Post by Heat on May 21, 2008 14:56:11 GMT -5
After 1,148 regular season games, the LBA Playoffs are finally here.
These first-round playoff matchups are based on the final LBA standings.
The four division winners and the second-place team with the best record compete for the top four seeds in a conference, based on win-loss record and tiebreakers if need be.
The next four teams in the conference standings are seeded No. 5 to No. 8.
Home-court advantage in all playoff series is determined by win-loss record, not seeding.
Looking into the Eastern conference, it looks to be an exciting first round. This maybe the strongest as a whole the East has ever been.
#1 (60-22)
VS
#8 (46-36)
The Match-up: The Bucks and Cavs have met four times earlier this season; with the Bucks taking the series 3-1. However, we all know that teams in the playoffs compared to regular season teams are a whole other animal.
The key match-up for these two teams are: Shaq vs. Webber and the Bucks back-court stopping Kobe.
The Bucks are built better for a playoff run than the Cavs, but the best player on the court will definitely be Kobe. Allan Houston will be the X-factor of the series. Kobe and Webber will get theirs, as Shaq and Robinson will for the Bucks, but if it gets into a straight shoot-out with no defense, Look out Bucks the Cavs may surprise the league.
Series Prediction: Bucks 4 - Cavs 2, with Jason Kidd and Shaq showing their playoff veteran-ship by leading the Bucks team with tremendous efforts.
VS.
The Match-up: The Heat and Bullets have split their series earlier this year, both winning two games a piece. The biggest match-up will be Peja vs Odom. Peja is one of the best players in the league and it's going to be a knock-down drag out fight between the two of these swing men. The bigger story of late though is how well the Front-court of the Heat have been playing. Sammy-D at C, Curry at the 4, and Vlade coming off the bench at both have really stretch some other teams front court a little thin. They are producing massive numbers of late.
The last week of the regular season the trio produced: 47 boards, 5 blocks, and 36 points in one game; 39 boards, 6 blocks, 42 points in another, and 41 boards, 4 blocks, and 41 points in the final game of the season.
Series Prediction: Heat 4 - Bullets 2: Grant Hill and Odom will produce massive numbers in the series; while the trio of bigmen will hold down the any of the Bullets front court. The lack of big man presence on the floor for the Bullets will be their down fall.
#3
VS
The Match-up: This seems to be a pretty interesting match up. The Raps come in with the big three of Hughes, AK, and KG. While the Magic bounce in with AI, Ray Allen, and Pau Gasol. If Gasol can match up with KG and stop him just a little, then this may be the best series of the Eastern playoffs. This two teams are strong in areas that the other team is weak. The Raps have a very good front-court, while the Magic will definitely have better Guard play. I believe the X-Factor of the series will be: Al Harrington for the Magic and Chris Bosh for the Raps. If either one has 4 good showings their team could easily take the series.
Series Prediction: Toronto 4 - Magic 3; KG will punish Gasol and lead the Raptors to a second round birth. However the Guard play of the Magic will take it to the wire, before dropping a game 7 by less than 10 points.
VS
The Match-Up: In all honesty there really isn't much of a match-up here. The 6ers are riding out a record mostly compiled by the company of ZO and Timmy. They've taken a plunge in the standings of late, and are lucky to make the play-offs. If the season would have had another week or two, they'd be headed home.
The Series: Knicks 4 - 6ers 0; Sweep, Look for Timmy to reek havoc on his former team. Joe Johnson and Yao will also have a good showing. The 6ers really have no fire power to carry this team.
These first-round playoff matchups are based on the final LBA standings.
The four division winners and the second-place team with the best record compete for the top four seeds in a conference, based on win-loss record and tiebreakers if need be.
The next four teams in the conference standings are seeded No. 5 to No. 8.
Home-court advantage in all playoff series is determined by win-loss record, not seeding.
Looking into the Eastern conference, it looks to be an exciting first round. This maybe the strongest as a whole the East has ever been.
#1 (60-22)VS
#8 (46-36)The Match-up: The Bucks and Cavs have met four times earlier this season; with the Bucks taking the series 3-1. However, we all know that teams in the playoffs compared to regular season teams are a whole other animal.
The key match-up for these two teams are: Shaq vs. Webber and the Bucks back-court stopping Kobe.
The Bucks are built better for a playoff run than the Cavs, but the best player on the court will definitely be Kobe. Allan Houston will be the X-factor of the series. Kobe and Webber will get theirs, as Shaq and Robinson will for the Bucks, but if it gets into a straight shoot-out with no defense, Look out Bucks the Cavs may surprise the league.
Series Prediction: Bucks 4 - Cavs 2, with Jason Kidd and Shaq showing their playoff veteran-ship by leading the Bucks team with tremendous efforts.
VS.
The Match-up: The Heat and Bullets have split their series earlier this year, both winning two games a piece. The biggest match-up will be Peja vs Odom. Peja is one of the best players in the league and it's going to be a knock-down drag out fight between the two of these swing men. The bigger story of late though is how well the Front-court of the Heat have been playing. Sammy-D at C, Curry at the 4, and Vlade coming off the bench at both have really stretch some other teams front court a little thin. They are producing massive numbers of late.
The last week of the regular season the trio produced: 47 boards, 5 blocks, and 36 points in one game; 39 boards, 6 blocks, 42 points in another, and 41 boards, 4 blocks, and 41 points in the final game of the season.
Series Prediction: Heat 4 - Bullets 2: Grant Hill and Odom will produce massive numbers in the series; while the trio of bigmen will hold down the any of the Bullets front court. The lack of big man presence on the floor for the Bullets will be their down fall.
#3VS
The Match-up: This seems to be a pretty interesting match up. The Raps come in with the big three of Hughes, AK, and KG. While the Magic bounce in with AI, Ray Allen, and Pau Gasol. If Gasol can match up with KG and stop him just a little, then this may be the best series of the Eastern playoffs. This two teams are strong in areas that the other team is weak. The Raps have a very good front-court, while the Magic will definitely have better Guard play. I believe the X-Factor of the series will be: Al Harrington for the Magic and Chris Bosh for the Raps. If either one has 4 good showings their team could easily take the series.
Series Prediction: Toronto 4 - Magic 3; KG will punish Gasol and lead the Raptors to a second round birth. However the Guard play of the Magic will take it to the wire, before dropping a game 7 by less than 10 points.
VS
The Match-Up: In all honesty there really isn't much of a match-up here. The 6ers are riding out a record mostly compiled by the company of ZO and Timmy. They've taken a plunge in the standings of late, and are lucky to make the play-offs. If the season would have had another week or two, they'd be headed home.
The Series: Knicks 4 - 6ers 0; Sweep, Look for Timmy to reek havoc on his former team. Joe Johnson and Yao will also have a good showing. The 6ers really have no fire power to carry this team.
