NBA - playoff predictions
By: Will Aimette
As April comes to an end, NBA playoffs are just beginning. Stars like Lebron James look to turn around their series against the Timberwolves in the 1st round, after they lost on Sunday to go down three games to one.
Western conference:
Oklahoma City Thunder - WInning NBA Finals
Losing to: Nobody
Current Series: 4-0 vs. Grizzlies
Explanation: The Thunder looked dominant in the first round. And it isn’t just a fluke. These guys make up the best team in the NBA, hands down. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player in the league, and with fellow guard Jalen Williams and seven-footer Chet Holmgren, this trio is nearly unstoppable. After putting up the best record in the NBA, they have carried over that momentum into the playoffs, where they swept the Grizzlies over four games. Not to mention their first game they won by 51 points! So it’s not surprising that I have the Thunder winning the finals, as they come into the playoffs as the favorite.
Denver nuggets - Conference Semifinals
Losing to: Oklahoma City Thunder
Current Series: 2-2 vs. Clippers
Explanation: Can somebody tell me what the Nuggets are doing? Firing their coach a week before the playoffs is unheard of! And now trade rumors circulate around franchise star Nikola Jokic? All of this is taking place right in the middle of the playoffs. So with this chaos, how are they supposed to even make it past the first round? Well, as I said before, they have their face of the franchise Center, Nikola Jokic. He may be gone next year, but he certainly isn’t gone yet. The former MVP and major candidate of the award this year has the capability to single handedly lead the Nuggets past the overrated Clippers. Besides that? Well, then you have to play the Thunder. One player can only carry a team so far.
Los Angeles clippers - 1st round
Losing to: Denver Nuggets
Current Series: 2-2 vs. Nuggets
Explanation: The Clippers are rated a very good team by many people, with veterans like Harden and Leonard leading them. And I’m here to tell all those people that they’re wrong. There’s a difference between a veteran and a washed version of a player. Sure Harden has been solid, averaging 22 PPG, but he’s the only one shooting on the team! He shoots the most out of anyone on his team by far, and even shoots almost more than anyone in the whole league! So it’s not hard to score 20 points when you shoot 20 times. (And that’s not even counting free throws. Don’t even get me started on that topic.) As for Kawhi, he played like the last quarter of the season. So sure, this team can be competitive, but they can’t beat the Nuggets, who are home for the next two games, in the first round.
Los Angeles lakers - 1st round
Losing to: Minnesota Timberwolves
Current Series: 1-3 vs. Timberwolves
Explanation: What a disappointing year for Lakers fans. After signing Luka Doncic, this team looked like a NBA Finals guarantee. Now, they look like barely a first round team. Even on the nights when Luka and Lebron have over 30, they still lose (This happened on Friday when Lebron had 38, and Sunday when Luka had 38). Austin Reaves looks better and better every game, and the same goes for Rui Hachimura, but this is just a perfect matchup for the Timberwolves. The Lakers aren’t a deep team, meaning they don’t have a great bench or many role players. But the Timberwolves are a completely different story (shown in the next paragraph), making an unideal matchup for the Lakers. So, even in a year where they got the steal of the deadline, they still can’t seem to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Minnesota timberwolves - Conference finals
Losing to: Oklahoma City Thunder
Current Series: 3-1 vs. Lakers
Explanation: The Timberwolves have been the so-called “surprise team of the tournament”. But I don’t find it that surprising. Anthony Edwards is a top-five player in the NBA (And since I know you guys will try to argue, go ahead and email me four that are better. Guaranteed you can’t). Plus, Jayden McDaniels has looked very impressive in this first series, after having an average of 20 points per game in these first few games. Not to mention, Julius Randle, Mike Conley, Naz Reid, Donte Divincenzo, and Rudy Gobert have been playing extremely well too. Those are Seven, yes SEVEN quality players on the Timberwolves. So not only will they beat the star-studded Lakers, but beat either the Warriors or Rockets, two teams that have been underwhelming so far.
Houston Rockets - 1st round
Losing to: Golden State Warriors
Current Series: 1-2 vs. Warriors
Explanation: The Rockets are not a true two-seed. Although they have won many regular season games, their roster lacks the talent to make it far in the playoffs. And to be honest, the seven-seed Warriors possess more talent between Butler and Curry than the Rockets whole team does. Yes, they have good young players like Amen Thompson, but they simply just don't have enough ‘juice’ to make it past the first round.
Golden state warriors - Conference semifinals
Losing to: Minnesota Timberwolves
Current Series: 2-1 vs. Rockets
Explanation: When the Warriors signed Jimmy Butler, they finalized themselves as a Finals contender. And now? I still believe they are. Although they did get a weak two-seed to play in the first round, they look much better than the Rockets. Even with Jimmy Butler being injured, they are still up 2-1 in the series. Steph Curry has entered that time of year where he becomes the best player in the NBA for a month, and role players Buddy Hield and Gary Payton ll have played a huge part in Golden State’s success. So yes, I think they will take down the Rockets, but after that? They aren’t quite as good as the Timberwolves even when Butler comes back, as they lack talent around the two stars.
