NBA Playoffs 2008

I do not care too much for the NBA, but nonetheless here are my predictions:

WEST

Round 1
1. Lakers over 8. Nuggets in 6
7. Mavericks over 2. Hornets in 7
3. Spurs over 6. Suns in 7
4. Jazz over 5. Rockets in 6

Quarterfinals
1. Lakers over 7. Mavericks in 6
3. Spurs over 4. Jazz in 4

Semi-finals
1. Lakers over 3. Spurs in 7

EAST

Round 1
1. Celtics over 8. Hawks in 4
2. Pistons over 7. 76ers in 6
3. Magic over 6. Raptors in 5
4. Cavaliers over 5. Wizards in 4

Quarterfinals
1. Celtics over 4. Cavaliers in 6
2. Pistons over 3. Magic in 7

Semi-finals
1. Celtics over 2. Pistons in 7


NBA FINALS
1. Celtics over 1. Lakers in 6

(Yes, I have picked the most obvious finals matchup ever.. simply because I think the NBA wants this to happen so bad for ratings that it will happen.)

Playoff MVP- Kevin Garnett, F Celtics

"Oh How SWEEP It Is!"

Last year the Pittsburgh Penguins stood at center ice, in single file, shaking the hands of the victorious Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario. That was a year ago. That was then. That was "those Penguins." "These Penguins" are different. This year produced a similar scene. The Penguins stood in that all too familiar single file line shaking hand with the Senators. But, this year the Senators shook the hands of the victors, the Pittsburgh Penguins. If there was any doubt who the better team was going into this series it was all but removed by a convincing 4-0 sweep by the Pens.

The Penguins went storming out of the gate in game one with a 4-0 victory in a game where the Senators really were blindsided by a much better team on the ice. Game 2 had a similar start, with the Penguins jumping out to a 3-0 lead. But the Sens showed resolve for really the only time in the series, rallying to tie the Pens at 3 in the 3rd period. But, a rap-around goal by Ryan Malone with 1:02 left in the game, as well as an empty-netter by the Pittsburgh native #12 sealed the deal to give the Pens a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 moved the series to Ottawa, and brought the return of Sens Captain Daniel Alfredsson. His obviously still injured body only hindered the Senators attempts to get back into the series, as they fell behind 3 games via a 4-1 Penguins victory. Game 4 was the chance for the Penguins to sweep a series since they won the Cup in 1992. They did just that. Evgeni Malkin handled a phenomenal pass from Sidney Crosby and stuck it in the net to go up 1-0. The Sens would tie it up shortly after. A breakaway spin-a-rama goal by Jarko Ruutu and an empty-netter gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead and the sweep of the series.