NBA Playoffs 2009

It has arrived... after the long grind of the NBA season, the NBA playoffs are upon us.

Where ignoring my girlfriend for almost three months happens...

What will happen? Will the Celtics put up a fight without Kevin Garnett? Will the Pistons put up a fight? Will Orlando get to the Eastern Conference Finals? Will Lebron return to the finals? Will Kobe do it without Shaq? Questions, questions, and questions.

The second season which begins at the end of April and concludes in June is upon us.

Here is what First2Third thinks will happen:

Part one - East

Eastern Conference First Round:
The 1-8: Cleveland Cavaliers v. Detroit Pistons-
Are the Pistons that much older? Did they age 20 years overnight? Can they remind themselves of the dogfights they had in the playoffs of recent years? No. Not with the soon-to-be MVP Lebron James in the way. The Pistons don't stand a chance. What was once considered a "team" is now a group of individuals, trying to get theirs.

The Cavaliers are taking this in 5. I'm giving one game to Detroit because Rasheed Wallace is going to have a game where he goes off.

The 2-7: Boston Celtics v. Chicago Bulls
Chicago is playing strong to end the season. But, we're talking about the defending champion *cringe* Boston Celtics. A lot of people are going to doubt the Celtics chances with an ailing and possible no-play Garnett. However, this is still a strong team with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and some strong inside presence players.

Celtics in 6. One game is going to be won by Eddie House—dude is a streaky shooter and when he's hot, it rains fire. Cue NBA Jam commentator.

The 3-6: Orlando Magic v. Philadelphia 76ers
No Elton Brand equals no chance. I like the 76ers in the next couple of years, but it's Orlando's time now (first and second round). Philly is young and will be exciting to watch in the playoffs in the years to come with Andre Igoudala and Thadeus Young. But it's the defensive player of the year, Dwight Howard, who will have his playoff coming out party.

Magic Skips to their Lou in 5. Shaq, Ron Jeremy's brother won't choke in this round.

The 4-5: Atlanta Hawks v. Miami
The most exciting first round matchup in the East. This series is going back and forth. Both squads will be putting on a show for the world to watch, I'm not going to miss a game of this one. Easy to say, but the difference will be Dwayne Wade. He has taken over a Finals series and will put the Heat on his shoulders for at least two victories.

Heat in 7. I can see Wade making the deciding shot in game 7 like he did in game 1 against the Hornets in 2004.

The Western Conference First Round shortly... laughs and beer break.

True Angel

RIP Nick Adenhart

You will always be remembered. The Angels up there needed you more than the Angels in Anaheim, and they got a strong Angel in you.

Maybe You Shouldn't Have Opened Your Mouth

Remember Paul Pierce's claim that he was a better player than Kobe over the past summer?

Can the NBA and Boston Celtics (perhaps it's possible in Beantown?) fans see through the BS that was coming out of Pierce's mouth over the summer?

In a time that the Celtics needed more production, Pierce didn't step up his game. For the long stretch that Kevin Garnett was out, Feb. 22 through March 18, Pierce averaged 22.8 points per contest. Think Kobe would let his average dip to that low if Pau Gasol went out?

Kobe Bryant is averaging 27.2PPG to Pierce's 20.3, and doing so at a higher percentage, .465 (compared to Pierce's .453). Maybe Pierce started to taste the double and sometimes triple-team coverage that Bryant faces every game on the hardwood.

Or maybe Pierce was still not fully recovered from his wheelchair-inducing "injury." Or perhaps, we blame it on the media for holding in Pierce in such high regard after his NBA Finals performance. (We've seen that before with Dwayne Wade, although, Flash has risen back to that Finals form).

It's just becoming extremely quiet from the Pierce camp after trying to convince the world he is the best player in the world. Sad thing for Pierce is that he isn't even the third best player in his conference.