This is probably the most excitment the city of New Orleans, the Big Easy, has gotten in a long time, and I say “Well, it’s about time!”

They definitely deserve it, what with having to put up with the NFC favorite, Saints blowing it big-time last year, and this could go back through history as well. I doubt that thye ever won a championship at anything.

I believe that the Saints are one of the very few teams to have never made it to the Super Bowl, and the Hornets have never gotten farther than where they are now.

The Spurs have been the best team in the past decade, probably in any sport. Yes, I believe that the Spurs are better at what they do then the Patriots are at what they do. Why? Because Greg Popovich didn’t have to rely on cheating to win 4 titles.

Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Robert Horry have got to be one of the Top 5 starting line-ups in recent memory in the NBA.

Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic, and Tyson Chandler don’t exactly measure up to those four, in my opinion.

But, like I said in my previous blog, the best team doesn’t always win.

So, having said that, I pick the Hornets to win tonight, and handily. I see them running away with this one at the end of the 3rd/beginning of the 4th.

Remember, the Spurs have lost in New Orleans by 19, 18, and 22 points. That avrages out to about 19.7 points back per game. Why should the Hornets not win by 19.7? I should say 20. Yeah, why will the Spurs not lose? I can’t think of a reason. Just another example of that crazy road playoff thing again. We’ve heard it before, and this won’t be the last time we hear about it.

 

So, now the Lakers (according to my prediction) must play the Hornets. The Hornets, I think, could win a road game in LA if they really tried. I absolutely can see the Hornets winning one in the Staples Center of the first 2. Not saying it will happen, just saying it’s a very real possibility.

So, say, hypothetically, that the Lakers and Hornets are tied 1-1. Could LA win at least 1 game back in the Big Easy? Positive. They could win both, in fact, that’s more possible than you’d expect. The Spurs have slacked off on defense, and taken too, too many 3-point shots. If the Lakers stick to what they know, and drive it like they stole it, all the way to the rim, then the games in New Orleans are more than within reach, their a very “there” idea for the Lakers.

Lakers in 5 vs. the Hornets
Lakers in 6 vs. the Spurs (if tonight’s prediction is false)

 

Turning now to the Eastern Conference Finals, where we already know that the match-up is Boston/Detroit. I do believe that the Pistons have the upper hand in this series. They won in Boston in their first meeting in the regular season, implying that they should win Game 1 @ Boston, which is what I see happening. I see Boston attempting a rebound on their home floor, and just barely pulling it off, then heading back to Detroit, and losing both games.

If the Pistons went up 3-1 on the Celtics, Doc Rivers should be really really really worried. His team now must win on the road, in this hypothetical situation, and I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever that they could beat Detroit on the road if they can’t even beat Cleveland, let alone Atlanta on their home courts.

Detroit in 6 is my prediction.

Check back in several days for my Stanley Cup Finals Blog!

-Mike Greenspire