Ok, before that, I'll give my awards... Hey, the play offs won't affect anymore the voting so here goes...
MVP - Lebron James - Great offensive game as always and well-improved defensive play... 28-7-7 and they have the best record in the league, there's no denying his first MVP award. At 24, I wonder how many MVP awards he will win... If he develop his killer instinct ala Jordan, he will be the best player in years to come.
ROY - Derrick Rose - The Bulls got it right this time with their draft. D-Rose will definitely a figure in the point. Needs more consistency with his outside shooting. Good rookie year, leading the Bulls back to the postseason. But for me, not yet in the same company of Paul and Deron.
Coach - Mike Brown - Best record in the league. But beyond that, the transformation of Cavs to a feared defensive team is the factor that let him win the award.
Sixth Man - Jason Terry - He plays better off the bench and his impact on the Mavs rotation is undeniably positive.
Improved Player - Devin Harris - Dallas owner Mark Cuban may be sorry for giving this kid away for Jason Kidd. Devin showed really what he can do especially with a coach having his plays set for him. (I picked Nene before during the midseason to win but he just slowed down.)
Defensive Player - Dwight Howard - He led the league in rebounding and shot blocks. He deserves it. (I picked KG before but injuries made him miss the last two months.)
Playoffs 2009 here we go...
Western Conference - It will be a Kobe & Co. show. Nobody will stop them especially right now that the Spurs lost Manu Ginobili for the playoffs.
1st Round
Lakers vs Jazz - Lakers 4-1 - Lakers will be too much to handle for the Jazz.
Nuggets vs Hornets - Nuggets 4-3 - Chauncey Billups will definitely provides the playoff composure for this team. And he can play defense too.
Spurs vs Mavs - Spurs 4-2 Ginobili's absence will not be badly felt yet as of this time. Spurs' defense will carry them over the Mavs. Too much Parker in this series.
Blazers vs Rockets - Rockets 4-3 Best series in the first round for me. I'll have Rockets winning in game 7 in Portland.
2nd Round
Lakers vs Rockets - Lakers 4-2 - They have Bynum now to play center against Yao. Gasol will definitely exploit Luis Scola down low.
Nuggets vs Spurs - Spurs 4-2 - Spurs' experience will be the x-factor for this series. This will be a Tim Duncan vs Nuggets big men series.
West Finals
Lakers vs Spurs - Lakers 4-2 - No Ginobili = no match for the Lakers.
Eastern Conference - The theme of the playoffs for the East will be the KG Effect. Celtics has no chance at all winning against Cavs if KG will really sit down.
1st Round
Cavs vs Pistons - Cavs 4-1 - This is not the same Pistons team anymore. Cavs will just have an easy time in this series.
Celtics vs Bulls - Celtics 4-2 - Without KG, I think they can still get through the first round.
Magic vs Sixers - Magic 4-2 - Who can guard Dwight Howard? ...Dalembert? ...Speights? Come on...
Hawks vs Heat - Hawks 4-3 - This series can go either way but I'm picking the Hawks considering the tough experience last year against the champs.
2nd Round
Cavs vs Hawks - Cavs 4-2 - King James vs Josh Smith... Wow! The veteran big men of the Cavs will outplay the young guns of the Hawks.
Celtics vs Magic - Magic 4-2 - It's over for the Celtics. No KG means a lot of defensive lapses.
East Final
Cavs vs Magic - Cavs 4-2 - Forget the last game where they routed the Cavs. This is the playoffs.
NBA Finals - Cavs vs Lakers - Lakers 4-2 - This series will be all hype, Kobe vs Lebron, the two best players in the game right now. I'll have the Lakers winning because of their team play and knowing Phil Jackson, Lebron will be having problems with the defensive plays set for him. But he will be better in this Finals compared against the Spurs in 2007. It will be Kobe's first without Shaq.
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