nba playoff predictions
The NBA playoffs start on Saturday. I’m not going to do a deep analysis, but I am going to pick each round all the way to the championship.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs TBD: It doesn’t matter whether the Thunder play Memphis or Dallas. OKC in a sweep, four games to zero
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers: The Nuggets have potentially the MVP in Jokic and even though they have played better since the firing of former head coach Michael Malone, I think the Clippers take this series in seven.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves: 65 years ago the Lakers moved to LA from Minneapolis. The Lakers won five championships in Minneapolis and twelve since moving to LA. Just a few fun facts before I mention that the Lakers will win the series in six games.
Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors: This will be a better series than the seedings would suggest. Houston is a good young team. The Warriors are 23-8 since they traded for Jimmy Butler. The Warriors take it in six, four games to two.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs TBD: I’m writing this while I watch the Heat/Hawks game. It looks like the Heat will win. The Cavs will beat the Heat in six games. If the Hawks advance, the Cavs would win in five.
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks: Both teams have equal depth. Damian Lillard is coming back after suffering a blood clot. It will take him some time to get back into game shape. The difference will be Giannis as the Bucks will take the series four games to two.
New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons: Detroit has a good young team but, they are about a year away from being serious. Knicks in six.
Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic: The Magic need scoring and just don’t have the horses to keep up with Boston. 4-1 Celtics.
Note: When I started writing this, the 8th seed games were not done yet. The Heat did end up winning but not before some drama and an OT. Dallas just got destroyed. When I wrote up the OKC/TBD post, I assumed that Dallas would win and then get swept by OKC. I think that Memphis will get one game in the series.
Second round:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers went on a roll to end the season but they are really no match for the Thunder. I feel like it will go six games though. 4-2 OKC
Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors: I think that Golden State has the slight edge in depth. This game will be decided by which team is better at sustaining the offense when the stars take a rest. I think that LA will take it in a very thrilling seven game series. Golden State will get a win in LA and LA will return the favor in San Francisco.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks: Cleveland did not play well towards the end of the season. They had winning streaks of 15, 12, and 16. At one point they were 56-10 and the clear cut best team in the Eastern Conference. They finished the season 8-8 in their final 16 games and do not seem as dominant as they once did. I still don’t see Milwaukee making it to the Eastern Conference Finals though. Only so much Giannis and Dame can do. It will go seven but Cleveland advances.
New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics: I don’t see a scenario in which Boston struggles too much against New York outside of injuries. I think that Boston would win this match-up in five games.
Conference Championships:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers: OKC has been the best team in the NBA for most of the season. However, this is a Laker team that has been a lot better since they traded for Luka. I have OKC winning but it’s going seven games.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics: There was a time when the Cavs were considered the best team in the NBA; even better than OKC. But that aura of invincibility wore off big time. While Cleveland struggled to an 8-8 finish, the Celtics went 14-2 in that same stretch that included a 9 game winning streak. Cleveland matches up well against Boston but the Celtics bench depth will be the decider. Cleveland’s starters will have to play a ton of minutes to keep games close and they will tire out. Boston in 6 games.
NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Boston Celtics: Boston are the defending champs. This will be a great series. I just don’t think that there is anything that can be done about OKC. OKC has the better scoring team, but Boston has the better scoring individuals; if that makes sense. The Thunder score 120.5 a game, while Boston scores 116.3 per game. However, the Thunder only have three players that average 15 or more a game; Shai, Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Boston has four players; Tatum, Brown, Porzingas and Derrick White that average over 15 points a game. And a fifth, Payton Pritchard, that gets close to 15. All of that being said, I think that OKC is just too good. It goes seven but OKC will be the NBA Champions.