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chicagogr81's NBA Playoffs round 3 picks

I figured out why my picks thus far haven't been a lock. I've been picking with my heart instead of my head. I've been hoping against hope that the teams I like the least (that being Boston, Detroit and San Antonio) would lose, or at least have a much harder time winning then they did. But no more. The playoffs have turned me into a pesimist. I no longer believe that the Finals will be fun to watch.

Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles Lakers v. San Antonio Spurs

Every fiber in my being wants the Lakers to make it to the Finals because they are the only team left that I would actually be happy for if they won it all. They have the home court advantage, the MVP, and the greatest coach in the history of sports. My gut tells me they'll find a way to win the series, and I'm really rooting for them. But my head says no, the same old same old will prevail.

Flopping in the NBA: problem and solution

It's no secret that the modern NBA player is a frustrated actor. Flopping in all of its forms continues to spread like wildfire. Everyone seems to be exaggerating the force of contact and taking dives on the floor. Antics like this make me think I'm watching the WWE instead of the NBA. But what can be done about this problem? It's having a negative impact on the game and even fans of the most prominent floppers cannot enjoy seeing the players turn contact into a poker game for the referees.

The DUMBEST executive in the NBA

Oh there are so many stupid STUPID owners and general managers these days. So many franchises have been left in complete disarray because of God awful decisions that even a drunk with a grammar school education wouldn't have made. But who is the lowest of the low? Obviously the biggest villain right now is Clay Bennett and rightfully so. But his tyranny in robbing the people of Seattle of their team is more of a political evil than a managerial failure. He's in a class by himself. But aside from him, I'm counting down the 5 biggest dunces in professional basketball.

5. Steve Kerr (Phoenix Suns)

chicagogr81's NBA Playoffs round 2 picks

OK, round 1 is in the rearview mirror now, save one game. My picks weren't too accurate in round 1, but that's the hardest round to foresee. There are so many teams and you just don't know how they'll come out in the postseason. Once you get a chance to really see the teams play under pressure, you can get a better read on how things will go the rest of the way.

I thought that last year's finalists would be in for an early summer vacation, much like the Mavs and Heat last year, but it was not to be. The Cavs showed that they weren't a fluke and the Spurs proved that Phoenix is just not on their level, especially when it comes to coaching. Some middle seeded teams dispatched with their opponents quicker than I expected, and the big two in the east got a much bigger challenge than most anticipated.

Since round 2 starts tomorrow, I'm going to offer my picks now, even with Boston-Atlanta still not decided. The Hawks have impressed the basketball world with their athleticism and attitude and I'll admit I'm marking for them in game 7, but the 3 games in Boston weren't even close and I expect the Celtics to survive and move on. However, regardless of who wins game 7 Sunday, it won't alter who I think will win the 2nd round series.

Boston or Atlanta v. Cleveland

chicagogr81's NBA Playoffs round 1 picks

I'm not going to go into a bunch of statistical mumbo jumbo and matchup chess commentary. Picking outcomes in playoff series in the NBA, especially in the first round, is about gut instinct and the history of playoff dynamics. I intend to provide detailed analysis of individual games and series as they happen, but I will offer my picks right now for those of you who just love to gamble! LOL

(1) Boston Celtics v. (8) Atlanta Hawks
CELTICS in 5

(2) Detroit Pistons v. (7) Philadelphia 76ers