NBA Live 09 Predictions
March 17, 2009
By Rob Thompson
As March Madness continues so does the NBA. Playoff time is near and teams are starting to either; push or panic. Boston doesn't need home court to win the East, all they need is a healthy Garnett. The Magic need a win or panic may set in. As Dwayne Wade goes, so do the Heat. Good news, DWade is going to win the MVP; bad news is the Heat won't win much else. New Orleans is making their stretch run and nobody is playing better than Chris Paul. The Hornets look ready. The roller coaster Pistons continue to prove that on any given night they're contenders but the team isn't what it was. The Wizards are just horrible. The Suns have the skill and the "want to" but they also have old legs. They're playoff push should be fun to watch. Overall we are 23-12 going a pathetic 2-3 last week. We'll shake the slump this week.
Boston Celtics 86 - Orlando Magic 95
KG is back. It's been a month of roller coaster basketball without Garnett but his right knee healed just in time for what could be the Celtics most important road swing of the season. In Garnett's absence Leon Powe filled in admirably picking up valuable playing time that will most certainly pay off in the post season. But the Celtic's need KG if they expect to defend their title. The Celtics go into Orlando with an admittedly rusty Garnett but he still managed to score 12 points on 5-5 shooting on 18 minutes of playing time on the lowly Clippers. Doc Rivers has his team playing well. They've won their last four including one in San Antonio. Despite the wins Paul Pierce has been in a bit of slump. He's only averaging 8 points over the last three games. His scoring is going to have to pick up if they expect to get a win in Orlando. In their last meeting back on March 8, Ray Allen went off for 32 points but without any paint help the Celtics lost to the Magic at home 86-79. Orlando is also on a mini win streak. They've won three in a row, two on the road. They're four games behind Boston for the second seat in the Eastern Conference. If they have any hope of catching them they must win. The Magic come to play. Dwight Howard dominates the lane with 21 points and 14 rebounds as Rafer Alston controls the pace on Rajon Rondo with 18 points and 5 dimes. The Celtics keep it close at half only down by two but the third belongs to the Magic as they take control as they win their biggest game of the season, 95-86.
Miami Heat 99 - Chicago Bulls 101
The last time these two teams met 257 points were scored in a 130-127 as the Heat won in a double overtime thriller. Ben Gordon was in another zone with 43 points, shooting 8-11 from behind the arch. Unfortunately for the Bulls they were playing against the odds on MVP Dwayne Wade. Dwayne went ahead and got 48 points while dishing 12 assists. The emergence of John Salmons for the Bulls may very well be the key to the game. He's averaging 28 points on 63% shooting over his last four games. Jamario Moon will have his hands full if Salmons gets hot. Bad news for Moon, Salmons is still feeling it and goes for 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Heat never find an answer for Salmons outside shooting. Dwayne Wade does his best with 22 points but in a revenge game always take the home team. Bulls win and in a struggle, 101-99
New Orleans Hornets 106 - New York Knicks 99
CP3 hasn't scored less than 26 points in his last seven games. The Hornets are 5-2 over that stretch. He better get a good nights rest before the Knick game because he'll get plenty of shots against a porous Knick defense. They are last in scoring defense in the East giving up over 108 points a game. Tyson Chandler has been nursing a sore ankle and isn't completely healthy. Hilton Armstrong filled in nicely getting his first career double-double in Chandler's absence. Against most teams the Byron Scott might be concerned about his teams poor three point shooting, but the Knicks have a tendency to be slump busters. Chris Paul dominates all facets of the game, just messing around and getting a triple double. When CP3 grabs 10 rebounds you better expect fast breaks because they are coming. They do and the Knicks can't keep up, even with Nate Robinson's 21 points. The Hornets win in a laugher, 106-99
Detroit Pistons 96 - Washington Wizards 95
The Pistons are playing with a chip on their shoulder knowing they probably can't beat Cleveland or Boston in the playoffs. Right now they sit at #7 in the Eastern Conference with the specter of playing the Celtics in the first round. The good news is they face possibly the worst team in the NBA. The Wizards are playing out the string and doing it badly. The Pistons will look to the multi talented Tayshaun Prince to handle the game. He does, as he goes for 28 points from all over the court as he also dishes 6 assists. You have to feel a little bad for Antawn Jamison. He's all the Wizards have and he can't do it alone. His 25 points keep the fans around until the third quarter but the Pistons have too much to play for. They win 96-95 in game that isn't that close.
Sacramento Kings 102 - Phoenix Suns 113
The Suns are in their toughest fight in years for a playoff spot. Sacramento is trying to figure out who to draft. The Kings can score in bunches but give up even more. Alvin Gentry has his team focused on a must win series of games. The Kings will be the first victim. Steady Grant Hill continues to play well. He and Steve Nash lead the Suns with 26 a piece as the Suns keep fighting for the last playoff spot in the west.
