Rod's 2008/09 NBA Playoffs

Ballsy play with Orl. but I don't see it even w/out KG.  Also,barring injury,the phrase "anything can happen" is typically justified in a one game contest....NCAA tourney, NFL playoffs,....but this will be a 7 game series and "anything" will have to happen many times w/in the series if they make it to play Cleve.  GL rod

Celtics v Bulls

Season Results (Home team first)

Oct 31 Celtics 96 Bulls 80 (Celtics/UNDER)

Dec 19 Celtics 126 Bulls 108 (Celtics/OVER)

Mar 17 Bulls 127 Celtics 121 (Bulls/OVER)

Obviously the big news in this series is the absence of Garnett, most likely for the whole post season. Therefore the pressure immediately is turned to Leon Powe who himself is only coming back from injury after missing 13 games towards the end of the regular season. The timeshare between himself, Davis and Moore has to be effectvie enough to negate Ty Thomas. The only clear advantage I see the Bulls having is at power forward.

No play for me with the series prices, believe it is fairly priced as it currently stands now purely because I don't see the Bulls beating the Celtics in Boston as their road form has been dismal all season.

Game 1:

Statement game time for the Celtics, experts have pretty much written their chances off now that KG is gone. But at home they are still a formidable team against a team that plays markedly different on the road than it does at home -  The Bulls average 4.3 fewer points per game on the road and allow 5.1 more points.

Celtics -8.5 over Bulls (3)

I think some unders series' are Cavs/Pistons, Rockets/Blazers and perhaps Heat/Hawks. Sixers only chance against the Magic is to run so may look at overs there especially in Philly and the Celtics/Bulls should see some scoring with the absence of KG for the Celtics who conceded 8 PPG more in the 25 games he didn't play for them this season.

Yes I don't see the Mavs beating the Spurs in this series. Kidd can't run with the quicker guards in the league, we saw that last post season against CP3 and Parker has already abused him this season averaging 31.3PPG against the Mavs this season.

Quote Originally Posted by adub:

With you on Boston Rod. 

Any thoughts on the HOU/POR game? I'm leaning towards POR -4 right now, I think they will come out firing in Game 1. 

Any other plays that you have?

BOL 

I'm not so sure on the Blazers in this series. They are very raw and Rockets have two quality shot stoppers in Battier and Artest to alternate against Roy. If not for a buzzer beater trey by Roy the Rockets would have swept the Blazers in the season series. Blazers may get game 1 but I'm confident the Rockets go back to Houston at worst with a split in Portland. I think the Blazers are 1 season away from making a serious post season run.

Taking the following series play

Rockets over Blazers - (+120) (3)

The reason I think the Celtics still win vs. the Magic is because they have that winner's edge to them. They are battle tested in the playoffs.  I predict Dwight Howard has his day (double doubles every game) against the Celts but in the end they just shoot the lights out.