Official Motorgen NBA Finals Prediction Game

[CorruptCulture]

Final bracket has been updated and attached. First game starts Saturday. Get your submission in!

Here it is ladies and gentlemen. The official Motorgen NBA Finals Prediction Contest.

http://www.shofstetter.com/uploads/bracket1.jpg

The scoring goes as follows:

For every correct prediction of a series winner you earn points. For examples, if Round 1 in the West you predict the Lakers beat the Nuggets... and they do, you earn points.

Round 1 correct predictions earn you 1 point each (possible 8 points total - 4 in the West, 4 in the East)
Round 2 - 3 points (12 possible)
Conference Finals - 7 points (14 possible)
NBA Champions - 15 points

Obviously, the person with the most points at the end wins.

All the information you need is attached in the Microsoft Excel file. Once you have made your predictions. Attach/Post a screen shot or your bracket and let the games begin. All submissions must be in before the first game is played. No revisions.

Mods, can we get a sticky on this thread? And possibly think of some type of prize? Perhaps an icon of a basketball next to their name.

Important notes:

- Do not mess with the statistics. The bracket populates via cell references and you could mess up your bracket. If you do... just download it again.

- For those that aren't savvy with Excel, to fill in your bracket, simply select the cell where the winner would go, hit the = button, click on the winner and hit enter. It will advance that team for you.

Final bracket has been updated and attached. First game starts Saturday. Get your submission in!

[keithc]

You may have to revise this after tonight's games, but I'll be putting mine up for sure. Great idea.:bigthumbsup:

[SeanPlunk]

Sounds awesome, we'll have to see how things finish out tonight and then we'll start filling in.

[CorruptCulture]

Yes, this will be updated tomorrow morning and reposted. It's gonna be a good time.

[CorruptCulture]

Just a thought, is the first round Best of 5 rather than 7 like the other rounds?

[SeanPlunk]

No, all rounds are best of 7 now.

[CorruptCulture]

Here's mine. Go Lakers...

http://www.shofstetter.com/uploads/steves_prediction.gif

[SeanPlunk]

http://www.motorgen.com/pic/data/500/Motorgen_Basketball_Bracket.JPG

Lakers FTW!

[CorruptCulture]

No way Phoenix is making it that far. They won't beat San Antonio.

[SeanPlunk]

Not according to the guys on ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/series?series=phosas

I picked Phoenix before looking at that for the record.

[SeanPlunk]

Dallas could easily beat Phoenix in the 2nd round though...

[SeanPlunk]

Oh, and New Orleans is going to lose to Dallas :judge:

[Vettezuki]

I know jack sh*t about basketball. Who's the underdog? I'll pull for them.

[CorruptCulture]

I know jack sh*t about basketball. Who's the underdog? I'll pull for them.

Anyone but the Lakers. ;)

But seriously, seeds 3-8 in the East have no chance... pick one of them.

[keithc]

I know jack sh*t about basketball. Who's the underdog? I'll pull for them.

The Bears.

[keithc]

http://motorgen.com/pic/data/506/medium/Playoffs.JPG
I'm looking forward to this:
http://motorgen.com/pic/data/500/medium/image0011.jpg

Lakers all the way!

[SexyLxy]

Damn it Steve...Why do you have to be so gosh damn computer smart and make trying to put Scotts bracket up so hard? Jk

Sean......we need help!!!!

[Vettezuki]

The Bears.

I don't like Hockey that much . . .

[CorruptCulture]

I don't like Hockey that much . . .

We'll make one for baseball come World Series time. Maybe they'll actually be more than 5 people on this site to play it too.

(**)

[CorruptCulture]

Where's BGN8711's submission? I thought he'd be all over this.

[keithc]

Where's BGN8711's submission? I thought he'd be all over this.

His car broke down and he can't get to a computer.

[CorruptCulture]

His car broke down and he can't get to a computer.

You guys are harsh. I would say stop... but he dishes it out too. ;)

[bgn8711]

http://www.shofstetter.com/uploads/brian.gif

[SeanPlunk]

His car broke down and he can't get to a computer.

HAHAHAHA, as Brian would say - "ZING!" Oh, and Keith, you're a bastard for copying my brackets.

[keithc]

HAHAHAHA, as Brian would say - "ZING!" Oh, and Keith, you're a bastard for copying my brackets.

