After an amazing set of NBA Play In Games, it’s time for the real NBA Playoffs where the real fun begins. I will go round by round picking each series all the way to the NBA Finals:
Western Conference Round 1:
Suns over Pelicans in 4 or 5 games this should be a walk in the park for the Suns who have the NBA’s best record against a very young Pelicans team.
Jazz over Mavericks in 6 or 7 games as I will watch the health carefully of Mavericks Star Luka Dončić very closely as this will be the deciding factor in this series.
Warriors over Nuggets in possibly 5 games but I think 6 games. Warriors will get star Steph Curry back from injury but the Nuggets likely won’t have 2 important pieces in Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. due to injury even though the Nuggets have MVP Candiate Nikola Jokić.
Grizzlies over Timberwolves in 5-7 games. Look at all this young talent in this series from JA Morant the Grizzlies star point guard to Wolves second year stud Anthony Edwards. This will be a very a fun series.
Eastern Conference Round 1:
Heat over Hawks in 5 or 6 games. Heat are so well coached by Erik Spoelstra where the Miami Heat look like a contender but never count out Trae Young and the young Atlanta Hawks.
Raptors over Sixers in 6 or 7 games. I could see the Sixers wining this series but I don’t have faith in James Harden and Coach Doc Rivers in the Playoffs. Raptors HC Nick Nurse has done an incredible job this season with the Raptors who could be a dark house team in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Bucks over the Bulls in 4 or 5 games. Hopefully the Bulls can win a game against the Defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks but the Bucks are as good as last years team that won it all, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a matchup nightmare for the Bulls. Bulls will need DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to be on there A Game for the Bulls to have a chance in this series.
Celtics over Nets in 7 games: This is clearly the best matchup in these NBA Playoffs in the first round. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving vs Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown get your popcorn ready. I think the difference here will be the Celtics defense who could get defensive stud Robert Williams back sometime during this series.
Western Conference Second Round:
Suns over Jazz in 6 games, Suns will have too much firepower for the Jazz as Devin Booker vs Donovan Mitchell should be a lot of fun.
Grizzlies over Warriors in 6 or 7 games: If Steph Curry is healthy for the Warriors him vs JA Morant will be a treat to watch. I have been really impressed with the Grizzlies this season where they have so much depth.
Eastern Conference Second Round:
Heat over Raptors in 6 or 7 games: I could see the Raptors win this series but I think the Miami Heat Playoff experience will be the difference here. Erik Spoelstra vs Nick Nurse should be a great matchup for the 2 head coaches while Kyle Lowry going up against his former team will be a lot of fun.
Celtics over Buck in 7 games: The Bucks did win in Brooklyn last season in the second round in game 7 but I think with the Celtics having the home-court advantage is the difference here even though I could see the Bucks winning this series. Giannis vs Jayson Tatum will be a treat to watch for NBA Fans.
Western Conference Finals:
Suns over Grizzlies in 7 games: The Grizzlies can without a doubt win this series but I think the Phoenix experience is the difference in this series. JA Morant vs Chris Paul what a matchup at point guard.
Eastern Conference Finals:
Celtics over Heat in 6 games: If Robert Williams is back for the Celtics this can give them a huge advantage on the defensive end. Jayson Tatum vs Jimmy Butler will be a great head to head matchup. Something is telling Celtics will come out of the East.
NBA Finals:
Suns over Celtics in 7 games: A rematch of the 1976 NBA Finals where the Celtics won in 6 games but this time Chris Paul finally gets that NBA Ring he has been chasing all his career and this time the Suns finish the job after coming up 2 victories short against the Milwaukee Bucks in last years NBA Finals. Celtics can without a doubt beat the Suns but something is telling me this is the Suns year and having that home-court advantage is huge.