Yes folks, it’s playoff time once again in the NBA. The “second season” is well under way with some exciting match-ups that have piqued the interest of most basketball fans. Several games have already been played and the outcomes have been predictable to a point, but some games have been classic balles thus far.

With that, we are pleased to bring you Operation Sports’ NBA 2K8 Playoff Simulation. The entire NBA Playoffs have been simulated using the latest roster update (with some minor tweaks) from 2K Sports . So, get out your note pad and have your bookie on speed dial…we are about to give you the 2008 NBA Champion. (Disclaimer: We at Operation Sports are in no way responsible for your gambling debt for using these results. Who in their right mind would bet the farm on a video game??)

Let’s start in the Eastern Conference with the first round match-ups:

#8 Atlanta Hawks versus #1 Boston Celtics

This one wasn’t even close. The Celtics roll over the Hawks to advance to the second round. Atlanta did manage to steal Game Four and stave off elimination but only for one game.

The Boston Three Party led the way in the series. Kevin Garnett averaged 19 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce averaged 18.6 and 17.2 points per game, respectively. Mike Bibby was the leading scorer for Atlanta at 16.4 points per game.

Celtics 4-1


#5 Washington Wizards versus #4 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers started strong in the series by taking Game One. However, Washington bounced back and simply dominated the rest of the way taking out the Cavs four games to one.

Lebron James made every attempt to lead his team on to the next round by averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the series. However, he didn’t have much help from his supporting cast.

Agent Zero, Gilbert Arenas, started the series slow but proved to have the killer instinct as he poured in 30, 28, and 37 points in games three through five. He finished averaging 24 points per game for the series. Caron Butler chipped in with 17.2 points per game to help lead the Wizards on to face the Celtics.

Wizards 4-1

#6 Toronto Raptors versus #3 Orlando Magic

This series went to six games and basically came down to the supporting casts for each team. The all-stars, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard, put up their usual big numbers throughout the series, but needed their teammates to share the load if they wanted to win.

Howard received just a bit more help from those around him, notably Rashard Lewis, and the Magic pulled out the series victory four games to two.

Magic 4-2


#7 Philadelphia 76ers versus #2 Detroit Pistons

The final match-up in the Eastern Conference First Round proved to be a cakewalk. Detroit wasn’t challenged by the Sixers and went on to sweep them, four games to zero.

The Pistons received steady production from all five starters and their average margin of victory for the series was 14 points.

Pistons 4-0


Here’s a look at the first round results in the Western Conference:


#8 Denver Nuggets versus #1 Los Angeles Lakers

Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson tried to duplicate Golden State’s improbable upset from last year, but Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol had something to say about that.

The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series before the Nuggets picked up a win at home. Los Angeles took the next game to build a commanding 3-1 lead but Denver won Game Five in LA to send it back to the Mile High City.

In the crucial Game Six AI and Melo each scored 31 points and the Nuggets had the lead, 99-98 in the closing seconds. But Kobe stepped up and knocked down the game-winning jumper to send Denver on vacation.

Lakers 4-2

#5 Utah Jazz versus #4 Houston Rockets

The Rockets picked up the first two at home and managed to leave Utah with a split. Feeling good heading back to Houston, the Rockets stumbled at home keeping Utah’s playoff hopes alive.

Houston closed it out in Salt Lake with a 101-97 victory to move on to the second round to face the Lakers.

Rockets 4-2

#6 Phoenix Suns versus #3 San Antonio Spurs

In a surprising twist, the Phoenix Suns ran past the San Antonio Spurs for a sweep. The battle between these two teams usually goes the distance but the Suns made short work of the defending champs.

Tim Duncan put up monster numbers for the Spurs but the depth of Phoenix kept San Antonio on its heels the entire series. The 2007 NBA Champions just couldn’t catch up as the Suns averaged 112.5 points per game for the series.

Suns 4-0


#7 Dallas Mavericks versus #2 New Orleans Hornets

After being blown out by 22 points in Game One, the Dallas Mavericks came roaring back to win the next four and eliminate the number two seed New Orleans Hornets.

Chris Paul was unstoppable throughout the series but Jason Kidd owned the court. Showing he was worth the trade, Kidd averaged a triple-double for the victors. Kidd had two triple-doubles and narrowly missed two more on his way to averaging 13.8 points per game, 10.2 rebounds and 10.4 assists.

Mavericks 4-1


Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

#5 Washington Wizards versus #1 Boston Celtics

In a series many thought wouldn’t be very close, the Celtics held off a furious rally by the Wizards to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Boston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series winning the first two games by an average of 21 points. Washington won Game Three at home but then promptly lost Game Four.

