Mamba’s Dead Wrong Playoff Predictions

[MexicanMamba]

Word count: 1300



With only a small amount of media points available to me again, we get MDWPP Condensed Edition Vol 2.  How exciting!  I probably won’t even dive too deep into the regular season series of each match-up this time around and just give gut reactions based on how these teams have been doing overall.  I know I was way off last season doing this because I had the 76ers bowing out early and … well …
 
Anyways! 
 
Let’s get to it!




 
ALPHA
 
Round One


 
(2) Chicago Bulls vs (7) Dallas Mavericks
 
This matchup might give Josh a little bit of PTSD.  I don’t recall if they’ve had the opportunity to face each other since the season that I won my championship, but I do know that my road to that title became a lot easier when the Bulls were shockingly ousted by the Dallas Mavericks.  Early on in this season, I would have been predicting one hell of a series between these two teams because the Mavs looked really good.  Since the All-Star break however, things have really cooled down in Texas.  As has often been the case with Daniel Yandell teams, the key difference could come down to Point Guard play.  Yandell, while maybe not exactly the player he once was, still had no equal on the other side.  I believe the Mavs were a move for a Point away from being really legitimate challengers for the ring.  The one thing they DO have going for them at that position that many teams do not, is size.  Carner is 6’9, making him one of the few opposing Point Guards Yandell faces that is bigger than him.  Wiseman should abuse Ortega however, and that could be a nail in the coffin.  I have great interest in seeing Zeke Nnaji shine though, so hopefully he has a great series.
 
Winner:  Bulls in 5. 
 
 
(3) Sacramento Kings vs (6) Milwaukee Bucks
 
Killian Hayes is a problem and superstar.  I do find a potential series matchup between him and Hintz to be quite fascinating for the same reasons that Carner and Yandell could be.  One is clearly the better player (Hayes) but Hintz has great size for the position which could prove to be troubling for him.  The Bucks probably needed one more piece to finish this championship puzzle but were not able to reach out and find it. 
 
Winner:  Kings in 7.
 
 
(4) Denver Nuggets vs (5) Orlando Magic
 
This one could end up being the most fun first round series of the playoffs, if not the most fun series period.  There’s a lot of firepower between these two squads with Bey, Kornett, Dangerfield and He Hor fighting Henry, Dort, Robinson and Manley.  I suspect it’ll be high scoring, competitive and come down to the wire.  However, for as good as He Hor is, I am not sure if he’s YET a match for Dort, especially when he is finally surrounded by talent on all sides. 
 
Winner: Magic in 6. 


 
 
OMEGA
 
Round One


 
 
(2) Detroit Pistons vs (7) Indiana Pacers
 
I do not anticipate this one being much of a fight.  Gamez is hurt, Diakite is powerful off the bench but has athletic limitations at this point and there is not much else on that roster that is putting fear in opponents’ hearts.  The Pistons are a legit championship contender.
 
Winner:  Pistons in 4.
 
 
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs (6) Los Angeles Clippers
 
One of the few Hallway series that we’ve gotten.  I know Jon still has nightmares about our Finals battle way back when.  Positive for him is that he should easily get some semblance of revenge for that one here.  Danny Campbell is easily the best player in this series, and it is quite possible the Lakers have the best 3 or 4 players in it, if I am being honest.  My roster is built for tomorrow, so the Lakers should bring it home today.
 
Winner:  Lakers in 5. 
 
 
(4) Washington Wizards vs. (5) Brooklyn Nets
 
The Wizards have a deep team of players that just know how to play their roles, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  The Nets have the newly minted MVP in Fang Shuo along with Kostas and Felicio, so they are more on the top-heavy side of things.  In this case, I think I will take the MVP in a hard-fought series. 
 
Winner:  Nets in 7.


 
 
ALPHA
 
Round Two


 
 
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Orlando Magic
 
A familiar match-up in recent seasons it feels like, and the Spurs being the #1 seed probably feels TOO familiar at this point.  There’s no more Daniel Yandell, but it has just meant bigger roles for Montoya, OG, continued excellence by Dorian Whitley and the seamless additions of Lyle Galloway and Nik Lynch.  It is a small lineup, with Lynch and OG making up the front court at 6’7 and 6’9, though Carlos tends to toss funky lineups out there.  The Magic can exploit that lack of size, considering how great Mitchell Robinson is.  And again, Lu Dort still exists on this team.  I think the lack of Yandell might bite the Spurs in this one.
 
Winner:  Magic in 6.
 
 
(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Sacramento Kings
 
Hayes and Addington aren’t likely to make life easy for the Bulls, but I still do not believe they will have enough to fully counter the attack of Yan, Sneed, Wiseman.  Bulls are just bigger and deeper (that’s what she said) and should find a way to move onto the conference championship round.
 
Winner:  Bulls in 6.


 
 
OMEGA
 
Round 2


 
 
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (5) Brooklyn Nets
 
The MVP may have worked some magic in round one, but the Thunder are a different animal.  Zaire Wade is FINALLY the DPOTY and could make life hell for Fang if OKC finds a way to keep them matched up.  Makur should have a field day with his PF match-up as well.  They are the #1 overall seed for a good damn reason. 
 
Winner:  Thunder in 5. 
 
 
(2) Detroit Pistons vs (3) Los Angeles Lakers
 
The Alex Caruso revenge series.  The Lakers remained a strong team after the trade of Caruso, and their front court is still very much a powerhouse with Campbell and Heard, but they have one eye on the future (obviously) and the Pistons just have more higher end options, in my opinion.
 
Winner:  Pistons in 6.


 
 
ALPHA
 
Conference Finals


 
 
(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Orlando Magic
 
Another familiar match-up and I suspect another classic.  Give me game 7 between James Wiseman and Mitchell Robinson, Kory Manley vs Michael Sneed, and Lu Dort against Daniel Yandell.  Oh, and for the hell of it we have Myke Henry and THT.  I’ll give it to the home team in the end but wouldn’t put much money on it.
 
Winner:  Bulls in 7.


 
 
OMEGA
 
Conference Finals


 
 
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (2) Detroit Pistons
 
The Pistons, for as great as they are this season, are still MORE built for the next couple of seasons than they even are right this moment.  The Thunder are built to win RIGHT DAMN NOW, the future be damned (and it might be).  So, I’ll go with Wade and Delmar to win right now.
 
Winner:  OKC in 6. 



 
 
FINALS


 
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (2) Chicago Bulls
 
I’ve said from the beginning that I think the Bulls are going to win the championship this season and there is a huge part of me that still very much believes that.  However, I really am rooting for Charlie to get his first ring and to make this All-In movement fully worth it.  So, I don’t know if its better to predict for or against the team I want to see win it all but …
 
Winner:  Thunder in 7.


Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[greepleairport]

+5 pts