4 Quarters - East 1st Round- Celtics vs Hawks

5. Celtics vs 4. Hawks

1. Is this the final stand for the Celtics regime that was put together 4 years ago? - Well back in the summer of 2007, most thought that this team would only be together for about 2 to 3 years at the most. Well this is year 4. The final year of the "Big 4" in Boston. Lets face it, if the C's don't win it all this year, this team as we know it will never get a chance to go after another title as presently constituted. Very important that the C's stay healthy, if so then all bets are off as to can they win another title.
2. Are the Hawks a real threat to the big dogs of the East? If they can manage to survive this series, there is a very good chance that the Hawks could go to Eastern Conference Finals. This is a deeper, more experienced Hawks team then in years past. This chance could be even higher once Forward Al Horford returns.
3. Who's injury situation will hurt the most: Hawks without Al Horford or the C's without Ray Allen? - Well lets keep be frank, if the C's have a healthy Ray Allen, some would say that this team could argueably go to the Finals. With a healthy Al Horford for the Hawks, they could be a huge threat in the East. That should answer this question....hopefully.
4. Will homecourt be a factor in this series? One word......YES!

Confidence Pick: Celtics (13), Hawks (32)

Series Prediction: Hawks in 7

4 Quarters - West 1st Round- Cliipers vs Grizzlies

5. Clippers vs 4. Grizzlies

1. Are the Grizzlies the "Dark Horse" team in the West? - Based on last year's run in the playoffs, this team has some playoff experience under their belt. So this team has match advantages that allows this team to play with any team in the West. This series could be the one in which the Grizzlies could be matched with their youthful legs in the younger Clippers team.
2. Can CP3 guide this young Clippers team to win this series? If CP3 was able to get two wins from Lakers last year with the team he had in New Orleans, then I know he can lead this team to at least one win if not two. However, it may be the hardest thing CP3 will have to do for his career. The Grizzlies have the match-ups that could make this hard and not work for CP3.
3. Can Z-Bo recapture his dominance as he did last year in the Playoffs? 0 Coming from a knee injury he suffered earlier this season, Z-Bo has been coming off the bench over the last few weeks. He'll return to the starting lineup now and he may have the match-up he needs to restore his dominates as he did last post-season.
4. Rudy Gay vs Blake Griffin, which Playoff new comer will shine the most in this series? Rudy Gay has lead this Grizzlies team in the absence of Z-Bo. As for Blake Griffin, he's posterized the Clippers into the playoffs by dunking one just about every big man in the game. But Griffin may be asked to do something that he's not acustomed to do, play DEFENSE for once. If there's one thing, Griffin doesn't do is he's not a good defender. That could be good thing for guys like Guy and Z-Bo who Griffin will have to check at one point or another in this series. Very hard task for the young stud. Welcome to the Playoffs.

Confidence Pick: Clippers (33), Grizzlies (21)

Series Prediction: Grizzlies in 6

4 Quarters - West 1st Round- Nuggets vs Lakers

6. Nuggets vs 3. Lakers

1. Well the Lakers miss Metta World Peace in this series? - This could hurt them against another team, if the Lakers were to sweep the Nuggets then the suspension would carry over to the next series.
2. Can anyone from the Lakers slow down the quickness of Ty Lawson? - Ty Lawson speed could be the difference in this game. The Lakers have historically had problems with quick point guards. So this could be another long series for the Lakers PG's if they can't find away to control Lawson.
3. Fastbreak vs. Low Post - The Lakers have the size advantage vs the Nuggets ability to run and gun, which one will prevail? Well if Bynum plays the way he's been playing most of the season, then the low post game will win over the Nuggets. But if the turnovers and missed shots plague the Lakers, then the Nuggets transition game will be at its best.
4. Can Denver end their Playoff jinx against the Lakers? - Nuggets don't have great history against the Lakers. Losing all 6 postseason series match ups against the Lakers. You may wanna add 7 if Kobe and Bynum have their way.

