NBA Playoffs

I shouldn't do this, especially after my atrocious showing in March, but I can't help myself. Playoff predictions are a particular itch I can't help but scratch. And scratch I will.

Out West, I like the Spurs to beat the Grizzlies in a surprisingly tight series, and the Lakers to make quick work of the hobbling Hornets. Incidentally, I like Phil Jackson to take a quarter or two off each game, just to mess with Hornets first-year coach Monty Williams. "Why won't he call time out," Williams will wonder. "He knows he's losing, right?"

Meanwhile, in what's sure to be the most entertaining first-round series, the Thunder will edge out the Nuggets and their roster of former Knickerbockers (Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and Al Harington.) Six games sounds about right, with an overtime thriller thrown in for good measure.

The Mavericks should get by the pesky Trailblazers, who will stay in every game but won't be able to get over the hump. I say, Mavs in five. Like my friend John, I can't figure out why most experts are picking the Blazers.

Here in the East, I like the Bulls over the Pacers, and the Heat over Philly. These two series will end in four and five, respectively.

The Magic will get by the Hawks, but it won't be easy. I love Atlanta's front line, but almost nothing else about Atlanta.

Finally, I have to go with the Celtics over my Knickerbockers. I wish this were different. I wish the Knicks were deeper, and better defensively. But they're not. (Ironically, the Knicks' chances would have greatly improved, I believe, with Cory Brewer, the defensive-oriented wingman they released a few days after acquiring him from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the 10-player Carmelo Anthony trade. C'est la vie. )

Despite the Knicks' best efforts, the Celtics will advance, primarily because the 34-year-old Chauncey Billups won't be able to keep Rajon Rondo in front of him. And Paul Pierce just kills the Knicks. While my heart says Knicks in six, my head says Celts in five. I just don't like this match up. If they were facing the Heat in the first round, I would have picked the Knicks in five, yes, five, but the Celtics, with Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rondo, Glen Davis and Jeff Green, are too deep, too experienced and--oh, how I hate this term--battle-tested for the Knicks to beat in a seven game series.

In this last instance, and this last instance alone, I truly hope I'm wrong.