The NBA Playoffs are here! The season has started to get going, finally, and the 16 remaining franchises are getting off the starting blocks in their attempt to win the coveted Larry O’Brien. Now, it is my turn to predict the first round matchups and see how they will go. Let’s begin with the East.
Milwaukee (1) vs Miami (8)
Let’s not be cute about it: Milwaukee will obliterate the Heat and I don’t think that this Miami team has even a remote chance of making it through. Sure, the Bucks might drop a game from overconfidence, but it will never look even close to being a close series. Bucks in 5.
Boston (2) vs Atlanta (7)
Another series that’s a foregone conclusion. An Atlanta team which peaked in 2021 with a star in Trae Young which is stagnating. Dejounte Murray and Clint Capela will have to be better than they ever have been to win this series, but it may still be in vain. With a Jayson Tatum who has certainly been the 4th best player in the league this season and likely would have been in MVP conversations without the historic seasons of his rivals, as well as Jaylen Brown, Boston is a juggernaut. With solid support options such as Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams, Boston is a serious threat to take it all, and a clash with Milwaukee in the conference finals seems destined to happen, and I’m all in for it. Celtics in 4.
Philadelphia (3) vs Brooklyn (6)
Game 1 of this series says everything. While Mikal Bridges hasn’t disappointed after inheriting the franchise, the Brooklyn Nets aren’t well enough gelled yet to really be contenders. Consider that Ben Simmons is missing as well, and this Nets team isn’t a very serious threat. The Sixers are also better and more determined than they’ve ever been, with a Joel Embiid who narrowly missed out on MVP last year and is better than he’s even been, and could provide a challenge for the Celtics in round 2, their first real test. Sixers in 5.
Cleveland (4) vs New York (5)
New York’s story is a good, one, that’s for sure. They’re the underdog team, the most improved side, with Julius Randle picking up from a horrific 21-22 season and returning nearly to his MIP self from 2 years ago. Jalen Brunson, who chose to leave the Mavs where he would be second fiddle to Luka for a big deal with New York. I laughed at the contract in the summer, but it has been clearly the right move. They’re facing the Cavaliers, who have also improved massively from last season after an offseason trade for Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell has looked better in one season with the Cavs than in all his time with Utah. Their supporting cast is also elite, boasting the likes of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. This Cavs team is good, but young, none of their core has won a playoff series yet. However, the Knicks core, while more so than the Cavs, are also comparatively inexperienced. If the Cavs were facing a team like Miami, who do have a grizzled playoff team, I might pick the Heat, but against another inexperienced team, the Cavs have the edge. Cleveland in 6.
Now, the Western Conference.
Denver (1) vs Minnesota (8)
This is like the 1 vs 8 in the East. The Nuggets are juggernauts, with 2-time MVP Nikola Jokić and a good supporting cast. Now if this was an inexperienced team having a down year, like the Lakers, this may be a series, but it isn’t, it’s a Timberwolves team who aren’t a force at all. Their twin towers experiment failed miserably, and they had to scramble to get into the playoffs. Denver in 4.
Memphis (2) vs LA Lakers (7)
This series will be good. Memphis has Ja Morant back with a DPOY contender Jaren Jackson Jr, against Lebron and AD, in the 4th season of that duo. This will be a hard fought series, but I believe that with Ja fighting off the court allegations and the overall inexperience of the Grizzlies team, it will be enough for LA to pull it off. Lakers in 7.
Sacramento (3) vs Golden State (6)
How is this a thing. Seriously. The defending champs are the 6th seed, and they’re facing in the first round the Sacramento Kings. Huh? This does not compute. Looks like the beam has been SacMo’s good luck charm, and I believe they’ll be lighting it once in those first two home games, but Golden State will overpower them. Warriors in 6.
Phoenix (4) vs LA Clippers (5)
To the Clippers’ credit, they’ve done well to finish 5th with such an uncertain season with Kawhi’s load management and many injuries, but they’ve just been plain unlucky. The Suns really should be higher than 4th, getting a full 2 months of Kevin Durant, but with injuries, they’ve only made the 4th spot and robbed us of a blockbuster matchup with Golden State. This shouldn’t be a problem, though. Even when the Clippers had a fit Paul George. Suns in 5.
Thank you for reading this post today, just to know: you’re reading the script for the first round, I am sure of it. The second round, though, that’s where the action begins. I’m Jim James, until next time.