So here is my prediction of how the jazz playoffs go:
Round 1 vs golden state:
Very high scoring series with games always around the 120's in scoring. I like this matchup for the jazz as I think golden state allows us to play our normal style offensively. I dont think they can disrupt our offense enough to slow us down. I think golden state will also be able to score but cant keep up with all the firepower of the hydra. Jazz win in 5 or maybe 6. (if we get memphis we win in 4 or 5 as memphis cant keep up with the pace we will set)
I also predict that the jazz are preparing right now for the warriors and the warriors will be a bit tired and not ready for the rested and ready jazz playing on our homecourt in front of a bunch of crazy fans. Game 1 will be a blowout in favor of the jazz.
Im writing the mavs off right now. I think they are the worst team in the western conference playoffs. So, Round 2 vs the clippers:
Drastically different series than round 1 for us. Low scoring physicaly series. I think the clippers can disrupt us on offense and we will be forced to adjust and try some new things (that we would prefer not to try) and they will slow us down. However, I think our defense matches up very good against their offense. Kahwai is the type of player that royce is made for. Joe gets all up in PG head. Rudy will dominate the paint. They dont have enough shooting. Jazz win in 6 or 7. And its ugly.
At this point I consider this season a success but I want more.
WCF:
Here we could be facing denver, portland (think that series goes 7 games), suns or lakers.
If lakers: I think we lose. I think they can slow us down on offense and our defense doesn't matchup well with them. If they are our opponent in the WCF then that likely means that they are healthy and playing at the top of their game. This would suck. Im hoping someone else takes them out.
If suns: I think they are close to a mirror image of our team in a lot of ways. I pick the jazz to win due to homecourt advantage in 7 hard fought, close, high scoring games.
If denver: I think we are better than them on offense and defense. They present some matchup problems but I think quin is up to the task and figures them out early in the series and jazz win in 5 or 6 games. Our offense hums throughout and we average 130 points per game for the series.
If Portland: I think they play us tougher than denver and their guards get a hot a couple of games and make this series scarier than it should be. Jazz in 6 or 7.
Finals:
If Nets: That would mean they are healthy and have things figured out and in that case I think they have too much star power to overcome. I give us a 40% chance of victory and think the nets win in 6 games. Maybe we take them to a game 7. If their stars really go off it could even be a 5 game series. This is the worst case scenario in the finals. Though if we make the finals and lose, im pretty damn happy in the end. The nets are the biggest ceiling and lowest floor of all the true contenders imo. Hard one to predict due to the injuries during the regular season.
If 76ers: They give us lots of trouble. Rudy probably gets into foul trouble. They would be very physical and how the games are officiated could be a big factor. They dont have enough shooting imo but I still think this series would be very tough. I give the jazz about a 53% chance to win this series. Probably goes 7 games.
If Bucks: I think the jazz win this series pretty convincingly. 5 or 6 games with a few blowouts by the jazz included.