MARK THE TAPE!! NBA Playoff 1st Round Predictions

# 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #8 Detroit Pistons

People are trying to talk themselves into believing the Pistons can hang with the Cavaliers for a couple of games. Those people are dumb. Sweep is written all over this series and the Pistons reign as an elite team in the NBA is over.

4-0 Cavaliers

#2 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Chicago Bulls

Very similar to the Cavs vs. Pistons series since KG is out people like to think the Bulls have a chance. They don't. With KG the Celtics can win the NBA Finals without him they are still ten times better than the Bulls. The Bulls will win one game to make it interesting, but in the end it will be an easy series for the Celtics.

4-1 Celtics

#3 Orlando Magic vs. #6 Philadelphia 76ers

Here is why I know the Magic are at least one or two years away for seriously contending. After destroying the Cavaliers they struggled down the stretch blowing a chance for the #2 seed. I think the 76ers will give them problems, but the home court will be the difference.

4-3 Magic

#4 Atlanta Hawks vs. #5 Miami Heat

Can one player beat a team? Hell yeah if that player is D Wade. I will take one "serial killer" player over a bunch of "misdemeanors" players.

4-2 Heat

Western Conference:

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #8 Utah Jazz

This is a better Lakers team and a worse Jazz team than last year when they met in the playoffs, so why would you think there was any chance of an upset here?

4-1 Lakers

#2 Denver Nuggets vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets

Doesn't it feel funny even referring to the Nuggets as the #2 seed? Doesn't it feel like they are underdogs to the Hornets? There is good reason for that feeling because the Nuggets will choke and choke badly.

4-2 Hornets

#3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Dallas Mavericks

The Spurs are on their last legs and the Mavericks can smell the blood in the water. The question begs are the Mavericks mentally tough enough to put the stake in the heart of the Spurs. According to Mark Cuban's twittering they are and who am I to argue with Twitter?

4-3 Mavericks

#4 Portland Trail Blazers vs. #5 Houston Rockets

I am going to be honest I am only picking the Rockets because I think it would be so funny for them to get out of the 1st round without Tracy McGrady.

4-2 Rockets