Rookies
Starters![]()
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PG | Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors
SG | James Harden - Oklahoma City Thunder
SF | Earl Clark - Phoenix Suns
PF | Blake Griffin - Los Angeles Clippers
C | Hasheem Thabeet - Memphis Grizzlies
Reserves![]()
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Brandon Jennings - Milwaukee Bucks
Terrence Williams - New Jersey Nets
Omri Casspi - Milwaukee Bucks
DeJuan Blair - San Antonio Spurs
David Andersen - Houston Rockets
Sophomores
Starters![]()
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PG | Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls
SG | O.J. Mayo - Memphis Grizzlies
SF | Michael Beasley - Miami Heat
PF | Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves
C | Brook Lopez - New Jersey Nets
Reserves![]()
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Russell Westbrook - Oklahoma City Thunder
Eric Gordon - Los Angeles Clippers
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute - Milwaukee Bucks
Anthony Randolph - Golden State Warriors
Roy Hibbert - Indiana Pacers
First Round
Second Round
Final Round
First Round
Final Round
2010 NBA Playoffs Preview: Conference Quarterfinals
Western Conference :
Nuggets Projected Rotation : C. Billups | J. Smith | C. Anthony | K. Martin | C. Andersen (T. Lawson, T. Ford, A. Afflalo)
Suns Projected Rotation : S. Nash | J. Richardson | E. Clark | A. Stoudemire | R. Lopez (L. Barbosa, D. Jones, G. Dragic)
Nuggets surprised everyone by notching the top seed of the Western Conference by ousting Lakers, and yet another surprising Suns almost fail to make to the playoffs. This series will feature a lockup offensive war between these two teams. Absence of Nene who was traded for T.J. Ford seems to be blessing in disguise because Ford now is efficient and helping to upgrade Nuggets scoring end but the trade made them weak on the low post. The Grant Hill trade maybe is the reason why the Suns struggle in the regular season, they also acquired ex-Nugget Dahntay Jones for Channing Frye. Suns now will be leaning to the duo of Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire while Nuggets will go to their alpha man, Carmelo Anthony. Nuggets will prevail here.
Prediction : Nuggets in 6
Spurs Projected Rotation : T. Parker | M. Ginobili | R. Jefferson | A. McDyess | M. Bonner (G. Hill, D. Blair, R. Mason)
Thunder Projected Rotation :R. Westbrook | S. Vujacic | K. Durant | J. Green | N. Krstic (T. Seflosha, S. Ibaka, E. Maynor)
Two teams with identical record. Experience against youth. The youngest team on the league led by Kevin Durant[/b] will face the much experienced Spurs. The problem for Spurs is the absence of [u]Tim Duncan because of an injury and reportedly will be out for the whole first round, Thunder must abuse the post and go wire-to-wire. Looking at the two spot, surely Manu Ginobili will dominate Thunder's Sasha Vujacic, questions and criticms has been thrown to Scott Brooks by replacing Thabo Sefolosha for Vujacic. With the void of Duncan, I will say this series will be tight and will decided on a game 7 which will the Thunder win.
Prediction : Thunder in 7
Rockets Projected Rotation : A. Brooks | K. Martin | T. Ariza | L. Scola | Y. Ming (S. Battier, K. Lowry, C. Budinger)
Clippers Projected Rotation : B. Davis | R. Butler | T. Outlaw | B. Griffin | C. Kaman (S. Blake, D. Gooden, D. Jordan)
Finally, the Clippers broke the curse and making to the playoffs after long years but they will face the much favored Rockets. Yao Ming played all 82 games for Rockets and led the team in scoring, Kevin Martin also is helping, Aaron Brooks is there, Rockets will dominate in this series. Clippers missed their guard Eric Gordon on their last game of the season because he injured his shoulder. But the standout rookie Blake Griffin is playing much like a superstar. Baron Davis looks young because of his performance and may be looking to led the team in this series or throughout the Playoffs if they will cruise here. Can we expect "We Believe 2.0" here? Nah, Ming will be the MVP of this series and it will go to the Rockets.
Prediction : Rockets in 5
Lakers Projected Rotation : D. Fisher | K. Bryant | R. Artest | P. Gasol | A. Bynum (L. Odom, J. Farmar, S. Brown)
Kings Projected Rotation : T. Evans | M. Redd | I. Udoka | J. Thompson | S. Hawes (B. Udrih, D. Greene)
No doubt, Lakers will win here. Lakers is still the title favorites and will go on a easy win series against the shorthanded Kings. Carl Landry is out for the Kings. What this series comes down to is the Lakers are just too big up front for the Kings. But Michael Redd vs. Kobe Bryant is exciting matchup to watch, they are expected to light out every game and play with each other hard. The Lakers will take this series, but Kings should be able steal a game (or even two) with his offensive prowess and determination.
