Playoff picture as of 3/18 and 2011-12 champions

[4DN1]

Here is the playoff picture as of 3/18.
if the playoffs started today who'd beat who and who'd win it all

East:
Bulls-Knicks (Bulls in 5)
Heat-Celtics (Heat in 5)
Magic-Hawks (Hawks in 6)
76ers-Pacers (Pacers in 7)

West:
Thunder-Rockets (Thunder sweep)
Spurs-Nuggets (Spurs in 6)
Lakers-Mavs (Mavs in 6)
Clippers-Grizzlies (Clippers in 6)

And if you really want to go in depth i'd say:
Heat over Bulls in 6
Pacers over Hawks in 7
then Heat over Pacers in 5 or 6

Thunder over Spurs in 6
Mavs over Clippers in 5
I have to be biased here, so i'll say Mavs over Thunder in 7 (but probably realistically it'd be Thunder over Mavs in 7)

Mavs-Heat (Mavs in 6 or 7)
Thunder-Heat (Heat in 6 or 7)

[adonis]

I honestly think Chicago is coming out of the East. Their defense is simply suffocating, even better than Miami. Miami has been able to out run all their opponents and beat them on fast breaks, but none of those transition baskets will happen against the Bulls.

It's been 50 games into the season and I can tell you for a fact that the Thunder will not win the West. Their coaching staff, their PG and their bench are their main problems. The Thunder always resort to jump shooting when things get tough and opponents are out playing them. The West is likely to be decided between SA, DAL and LAL, the only three that have won the West for the past 13 seasons.

[mavs777]

Chicago's half court offense isn't good enough imo, other than rose who can beat miami? Deng has been playing injured all year and therefor played pretty poorly. Bosh scares the living crap out of boozer because of his length, noah can't create his own shot and RIP can't either even if he does get healthy. I can't see anyway chicago beats Miami in a 7 game series.

[j0Shi]

Thunder sweep? Rockets are widely considered the worst matchup for 'em.

[mavs777]

If lowry gets healthy i think they would take 2 from the thunder

[4DN1]

Originally Posted by adonis

I honestly think Chicago is coming out of the East. Their defense is simply suffocating, even better than Miami. Miami has been able to out run all their opponents and beat them on fast breaks, but none of those transition baskets will happen against the Bulls.

It's been 50 games into the season and I can tell you for a fact that the Thunder will not win the West. Their coaching staff, their PG and their bench are their main problems. The Thunder always resort to jump shooting when things get tough and opponents are out playing them. The West is likely to be decided between SA, DAL and LAL, the only three that have won the West for the past 13 seasons.

If Chicagos offense was as good as their defense or at least a little bit better than "just give rose the ball" then I'd for sure say they'd go to the finals. But with injuries plaguing them and players like Boozer not playing how they should then it's going to be very tough for them to go further than the conference finals. I love the Bulls for the east so it sucks to see such a great defensive team lack something as simple as offense.

[ray_sir_6]

Originally Posted by adonis

I honestly think Chicago is coming out of the East. Their defense is simply suffocating, even better than Miami. Miami has been able to out run all their opponents and beat them on fast breaks, but none of those transition baskets will happen against the Bulls.

It's been 50 games into the season and I can tell you for a fact that the Thunder will not win the West. Their coaching staff, their PG and their bench are their main problems. The Thunder always resort to jump shooting when things get tough and opponents are out playing them. The West is likely to be decided between SA, DAL and LAL, the only three that have won the West for the past 13 seasons.

I agree with Rose and the Bulls taking out the Heat to make it to the Finals. I think it's Chicago's year. I am thinking it will be Thunder vs Bulls, with the Bulls winning in 6 or 7. I don't think the Mavs will beat the Thunder in the Playoffs this year. This has a lot to do with the shortened season and how much better the younger Thunder will come out for the Playoff run.

[spreedom]

I don't see any way the Heat don't make it back to the Finals unless one of their big three gets hurt and misses the playoffs.

[GhostFace]

Can the Heat compete with the Bulls bench?

I've not been paying attention to the Heat at all this season due to hate.. which isn't good.... know thy enemy know thy self.

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by GhostFace

Can the Heat compete with the Bulls bench?

I've not been paying attention to the Heat at all this season due to hate.. which isn't good.... know thy enemy know thy self.

Bulls have the better bench, but Miami is still clearly the better team, no one can create for themselves other than Rose.

[Underdog]

Don't blink - the Mavs just moved up to #5 in the West, tied with the Clips and just a game-and-a-half behind the Lakers... Which is something we can change later today.

[ray_sir_6]

Originally Posted by mavs777

Bulls have the better bench, but Miami is still clearly the better team, no one can create for themselves other than Rose.

Sounds like last years Finals...which the Heat lost.