NBA Playoff Thoughts

Now that it official that Kevin Garnett is out for the playoffs, the good folks in Cleveland can start preparing to host their second NBA Finals in three years... With the Celts chances looking slim, I am personally rooting for a LeBron-Kobe matchup in the Finals... I believed that the Bulls could upset the Magic but the Celtics defense -- even without KG -- will be too much for 'Da Bulls... Carmelo Anthony will join Tracy McGrady in the fraternity of "stars" who could never lead their team past the first round of the playoffs... If I were running the Spurs, Manu Ginobili's career playing for Argentina would be over. Kind of like how the Red Sox should end Daisuke's committments to the Japanese national team... The Rockets-Blazers matchup in the first round should be a lot of fun to watch... As for my playoff predictions: EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND (1) Cavaliers over (8) Pistons (Cavs break out the brooms in MoTown) (5) Heat over (4) Hawks (Too much D-Wade for Atlanta to handle) (3) Magic over (6) 76ers (The Sixers can't stop Dwight Howard) (2) Celtics over (7) Bulls (Derrick Rose shows America the future of the point guard position) SECOND ROUND (1) Cavaliers over (5) Heat (LeBron v. D-Wade will have me ready for June) (2) Celtics over (3) Magic (Pierce ends any debate about his HOF credentials) EASTERN FINALS (1) Cavaliers over (2) Celtics (A healthy KG would have made the difference) WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND (1) Lakers over (8) Jazz (Kobe & Co. roll over Utah) (4) Blazers over (5) Rockets (Brandon Roy emerges as a superstar) (6) Mavericks over (3) Spurs (Ginobili's absence can not be overcome) (7) Hornets over (2) Nuggets (Carmelo will be on the trade block this summer) SECOND ROUND (1) Lakers over (4) Blazers (Closer than you thought it would be) (6) Mavericks over (7) Hornets (The last time Jason Kidd will top Chris Paul) WESTERN FINALS (1) Lakers over (6) Mavericks (Too easy for L.A.) NBA FINALS Cavaliers over Lakers LeBron is just too much. 2009 is his year (just like 1980 belonged to Magic, 1981 belonged to Larry, 1991 belonged to Michael, 1994 belonged to Hakeem, 1999 belonged to David and Duncan, and 2000 belonged to Shaq and Kobe). Every superstar worth their $100-million sneaker contract finally realizes their potential and wins the ring and this is LeBron's time. He is a force of nature on both ends of the floor and he has the supporting cast to make up for his 2007 loss in the Finals to Tim Duncan and the Spurs. Kobe and the Lakers will try to play the role of spoiler but LeBron and the city of Cleveland will have their moment, finally.