First round Playoff predictions keeping in mind that since 2001, the non-homecourt advantage team has only won 21% of postseason series…this basically makes the NBA playoffs easily the most predictable playoffs in all pro sports. (For comparison road teams have won 60 percent of the baseball playoffs and 36 percent of the NFL playoffs over the same period):

East

Heat-Bulls…Heat in 7…Bulls well and Dwyane Wade is not 100%, but the Shaq is the ultimate equalizer…
Wizards-Cavaliers…Cavs in 4…no Arenas, no Butler equals no wins for the Wiz…
Magic-Pistons…Pistons in 5…Magic steal one win because the Pistons get bored…
Nets-Raptors…Raps in 7…Nets big three of Carter, Kidd and Jefferson will make this the best series of the playoffs, but Bosh and co are too deep and too cohesive to fall apart…

West

Lakers-Suns…Suns in 5…Kobe will be all world, but the Suns are too good…
Warriors-Mavs…Mavs in 5…G-State and former Mavs coach Don Nelson make it interesting, but this Mavs team is too deep…
Jazz-Rockets…Rockets in 6…T-Mac n’Cheese in the 1st round? Not this time, Rockets will beat the slumping Jazz with large helpings of Yao Ming…
Nuggets-Spurs…Spurs in 7…A terrific matchup, where Tony Longoria vs. Allen Iverson will be amazing, the big fundamental vs. Cambyland will match up the best big against the probable defensive player of the year and where the very annoying Bruce Bowen will have to contend with Mr. Slap-happy himself, Carmelo Anthony…Spurs are better team., but this one will be close…

Here are a couple of good playoff previews…

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2007/04/19/east/index.html

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2007/04/19/west.first.round/index.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=2007PlayoffPreview

Random thoughts:

Eric Musselman will be fired in Sacramento by the end of next week…

Kevin McHale will be around for another year and Garnett won’t be traded…

Troy Hudson, Marko Jaric and Mike James will begin whining their way out of Minnesota any minute now…

Rashard Lewis will sign in Charlotte and the Bobcats will trade Adam Morrison and resign Gerald Wallace…

Vince Carter will be a Knick, after the Knicks will also go after Jermaine O’ Neal and Kevin Garnett…

Kiki Vandeweghe will be name Grizzlies GM by end of summer…

Pacers will fire Rick Carlisle and trade Jermaine O’Neal to the Grizz for Pau Gasol…

This story is unbelieveable…

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/all-jordan-apr19-cn,1,7639325.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

Crazy trade rumour for next year…if the Suns don't win it all and if they end up with the No. 4 or No. 5 pick in the draft (via Atlanta) the Suns will trade Amare Stoudemire to Chicago for Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas…