NBA Playoff predictions
Might as well get these out there before the first games
NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
WEST FIRST ROUND
1. Golden State Warriors
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: GSW 4-0 POSTSEASON SERIES: GSW in 4
8. Portland Trail Blazers
Too much firepower and consistency from the Warriors.
5. UTAH JAZZ
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: 3-1 LAC POSTSEASON SERIES: 4-2 JAZZ
4. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Give me Rudy Gobert and Gordon Hayward's best year to date in a matchup over the uber-talented clippers.
3. HOUSTON ROCKETS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: 3-1 ROCKETS POSTSEASON SERIES: 4-3 ROCKETS
6. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Wouldn't it be awkward if the Rockets lose after Harden sad that the MVP debate is about winning. It might nearly happen in the battle of 2017's two best stars.
7. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: TIED 2-2 POSTSEASON SERIES: SPURS IN 5
2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
KAWHI LEONARD and the SPURS start the playoffs strong versus TONY ALLEN and the GRIZZLIES
ADVANCERS TO WEST SEMIFINALS
1. WARRIORS
5. JAZZ
#3. ROCKETS
#2. SPURS
EAST FIRST ROUND
1. BOSTON CELTICS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: TIED 2-2 POSTSEASON SERIES: 4-2 CELTICS
8. CHICAGO BULLS
This series has the opportunity to be the best one in the East, as the Celtics are one of the least dominant #1's in the history of the NBA, and the Bulls are one of the better #8's in recent memory from the Eastern conference. I can't see this series going less than 6, but I can even see the BULLS winning the series.
5. ATLANTA HAWKS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: WIZARDS 3-1 POSTSEASON SERIES: HAWKS IN 6
4. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
The hawks are playing pretty well right now and hadn't clinched a playoff spot until the final week of the season, while the Wizards had known they'd be making the playoffs for awhile and were playing for higher seeding, but never seemed like a top 3 seeded team. We'll see who plays the best when it all matters.
6. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: RAPTORS 3-1 POSTSEASON SERIES: BUCKS in 7
3. TORONTO RAPTORS
MY 3rd upset pick once again comes from a team that lost their regular season series 3-1. I just like this bucks team, and their only going to get better.
7. INDIANA PACERS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: CAVS 3-1 POSTSEASON SERIES: CAVS in 6
2. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers are entering the playoffs on a cold streak, but there's never a doubt that they'll show up for any playoff series. The Pacers come in hot, but that'll only be enough to take 2 from the Cavaliers in April.
ADVANCERS TO EAST SEMIFINALS
1. CELTICS
5. HAWKS
6. BUCKS
#2 CAVALIERS
WEST SEMIFINALS
1. WARRIORS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: WARRIORS 2-1 POSTSEASON SERIES: WARRIORS IN 5
5. UTAH JAZZ
If the WARRIORS are UCONN, then the JAZZ are Mississippi State, except what you thought would happen, and not what did happen.
3. HOUSTON ROCKETS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: SPURS 3-1 POSTSEASON SERIES: SPURS in 6
2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Obviously another great matchup between Harden and Leonard, but Leonard has had the better performances both statistically and winning-wise against opposing MVP candidates. Look for history to repeat it self, and the Spurs to punch their ticket in 6.
ADVANCERS TO WEST FINALS
#1 Warriors(circa '97-'10)
#2 SPURS(circa '89-'02
EAST SEMIFINALS
1. BOSTON CELTICS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: 2-1 HAWKS POSTSEASON SERIES: CELTICS IN 7
5. ATLANTA HAWKS
IT(I guess I did something there) should be a good one. CELTS top Dwight hawks in 7
6. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: CAVS 3-1 POSTSEASON SERIES: CAVS IN 5
2. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
When the Cavaliers play like they are accustomed to since the second arrival of Lebron James in Believe-land, they win a lot of basketball games, especially in the playoffs. The Bucks success story ends in 5, but it's no cakewalk for the cavs
ADVANCERS TO EAST FINALS
#1 CELTICS (circa 1976-1996
#2 CAVS (circa 1970-1983)
WEST FINALS
1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS(67-15)
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: SPURS 2-1
POSTSEASON SERIES: WARRIORS IN 6
2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS(61-21)
This will be a highly anticipated matchup. There should be several great games, but at the end of the day the Spurs will only snag one more game than the Jazz did. For fans of the game with no horse in the race, there's no better series to watch.......or is there.
ADVANCER TO NBA FINALS
SORT OF>>>>>
EAST FINALS
1. BOSTON CELTICS(53-29)
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: 3-1 CAVS
POST-SEASON SERIES: 4-3 CAVS
2. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
I'm going to take the Cavaliers in a 7-game series. The Celtics have many doubters, but taking the Cavs to 7 games should warrant some respect. When only a game away from advancing, the Cavs usually play very well. Ex. A: winning games 5 and 6 of the 2016 EC Finals by 38 and 26 points, and sweeping both their first and second round opponents. Got to like the Cavaliers experience in game 7.
ADVANCER TO NBA FINALS
NBA FINALS
1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
VS
#2 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
GAME 1: 99-93 WARRIORS
GAME 2: 131-128 CAVS
GAME 3: 104-102 WARRIORS
GAME 4: 118-107 WARRIORS
GAME 5: 112-99 CAVALIERS
GAME 6: 113-109 WARRIORS
NBA CHAMPION
MVP
DRAYMOND GREEN
