With the NBA regular season coming to a close, there has been a ton of hoopla surrounding the MVP award. But, while the winner of the most coveted individual regular season award is a tough call, it is the postseason that has me even more puzzled. With that in mind, I called upon NBA 2K9 to help me figure this mess out. So please indulge me.

I set up the playoffs as a tournament, selecting the teams most likely to make the postseason and seeded them accordingly. So yes, Cleveland has the best record followed closely by the Lakers, while the Bulls and the Mavericks both grabbed the number eight spots in their respective conferences (seems like the Bulls could wind up even higher than that now).

The one modification I made was putting the Detroit Pistons as the sixth seed because I see them overtaking the 76ers when they get healthier at season’s end.

The Eastern Conference picture is as follows (1-8): Cavaliers, Celtics, Magic, Hawks, Heat, Pistons, 76ers and the Bulls.

The Lakers, Spurs, Rockets, Nuggets, Hornets, Blazers, Jazz and the Mavericks make up the Western Conference bracket.

Eastern Conference First Round

In my virtual simulation, the first-round matchups in the East were quite intriguing as only the Cavaliers managed a sweep. LeBron James and his improved 3-point rating were too much for the Bulls to handle. The Celtics surprisingly lost Game 1 in their series with the 76ers, but strolled to a 4-1 series win, while the Pistons managed to pull of a seven-game upset over the Magic and Dwight Howard. Dwyane Wade’s super abilities (now rated a game-high 103 overall) were also not enough as his Miami Heat squad lost in six games to the Hawks.

Western Conference First Round

Out West, the Lakers made quick work of the Mavericks in a clean sweep, and Jason Kidd's 92-rating did not translate into much in the simulated box scores either. The Jazz were able to pull off the upset over the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs, ending the Spurs' streak of odd-year titles since '99 -- according to NBA 2K9 anyway. The Rockets once again lost in the first round, this time against the Brandon Roy-led Blazers. The Hornets, led by the highest rated point guard in the game, beat out Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets to advance.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Cleveland battled Atlanta in the second round, and The LeBrons ultimately soared over the Hawks in a tense seven-game series. Joe Johnson was boasting an improved mid-range game in the series -- thanks to a recent roster update -- and managed to at least win the head-to-head battle with James because of it.

In the other series, it was the Celtics and Pistons facing off once again. The Celtics took the first two games at home, and it was double trouble for the Pistons because they lost recently improved shooting guard Rip Hamilton to injury. However, All-Star Allen Iverson stepped into a starting role he is all too familiar with and helped the Pistons tie the series at two games apiece. But just when you thought the oil was back in the Motor City machine, the Celtics roared back with their signature defense and won the next two games to close out the not-so-bad boys.

Can Kobe and the Lakers get it done in the playoffs this year?

Western Conference Semifinals

The Lakers battled against the Hornets, but it was not much of a fight as the Lakers swept the Hornets in four games. CP3 came to play, but unfortunately got little help from his teammates. Rasual Butler, despite a recent boost in close-shot ratings, was a woeful 17-43 from the field, and the oft-injured Peja Stojakovic was also a nonfactor.

In the other matchup, Utah point guard and leader, Deron Williams, had an incredible series. Boasting a 96-rating overall, D-Will averaged a double-double during the series -- 19 points and 10 assists a game -- as his Jazz ousted the Blazers in five competitive games to move on to the Western Conference Finals.

Eastern Conference Finals

In this series, the Cavs took on the Celtics in what was a feisty battle. And, as many basketball pundits also predict, NBA 2K9 has this series going the distance for the second year in a row. Unlike last year, though, Game 7 was in Cleveland, and LeBron’s 87 shot-in-traffic rating was utilized to the max. The Cavaliers won the points-in-the-paint battle and punched their ticket to the Finals.

Western Conference Finals

The Jazz stole Game 1 at the Staples Center but uncharacteristically lost every game in Salt Lake City. The Utah squad ended up losing in five games to the Lakers. Utah was undone by its lack of perimeter shooting as marksman and Ashton Kutcher lookalike, Kyle Korver (only an 82-rating from long range now), was not consistent enough from the outside.

NBA Finals

The Kobe versus LeBron showdown. As you would expect, this one was tight all the way to the very end –- so much so that I watched Game 7 play out. The Cavs held a one-point lead going into the half, but the Lakers high-octane offense kicked into a sixth gear as they broke out and took a 10-point advantage heading the final period.

With all the home fans desperately needing a big fourth quarter from LeBron, it was first-time All-Star and 87-rated Mo Williams who hit the big shot with seven seconds left, putting the Cavaliers up by a single point. The Cavs defense stifled the Lakers and forced a turnover on the next possession and it was all over.

Mo Williams won the game, LeBron James was the Finals MVP and the Cleveland Cavaliers became your NBA Champions -- so says NBA 2K9.


This simulation is just meant to be a quick prognostication of things to come. Once the NBA Playoffs officially start, OS will be doing round-by-round in-depth simulations of the Playoffs.