NBA Conference Finals Predictions
Despite the Boston Celtics running out of gas a game too soon, I still went 3-1 in the second round of the NBA playoffs. Granted, I never thought the Lakers would struggle with the Houston Rockets as much as they did, but I’ll take the win in 7. My overall 9-3 record isn’t all that impressive considering the NBA playoffs are about as predictable as it gets. At least my Finals match-up – and most other people’s Finals match-up – of Los Angeles versus Cleveland is still alive as a possibility.
In fact, even with Denver suddenly becoming an in vogue pick and Charles Barkley getting caught up in the moment on TNT and picking Orlando to make the Finals, I think an L.A. / Cleveland Finals is a foregone conclusion. Whenever the Lakers looked interested they simply destroyed Houston, and Cleveland just doesn’t look like they will receive any competition in the East. In fact, they’re making me a bit nervous about my pick of the Lakers over the Cavs in the Finals, but I’ll deal with that in June.
Based on the odds that I check out, both Cleveland and the Lakers are expected to win in 5 games – or at least that’s the lowest payout on a bet for the “exact number of games” in which they will win. (Of course these odds are checked for “entertainment purposes” only.) I don’t make official predictions . . . you really care about that I’m sure . . . on exact games because it’s just too much of a sucker bet, but I actually think Cleveland will sweep Orlando. In fact, I think L.A. could sweep Denver but the way they kept dozing off against Houston, I think the Lakers will win in five.
In fact, even with Denver suddenly becoming an in vogue pick and Charles Barkley getting caught up in the moment on TNT and picking Orlando to make the Finals, I think an L.A. / Cleveland Finals is a foregone conclusion. Whenever the Lakers looked interested they simply destroyed Houston, and Cleveland just doesn’t look like they will receive any competition in the East. In fact, they’re making me a bit nervous about my pick of the Lakers over the Cavs in the Finals, but I’ll deal with that in June.
Based on the odds that I check out, both Cleveland and the Lakers are expected to win in 5 games – or at least that’s the lowest payout on a bet for the “exact number of games” in which they will win. (Of course these odds are checked for “entertainment purposes” only.) I don’t make official predictions . . . you really care about that I’m sure . . . on exact games because it’s just too much of a sucker bet, but I actually think Cleveland will sweep Orlando. In fact, I think L.A. could sweep Denver but the way they kept dozing off against Houston, I think the Lakers will win in five.