NBA Playoff Predictions: Hockey Playoffs
OK, so the NBA Playoffs are finally here. Since the Eastern Conference match-ups were already set, we went over those yesterday, so now it is time for the West. We have seen some surprises in the West, like Memphis making the playoffs and San Antonio picking up the top seed. Now, it is time for the predictions.
(1) San Antonio vs (8) Memphis
It was a great season for the Memphis Grizzles, who followed up a 40-42 year and 2 or 3 at the bottom of the league with a 46-36 record and a playoff appearance. Their reward? The 61-21 San Antonio Spurs, who have dominated the league in 2010 and 2011.
However, they have been losing games recently, and Memphis has been resting players, like they wanted San Antonio. The Spurs have got help from Richard Jefferson and George Hill, but if Memphis can take those 2 out of the game, it will definitely be closer. Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay average more points than any player on the Spurs. Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and O.J Mayo each average over 11 PPG as well.
The Grizzles definitely have the talent to match the Spurs. Unfortunately for the Grizz, I think it will be experience in this series, and that's why I am going with the Spurs. Like I said, if Jefferson and Hill are taken out of the games, it will be a whole different series. But for now, I have San Antonio. Prediction: Spurs in 7.
(2) LA Lakers vs (7) New Orleans
From Kobe to Gasol to Odom to Fisher, the Lake Show is loaded with talent. All these guys have great experience, and they know how to beat any team. However, Marco Belinelli, Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry have made huge contributions. The Lakers can put New Orleans away in 4 by taking those guys out of the game, but it is harder than it seems.
The Lakers know how to win close games, while the Hornets don't play many close ones. New Orleans will be forced to play will in those kinds of situations, and that will be hard for them. The Lakers have Derek Fisher, Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and many other guys with playoff experience. That will be the difference in this series,
and I think LA has that edge. Prediction: Lakers in 6.
(3) Dallas vs (6) Portland
This will probably be the closest series. Dallas' history of playoff failure and Portland's ability to compete with anyone will be a huge factor. For the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews have really stepped up, and Nicholas Batum, Gerald Wallace, Andre Miller and Brandon Roy have made a difference.
Jason Terry has done well for Dallas, but they will need much more to take down the Blazers. Portland is underrated because of their inconsistancy, but they only need four good games to advance into the next round. The Blazers will need good games from the supporting cast and the role players to make a big impact, or they can shut down Dirk Nowitzki. Jason Terry can definitely not beat the 6 Blazers by himself. I don't think they will shut down Dirk, but the background will step up. Prediction: Blazers in 6.
(4) Oklahoma City vs (5) Denver
The Nuggets lost Carmelo Anthony. They lost Chauncey Billups. So how are they here? Simple: 8 players averaging over 10 points per game to help the Nuggets into the playoffs. You almost always see the team with 8 players average 10+ PPG winning, but this may be different.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have carried the team, and by averaging 115.6 PPG, the Thunder have been able to go 55-27. OKC went 3-1 against the Nuggets, one of those wins coming on Christmas where Durant scored 44. Not every Nugget has played well at the right time for Denver, which is why the Nuggets are a 5 seed
instead of a 2 seed. Westbrook and Durant will run all over the Nuggets, and not every Nugget will play well at the right time.
Prediction: Thunder in 5.
NHL Playoffs
Rangers at Capitals (brief)
What is it that sends the Capitals home in the first or second round almost every year? Is it their inability to win close games? Well, it wasn't showing Wednesday night.
Despite getting 8 more shots on goal and much better chances, the Capitals couldn't capitalize; until Alex Ovechkin tied the game in the 3rd period and Alex Semin won it with 1:36 left in overtime.
The New York Rangers stopped almost all shots (as expected) and they took a 1-0 lead when Matt Gilroy received a pass from behind the net and slapped the puck by Michael Neuvrith for a goal. The Rangers stopped many great chances from Washington, but with 6:16 left in the 3rd period the Caps got revenge.
The puck was under the leg of Henrik Lundqvist, and Ovechikn was fighting for it. He finally connected with the puck and he poked it into the net, tying the game at 1. Washington and New York played pretty even until OT.
In the extra session, the Rangers got 2 shots on goal, while the Caps got more than enough. Although the saves Neuvrith made were nice, the Caps were so close almost every time. Then finally, the Caps scored.
Jordan Staal of New York had the puck, and he tried to hit it off the wall. Unfortunately for him, it landed on the stick of Jason Arnott, and Arnott passed it to Alexander Semin, who fired immediately. The shot hit the top left corner of the net, giving the Caps a 2-1 OT win.
Other hockey scores
Tampa Bay 0
Pittsburgh 3
Nashville 4
Anahiem 1
Vancouver 2
Chicago 0
Phoenix 2
Detroit 4
Other headlines
Josh Johnson throws no-no through 7.1 innings. He fanned 9, and used his breaking ball to gt ahead of counts and his slider to finish batters off. His fastball up and out worked well, but it was also the pitch that Freddie Freeman used to get his first hit. The Marlins beat the Braves 5-1.
