Bring On the Playoffs
This has been a memorable NBA season. Some highlights:
- Atlanta Hawks make the playoffs for the first time since 1999 (that’s 9 seasons). That wouldn’t be completely crazy in MLB or NFL where the playoff teams are few. That means that the Hawks have been one of the 6 worst teams in the pathetic East for 9 years. Kudos to them. However, they only won 37 games (5 under .500), they got blown out by the lowly Miami Heat to finish things off, and they win a trip against the Boston Celtics. Celebrate while you can…
- Golden State Warriors, who last year made the playoffs for the first time in like 13 (?) seasons, won 48 games (11 better than the Hawks, 3 more than the East #4 seed Cavaliers, 6 more than last year’s team) and get to stay home.
- The Celtics went from 24 wins last year to 66 wins this year. That’s a 42 game improvement.
- Apparently improvement isn’t a universal aspiration. Memphis lost 60 games for the second year in a row, Seattle took the #2 pick from the draft, digress 12 games, and get kicked out of town. The Heat went from Champions to laughingstock in two seasons. The Knicks are the most confused organization in the world.
- Don’t the Trailblazers know their #1 draft pick didn’t play the whole season? Yet they still finish .500 in the very competitive Western Conference.
Playoff Predictions:
East 
Celtics 4, Hawks 0.
Pistons 4, 76ers 0.
Orlando 4, Raptors 1.
Cavaliers 4, Wizards 3.
Celitcs 4, Cavs 1.
Pistons 4, Magic 0.
Celtics 4, Pistons 2.
West
Lakers 4, Nuggets 0.
Mavericks 4, Hornets 2.
Suns 4, Spurs 2.
Jazz 4, Rockets 1.
Lakers 4, Jazz 3.
Mavericks 4, Suns 2.
Lakers 4, Mavericks 1.
NBA Finals
Celtics 4, Lakers 1.
Celtics finish off where the Patriots got left behind.