Actually, I did notice that they were similar. Except that I have Houston over Utah. I mean, the East is pretty easy and I believe everybody's is identical. As far as the West goes, everyone has the Lakers winning and most have Dallas over NO. So does I guess everyone else copied yours too, huh?

[SeanPlunk]

Damn, my picks already aren't looking so good and it's only been 1 day :(

[CorruptCulture]

Damn, my picks already aren't looking so good and it's only been 1 day :(

Mine are doing awesome. Everyone except fucking Detroit is on track to win their first round. Detroit can get it back though.

When do they announce MVP?

[SeanPlunk]

HAHA, worse by the day. Phoenix and Dallas FTL.

[SeanPlunk]

Kobe Bryant is GOD. 49 points on 18 of 27 shooting and 10 assists :hail: MVP!!

[SeanPlunk]

The Lakers look great so far :judge:

[CorruptCulture]

And the Suns choke again.

[SeanPlunk]

I guessed lots of things wrong, but it looks like my Celtics-Lakers prediction might come true :sm_laughing:

Oh, and this one is for Steve and Brian:
http://www.motorgen.com/pic/data/500/sam_cassell_alien_copy.jpg

[CorruptCulture]

I guessed lots of things wrong, but it looks like my Celtics-Lakers prediction might come true :sm_laughing:

Oh, and this one is for Steve and Brian:
http://www.motorgen.com/pic/data/500/sam_cassell_alien_copy.jpg


I never liked him on the T-Wolves, Clippers or Boston now. :laugh:

I guessed everything right except the Pistons over Boston.

[SeanPlunk]

Lakers in 6 for the record :judge:

[CorruptCulture]

Lakers in 6 for the record :judge:

I'm going to second that. I can't wait to shut up Boston fans.... just like when the Patriots lost.

[bgn8711]

Lakers in 6 for the record :judge:

Yeah...I don't know about the lakers winning 4 in a row.....I hope Boston wins just so Sean will stop bending over for Kobe ala that chick from Colorado :sm_laughing:

[SeanPlunk]

Well, the Lakers won, but it was ugly. After hearing about the refs fixing games though, maybe who wins is already a forgone conclusion :confused:

[SexyLxy]

Well, the Lakers won, but it was ugly. After hearing about the refs fixing games though, maybe who wins is already a forgone conclusion :confused:

Can you please be more detailed....I'm lost. Are they calling shots in favor of the pistons?

[SeanPlunk]

Can you please be more detailed....I'm lost. Are they calling shots in favor of the pistons?

The Pistons are out, it's the Celtics. What the Ref. has said is that the league was telling refs to call fouls more often, or for certain players, etc. This might explain the HUGE free throw differences in home and away games. It makes sense - the more games it goes, the more money the NBA makes. I'm not a big conspiracy theory guy though, so I'm really not sure how much of this is true, and how much is B.S.

[CorruptCulture]

The Pistons are out, it's the Celtics. What the Ref. has said is that the league was telling refs to call fouls more often, or for certain players, etc. This might explain the HUGE free throw differences in home and away games. It makes sense - the more games it goes, the more money the NBA makes. I'm not a big conspiracy theory guy though, so I'm really not sure how much of this is true, and how much is B.S.

Yeah, like you, I'm pretty skeptical. I did like what Van Gundy was saying at halftime though.

He basically said that he league needs to be more transparent with claims brought on from teams about unfair reffing or accusations against certain players and teams. The accused team needs to be made aware of the accusation, whether or not the league agrees with the accusation and what the next step will be in the remedy (or if it will be forgotten). It just seems like there's a rather large infrastructure problem for a key element to the game.

[keithc]

I'm not a big conspiracy guy either, but I have to believe that this is not just one rogue ref trying to make some more cash. This whole ordeal makes me wonder how much the networks themselves are involved and if they had a hand in bribing the refs. The major networks that run the playoffs (ESPN, TNT, ABC) have all payed the NBA to have the rights for a set number of years and there is no stipulation that they pay more to the NBA if a series goes 7 games versus 4. The longer a series goes, the more the network will make, but the NBA sees nothing additional. I'm wondering if somebody at those networks have sent some cash Stern's way and he's told the refs to make the games go longer, or if they sent some cash to the refs directly. I'd be more willing to believe the former; Stern seems like a shady character to me.

