by Writerbob

Created on: February 26, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Three months ago, this writer predicted the "Final Four" of the 2007 NBA playoffs, and that assessment was significantly off the mark. Of those picks, only the Detroit Pistons remain alive in the pro basketball championship tourney. Dallas, Washington and Phoenix have been supplanted by Cleveland, Utah and San Antonio.

Here then is a redux of those predictions, with a good deal more certainty of the outcomes: First, in the West, there is a significant gap between the experience and balance of the Spurs versus the over-achieving Jazz. Currently up 1-0, San Antonio merely has to play at a reasonable level compared to Utah's daunting task of having to literally pitch a perfect game every time out. Winner: Spurs in 5.

In the East, the Cavs put up a nice fight in Game 1 of the conference finals on the road, but the decision-making of LeBron James down the stretch against the smothering Piston defense does not augur well for the balance of the series. Detroit has way too much talent at both ends of the court, and though the Cavs will certainly get one victory at home, they are at least a year away from being a solid championship contender. Winer: Pistons in 5.

Now we get the ugliness of the Detroit-San Antonio rematch from two years ago that we have all hoped against. Both teams will thug it up, scores will mainly be in the 70's, and Rasheed Wallace is guaranteed to get ejected at least once. This one goes seven, with the home court advantage of the Spurs possibly being the edge in the final contest which hopefully will get finished before July 4th. Winner and 2007 NBA Champion: San Antonio.

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