If you’re scoring at home, it was a pretty dismal first round of the playoffs for me. Like most everyone else, I was wrong about the favored San Antonio Spurs and the Orlando Magic, and I also missed with my prediction that the Dallas Mavericks would fall to the Portland Trail Blazers. So take this set of picks with the appropriate skepticism.
– Miami in 7
I hate to pick this series, because I don’t entirely trust the Heat against the discipline of Tom Thibodeau defenses, but I think the Celtics will be undermined by their bench and we’ll look back on that as the difference.
– Chicago in 4
Isn’t this an annual tradition with the Hawks? In seriousness, Atlanta might have had a chance to make things interesting with a healthy Kirk Hinrich–Hinrich did a good job defending Derrick Rose in the first two head-to-head meetings before Rose went off in the third. With Hinrich doubtful to play at all after injuring his right hamstring in Game Six against Orlando, the Bulls should roll.
– Oklahoma City in 6
“In a vacuum, the Thunder is the better team. I don’t think the Grizzlies have enough matchup advantages to make up that gap.”
– L.A. Lakers in 6
“The Lakers will make the Mavericks’ role players beat them, hopefully from the outside. That may burn the Lakers a couple of times, but ultimately it’s the high-percentage play and one that will allow the Lakers to move on.”
Stay tuned for the remaining series previews, which will be up tomorrow (Boston-Miami) and Monday (Dallas-L.A. Lakers, Atlanta-Chicago).