Playoff Upsets

[artestfighttrainer]

It might be a little bit early for this one but still you can sort of see who's going to make or not make the playoffs. Just wondering the people out there what are your opinions on who's most likely to cause a upset in the 06 Playoffs?

My Upsets

West

1st Round

Nuggets over Memphis

This is not a major upset though Memphis has the better overall record compared to Denver. On the fact that Memphis has never won at the Pepsi Center in their whole franchise history and this season never looked like winning there again I reckon the Nuggets will clinch the series.

4-2

Western Conf. Finals

Suns over Spurs

I really believe that the Suns can pull this one off and get revenge for last year's series. Stat will be very comfortable with the lineup come playoff time and he'll have some bigger bodies to aid him on the boards and on D compared to last season also the bench has much more talent and versatility too. We all know what a great team San Antonio are but I reckon if the Suns can defend Duncan well they have a good chance of exploiting their other big men who are decent but I believe lack toughness compared to the Suns' Big Men. Boris Diaw could be the x-factor for the Suns in the playoffs and this series with his size and athleticism causing mismatches for opponents shown during the season and be a threat when teams are focusing on Nash, Stat and Matrix.

4-3

East

East Conf. Finals

Heat over Pistons

Shaq has been saving his diesel this season for the playoffs. 20ppg and 9rpg are not Shaq-like numbers but I'm sure many bball players would take that any day. Miami's chemistry has been questioned quite alot this season but it is coming together since their big win streak a few weeks ago. With Shaq's leadership, post season experience and ability to make players around him better the chemistry will improve even more in the playoffs. Zo has to get healthy in time so he and Shaq can give the Wallace Brothers a challange. The key for the Heat will be the bench. With all the signings during the off season it has provided them with much versatility and depth. They have to make sure that everyone contributes because the Pistons' starters are going to be hard to bring down because they work so well as a team and also are the backbone.

4-3

[[Q]]

well, thanks to the NBA changing the first round to best of 7 (to make more money), chances of an upset in the first round are almost non-existent.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

You can't consider Denver over Memphis an upset because Memphis is losing in the season series against the Nuggets and the Nuggets always give the Grizzlies problems so I would expect the Nuggets to win more than the Grizzlies.

[Anthony15]

I think that its not gonna be much of an upset in Nuggz - Memphis matchup. If all fo the players will be healthy by the time they get to the playoffs(I'm talking about Nene, Boykins, Najera) then why should it be an upset? Clearly one team has better palyers than the other!

[joejam999]

Memphis has never won at the Pepsi Center in their whole franchise history

The Grizzlies have never won a playoff game in their franchise history. 0-8

[air2k5]

Memphis is playign well as of late, if they are healthy I can see them stealing a game or two vs Nuggets, though I still think Nuggets will win the series.

[Nel]

If there's one team that is shaky in the playoffs it might be the spurs. If duncan is not healthy come playoff time, they are beatable.

[dinocarlo]

Nuggets over Memphis

This is not a major upset though Memphis has the better overall record compared to Denver. On the fact that Memphis has never won at the Pepsi Center in their whole franchise history and this season never looked like winning there again I reckon the Nuggets will clinch the series.

4-2

I don't think Nuggets over Memphis is an upset. Based on their meetings during the season, Denver is favored to win that.

Western Conf. Finals

Suns over Spurs

I really believe that the Suns can pull this one off and get revenge for last year's series. Stat will be very comfortable with the lineup come playoff time and he'll have some bigger bodies to aid him on the boards and on D compared to last season also the bench has much more talent and versatility too. We all know what a great team San Antonio are but I reckon if the Suns can defend Duncan well they have a good chance of exploiting their other big men who are decent but I believe lack toughness compared to the Suns' Big Men. Boris Diaw could be the x-factor for the Suns in the playoffs and this series with his size and athleticism causing mismatches for opponents shown during the season and be a threat when teams are focusing on Nash, Stat and Matrix.

4-3

That can really happen especially if Duncan isn't healthy.

East

East Conf. Finals

Heat over Pistons

Shaq has been saving his diesel this season for the playoffs. 20ppg and 9rpg are not Shaq-like numbers but I'm sure many bball players would take that any day. Miami's chemistry has been questioned quite alot this season but it is coming together since their big win streak a few weeks ago. With Shaq's leadership, post season experience and ability to make players around him better the chemistry will improve even more in the playoffs. Zo has to get healthy in time so he and Shaq can give the Wallace Brothers a challange. The key for the Heat will be the bench. With all the signings during the off season it has provided them with much versatility and depth. They have to make sure that everyone contributes because the Pistons' starters are going to be hard to bring down because they work so well as a team and also are the backbone.

4-3

That also can happen (my avatar and sig says so ). But it will really depend on the players. The heat bench really has to step up.

As for the Pistons, they need to check their attitude. Last season (and early this month when they lost many times), this was a problem.

[macca33]

new jersey over miami in the 2nd round! although they beat the pistons twice this season, i dont see their front court holding up over 7 games and the pistons play better come playoff time! but with miami's lack of defense in the back court, carter, rj and j-kidd could all put up monster games and upset the heat! (they have won 11 games in a row) then again... whos gonna stop shaq????

also... its not gonna happen, but assuming lakers play suns in the 1st round, if kobe plays off his nut whos gonna stop him???? its playoffs w/out shaq this time and he could score 50ppg, and steal probably 2 gms, but suns have too much offense for lakers!

[benji]

and he'll have some bigger bodies to aid him on the boards and on D compared to last season

Who? Pat Burke? If you're thinking Kurt Thomas he's out for the rest of the year...and if you're thinking Brian Grant, shame on you.

The Suns have been the Spurs' bitch the last two years.

The Spurs are constructed in a such a way, that if they aren't bored and decide they want to steamroll everyone, they can and will. Pistons have the mentality, not the team. Spurs have the team, not he mentality. Spurs are 36-8 against the West, Pistons 35-9 against the East. Suns are 27-16 against the West, 8-8 against the Southwest.

If Nuggets-Grizzlies games are close, you have to go with the Nuggets because they have the best clutch player in the league.

Like a week or two ago before Amare came back Suns over Spurs wouldn't even be much of an upset as only .4 points seperated the two teams. Now it's 1.2.

On the other side of the coin, the East. The Bulls are better than the Bucks. Celtics and Magic better than Sixers. If Bulls make it and Sixers don't it'll be fine, but if the Sixers make the playoffs. Ugh. The Pistons are 9.1 points a game better than the Sixers.

Even with the winning streak the Nets haven't been better than the sixth best team in the conference this year.

Speaking of luck, the Suns are 0-6 in games decided by three points or less. Spurs are best at 8-2. Spurs at 16-4 are second best team in the last twenty games, 17-3 Heat are the best.

Just some rambling...unlike last year there's no clear cut dominant team.