MUScoop

The NBA playoffs are coming up and Marquette players should be playing into at least the Conference Finals and there is a decent chance that at least one makes the NBA Finals.  Who is most likely to win.

Doc- I vote Doc.  Even when Shaq has been old, he still usually plays all right in the playoffs.  He has a few weeks before the Miami series in the marathon that is the NBA playoffs.  The Celtic frontline will be adequate, and that trade gives them an athlete to cover James when it comes time.  I don't think you can read a lot into the Lakers and Celtics backing into the playoffs.  When it comes down to it, I think the Celtics have the best shot, but I am admittedly betting on Shaq.  

Wade-  I don't see it happening.  After all the ups and downs, I can't seem them winning 12 games against Boston, Chicago, and then the Western champ.  Bosh won't be able to outplay Garnett, Boozer, and Gasol/Duncan/Dirk.  Miami is still a move or two away I think.  Too many holes on that team.  Also, they just matchup horribly with Chicago if they can even beat Boston.  The Laker frontline would be tough, and they would not even have the best wing player on the court for that series.

Novak-  It's hard to say in the West.  He obviously won't be a big factor, but I still think LAL comes out of that conference.  He'd be my number 2 though and would love to see Steve hit a clutch shot down the stretch in a big game.  

Wes-  Just happy he is on a good young team.

I did not include the chance that the Hornets win it and give Jerel a ring for his 10-day contract.  Also, my pick to win it is the Lakers, but just voting on who has the best chance out of MU alums.  

I'd pick the Lakers and Bulls over any of these four, but to answer your question:

1. Miami - LBJ and Wade give them a chance against anyone.
2. Boston - Sure doesn't look promising, but lots of veteran talent who have been there before.
3. Portland - Deep, and they matchup well with some of the better West teams. Like the last few MU teams, nothing (good or bad) would surprise me much.
4. San Antonio - I don't think they'll have what it takes when everyone steps up the intensity.

1) San Antonio: if experience counts, the Spurs can do it. However, they'll probably need someone else to knock out the Lakers. Still, I think Novak has the best shot on a savvy veteran team that has had the best record all season long.

2) Portland: when they're on, they can play with anyone. Can they put it together? I doubt it, but they're the type of team that could catch fire and go on a run. Solid all-around.

3) Miami: Their big 3 is good, and both Wade and LBJ can carry a team to wins. They'll both need to do that early and often, and if Bosh finds his next level, they could win it all, I just don't see it because the rest of the team is so bad.

4) Boston: I just think they've ran out of gas. They'll be the bookies' favorite of these four, but I think they're just too old and too tired. I think getting to the Eastern finals would be an accomplishment of itself, I just don't believe they are capable of going 2 steps further.

Miami.  Hands down

In order of the greatest chance of winning the title: Boston > Miami > San Antonio > Portland

I love what Wes has done and Portland is a dark horse in the West, but I don't think they have the impalas to run with the other teams nor the mobsters to shut down offenses.

You really think Boston will beat Miami after the game I just watched?  Miami is hungry

No way boston wins.  No chance.  That deal to move Perkins at the deadline really damaged the strength of their frontline. Of the MU alums, I would say wade with a slight edge over novak.  Lakers have been underwhelming recently and there is a lot of tough playoff matchups out west.

Quote from: chren21 on April 11, 2011, 05:27:18 PMYou really think Boston will beat Miami after the game I just watched?  Miami is hungry

Boston and Miami both have fatal flaws in my opinion. Boston is clearly tired, they are running on empty and sputtering into the playoffs. I look at them and simply think they're done. Then I look at the Heat, who have no bench and have thrown up on their shoe most any time they've played a good team this year. The winner of the Chicago/Orlando second round series will come out of the East. They are simply better teams, top to bottom, than either Miami or Boston.

Honestly, I don't see any of these teams winning it all. I think that the Lakers will get it together and run through the West to meet the Bulls in the Finals. But if the Spurs play smart, they can sneak into the Finals, especially if the Lakers end up in a 2/3 match-up with Oklahoma City. And while Portland seems unlikely, I would give them a chance, especially if they got a first round series against Dallas. Get some confidence for that team and they could surprise a couple teams. I think the Western Finals are probably as far as they could go, and maybe I'm crazy, but I just think they would have a better chance of shocking everyone and getting into the NBA Finals than either a decrepit Boston team or an incomplete Miami team.

Still, it's Bulls and Lakers this year, with heartbreak city for Phil Jackson as he loses his final game as coach of the Lakers in Chicago in Game 7.