Confidence Pick: Nuggets (33) vs Lakers (16)

Series Prediction: Lakers in 6

4 Quarters - West 1st Round- Jazz vs Spurs

8. Jazz vs. 1. Spurs

1. Will the Spurs repeat last year's performance in the playoffs? - NO!!!! I don't think lighting can strike the same place twice, and the Spurs won't get embarrassed two seasons in a row.
2. Can the Jazz defend the pick and roll? - Well as much as the Jazz know about the pick and roll (Stockton to Malone), this may be the hardest thing to do for this team. Tony Parker is in a zone, one that no one can stop him right now. If the Jazz can't slow him down or contain him, this series is as good as over.
3. Can the Jazz win on the road? - The Jazz is the worst road team in the West. This isn't good, considering that you have to win at least one game in the AT&T Center to win this series. One thing about Popovich-coached teams is that they are built to win on the road. Always. Now the Jazz at home, is a different story. They could very easily take two games at home. But as I mentioned earlier, the Spurs always take a game on the road. They are built for that.
4. Will the Spurs win the NBA title this year, as they did in 1999? - They have a GREAT chance at doing it this season. There are about 3-4 teams who can clearly be champions this season. The Spurs are one of those teams. If healthy, this team can hoist another O'Brien trophy in June. 

Confidence Pick: Jazz (44), Spurs (7)

Series Prediction: Spurs in 5

4 Quarters - West 1st Round- Mavericks vs Thunder

7. Mavericks vs. 2. Thunder

1. Can the Thunder rebound from their late season collapse? - Yes, they have to. This is their season to win the Championship, anything less would be a wasted season and possibly their greatest chance at getting a title to Oklahoma City.
2. Will the Mavs defend home court with this team? - The Mavs have to defend home, if they want to extend this series and have a chance to win it and defend their title as the current championships.
3. Well the Thunder find a 3rd scorer to complement KD and Westbrook? - With Harden cleared to play after getting cleared by Metta World Peace's elbow, this should help the Thunder out greatly.
4. Can the Mavs turn it on again, as they did last season in the playoffs? - I don't think they have the talent on this team to do such a thing, I think at the end of the day they are over-matched by the Thunder and the Thunder will exact revenge from last year's Western Conference Finals lost.

Confidence Pick: Mavericks (26), Thunder (10)

Series Prediction: Thunder in 5

4 Quarters - East 1st Round- Magic vs Pacers

6. Magic vs 3. Pacers

1. Can the Magic actually make some noise in the playoffs without Howard? - No, I believe that the Magic are done. I mean it would take a massive collapse from the Pacers for the Magic to win without Howard.
2. How dangerous are the Pacers in this series and beyond? - Depends on if the Pacers can finish this series in 5 games or less. If the Pacers finish early, this could be dangerous for the other teams. Considering that the Pacers/Magic winner would face the winner of Knicks/Heat series, which may go the distance. Much rest if they finish early.
3. Youth vs. Experience - Magic experience in the playoffs could be the only advantage they may have to use against the Pacers youth.
4. Will this be the last time we see this Magic team as presently constituted? -  A lot of questions will be answered after this season, one being will Howard be traded? Will Nelson opt out and go somewhere else? Will Stan Van Gundy return? All of that will make this off-season very interesting in the Magic Kingdom.

Confidence Pick: Magic (39), Pacers (32)

