While the NBA playoffs have already gotten underway, it’s never too late to get your predictions in for how things will shape up en route to the NBA Championship! Will LeBron James lead Cleveland to the promised land? Can the Warriors shoot their way into history? Will the Spurs add to their dynasty? The ZP: Left Fielder breaks it down:
Western Conference Round 1:
Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Winner: Warriors
The Pelicans fought hard to get into the playoffs, but don’t stand a chance against the dominant Warriors. The Pelicans might be serious competitors next year, but for now, they need to be content for having gotten in.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Winner: Trail Blazers
This is a toss-up series, as both teams are decent, with very little chance of going deep into the playoffs. The Trail Blazers have a little more star power, whereas the Grizzlies have faded since a dominant start to the season. Trail Blazers are the pick, but only by the smallest of “who cares?” margins.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Winner: Spurs
Last year, the Clippers thought that they had a shot at winning it all, but were derailed by the distraction of Donald Sterling. Meanwhile, the Spurs have sputtered this year a little bit, landing outside of home court advantage. The Spurs are too used to winning in April, though, and are the easy pick for an upset.
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
Winner: Mavericks
The Rockets should be much better than they are. With a superstar like James Harden and a big man like Dwight Howard, they should be more dominant. The Mavericks are a deep team that always seems to be in the chase in the playoffs. Another upset goes to a Texas team.
Eastern Conference Round 1:
Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets
Winner: Hawks
The Hawks seem to have had a year-long hot hand. The Nets squeaked into the playoffs in an abysmal Eastern Conference. This should be an easy appetizer for the Hawks, as they get their rhythm for a deep playoff run.
Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards
Winner: Raptors
If the first game is going to be any indication, this series is going to be a thriller. The Raptors are still steaming over their early exit from last season’s playoffs, while the Wizards are attempting to pull the same upset from a year ago. The nod goes to the Raptors, who need Kyle Lowry to step up bigger.
Winner: Bulls
The next-door neighbor series adds a little extra fun to two teams in very different positions at the start of the playoffs. The Bucks have been a young and talented surprise, while the Bulls look (fingers crossed) healthy for the first time in a long while. The Bulls look to be clicking on all cylinders, and should run away with this series.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
Winner: Cavaliers
Boston would have wanted to face anyone else. Literally, anyone else. A LeBron James led Cleveland team is a force to be reckoned with, and bodes ill for a young Celtics team trying to get their feet set. Cleveland also gets the chance to allow their young core to get their first experience in the playoffs.
Western Conference Round 2:
Warriors vs. Trail Blazers
Winner: Warriors
A West Coast showdown, the Warriors and Trail Blazers get credit for being the smallest market series in the playoffs. That being said, the Blazers could give the Warriors a little bit of a hiccup, but overall, this shouldn’t stop the tear that has been the Warriors’ season.
Spurs vs. Mavericks
Winner: Spurs
A good ‘ole fashion Texas showdown, the Spurs and Mavericks will repeat their first round faceoff from a year ago. Once again, the deep Mavericks will give the Spurs their money’s worth, but veteran experience will be the difference.
Eastern Conference Round 2:
Hawks vs. Raptors
Winner: Hawks
The Hawks, after making easy meat out of the Nets, will face a Raptors team that only squeaks by the Wizards. The momentum will be swinging toward Atlanta early, and the Raptors don’t strike me as a team with the toughness to overcome large quantities of adversity. Hawks move on.
Winner: Cavaliers
This may be the most exciting series of the postseason. Joakim Noah has already asked for the Central Division showdown, and a healthy Bulls team may be the toughest challenger to the Cavaliers’ supremacy in the Eastern Conference. This series will go a full seven games, and the Cavaliers will win it after the playoff fatigue sets in for the Bulls.
Western Conference Finals:
Warriors vs. Spurs
Winner: Warriors
This is the battle for Western supremacy, not only for this year, but for years to come. The Spurs are the tried and true champions, having been there often in the past decade. The Warriors are the young team trying to create a new way of winning in the NBA. It looks like it is finally time for the dynasty to give way to the next generation.
Eastern Conference Finals:
Hawks vs. Cavaliers
Winner: Cavaliers
The Hawks are a shooting team, which means they are susceptible to going cold. Their first real challenge will come against Cleveland who, by this point in the playoffs, will be rabid to seal the deal. The Cavaliers will make the Hawks look like a mirage, sending them home in five games.
NBA Championship
Warriors vs. Cavaliers
Winner: Cavaliers
This will be an epic battle, with this year’s top MVP candidate, Steph Curry, facing off against the NBA’s best player in LeBron James. James will be right there, so close to the promised land for his beloved Cavaliers, and will go into a beast mode we have never seen from the world’s most freakish athlete. This will be the James show, and will end in Cleveland’s first championship that anyone can remember.
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