NBA PLAYOFFS 2009

deco121 · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:29 am Post subject: NBA PLAYOFFS 2009

The match-ups were decided finally last night and so the picture looks like this for the first round of the playoffs which begins on Saturday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

CLE Cavaliers (1) vs DET Pistons (8)

BOS Celtics (2) vs CHI Bulls (7)

ORL Magic (3) vs PHI 76ers (6)

ATL Hawks (4) vs MIA Heat (5)

******************************************************

WESTERN CONFERENCE

LA Lakers (1) vs UTA Jazz (8)

DEN Nuggets (2) vs NO Hornets (7)

SA Spurs (3) vs DAL Mavericks (6)

POR Trailblazers (4) vs HOU Rockets (5)

Feel free to use this thread for any discussion/tips on the playoffs from now on. Smile

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betking · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:34 am Post subject:

From the Eastern conference I find impossible to oppose the Cavs, Celtics and Magic, would expect Heat to oust the Hawks as well.

In the West, I'd only be confident of the Lakers going through, the others are debateable. Would expect Denver to come through, Spurs maybe just about, and I like the look of the Rockets to join them.

So 1235 from both conferences then!
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deco121 · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:48 am Post subject:

Would agree with you about Cavs and Magic but I wouldn't be so sure of the Celtics with Garnett not fit as bar last night the Bulls are on a roll coming into the playoffs. Rose is improving all the time throughout the season and if Chicago can nick a game in Boston then they will be very tough to beat at home. I'd probably go for the Heat to get past the Hawks aswell if you twisted my arm. Wade has been immense this season and there seems to be plenty of friction between some Hawks players and coach which you can't have, certainly not at this time of year.

In the West, the Lakers should go through comfortably enough and like you said the rest should be pretty close as judged by the final season standings. I'd fancy the Hornets to get past the Nuggets actually if Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler stays fit and the Spurs should be too good for the Mavs. Dallas have somehow scraped their way to 6th spot in the last few weeks despite playing poorly enough on the face of things. They've been gifted quite a few wins and have struggled against some of the weaker teams so an experienced Spurs with home advantage in the playoffs will be a very tough task for them. In the last match-up I would side with Portland. They are a good young team who have been superb at home all year and that should be key. I can't see them losing a game at home to the Rockets and so should go though in Game 7 at the least.

CLE (1)
CHI (7)
ORL (3)
MIA (5)

LA (1)
NO (7)
SA (3)
POR (4)

Win

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betking · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

The West is certainly the harder of the 2 to predict.

As for the Celtics/Bulls, I think you mentioned the key - " if Chicago can nick a game in Boston" - that will most likely decide the result (barring any further injuries of course). May be misjudged but I cant help feeling the Celtics are playing within themselves at the moment to a degree. They wont have it as "easy" as the Cavs and Magic but would expect them to progress relatively comfortably.

So we'll disagree, but I'm sure we can agree that Celtics/Bulls is the most likely potential least comfortable win for the favourites. Or something, does that even make sense? Confused

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gecko6 · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

cavs for sure
celtics for me should win and maybe quite easily...
magic should win and lucky to face 76ers
wade can inspire heat to win...
so agreed with 1235!

west is v hard - has to be a surprise in there somewhere
lakers and denver yes for me
spurs may find mavs hard work and really hard to call the final matchup - trailblazers to shade it
so 1264 for me there

deco121 · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:29 am Post subject:

Obviously the Celtics deserve to be favourite on overall standings this season and they are the current champions so experience is on their side aswell but I like the Bulls and Rose in particular a lot and just think they could be decent value to cause an upset with the likes of Noah and Thomas also on top of their game of late. If Garnett is fit and ready then obviously it will make things very tough but I can't see how he will be and would be prepared to risk a few quid on the Bulls to go through at what should be a nice price as things stand.
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SmoggyFever · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:11 am Post subject:

don't know if we are just using this as chat thread for the playoffs as a whole but i'll just post my leans here unless told otherwise.
I don't like any saturday matchups betting wise but on sunday i have denver -6 and miami +5 as strong leans
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deco121 · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:17 am Post subject:

May as well use this thread for all chat/tips to try get some discussion/banter/interest going Cheeky

Of the two you mentioned, I'd agree with Miami but I think Denver are overated and flattered by their final position. I wouldn't be surprised if the Hornets took a scalp in Game 1.
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deco121 · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

Win or lose for Chicago now this has been a great game to open the playoffs this year and in particular an outstanding performance from Derrick Rose.

20 years old making his playoff debut in his first season in the NBA and with 6 minutes still to go now he has 32pts and 8 assists playing against the current champions in their own back yard. Shocked

Looking forward to watching this guy over the next few years as he could turn out to be one of the all time greats if he stays injury free. Win

ps. He has yet to miss a free throw in this pressure game and whatever he finishes on now will be his highest total of the season. Taking about stepping up your game for the playoffs.
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gecko6 · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

2 secs left and pierce misses FT for the win...

OT it is..

deco121 · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

Superb opening game and from a personal point of view delighted to see Chicago win in the end. Fancied them to cause an upset during the series but to be honest thought it would be in Game 2 or Game 5 when they would be most likely to do it.

Off out for a pint now so good luck to anyone betting tonight - fancy Portland and San Antonio in those two games later on. Win

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betking · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject:

For some reason I was thinking the games all started at around midnight as usual, not sure how I managed to think that so I've missed the first 2 games Crying or Very sad

Top stuff from the Bulls by the looks of it though!

Just noticed Bet365 have given the Bulls the exact same +8.5pt start for Monday night's game, surely thats worth siding with again on today's evidence? Confused

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