West Round 1 Picks

I know its a little late...but only one game has gone final, and you all know it won't change my choice anyway...so just deal, it's not like anyone reads this anyway.

1 v. 8

Lakers will have to fight for it, and they will be mostly competitive games, but the Lakers are just better than the Nuggets. Lakers in 5 is my call...chance for 6.

2 v. 7

Here is where it gets interesting...The Hornets are the new kids in town, the Mavs are the weak minded vets. But they are the underdogs, and perhaps that is exactly where Dirks feeble mind needs to be. Playing from behind. I do expect this to be a great series, but I think that the Mavs are just a better team than the Hornets.

My call is going to be Mavs in 7. If I am wrong...its Hornets in 7.

3 v. 6

This is where I complain about how unfair the NBA is again. I know I already did that, but it really just isn't fair that these 2 are playing in the first round. But anyway. Obviously, this is the game that has already occurred, and it just proves the point about how great these 2 teams are.

One thing I am going to say though, and it has been the case always probably, but especially in the last three years, when the playoffs come around, there is a different Timmy on the court. The focus, drive and determination is just incredible. He had 40 today, including a designed 3 to tie the game at the end of the first OT. Talk about age all you want, but Timmy clearly has a different gear he kicks on in the post season.

But I have to say, I am not totally sure that the Suns aren't a better team than the Spurs. But I sometimes wonder if they are so focused on how they feel they have been "wronged" by the NBA, or for revenge, that they lose a bit of focus. And nothing can break the Spurs focus. They were down 16 during the first half. Down 9 in the fourth. Down 5 at the end of the first OT. But they got through all that and won a game.

And it is not an insignificant stat that teams that win game 1 go on to win the series 80% of the time. I am giong to call game 2 a must win for the Suns, but also for the Spurs.

Head and heart are slightly different here, but here are the picks.

Heart...Spurs in 6.

Head...toss up in game 7. But I will give it to the Spurs because they are at home.

4 v. 5

Yeah, the Rockets have home court, but I am sorry, the Jazz are a better, more complete team. And the Rockets have T Mac, who will NEVER get out of the first round in his career, he is destined that way. So I am going to go Jazz in 6.