NBA Playoffs - 2010 - What Predictions Were Right, Wrong, and What Will Happen Next?

As the 2009-2010NBA season got underway, many predictions were made. I made my share on the pages of AC.

I predicted that the Spurs would be a power in the west and would match up against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

That didn't happen.

The Richard Jefferson addition didn't significantly improve the Spurs depth, didn't effectively make them younger, and didn't get them to the conference finals.

Does that mean the acquisition of Richard Jefferson was a false move? Not necessarily.

The Spurs were hampered by injuries to their two best scoring threats for much of the season. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli were both less than 100% when the playoffs began. So we can't blame the Spurs' failure to reach the Western Conference Finals on Richard Jefferson or the front office.

As predicted, the LA Lakers have reached the conference finals. They are a bit banged up. Kobe is not going to be entirely healthy by the end, even if he plays to mid-June. His broken finger is going to require off-season surgery before he is 100% again.

But, he is Kobe. He'll be a valuable asset to his team against the Suns and, if the Lakers make it past the Suns, against the Eastern Conference champs...

Before we switch over to the east, we should take a look at the achievement of the Phoenix Suns.

Who predicted that they would bounce back as they have this year? With an aging Steve Nash, and aging Grant Hill, and a perennially disappointing Amare Stoudemire?

As far as I know, nobody outside of Arizona expected the Suns to make it this far.

Kudos to them.

In the east, things are shaping up to be about as interesting as they can be.

Rajon Rondo - described on these pages as the NBA's best point guard - has again put his skills on display, carrying the Celtics to their two victories over the Cavaliers and LeBron James.

The ferocity of rivalry between the Celtics and the Cavaliers is palpable but it will pale in comparison to the grudge match guaranteed to take place if the Cavaliers can find a way to put away the Celtics.

All eyes are, surprisingly, not on LeBron as game five looms. The series today is tied at two games apiece and going back to Cleveland.

The spotlight is on Shaquille O'Neal now with the Cavs suiting up in white. He did not play in the fourth quarter of the game four loss and NBA critics are revving up their commentary about that coaching decision as the game approaches.

Expect a motivated Shaq, an amped Quicken Loans arena, and a superlative LeBron James.

This is a game to see.

And if the Cavs can put together two wins they will face the Orlando Magic in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals of last year.

That series featured a stellar set of performances from James and a fading performance from the rest of his team. The Magic played hard and won, but it must be recognized that the Cavs were not at their best when they needed to be.

In the end, LeBron walked away from the court and headed into the summer without talking to the media. He was almost universally condemned for unsportsmanlike behavior.

The footage will be hauled off the shelf with a quickness if the Finals matchup is repeated.

Fans around the country would like to see it.

I know I would.

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Prediction Test:
In the West - I predicted that the Lakers and Spurs and Mavericks would be powers in the West and that the Spurs and Lakers would reach the conference finals. The Mavericks were a power, but faded down the stretch, defeated by the Spurs. And the Lakers did manage to reach the finals.

In the East - I predicted that the Magic would not be improved by the acquisition of Vince Carter and that the conference finals would feature the Celtics and the Cavs. The Magic have improved this year. Was it because of Vince Carter? You be the judge.
The Cavs or the Celtics will be in the conference finals but not both teams.

All in all, the season played out according to the set-up. The best teams won out. The best players performed up to the extremely high standards they have set for themselves (Kobe & Lebron). And after 90 games or so, despite injuries and oddities, the hope survives for a Kobe vs. LeBron marquee match up.

Cross your fingers and enjoy the rest of the ride.