Hurried Playoff Predictions

For the last couple of years, my buddy Kevin and I have each made our NBA playoff predictions, and then completely forgotten to go back and see how we did. We're keeping the tradition alive this year, although just barely. Here are my off-the-cuff playoff predictions:

EAST
Bulls over 76ers in 4
Celtics over Hawks in 6
Heat over Knicks in 5
Pacers over Magic in 5

Bulls over Celtics in 7
Heat over Pacers in 5

Heat over Bulls in 6

WEST
Spurs over Jazz in 4
Clippers over Grizzlies in 7
Thunder over Mavs in 5
Lakers over Nuggets in 5

Spurs over Clippers in 5
Thunder over Lakers in 7

Spurs over Thunder in 7

FINALS
Spurs over Heat in 7

Immediately, I hate these picks. I really wanted to Boston to beat Chicago, but it's hard to deny that the Bulls under Thibodeau seem to have our number. And it feels a little funky to pick San Antonio to win, but they're really good; Duncan looks great, Parker's been phenomenal, and their bench is good enough to win a game or two in the playoffs -- which is rare, because the bench almost never matters in the postseason.

Here are Kevin's picks:

Bulls over 76ers in 5
Celtics over Hawks in 6
Heat over Knicks in 5
Pacers over Magic in 5

Bulls over Celtics in 6
Heat over Pacers in 5

Heat over Bulls in 7

Spurs over Jazz in 4
Grizzlies over Clippers in 7
Thunder over Mavs in 6
Lakers over Nuggets in 6

Grizzlies over Spurs in 6
Thunder over Lakers in 6

Thunder over Grizzlies in 6

Heat over Thunder in 6