1. Chicago: Why doubt the Bulls? You can argue they
won’t have enough offense, but I contend no team can match their drive,
focus and determination. Derrick Rose’s squad has simply displayed more want-to than the rest of the league. While the Heat, Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks
and Celtics have displayed troubling bouts of inconsistency, Chicago
has never lost more than two games in a row this season. From day one,
the Bulls have wanted to be the best. Rose and Joakim Noah had the courage to dislike LeBron James before it was cool. They’d love nothing more than to ruin the season of the Big Three.
2. Oklahoma City: The Thunder are my “sexy” pick. They remind me of what we thought the Celtics were — only much younger. The Kendrick Perkins acquisition makes OKC potentially the best defensive team in the postseason. The Thunder are long, strong and athletic. Kevin Durant can score enough to compensate for the loss of Jeff Green. Russell Westbrook
is my only real concern. His decision-making can still be very suspect.
I think he matures during these playoffs and makes just enough smart
plays to get OKC to the finals.
3. Miami: Best-kept secret this season is Dwyane Wade
has been every bit as good as LeBron. That is no way a knock on James.
Wade has been spectacular. He’s shooting a career-best 50 percent from
the field. He gets to the cup in the halfcourt offense better than any
player in the league. My MVP ballot would be: 1. Rose; 2. James; 3.
Wade. The Heat have two of the three best players in the league this
season. That gives them a great chance to win it all this season. I just
don’t see them getting past Chicago. Miami’s role players disappear too
often.
4. Dallas: I’m the only idiot left who still believes in the Mavericks. I love Tyson Chandler. Put Chandler on the Heat and Miami wins it all. Chandler rebounds, dunks and defends. That’s what I want from my big man. Dirk Nowitzki can still score in the fourth quarter. Jason Terry
is clutch. Early in the year, Dallas was my pick to win the whole
thing. Like every team except Chicago, the Mavericks went through a
lull. Maybe Dallas will get hot again.
5. Boston: The whole second half of the season, I’ve
believed Shaquille O’Neal was sandbagging. When Danny Ainge traded
Kendrick Perkins, I assumed Doc Rivers was resting Shaq until the
playoffs. I no longer believe that. The Diesel’s body is apparently out
of gas. He’s filled up his tank with too many Wendy’s triple
cheeseburgers over the years. He didn’t take care of himself. Shaq is no
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Shaq gave the Celtics a swagger. He was only good
for 20 minutes, but his six fouls took a toll on the opposition, and he
could occasionally put up 15 points and 10 boards. You can’t win a
championship with Nenad Krstic and Jermaine O’Neal, can you?
6. Los Angeles: This is the second time this season I’ve written off Kobe Bryant
and the Lakers. I called Kobe “thirsty” after the All-Star game and
swore he was done. The Lake Show ripped off 17 victories in 18 games.
What to believe? Andrew Bynum
hyperextended his knee in Tuesday’s game. I believe the Lakers are too
old to get through what will be a very difficult Western Conference
playoffs. No way.
7. San Antonio: I’m going to regret doubting the
Spurs. I’m going to look really stupid. I just don’t see the necessary
size to get past any of the Western Conference contenders. The Spurs are
the pretenders some people think the Bulls are.
8. Denver: The Nuggets, the five seed in the West, are
going to make life miserable for some unlucky team in the first round. I
hope OKC avoids the four slot. If Denver gets out of the opening round
and puts on a Cinderella slipper, George Karl’s bunch might ride the
wave all the way to the finals.
Yep, I don’t see the Orlando Magic as a title threat. Dwight Howard is still immature. Stan Van Gundy is still a suspect coach. And I’m still pissed Jameer Nelson was inserted into the lineup during the 2009 NBA Finals.
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Zanimljiva lista favorita, ide po redu znači Bullsi n1.
[uredio madmax17 - 13. travnja 2011. u 09:32]