Quote from: MU B2002 on April 11, 2011, 05:44:11 PM
No way boston wins.  No chance.  That deal to move Perkins at the deadline really damaged the strength of their frontline. Of the MU alums, I would say wade with a slight edge over novak.  Lakers have been underwhelming recently and there is a lot of tough playoff matchups out west.

I would agree with this.  Boston just hasn't been the same since that deal.  They were thinking way too hard when they traded Perkins for Green.  As for the Spurs, Greg Popovich has done an incredible job with a team that under anyone else had no business taking the best record in the West, but I'm not sure they have the talent to succeed in the playoffs.  If it really is a Denver/OKC 1st round matchup, I don't really see the Spurs hanging with OKC in the 2nd round.  Miami has 2 of the 5 best basketball players in the universe, and I don't think you can underestimate that in the playoffs.  The rest of them sucks, but I think they can still beat anyone, anytime which gives them a better chance than the Spurs.  I see Portland beating the Mavs, but not the Lakers.

My honest opinion is that the most likely would be Wade in 2012 or 13, or possibly Jimmy Butler depending on which team he ends up with. I just don't see any of these guys doing it this year.

I would not sleep on Boston quite yet.  The first round seems like it takes a year.  There is still time to get Shaq in rhythm to play 15-20 mins/game.  Jermaine, Shaq, KG, Big Baby, and Jeff Green could be as good of a front line as Chicago and LAL.  If that happens, Boston can still do it.  Honestly, Doc has to step up and rally the team.  The trade was a mental let down, but they have to get over it.  They ran through the league without Perkins already.

There is no way IMO that the Heat can match Bibby up with Rondo/Rose and Bosh up with KG/Boozer and get out of the east. 

Interesting to see Doc waive the seeding white flag yesterday when he sat his vets.  I like the move, but agree with previous posters that Boston has lost their edge.  Who knows if it's the Perkins trade or that their window is closing.  Getting blown out in Chicago and in Miami within 4 days is concerning if you're a Boston fan.

I realize that a lot of you are not NBA fans, but I don't remember the NBA (the Playoffs in particular) being more captivating.  So many great match-ups and storylines. 

Is there a better put-together team than the Bulls?  Perfect complimentary players, a guard  that runs in 5th gear all game long, and a team that thrives on the defensive side of the ball.  They're a good shooting guard away from a dynasty.

Knicks vs Celtics in the 1st round?  A great young OKC team, LeBron & DWade, multiple MU players to pull for, etc.

Can't wait.

I'm hoping the Heat and Celtics beat up on each other before the winner takes on the Bulls!

Wade's Heat needs a Rondo kind of PG.  With this current team, I don't see them going to the Finals.

If the Spurs have Wes, I'd like their chances.  The Spurs play go team defense, but they don't anyone that can approach Wes' defense on Kobe.

I agree the Lakers will take it all.

While we are on that topic, would a NBA team that is made of Wes, Wade, Novak, Zar, Butler, and Diener be able to win it all?

Quote from: Mike Deane on April 12, 2011, 02:15:42 PM
Wade's Heat needs a Rondo kind of PG.  With this current team, I don't see them going to the Finals.

If the Spurs have Wes, I'd like their chances.  The Spurs play go team defense, but they don't anyone that can approach Wes' defense on Kobe.

I agree the Lakers will take it all.

While we are on that topic, would a NBA team that is made of Wes, Wade, Novak, Zar, Butler, and Diener be able to win it all?

False.  They need a All-Star caliber big man who only cares about boarding and defense (some like Kevin Love), and a couple more servicable bigs not named Joel Anthony and Juwan Howard.

The NBA champ will either be Miami, LA, Chicago or a darkhorse (OKC, Mavs, Orlando, Spurs -yes Spurs are a darkhorse). Not buying Celtics.

Bynum's injury and possible missed time might change my vote to Novak.   Not good for LAL.

Quote from: Mike Deane on April 12, 2011, 02:15:42 PM


While we are on that topic, would a NBA team that is made of Wes, Wade, Novak, Zar, Butler, and Diener be able to win it all?

Not a chance.  Now, if you throw in some of the past players who made the NBA, I think you could make up an MU All Star team that could compete.  Lucas, Chones, Thompson..........

Good season Wes and Steve.   Can't believe the Spurs lost but Memphis was tough.   

Heat/Celtics will hopefully have some Marquette references.   That should be a great series.