NBA Playoffs First Round, Humiliating Results

Oops, only picked on series correctly.

The Results:

Pick Boston over Atlanta in 4. Result Boston in 7?
Guess that's not going to happen, Boston won't lose a game 4 at home, they've won by big margins in their home games, and don't expect differently in game seven, but the fact they couldn't win on the road against Atlanta has to be concerning to Celtics fans in a match up against the Cleveland LeBrons.

Pick Philadelphia over Detroit in 6. Result Detroit in 6
D'oh! Things looked good for me when it was 2-2 and Philly had the momentum, but Detroit woke up and realized they are a really good team. Orlando might be better, though.

Pick Orlando over Toronto in 7. Result Orlando in 5
Semi-D'oh! Picked the right team, wrong number of games. Dwight Howard is a monster, he's the most intimidating presence in the paint the NBA has right now, too bad he looks like a choir boy (albeit a choir boy with a freakishly awesome body).

Pick Washington over Cleveland in 5. Result Cleveland in 6
D'oh! The LeBrons (they really aren't the Cavaliers, anymore) had one clunker, lost one squeaker, and otherwise controlled the series. They also bitched and moaned about the physical play, and sat around and watched LeBron be LeBron for large stretches of these contests. That will cost them against a stifling Celtics defense, assuming Celtics can make the adjustments needed to win on the road.

Pick LA Lakers over Denver in 4. Result Lakers in 4
Woohoo! Got one right. Possibly was my homerism talking in this pick, and my Kobe-love, but also Denver just looked like a basket-case of a team all season, even when they were winning. Melo was right, they quit as a team, and I'm not sure if Coby Karl hadn't been there to console him at the end of the sweep that George would have survived that night. Just the same, he should stay away from sharp objects for a month or two. Utah will be a handful for the Lakers, but Utah has nobody who can guard Kobe, and if they double and triple team him or go to a zone, Fisher will go wild shooting from the outside, and Gasol will have another dunkfest like he had against Denver. If they play Kobe straight up, Kobe will average over 40 points in this series and the Lakers will sweep, so the Jazz get to pick their poison. The main hope for a close series is that LA's defense is pretty lousy, and they get 3 pointer happy from time to time.

Pick Dallas over New Orleans in 6. Result New Orleans in 5
D'oh! I knew Chris Paul was amazing, but who knew about David West? Dallas will probably do some serious tweaking in the off season, and New Orleans will play well against the defending champions, but the big advantages New Orleans had against Dallas aren't as pronounced against San Antonio.

Pick Phoenix over Seattle in 6. Result San Antonio in 5
D'oh! The champs still look like champs, and they still flop like a European soccer team. Also, Duncan has never committed a foul in his entire career judging from the pained expression that crosses his face every time he's whistled. Did I mention I hate San Antonio? Can't wait to watch the Lakers pick them apart in the Western Conference Finals. They'll find a way to slow down Chris Paul, either by forcing him to be a scorer rather than a passer, or by just plain beating him up. Plus, Duncan will destroy Chandler inside, Chandler will be in foul trouble by the 2nd quarter in every game.

Pick Houston over Utah in 7. Result Utah in 6
D'oh! The Jazz are a very good team, with excellent depth, and a fantastic point guard in Deron Williams. Houston weren't at full strength, and McGrady had a terrific series, but his team still lost. The Jazz will play well against the Lakers in the next round, but the Lakers were the only team to sweep their way through the first round, and they are playing at a high level. The Lakers ought to be able to handle the Jazz, but they'll give them a serious fight.

Well, that was pretty humiliating, the tally so far . . .
1 right team, right number of games
1 right team, wrong number of games
5 wrong teams
1 result pending

Next round I'll be better . . .