Series Prediction: Pacers in 6

4 Quarters - East 1st Round- Knicks vs Heat

7. Knicks vs 2. Heat

1. Will the REAL Miami Heat please stand up? - Well from listening to Coach Erik Spoelstra on NBATV the other night, I would say that he think he's team is ready to go. Well I think that they are ready for the playoffs and they could of been just a little bored with the ending of a long (shortened) season.
2. Can Melo actually lead this team to an upset over the Heat - Melo, Yes. The others, don't know. How Carmelo's been playing lately should scare the other 7 teams in the East. If the Knicks can get some support from their bench and from Amar'e, then this could turn into a 7 game winner takes all series. But if Melo reverts back to the Melo of the Nuggets, then this could end very quickly.
3. Which bench can respond to the pressures that their superstar's collapse down the stretch? - The issue Miami had last season was the fact that their bench was sub-par at most. This season it's a little better, but still isn't where Heat fans can trust it on a consistent basis. As for the Knicks, their issue is can their bench of stars outlast big 3 and the Heat bench. Coaching could be huge in this step right here.
4. Will the 1999 1st Round series repeat itself again? - Well that series was the one of 4 straight years that the Heat and Knicks went toe-to-toe with one another. All of those series went the full distance. For Knicks fans, some would reach and say that this is like 1999. That 99 team came on strong towards the end of the season and they faced a Miami team, that was just like the 2012 Miami team, struggling towards the end of the season. Knicks won in 5 games and went to the NBA Finals. Could history repeat itself or will the Heat put the Knicks to bed?

Confidence Picks: Knicks (31), Heat (11)

Series Prediction: Heat in 6

4 Quarters - East 1st Round- Sixers vs Bulls

8. Sixers vs 1. Bulls

1. Is Rose truly healthy enough to play throughout the entire playoffs? - This could be the difference between picking the Bulls in the Finals or not. If Rose is at least 80% when the East Finals begin, then they Bulls should be able to make that next step to the Finals. But anything less then that, and I think the Bulls will not go to the Finals and may not make it to the East Finals.
2. Can the Sixers find their perimeter shooting game? - This killed the Sixers last season in the playoffs. The  Sixers have a good bench, but can they find a perimeter game to off-set the Bulls Defense. The Bulls can score from the outside, making it tough for the already good Sixer Defense.
3. Can the Sixers win two games in Chicago? - This is important because if they can't win on the road, especially game one, I think this series will end in 5 games.
4. Will this end in a sweep? - Naw, I think the Sixers are good for one game at home.

Confidence Pick: Sixers (39), Bulls (21)

Series Prediction: Bulls in 5

NBA Playoffs Confidence Picks: 1st Round

Well I'll try something different, it may not work but oh well....... I am using the Mike and Mike format, when picking the confidence number. This format is simple: I'll use 3 categories (Overall Team, Team's Best Two-Man Tandem and the Coach) and then I'll rank those categories by using the numbers 1-8 (1 being the most confident and 8 being the least confident). Of those 3 categories, I'll combine the total and get the confidence number. Remember, the lower the number wins for each game.

Best 2-Men:
1. Heat
2. Lakers
3. Spurs
4. Thunder
5. Grizzlies
6. Celtics
7. Clippers
8. Knicks
9. Hawks
10. Pacers
11. Mavs
12. Bulls
13. Jazz
14. Sixers
15. Magic
16. Nuggets


Overall Team:
1. Heat
2. Thunder
3. Spurs
4. Bulls
5. Celtics
6. Grizzlies
7. Pacers
8. Lakers
9. Knicks
10. Nuggets
11. Hawks
12. Mavs
13. Clippers
14. Sixers
15. Jazz
16. Magic


Coaching
1. Spurs
2. Celtics
3. Mavs
4. Thunder
5. Bulls
6. Lakers
7. Nuggets
8. Magic
9. Heat
10. Grizzlies
11. Sixers
12. Hawks
13. Clippers
14. Knicks
15. Pacers
16. Jazz

1st Round match-ups

West:

Spurs (7) vs Jazz (44)

Clippers (33) vs Grizzlies (21)

Nuggets (33) vs Lakers (16)

Mavericks (26) vs Thunder (10)

East:

Sixers (39) vs Bulls (21)

Celtics (13) vs Hawks (32)

Magic (39) vs Pacers (32)

Knicks (31) vs Heat (11)

Based on the picks here how I think the 1st round series will go:

West

Spurs in 5

Grizzlies in 6

Lakers in 6

Thunder in 5

East

Bulls in 5

Hawks in 7

Pacers in 5

Heat in 6

I AM BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Well after a few month break, I am back and better than ever!!! (Sorry Mike Greenberg). Well it's April, so that usually means two things: 1.) Spring is here and 2.) NBA Playoffs are about to start soon. Yep its that time of the year again, Playoffs!!!! Stay Tuned!!!!