(1) San Antonio vs (8) Memphis
It was a great season for the Memphis Grizzles, who followed up a 40-42 year and 2 or 3 at the bottom of the league with a 46-36 record and a playoff appearance. Their reward? The 61-21 San Antonio Spurs, who have dominated the league in 2010 and 2011.
However, they have been losing games recently, and Memphis has been resting players, like they wanted San Antonio. The Spurs have got help from Richard Jefferson and George Hill, but if Memphis can take those 2 out of the game, it will definitely be closer. Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay average more points than any player on the Spurs. Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and O.J Mayo each average over 11 PPG as well.
The Grizzles definitely have the talent to match the Spurs. Unfortunately for the Grizz, I think it will be experience in this series, and that's why I am going with the Spurs. Like I said, if Jefferson and Hill are taken out of the games, it will be a whole different series. But for now, I have San Antonio. Prediction: Spurs in 7.
(2) LA Lakers vs (7) New Orleans
From Kobe to Gasol to Odom to Fisher, the Lake Show is loaded with talent. All these guys have great experience, and they know how to beat any team. However, Marco Belinelli, Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry have made huge contributions. The Lakers can put New Orleans away in 4 by taking those guys out of the game, but it is harder than it seems.
The Lakers know how to win close games, while the Hornets don't play many close ones. New Orleans will be forced to play will in those kinds of situations, and that will be hard for them. The Lakers have Derek Fisher, Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and many other guys with playoff experience. That will be the difference in this series,
and I think LA has that edge. Prediction: Lakers in 6.
(3) Dallas vs (6) Portland
This will probably be the closest series. Dallas' history of playoff failure and Portland's ability to compete with anyone will be a huge factor. For the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews have really stepped up, and Nicholas Batum, Gerald Wallace, Andre Miller and Brandon Roy have made a difference.
Jason Terry has done well for Dallas, but they will need much more to take down the Blazers. Portland is underrated because of their inconsistancy, but they only need four good games to advance into the next round. The Blazers will need good games from the supporting cast and the role players to make a big impact, or they can shut down Dirk Nowitzki. Jason Terry can definitely not beat the 6 Blazers by himself. I don't think they will shut down Dirk, but the background will step up. Prediction: Blazers in 6.
(4) Oklahoma City vs (5) Denver
The Nuggets lost Carmelo Anthony. They lost Chauncey Billups. So how are they here? Simple: 8 players averaging over 10 points per game to help the Nuggets into the playoffs. You almost always see the team with 8 players average 10+ PPG winning, but this may be different.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have carried the team, and by averaging 115.6 PPG, the Thunder have been able to go 55-27. OKC went 3-1 against the Nuggets, one of those wins coming on Christmas where Durant scored 44. Not every Nugget has played well at the right time for Denver, which is why the Nuggets are a 5 seed
instead of a 2 seed. Westbrook and Durant will run all over the Nuggets, and not every Nugget will play well at the right time.
Prediction: Thunder in 5.
NHL Playoffs
Rangers at Capitals (brief)
What is it that sends the Capitals home in the first or second round almost every year? Is it their inability to win close games? Well, it wasn't showing Wednesday night.
Despite getting 8 more shots on goal and much better chances, the Capitals couldn't capitalize; until Alex Ovechkin tied the game in the 3rd period and Alex Semin won it with 1:36 left in overtime.
The New York Rangers stopped almost all shots (as expected) and they took a 1-0 lead when Matt Gilroy received a pass from behind the net and slapped the puck by Michael Neuvrith for a goal. The Rangers stopped many great chances from Washington, but with 6:16 left in the 3rd period the Caps got revenge.
The puck was under the leg of Henrik Lundqvist, and Ovechikn was fighting for it. He finally connected with the puck and he poked it into the net, tying the game at 1. Washington and New York played pretty even until OT.
In the extra session, the Rangers got 2 shots on goal, while the Caps got more than enough. Although the saves Neuvrith made were nice, the Caps were so close almost every time. Then finally, the Caps scored.
Jordan Staal of New York had the puck, and he tried to hit it off the wall. Unfortunately for him, it landed on the stick of Jason Arnott, and Arnott passed it to Alexander Semin, who fired immediately. The shot hit the top left corner of the net, giving the Caps a 2-1 OT win.
Other hockey scores
Tampa Bay 0
Pittsburgh 3
Nashville 4
Anahiem 1
Vancouver 2
Chicago 0
Phoenix 2
Detroit 4
Other headlines
Josh Johnson throws no-no through 7.1 innings. He fanned 9, and used his breaking ball to gt ahead of counts and his slider to finish batters off. His fastball up and out worked well, but it was also the pitch that Freddie Freeman used to get his first hit. The Marlins beat the Braves 5-1.
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