What’s your NBA Playoff bracket?

During March Madness there were millions of brackets submitted online and millions were wrong. And amen to that, sport would literally be nothing if it wasn’t unpredictable. As we head in to the NBA playoffs this weekend, do you have the Spurs playing the Bulls over seven in the final two? One big difference from what we saw in the NCAA is that in a one-off game, anyone can beat anybody else. But in a series, the best team should out. But the reason I asked about the Bulls and the Spurs is because what we are about to see, could be the best NBA playoffs in a long time. We just don’t know who’s the best, and in any of these upcoming series games, anybody can beat anybody on any given night.

We could maybe take a guess at the last eight but after that you can stick a pin in your bracket. But you have to be brave to even call the eight. The Heat have put themselves right in the picture down the stretch, but how many times have we seen them blow it late on this year? There are so many questions about the Lakers going in to this. Does Phil Jackson know his best five? With Bynum given the all clear, Big Phil still has his chance to work it out, and if Bynum hadn’t have made it, I would have stuck a pin in the Lakers’ hopes. Kobe may take games by the scruff of the neck, but when LA have fired this season, Bynum has fired. And him being healthy may just have tipped the odds of taking it all, in the reigning champions’ favour.

However, the Oklahoma City Thunder will have plenty to say should they meet LA. The last three times Kendrick Perkins has stepped on to the Lakers’ court, he has walked off the winner. And the nothing short of brilliant acquisition of Perkins, has given OKC an ability to matchup in every postition with the higher seeded teams.

The Spurs have earned the right to dispose of the Grizzlies and that is one result you have to believe is as nailed on as it gets. Likewise, with Chris Paul buzzing in their ear, LA will see off the Hornets. I’ve alluded to liking the Thunder so I see them through, and nobody likes the look of Dallas due to recent form, but they are 2-2 with Portland this season so nobody is going to be surprised whoever wins that one. The potential shock in the first sixteen (not saying I buy it), will come at the expense of the Celtics if at all.

It’s not controversial to call the Lakers to win the West, and to make it through to the finals. But I won’t be surprised to see the Thunder mess things up for them. And it’s not controversial to say it looks like a Bulls/Heat v Lakers set of seven for the title. Many fancy the East this year, but despite all the stats, all the thoughts and feelings, I just can’t get past the current NBA title holders. I’m hoping for a Lakers and Heat scrap for the prize, but I am calling the Bulls to play LA. The Heat aren’t ready on or off the court to get it done this time around. There are too many cracks that have been papered over in recent weeks, and an in-form Bulls side (9-1 in last ten) will re-open those not so old wounds.

So what’s your playoff bracket? Here’s mine:

Last 8: Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Thunder, Mavericks Spurs and Magic.

Last 4: Bulls, Heat, Thunder and Lakers.

Last 2: Bulls and Lakers.

Champions: Los Angeles Lakers

Nothing too shocking there then. But this bracket has the same potential of being trashed early on, as all those March Madness brackets that didn’t see VCU and Butler coming.