ESPN "experts" picks for Heat/Celtics

[Drucci]

Kind of surprising to see that three guys picked us this time while usually ESPN goes all the way with the overhyped team (see Cleveland, Orlando last year most notably), although among these 3 guys are Chris Forsberg (Celtics beat reporter) and Tim Legler (the only guy from ESPN who usually picks us). I'm semi surprised to see Windhorst pick us, he is well aware of Miami's weaknesses and knows LeBron very well so I guess he still doesn't feel like he will beat the Celtics this year.

As for the rest... they all pick Miami in 7 except John "Dumb" Hollinger who picks them in 5.

[Lakers are the Best]

I like the Celtics chances in the Miami series. They are a more complete and tested team. Besides, the Lakers don't seem to match up well with Miami.

[ManUp]

Celtics in 6 is how I see it but I wouldn't fault anyone for picking the Heat in 7.

This should be a tough series and despite the last two wins I'm not convinced the switch has been flipped.

[Kwhit10]

All those picks seem reasonable.  Heat in 7 or C's in 6 seems very probably.

But then there is Hollinger.  Heat in 5... 

[screwedupmaniac]

Hollinger's so high on his numbers and statistics that time after time, he fails to see that perhaps his computations are not entirely stable.

[dmopower]

Celtics in 6.

[celticinorlando]

looks a lot like every year in this round....celtics in 6

[TheReaLPuba]

If C's get Game 1....we'll sweep them.

[celticslove]

i wonder how's the hit rate of these so called experts after years of failing to actually predict who will win.

[RMO]

Celtics in 6 is how I see it but I wouldn't fault anyone for picking the Heat in 7.

This should be a tough series and despite the last two wins I'm not convinced the switch has been flipped.

Agree.  I heard an analyst comment once that he'll usually pick a seven game series when he's on the fence and thinks it can go either way.  They have to pick someone and in this case the Heat have HCA so it's not that unreasonable (even if I don't agree).

John Hollinger's (aka The WOPR) pick confuses me.  I don't see it being that easy for the heat even if they do win.

[kn 99]

 It realy comes down to how much Rondo can take advantage of going against a guy like mike bibby

[Roy H.]

These look pretty fair to me.  Based upon the way we played down the stretch (coughing up a six game lead over Miami, I think), I would expect most people would give Miami the edge, especially since they have home court.  The only outlier is Hollinger.

[Drucci]

These look pretty fair to me.  Based upon the way we played down the stretch (coughing up a six game lead over Miami, I think), I would expect most people would give Miami the edge, especially since they have home court.  The only outlier is Hollinger.

Well if the "experts" are basing the predictions on the end of the regular season I can definitely understand why they are wrong 90% of the time. To judge this series, don't you think they should look at the different matchups at every position, the performances of each team in their last games of the playoffs, and then (and only then) at the record against each other during the season?

[Greenbean]

Hollinger's so high on his numbers and statistics that time after time, he fails to see that perhaps his computations are not entirely stable.

Ive come to grips with his calculations.

They do a good job of predicting regular season success. For example when Miami was struggling early, his numbers indicated they were actually a good team.

His numbers cannot tell him ANYTHING about playoff success though.

If you put a gun to his head, I bet he would pick the Celtics. He just cant publicly pick a team whose average margain of victory was 2 points lower than the other.

For the other guys, the fact that most are picking Miami in 7 tells me these are two pretty evenly matched teams. Im guessing if Boston had homecourt at least half of those picks would be Boston in 7.

Of course I think the Celts will take it in 6 but I actually dont have any problem with their picks.

[OsirusCeltics]

I never trust what Adande says. He's a Laker fan boy lol