So, last year, I won our NBA pool. 80 bucks, hombres! Being the glass-half-full kind of feller I am, I’d picked the Lakers to tank. (Remember, ’07 was the preseason of Kobe’s discontent.) Course they won the West. My saving grace? New Orleans Hornets (no one picked them for the playoffs), and Miami Heat (I was the only one who picked them to miss the post-season, which they did.) This year, I have far less enthusiasm for my picks.
The objective is simple: Pick the 16 teams who will make the playoffs. Here’s my 2008-2009 selections:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- Toronto
- Boston
- Philadelphia
- Cleveland
- Chicago
- Detroit
- Orlando
- Miami
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- Utah
- Denver
- Lakers
- Phoenix
- Dallas
- New Orleans
- San Antonio
- Houston
The West is a gimme. The only negotiables are Golden State, maybe the Clippers, and (with Greg Oden now injured) a far distant Portland. The East is another story. Toronto, I think, is a shoe-in with newly acquired Jermain O’Neil, and Chris Bosch coming off a fantastic Olympics. Boston’s a no-brainer (but still one injury away from average.) Cleveland’s good enough to make it — and that’s about it — and Detroit, I think, still has a chip on its shoulder and a lot to prove. But the Eastern bubbles are many: Washington, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philly, New Jersey, Indiana, even (*gasp*) the Knicks. I think Elton Brandt will be a perfect fit for Philadelphia, and wouldn’t be surprised to see them surpass expectations. But I’m guessing, the Eastern Conference will be the telling point in ours, and many others, NBA pools. My secret weapon? Miami. D. Wade, Wolverine and Mr. Beasley are about to shock the basketball world…