By Rob Thompson
As March Madness continues so does the NBA. Playoff time is near and teams are starting to either; push or panic. Boston doesn't need home court to win the East, all they need is a healthy Garnett. The Magic need a win or panic may set in. As Dwayne Wade goes, so do the Heat. Good news, DWade is going to win the MVP; bad news is the Heat won't win much else. New Orleans is making their stretch run and nobody is playing better than Chris Paul. The Hornets look ready. The roller coaster Pistons continue to prove that on any given night they're contenders but the team isn't what it was. The Wizards are just horrible. The Suns have the skill and the "want to" but they also have old legs. They're playoff push should be fun to watch. Overall we are 23-12 going a pathetic 2-3 last week. We'll shake the slump this week.
Boston Celtics 86 - Orlando Magic 95
KG is back. It's been a month of roller coaster basketball without Garnett but his right knee healed just in time for what could be the Celtics most important road swing of the season. In Garnett's absence Leon Powe filled in admirably picking up valuable playing time that will most certainly pay off in the post season. But the Celtic's need KG if they expect to defend their title. The Celtics go into Orlando with an admittedly rusty Garnett but he still managed to score 12 points on 5-5 shooting on 18 minutes of playing time on the lowly Clippers. Doc Rivers has his team playing well. They've won their last four including one in San Antonio. Despite the wins Paul Pierce has been in a bit of slump. He's only averaging 8 points over the last three games. His scoring is going to have to pick up if they expect to get a win in Orlando. In their last meeting back on March 8, Ray Allen went off for 32 points but without any paint help the Celtics lost to the Magic at home 86-79. Orlando is also on a mini win streak. They've won three in a row, two on the road. They're four games behind Boston for the second seat in the Eastern Conference. If they have any hope of catching them they must win. The Magic come to play. Dwight Howard dominates the lane with 21 points and 14 rebounds as Rafer Alston controls the pace on Rajon Rondo with 18 points and 5 dimes. The Celtics keep it close at half only down by two but the third belongs to the Magic as they take control as they win their biggest game of the season, 95-86.
Miami Heat 99 - Chicago Bulls 101
The last time these two teams met 257 points were scored in a 130-127 as the Heat won in a double overtime thriller. Ben Gordon was in another zone with 43 points, shooting 8-11 from behind the arch. Unfortunately for the Bulls they were playing against the odds on MVP Dwayne Wade. Dwayne went ahead and got 48 points while dishing 12 assists. The emergence of John Salmons for the Bulls may very well be the key to the game. He's averaging 28 points on 63% shooting over his last four games. Jamario Moon will have his hands full if Salmons gets hot. Bad news for Moon, Salmons is still feeling it and goes for 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Heat never find an answer for Salmons outside shooting. Dwayne Wade does his best with 22 points but in a revenge game always take the home team. Bulls win and in a struggle, 101-99
New Orleans Hornets 106 - New York Knicks 99
CP3 hasn't scored less than 26 points in his last seven games. The Hornets are 5-2 over that stretch. He better get a good nights rest before the Knick game because he'll get plenty of shots against a porous Knick defense. They are last in scoring defense in the East giving up over 108 points a game. Tyson Chandler has been nursing a sore ankle and isn't completely healthy. Hilton Armstrong filled in nicely getting his first career double-double in Chandler's absence. Against most teams the Byron Scott might be concerned about his teams poor three point shooting, but the Knicks have a tendency to be slump busters. Chris Paul dominates all facets of the game, just messing around and getting a triple double. When CP3 grabs 10 rebounds you better expect fast breaks because they are coming. They do and the Knicks can't keep up, even with Nate Robinson's 21 points. The Hornets win in a laugher, 106-99
Detroit Pistons 96 - Washington Wizards 95
The Pistons are playing with a chip on their shoulder knowing they probably can't beat Cleveland or Boston in the playoffs. Right now they sit at #7 in the Eastern Conference with the specter of playing the Celtics in the first round. The good news is they face possibly the worst team in the NBA. The Wizards are playing out the string and doing it badly. The Pistons will look to the multi talented Tayshaun Prince to handle the game. He does, as he goes for 28 points from all over the court as he also dishes 6 assists. You have to feel a little bad for Antawn Jamison. He's all the Wizards have and he can't do it alone. His 25 points keep the fans around until the third quarter but the Pistons have too much to play for. They win 96-95 in game that isn't that close.
Sacramento Kings 102 - Phoenix Suns 113
The Suns are in their toughest fight in years for a playoff spot. Sacramento is trying to figure out who to draft. The Kings can score in bunches but give up even more. Alvin Gentry has his team focused on a must win series of games. The Kings will be the first victim. Steady Grant Hill continues to play well. He and Steve Nash lead the Suns with 26 a piece as the Suns keep fighting for the last playoff spot in the west.
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