January 2009 Playoff Predictions

According to the current standings, the playoff seedings for each conference will be:

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Orlando Magic
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Miami Heat
7. New Jersey Nets
8. Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. New Orleans Hornets
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Houston Rockets
6. Portland Trail Blazers
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Phoenix Suns

The Dabullz power rankings model suggests the following playoff results:

Eastern Conference First Round

1. Boston Celtics over 8. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Detroit Pistons over 4. Atlanta Hawks
3. Orlando Magic over 6. Miami Heat
2. Cleveland Cavaliers over 7. New Jersey Nets

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

1. Boston Celtics over 5. Detroit Pistons
2. Cleveland Cavaliers over 3. Orlando Magic

Eastern Conference Finals

2. Cleveland Cavaliers over 1. Boston Celtics

Western Conference First Round

1. Los Angeles Lakers over 8. Phoenix Suns
5. Houston Rockets over 4. Denver Nuggets
3. San Antonio Spurs over 6. Portland Trail Blazers
2. New Orleans Hornets over 7. Dallas Mavericks

Western Conference Semi-Finals

1. Los Angeles Lakers over 5. Houston Rockets
3. San Antonio Spurs over 2. New Orleans Hornets

Western Conference Finals

1. Los Angeles Lakers over 3. San Antonio Spurs

NBA Finals

2. Cleveland Cavaliers over 1. Los Angeles Lakers