Eastern conference:
Cleveland cavaliers - NBA Finals
Losing to: Oklahoma City Thunder
Current Series: 3-0 vs. Heat
Explanation: When the Cavaliers entered the playoffs for only the second time in seven years, they were coming in a different team than before. With the best record in the Eastern Conference by three games, they look nearly unstoppable. Nearly. Yes, they are the best team in the Eastern Conference, and they probably will make it to the NBA Finals, but I only said the Eastern Conference for a reason. And that is where the Thunder come in. They split their series 2-2 in the regular season, but the Cavs are lacking an MVP-type player. Sure, you could argue Donovan Mitchell, but he’s not gonna carry the team like Shai can. And that reason is simply why the Cavs won’t win the finals. The one advantage they do have? Depth. They have many elite players including all-stars Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. Plus, Max Strus has been great for them, and Ty Jerome has acted like a super-sub off of the bench. So, it’s not shocking that I have them going to the finals, as the only team that could maybe stop them getting there would be the Celtics, but even that’s a stretch.
Miami Heat - 1st Round
Losing to: Cleveland Cavaliers
Current Series: 0-3 vs. Cavaliers
Explanation: The Heat are a lost cause in the playoffs this year. They will certainly lose in the first round this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being 0-4. The Heat have had a surprising NBA Play-In Tournament, but that is clearly not transferring against the Heat. They have lost all three games so far, one game by over 40 points. So in all, it should be considered a win the Heat even made it this far after trading away Jimmy Butler.
Indiana pacers - conference semifinals
Losing to: Cleveland Cavaliers
Current Series: 2-1 vs. Bucks
Explanation: The Pacers are a boring team this year. Yeah, they’ll probably beat the Bucks in the first round, only to meet their destiny. It’s almost a routine now, winning a round or two, then ultimately losing to a better team. Tyrese Haliburton and company will lead them past the Bucks, who are putting up a solid fight with Giannis and Lillard, and are set to be at home for the next game. But after that? It’s all Indiana. The Pacers have one of the best records at home, and once they get back to their stadium, the series is over for the Bucks. But beating the Cavs? That’s a whole different story, that even playing at home won’t save you from.
Milwaukee Bucks - 1st round
Losing to: Indiana Pacers
Current Series: 1-2 vs. Pacers
Explanation: Giannis is carrying the team, while Damien Lillard is bringing the team down. After missing the entire first game due to injury, he hasn’t come back much stronger, putting up no more than 15 points in his three games. As for Giannis? He put up over 35 in all three. Besides that, the Bucks have a couple of role players that step up once in a while, but none are consistent and can be counted on. And with the Bulls already down 1-2 in this series, and only one more game at home, it’s looking grim for the Bucks. The one and only thing that can turn this whole series around and save the series? Damien Lillard.
New York Knicks - conference finals
Losing to: Cleveland Cavaliers
Current Series: 3-1 vs. Pistons
Explanation: The Knicks are my surprise team this tournament. Yeah, they are the three-seed, but the Conference Finals would be the furthest the Knicks have made it since 2000. That’s a long time (25 years for you guys that don’t want to do the math). Anyways, with the acquisition of Karl Anthony-Towns (KAT), this team is playing completely differently. Jalen Brunson, as always, is having an excellent playoffs even for his standards, and KAT is shooting threes better than anyone I’ve seen in these playoffs so far. Not to mention he’s also listed as seven feet tall. The defense of O.G. Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges is a tough combo for even the best of offenses. So, in all, this makes a pretty good team. Good enough to beat the Celtics? I certainly think so. How about the Cavs? Well, they are a different level of good.
Detroit pistons - 1st round
Losing to: New York Knicks
Current Series: 1-3 vs. Knicks
Explanation: This might be the greatest, and most painful story in the NBA right now. The Pistons, yes, the previous 14-win Pistons, are here in the playoffs. And here they are, pretty evenly matched with the 2-seed Knicks. This series could easily be tied. The deciding game was on Sunday, when they lost by one singular point to secure their fate. And although they might not be winning this series, they have certainly won their season. No one thought they would even come close to the playoffs. After Cade Cunningham broke out as one of the elite players in the league, the Pistons never looked back. I mean, they went from “Sell the team” chants to “MVP” chants in a year. You never see that anymore.
Boston celtics - Conference Semifinals
Losing to: New York Knicks
Current Series: 3-1 vs. Magic
Explanation: This is one of the more controversial paragraphs of the article. Do I really have the former champs losing in the semifinals to a three-seed? Yes, I very much do. And while the Celtics look like a great team on paper, they haven’t been as good as we have expected in the first round. I have been watching all of their games so far, and while Tatum has played like a star, and Kristaps Porzingis has been a pleasant surprise, the Magic are keeping up with the Celtics. Yes, the seven-seed Magic. So, sure, it’s a given that the Celtics will beat them, but after that? I definitely could see them losing to the Knicks, who have looked great against a tough Pistons team.
Orlando magic - 1st round
Losing to: Boston Celtics
Current Series: 1-3 vs. Celtics
Explanation: While I do have the Magic getting first rounded, they are one of the better teams in the playoffs. Paolo Banchero is developing into a great player, and Franz Wagner has stepped up in the time Banchero missed. I mean, they are both averaging over 20 points per game. Unfortunately, guard Jalen Suggs is out for the season, a guard who really led the team over his last two years in the NBA. So, yeah, the Magic will lose to the Celtics, but they hung impressively close, and made the playoffs in an unlikely scenario.
