of a game plan.
I see all of those problems, but they are facing the Hawks. Atlanta is simply not going to beat them just because it is the playoffs and they have a special reputation for choking in the postseason.
Will they break their bad streak this year? Not a chance as they too have been victim to inconsistent play and also one cannot ignore that the matchup with the Magic is very one-sided.
The Magic have a great roster and all they have to do is piece it all together and they might be successful going forward.
They are not going to make much noise this year, but you win some and you lose some—that's life.
As far as the Hawks go...will they please move to another city! I want to hear some noise when J-Smoove dunks it in!
New York Knicks
4 of 8
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 New York Knicks
I am winging this one and seriously doubt the Celtics can beat the Knicks in a seven-game series. I am obviously saying they will, but this is not going to be an easy series.
If they win, they will face the Heat in the second round, who should be coming off of an easy series against the Sixers.
The Knicks could very well completely exhaust the aged Boston lineup, and if facing the Heat while rested is a challenge than facing them while dog-tired could be ugly to watch.
Whoever wins this series is going to come out battered and exhausted and should fall in the second round. This makes this matchup one of the least important for that reason alone.
If the Celtics win, they will face a hungry Heat squad and if the Knicks win they will first and foremost make David Stern simply jump up and down with joy in the ratings they will have received.
However, they will also easily fall to the Heat in a sweep.
I just can't wait for the hate I am about to get!
Memphis Grizzlies
5 of 8
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
This is not going to be an easy series and Memphis will challenge San Antonio in the first round. However, this challenge will not be strong enough to tire the Spurs out, but will put them into the playoff intensity they need.
Memphis is certainly better than their record indicates, but that in no way suggests they can really hope to beat the Spurs in seven games.
San Antonio has been getting ready for the playoffs since the beginning of the season and now they are ready. Memphis on the other hand has been battling the likes of Houston and Phoenix for the last spot.
They are coming in with very different mentalities and that is where the Grizzlies fall short. They are not ready for the second round of the playoffs and all they are looking to do is make the Spurs tired.
This should be a gritty series with a lot of physicality, but that is what everyone loves about the playoffs.
New Orleans Hornets
6 of 8
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 7 New Orleans Hornets
The Lakers are really lucky they are not the third seed or else they would also have a distinct spot on the slideshow.
Instead, they are facing the Hornets, who have been on a roller-coaster ride for most of the season. The Hornets do present a perfect way to exploit the weakness of LA point guards, but that is all they have.
The Lakers are experienced and should easily cruise in this series and maybe they will drop one or two games simply due to the fact they are a very inconsistent team.
I am a firm believer that the Lakers will not make it out of the second round, but the Hornets are not going to be the team to stop them on their quest to three-peat.
The only thing I am looking forward to is Chris Paul playing some intense basketball and hopefully bringing the version of himself from about two seasons ago.
Portland Trail Blazers
7 of 8
No. 3 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
This is going to be a very tough series and could really go either way.
The way I see it, either of these teams has a chance of winning the West, but in the end I think the depth of Dallas will prevail.
Dallas has great players coming off of the bench including: Jason Terry, Brendan Haywood, Peja, J.J. Barea and maybe even the return of Caron Butler at some point.
The Mavericks are seemingly always built for a great playoff run, which could very well mean they are going to get crushed by the Blazers.
Dirk wants to win and so does Kidd, but in years past it has been very difficult to bet on the Mavs making it far in the playoffs.
Maybe this year they will finally put an end to their misfortunes in the postseason and make it to the second round, or maybe even make a run for the title, which they are long overdue.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 8
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets
This is going to be the best and most competitive series of them all, period.
Two very different teams are going to collide and provide us with the best series in recent history. I truly believe that this will be the best matchup of this year's playoffs and give us the biggest moments.
I have said that Denver will lose, but if the Nuggets win I will not be surprised in the least. I expect there to be some overtime games and I expect buzzer-beaters.
Am I being a little too optimistic? Maybe, but if you analyze the matchups and the individual strengths it is really hard to pick a winner here.
It could really go either way and I just can't wait! Can the playoffs just come already!
Well, that is all! Thanks for reading and please leave a comment with your opinions!
