JACK
McCALLUM |
IAN
THOMSEN |
MARTY
BURNS |
CHRIS
MANNIX |
| Eastern Conference |
FIRST ROUND
DET over ORL in 6
CLE over WAS in 5
TOR over NJN in 7
MIA over CHI in 7 |
FIRST ROUND
DET over ORL in 5
CLE over WAS in 4
TOR over NJN in 7
MIA over CHI in 6 |
FIRST ROUND
DET over ORL in 4
CLE over WAS in 4
TOR over NJN in 7
CHI over MIA in 7 |
FIRST ROUND
DET over ORL in 5
CLE over WAS in 5
NJN over TOR in 7
CHI over MIA in 7 |
|
SECOND ROUND
DET over MIA in 6
CLE over TOR in 6 |
SECOND ROUND
MIA over DET in 7
CLE over TOR in 6 |
SECOND ROUND
DET over CHI in 6
CLE over TOR in 7 |
SECOND ROUND
CHI over DET in 7
CLE over NJN in 6 |
|
CONF. FINALS
DET over CLE in 6 |
CONF. FINALS
MIA over CLE in 7 |
CONF. FINALS
DET over CLE in 5 |
CONF. FINALS
CHI over CLE in 6 |
| Western Conference |
FIRST ROUND
DAL over GSW in 5
PHX over LAL in 5
SAS over DEN in 6
HOU over UTA in 6 |
FIRST ROUND
DAL over GSW in 5
PHX over LAL in 6
SAS over DEN in 6
HOU over UTA in 7 |
FIRST ROUND
DAL over GSW in 5
PHX over LAL in 5
SAS over DEN in 5
HOU over UTA in 7 |
FIRST ROUND
DAL over GSW in 5
PHX over LAL in 6
SAS over DEN in 6
HOU over UTA in 7 |
|
SECOND ROUND
DAL over HOU in 7
PHX over SAS in 7 |
SECOND ROUND
DAL over HOU in 6
PHX over SAS in 7 |
SECOND ROUND
DAL over HOU in 6
SAS over PHX in 7 |
SECOND ROUND
DAL over HOU in 6
SAS over PHX in 7 |
|
CONF. FINALS
DAL over PHX in 7 |
CONF. FINALS
PHX over DAL in 7 |
CONF. FINALS
SAS in DAL in 7 |
CONF. FINALS
DAL over SAS in 7 |
| NBA Finals |
| DAL over DET in 7 |
PHX over MIA in 5 |
SAS over DET in 7 |
CHI over DAL in 7 |
|
| It will be a long, hard road for the eventual champions. But the Mavericks know something about long, hard roads, having trod one last season when they lost to the Heat in six games. The lessons learned -- specifically, how to hold onto a lead -- will serve them well against the experienced Pistons. There are plenty of Dallas doubters out there, but the Mavs have been the best team in the league all year long, one that can grind you down offensively and shut you off defensively, and there's no reason they won't be the best team come the third week of June. |
Since the preseason I've been picking Phoenix over Miami on the gamble that Steve Nash's Suns would win the close ones, and that Miami would stubbornly prevail in its mediocre conference. Back in October I was thinking that the Suns would go No. 2 in the West on the steady improvement of Amare Stoudemire, and so far so good there. While I didn't anticipate Miami's troubles, I retain my original faith in Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade (so long as they slow the game down into the 80s). Hey, at least give me credit for not flip-flopping. |
I picked the Spurs to win it before the season so I might as well stick with them. I must admit the Mavs are a more logical choice, but I'm still not convinced they have the killer instinct. The Suns are very intriguing, but no rebounds usually means no rings. In the East, I picked the Cavs over the Pistons before the season. But Cleveland's offense has not developed as expected, while Detroit managed to compensate for the loss of Ben Wallace with the unexpected pickup of Chris Webber. Now I'll go with Detroit. |
Grant Park, get ready -- there is a parade headed down Michigan Avenue. OK, I'm not that confident that my preseason pick of the Bulls will come through, but I'm banking on a brutal Western playoffs that will send the victor to the Finals playing at less than 100 percent. I'm also putting a lot of faith in Chicago's shooters. An East scout told me last week that while he is not picking the Bulls, he said they were the only team in the conference with the ability to erase a double-digit deficit with a minute to go. I'm banking on their shooters holding up.
|