With Boston needing only one more win to advance, Gilbert Arenas lead his team to two straight victories to knot the series at three games a piece. However, in Game Seven it appeared that the Wiz had run out of gas as Boston cruised to a 105-83 victory, taking the series.

Celtics 4-3

#3 Orlando Magic versus #2 Detroit Pistons

In the other semi-final match-up the Detroit Pistons cruised on to the conference finals winning four games to one over the Orlando Magic.

Balance was once again the key for Detroit as all five starters averaged double figures in points through the series. Dwight Howard’s supporting cast was on a sabbatical as the Magic struggled to score against a stingy Pistons defense.

We are now treated to the match-up everyone was waiting to see, the Pistons versus the Celtics.

Pistons 4-1


Western Conference Semi-Finals

#4 Houston Rockets versus #1 Los Angeles Lakers

Things got a little wild out West in the first semi-final match-up between the Lakers and the Rockets. In a slug fest in which each team won decisively, the Lakers had the knockout punch in Game Seven winning by an astounding 42 points to take the series, four games to three.

Kobe Bryant was phenomenal throughout as he averaged 32.3 points per game for the series. The performance included an amazing 61-point Game Seven that finished off the Rockets.

Tracy McGrady led the way for Houston averaging 27.1 points per game but finished with only 11 in the deciding Game Seven.

The margins of victory were the most telling stat in the playoff battle. They were 22, 16, 23, 10, 24, 2, and 42.

Lakers 4-3


#7 Dallas Mavericks versus #6 Phoenix Suns

The other semi featured the lower seeds. Both Phoenix and Dallas knocked off higher seeded teams to advance to the semi-finals. In what turned out to be a track meet, the Suns advanced to the Western Conference Finals four games to two.

Borrowing a theme from the Detroit Pistons playbook, depth and balance proved to be the key to a series victory by the Suns. Phoenix had six players average in double figures in points for the series.

Jason Kidd picked up where he left off by averaging nearly a triple-double again. As if his averages of 15.5 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game and 11.5 assists per game weren’t enough, Kidd single-handedly kept Dallas in the games by putting up three straight triple-doubles to end the series.

It didn’t matter to the Suns, as they moved on to face the Lakers for the Western Conference Championship.

Suns 4-2

Eastern Conference Finals

#2 Detroit versus #1 Boston

As if we made a trip down memory lane, the Pistons and the Celtics again were facing off for Eastern Conference supremacy.

It appeared early that it was going to be a sweep. Boston jumped out to a 3-0 series lead in closely contested games one through three. The Pistons then went on their own 3-0 run to tie the series at three and setting up a Game Seven in Beantown.

In a nip and tuck game it came down to one wily veteran, Sam Cassell. Signed for just this reason, Cassell led the Celtics with 19 points in only 17 minutes to seal the win for Boston. The staple of Detroit’s victories throughout the playoffs, scoring balance, was absent from the final game and proved costly.

Boston’s big acquisitions during the summer paid off as Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett carried the team through until “Sam I Am” finished the deal.

Celtics 4-3

Western Conference Finals

#6 Phoenix versus #1 Los Angeles

This was it…the chance for Kobe Bryant to finally shake the notion that he needed Shaquille O’Neal to win the big one. It was the Diesel who had the last laugh, however.
Phoenix kept running right on through to the NBA Championship by dismantling the Los Angeles Lakers, four games to one.

Phoenix never scored less than 100 points in any game in the series and the Lakers couldn’t keep the pace. Kobe and Pau Gasol tried to keep LA in it but the Suns simply had too much firepower.

The Suns had nearly six players averaging double figures in points while Amare Stoudamire dominated the boards. Kobe gave it one last Herculean effort by scoring 45 points in Game Five but the Suns held on to win by seven setting up a date with the Boston Celtics.

Suns 4-1


NBA Finals - Phoenix Suns vs. Boston Celtics

The Phoenix Suns won their first ever championship by defeating the Boston Celtics four games to two in the NBA Finals.

Amare Stoudamire was named Finals MVP after posting averages of 21.1 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game and an even two blocks per game.

In a series that saw little defense played, the Celtics could not match the Suns point for point, thus losing the series. It appeared that Boston would be able to match-up with Phoenix after posting a 122-106 Game One victory. However, the Suns won the next three games averaging 116.7 points per game as compared to the 97.7 points per game for the Celtics.

Boston managed to slow the Suns down in Game Five holding them to a mere 87 points. But Phoenix put on the jets once more and scored 121 points in Game Six to win and take home the title.

Suns 4-2