Prediction : Lakers in 4
Eastern Conference :
Magic Projected Rotation : J. Nelson | V. Carter | M. Barnes | R. Lewis | D. Howard (C. Duhon, J. Redick, B. Bass)
Celtics Projected Rotation : R. Rondo | R. Allen | P. Pierce | K. Garnett | R. Wallace (K. Perkins, N. Robinson, M. Finley)
Magic dominated the East and the league by notching the best record simply because of Dwight Howard who's a lockup for the Defensive Player award. Celtics seemed to be old and rusty because of their disappointing record and nearly missed their postseason berth. The Celtics will play junkyard, scrappy basketball and really make Orlando work for everything in what will be a grueling series no matter how many games are played. Players from Celtics need to step up their game, Rajon Rondo needs to be aggresive, Paul Pierce will sure be fighting till the end and a inspired and determined Kevin Garnett is needed. Still Magic has their sights set on getting back to the NBA Finals and they won't let an upbeat Celtics team slow them down.
Prediction : Magic in 6
Raptors Projected Rotation : J. Calderon | D. DeRozan | H. Turkoglu | C. Bosh | A. Bargnani (J. Jack, A. Johnson, M. Bellineli)
Bobcats Projected Rotation : R. Felton | S. Jackson | G. Wallace | B. Diaw | T. Chandler (G. Henderson, D. Augustin)
This series maybe will be exciting. Bobcats squeeked into the Playoffs and this will be their first throughout their franchise. They will face the Chris Bosh's team. This series will judge what will be Bosh's decision on the offseason. The one-two punch of Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace will help them stood a chance against the Raptors. Not mentioning the talent of D.J. Augustin who will coming off the bench and another scoring option for the Bobcats, but throughout the series backcourt of Raptors will beat Bobcats, Bosh can give you 20, 10 a night and Andrea Bargnani can add the scoring load too. Underdog Bobcats will believe to the coaching tactics of Larry Brown and hoping to advance.
Prediction : Bobcats in 7
Hawks Projected Rotation : M. Bibby | J. Johnson | M. Williams | J. Smith | A. Horford (J. Crawford, J. Teague, Z. Pachulia)
Nets Projected Rotation : D. Harris | C. Lee | J. Posey | J. Yi | B. Lopez (T. Williams, C. Douglas-Roberts, K. Dooling)
If you're thinking of a sweep, think again. The underachieving Nets made the Playoffs and will face the highflying Hawks. The factor for the Nets run is their guard Devin Harris who finished second in points average. Also addition of James Posey somehow upgrade their defensive side. Bad news for the Hawks is, Josh Smith will not be 100% through the series because of a finger injury, Nets will trust to this slim chance and looking to upset the Hawks. But Joe Johnnson will not let that happen, he's still the leader and maybe the number one option on offense of the Hawks, Johnson will be a free agent this off-season and still don't have decisions. Whatever the Nets will throw, Hawks will still eliminate them.
Prediction : Hawks in 5
Cavaliers Projected Rotation : M. Williams | D. West | L. James | A. Jamison | S. O'Neal (A. Parker, J. Hickson, A. Varejao)
Bulls Projected Rotation : D. Rose | F. Murray | L. Deng | H. Warrick | J. Noah (K. Hinrich, T. Gibson, B. Miller)
Congratulations, Bulls, for getting in to the playoffs! Now, meet your opponent, the best team in the NBA! Yes, by the end of the season it will be the summer of stars and atop of the list is LeBron James but he's not leaning through his decision, he's focused than anybody and he just want a title to prove his greatness. Cavaliers got the more talented guys than of the Bulls, but expect Derrick Rose to be a monster in this series, he will match James at every game. Adding Playoff experience for the Cavs, Shaquille O'Neal is expected to be their special role player and dominate the paint. Opposing big man Joakim Noah will face again his much hated team and maybe hungry to upset them. This series will never be in doubt, but the Cavaliers will have one bad game getting things going again and hopefully for Chicago it will coincide with another electric offensive performance in the playoffs from Bulls.
Prediction : Cavaliers in 5
Durantula_MVP wrote:Let's go Thunder!!!
Clipps in playoffs![]()
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Finally.
Houndy66 wrote:I need to get those team name logos. Where did you get them? And also, win, win, win.
Martti. wrote:Clippers in the Playoffs??
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