[SeanPlunk]

I'm not a big conspiracy guy either, but I have to believe that this is not just one rogue ref trying to make some more cash. This whole ordeal makes me wonder how much the networks themselves are involved and if they had a hand in bribing the refs. The major networks that run the playoffs (ESPN, TNT, ABC) have all payed the NBA to have the rights for a set number of years and there is no stipulation that they pay more to the NBA if a series goes 7 games versus 4. The longer a series goes, the more the network will make, but the NBA sees nothing additional. I'm wondering if somebody at those networks have sent some cash Stern's way and he's told the refs to make the games go longer, or if they sent some cash to the refs directly. I'd be more willing to believe the former; Stern seems like a shady character to me.

As of this morning, the FBI is also investigating Dick Bavetta now too....... I think this is going to be bad. The NBA deserves it - Stern is an arrogant prick. It really makes me not want to watch :barf:

[two drink minimum]

I loved when Powe had the craziest game of his life and by pure coincidence they ran that half time piece about his amazing life story.

[SeanPlunk]

And the Lakers manage to choke a 24 point lead away to the Celtics to put the series out of reach :suicide: Unreal - I guess we always have next season :leaving:

[Sonic03SVT]

Hopefully Bynum comes back and plays like he did earlier this year, and we can move Gasol to the 4, where i think he really belongs anyway. Kobe, Fisher, Odom, Gasol, Bynum....hell of a lineup, quick, atheletic, and long...should be fun to watch!

[keithc]

Hopefully Bynum comes back and plays like he did earlier this year, and we can move Gasol to the 4, where i think he really belongs anyway. Kobe, Fisher, Odom, Gasol, Bynum....hell of a lineup, quick, atheletic, and long...should be fun to watch!

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the front line next year: 7'-0" Center, 7'-0" Power Forward, and 6'-10" Small Forward. Suck it Boston.

[bgn8711]

....couple of things I'd like to add to this lil lakers love fest. First of all they will be very talented and young next year but before we all get on our knees prematurely....Sean and Keith lol...I think we need to really look at this.

First of all I know the idea of 2 7'0's in the frontline sounds great but with the league moving faster 2 7'0's may not be something that will win a championship this day and age. Given the 2 7'0's they have are rather quick and athletic helps vastly, Gasols ability too step out and hit 15 footers will need to continue and improve as Bynum will be clogging the lane for him as shaq did for the Suns for it to work IMO.

Secondly they don't have any leadership...I expect flames for this but Kobe is not a leader in my eyes. He can call his teamates brothers all day long he is a bitch when they make mistakes he rails them and takes the game into his hands as he continued to huck em up downt he stretch lost game. I thought he has learned after the Utah series when he single handedly lost them the overtime game in Utah but apparently not. Talk about his maturation process all you want it is all a facade, this was the same guy that said he'd rather play on pluto at the beginning of the season and said to ship Bynum out for Kidd(which would have been a shit trade ps). Also his defense on Paul Pierce and Ray allen have been suspy as fuck the whole series and no one talks about it. I've seen many a plays of Kobe getting his ass handed to him by both players.
point 2 1/2 there are still very very few SG's who have ever led a team to a championship the only 2 that stand out to me are Jorday, and arguably D-Wade. Other teams were lead by Duncan, Shaq, Hakeem, Bird, Magic, Thomas etc etc.

All that being said I think in the end talent may prevail for the Lakers and they may win but call me crazy they seem like a disjointed team of members who don't truly like each other outside the court that much. I think Kobe still has some growing up to do as well as the Lakers bench to overcome that last hurtle.

[keithc]

Well they've postponed the inevitable another 2 days.

[SeanPlunk]

Even when they win they look so ugly doing it:(

[SeanPlunk]

Congratulations to Boston, they were the best team this year. My God, the Lakers looked AWFUL..... I think we can also safely put aside all the MJ/Kobe comparisons. MJ>Kobe

[Vettezuki]

Like I said. I knew the Red Sox would take it.

[keithc]

Congratulations to Boston, they were the best team this year. My God, the Lakers looked AWFUL..... I think we can also safely put aside all the MJ/Kobe comparisons. MJ>Kobe

:iagree:

Proof that Kobe is overrated: Kobe vs. MJ (http://www.kb24overrated.com)

[Sonic03SVT]

I dont know that we can forever drop the mj v kobe comparison, the fact remains Kobe has at least as much drive to win as MJ did, and I think everyone would agree his natural talent and range of skills may even be better...Just going to take him putting it all together to live up to those comparisons...we shall see.