2008/09 NBA Playoff matchups

[KDisNotNice]

Here are the matchups for the NBA playoffs. Half the series start on Saturday and the other half start on Sunday. The exact dates will be released later this morning:

Eastern conference:
1. Cleveland vs. 8. Detroit
4. Atlanta vs. 5. Miami
2. Boston vs. 7. Chicago
3. Orlando vs. 6. Philadelphia

Western conference:
1. LALakers vs. 8. Utah
4. Portland vs. 5. Houston
2. Denver vs. 7. N.O. Hornets
3. San Antonio vs. 6. Dallas

[Choda Boy]

In the West, I could see the Hornets and the Mavs getting the upset and in the East I think the Miami will win and the 76ers will challenge and lose.

[KDisNotNice]

Here's the first round schedule:

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/04/16/playoffssked20090416/index.html

2009 Playoffs: The first-round schedule
By NBA.com
Posted Apr 16 2009 7:39AM

Here's the schedule for the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. All times are ET.
* if necessary

Eastern Conference
Cleveland vs. Detroit
Game 1 - Sat April 18 Detroit at Cleveland 3:00PM ABC
Game 2 - Tue April 21 Detroit at Cleveland 8:00PM TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 24 Cleveland at Detroit 7:00PM ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 26 Cleveland at Detroit 3:30PM ABC
Game 5 * Wed April 29 Detroit at Cleveland TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 1 Cleveland at Detroit TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 3 Detroit at Cleveland TBD TBD

Boston vs. Chicago
Game 1 - Sat April 18 Chicago at Boston 12:30PM ESPN
Game 2 - Mon April 20 Chicago at Boston 7:00PM TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 23 Boston at Chicago 8:00PM TNT
Game 4 - Sun April 26 Boston at Chicago 1:00PM ABC
Game 5 * Tue April 28 Chicago at Boston TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 30 Boston at Chicago TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 2 Chicago at Boston TBD TNT

Orlando vs. Philadelphia
Game 1 - Sun April 19 Philadelphia at Orlando 5:30PM TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 22 Philadelphia at Orlando 7:00PM NBATV
Game 3 - Fri April 24 Orlando at Philadelphia 8:00PM ESPN2
Game 4 - Sun April 26 Orlando at Philadelphia 6:30PM TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 28 Philadelphia at Orlando TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 30 Orlando at Philadelphia TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 2 Philadelphia at Orlando TBD TNT

Atlanta vs. Miami
Game 1 - Sun April 19 Miami at Atlanta 8:00PM TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 22 Miami at Atlanta 8:00PM TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 25 Atlanta at Miami 6:30PM TNT
Game 4 - Mon April 27 Atlanta at Miami TBD TBD
Game 5 * Wed April 29 Miami at Atlanta TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 1 Atlanta at Miami TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 3 Miami at Atlanta TBD TBD

Western Conference
L.A. Lakers vs. Utah
Game 1 - Sun April 19 Utah at L.A. Lakers 3:00PM ABC
Game 2 - Tue April 21 Utah at L.A. Lakers 10:30PM TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 23 L.A. Lakers at Utah 10:30PM TNT
Game 4 - Sat April 25 L.A. Lakers at Utah 9:00PM ESPN
Game 5 * Mon April 27 Utah at L.A. Lakers TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 30 L.A. Lakers at Utah TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 2 Utah at L.A. Lakers TBD TNT

Denver vs. New Orleans
Game 1 - Sun April 19 New Orleans at Denver 10:30PM TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 22 New Orleans at Denver 10:30PM TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 25 Denver at New Orleans 1:00PM ESPN
Game 4 - Mon April 27 Denver at New Orleans TBD TBD
Game 5 * Wed April 29 New Orleans at Denver TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 1 Denver at New Orleans TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 3 New Orleans at Denver TBD TBD

San Antonio vs. Dallas
Game 1 - Sat April 18 Dallas at San Antonio 8:00PM ESPN
Game 2 - Mon April 20 Dallas at San Antonio 9:30PM TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 23 San Antonio at Dallas 8:30PM NBATV
Game 4 - Sat April 25 San Antonio at Dallas 4:00PM TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 28 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 3 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TBD

Portland vs. Houston
Game 1 - Sat April 18 Houston at Portland 10:30PM ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 21 Houston at Portland 10:00PM NBATV
Game 3 - Fri April 24 Portland at Houston 9:30PM ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 26 Portland at Houston 9:00PM TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 28 Houston at Portland TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 30 Portland at Houston TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 2 Houston at Portland TBD TNT

[RicanThunder]

I love the first two days of the playoffs. 4 games per day. And its the weekend. Its time to bring out my MAWW card this weekend. It's been stashed away since the NCAA football regular season ended.

[BigShot]

Upsets: Heat over Hawks; Hornets over Nuggets; Houston over Portland

[Thunderstorm]

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[Thunderstorm]

Upsets: Heat over Hawks; Hornets over Nuggets; Houston over Portland

Agree...

[KDisNotNice]

I'll just pick the first round for now.
Eastern conference (all boring matchups to me):
Cleveland and Orlando in 5 games.
Boston in 6 games. Atlanta in 7 games.

Western conference:
Lakers in 5 games
Denver (unfortunately) in 5 games also over New Orleans.
Houston and San Antonio in 6 games.

Though Tyson (75% well) is back for the Hornets now, I don't think his absence fully explains why they went only 3-6 in April. Poor bench play, Peja is still struggling after coming back, and not having home court advantage will make it extremely tough to pull an upset here. I hope I am wrong.

[KDisNotNice]

Here are the matchups for round 2 of the NBA playoffs.

Eastern conference:
1. Cleveland vs. 4. Atlanta
2. Boston vs. 3. Orlando

Western conference:
1. LALakers vs. 5. Houston
2. Denver vs. 6. Dallas

[Choda Boy]

Cleveland, Orlando. LA, Denver.

[HotRocNRol]

Ditto Choda Boy.
Boston is out of gas; Dallas overmatched; LA, well, they're LA; and Clevelands hitting on all Cylinders