Any 1st round playoff series you'd like to see?

[Mr October]

Any first round match ups out there that you'd like to see happen (not just for the Celtics)?

I'd like to see Boston vs Miami. (Although no matter who the C's face in the first round, there is no question in my mind that the C's will take care of business.) The star factor of Wade and the challenge of shutting him down should be fun.

I can't get too excited about the other 3 eastern conference match ups...

Out west there are a lot of fun possibilities.

Who do you want to see? Who do you think can be a big surprise? etc, etc.

[PosImpos]

Spurs vs Lakers and the Spurs knock off the defending champs as an 8th seed.

If that were to happen I would be soooooo happy.

[Chris]

I kind of wanted to see Boston/Milwaukee before Bogut went down.  I think that would have been some pretty good basketball.

I have no interest in watching Miami play.  The constant whistles anytime Wade takes the ball into the paint will be painful, and they just have a team that is easy to hate...but not in a good way.  JO, Beasley, Richardson, and Alston are all terrible to watch (Beasley because of the waste of talent, and the others because of the whining, and overinflated egos).

[Mr October]

Spurs vs Lakers and the Spurs knock off the defending champs as an 8th seed.

If that were to happen I would be soooooo happy.

Me too for sure! I really enjoyed the SA vs LA rivalry over the past decade, and I would get a kick out of seeing it continued.

Portland can get under LA's skin too. Although without Oden, the Blazers might not have enough size to get out of the first round.  

[Who]

Charlotte vs Atlanta would be my favourite first round matchup in the Eastern Conference.

I'd enjoy watching Charlotte's defense create misery for Atlanta's isolation dependent offense.

[Donoghus]

Pretty much any series with the Thunder in the West.

Mavericks/Thunder could be pretty intriguing.

[Mr October]

Pretty much any series with the Thunder in the West.

Mavericks/Thunder could be pretty intriguing.

Thunder - Nuggets could be a lot of fun. Melo and Durant would probably average 40 each. 

[Who]

Pretty much any series with the Thunder in the West.

Mavericks/Thunder could be pretty intriguing.

Thunder - Nuggets could be a lot of fun. Melo and Durant would probably average 40 each. 

Denver seem to have the Thunder's number. That series could be over quick.

I would like to see Oklahoma play anyone other than the Nuggets.

[jdpapa3]

Spurs vs Lakers and the Spurs knock off the defending champs as an 8th seed.

If that were to happen I would be soooooo happy.

Me too for sure! I really enjoyed the SA vs LA rivalry over the past decade, and I would get a kick out of seeing it continued.

Portland can get under LA's skin too. Although without Oden, the Blazers might not have enough size to get out of the first round.  

Portland or SA is going to be tough for LA. Especially since Bynum hasn't even been cleared to play yet and the time's ticking. I'd also say that Camby might lead Portland to have better postseason success than Oden. Pryz down hurts, though, if Bynum is back and even playing 60%.

I'm very excited to watch OKC in the playoffs and any one of their matchups look to be exciting. Out of that whole mix of teams 2-6 in the WC, I like all of the potential matchups.

I don't think we'll get anything worthwhile in the first round of the east with Bogut down.

[Mr October]

I kind of wanted to see Boston/Milwaukee before Bogut went down.  I think that would have been some pretty good basketball.

I have no interest in watching Miami play.  The constant whistles anytime Wade takes the ball into the paint will be painful, and they just have a team that is easy to hate...but not in a good way.  JO, Beasley, Richardson, and Alston are all terrible to watch (Beasley because of the waste of talent, and the others because of the whining, and overinflated egos).

Good point about how easy it is to hate Miami.... the constant whistle is a major drag. And yeah, with Bogut out, Milwaukee becomes less interesting...

That leaves Charlotte, with an outside shot at matching up against the Celtics.

Who would you rather face? (Either for an easy win, or greater entertainment)

Milwaukee
Miami
Charlotte

[Donoghus]

I kind of wanted to see Boston/Milwaukee before Bogut went down.  I think that would have been some pretty good basketball.

I have no interest in watching Miami play.  The constant whistles anytime Wade takes the ball into the paint will be painful, and they just have a team that is easy to hate...but not in a good way.  JO, Beasley, Richardson, and Alston are all terrible to watch (Beasley because of the waste of talent, and the others because of the whining, and overinflated egos).

Good point about how easy it is to hate Miami.... the constant whistle is a major drag. And yeah, with Bogut out, Milwaukee becomes less interesting...

That leaves Charlotte, with an outside shot at matching up against the Celtics.

Who would you rather face? (Either for an easy win, or greater entertainment)

Milwaukee
Miami
Charlotte

With no Bogut, Milwaukee re-enters the picture as a team that I wouldn't mind seeing the Celtics face in the first round.  Plus, Miwaukee isn't too far up the road from me so there is that roadtrip potential.

[Who]

I think a Spurs-Lakers series is decided by the health of Andrew Bynum and Tony Parker.

If Bynum is in the lineup, I think the Lakers win. I think his size and defensive ability is enough to slow down Tim Duncan. I also think San Antonio's collection of big men cannot matchup against Pau/Bynum/Odom.

If Parker is healthy, I think the Lakers win. San Antonio loses it's matchup advantage at the point with Manu Ginobili and it's overall defensive play gets weakened considerably. San Antonio has a good advantage with Ginobili-Bogans-Jefferson trio on the perimeter, it helps offset some of their interior defensive issues, and without that advantage and with Manu taking a smaller role offensively ... I do not see them beating Los Angeles.

Bynum is expected back in time for the first round so the Lakers should win a matchup with the Spurs.

[Who]

Charlotte is the best team in the lower half of the Eastern Conference playoff seeds. The Celtics have matched up well against them though so they shouldn't be much of an issue.

Miami is the second best team but a lightweight. They do not have enough quality outside of Dwyane Wade to threaten another quality team.

Toronto is the third best team but they are the worst defensive team in the league. They'll have some good moments for a quarter or two but overall they're no threat.

Milwaukee is the worst team in the playoffs. They are barely a 30 win squad without Bogut. They're going to get swept in the first round.

----------------------------------------------------

No great matchup for the Celtics to play against. Miami would give them the best run for their money so I'll say them ... but that's still a very one-sided matchup.

----------------------------------------------------

(5) Miami (6) Charlotte (7) Milwaukee [8] Toronto

That is how I expect the seedings to play out.

[jdpapa3]

Underrated part of the playoffs for me is that all the games will be in HD. Can't really complain too much when you consider the Celtics have been on national tv for about 1/3 of their games, though.

[wdleehi]

Spurs vs Lakers and the Spurs knock off the defending champs as an 8th seed.

If that were to happen I would be soooooo happy.

My dream.  Lakers losing to the 8th seed.