Eastern Conference
(1) Milwaukee vs (8) Detroit
DD’s Prediction: Milwaukee in 4
DD’s Analysis: I don’t see the Pistons sneaking any games from the Bucks. I have utmost respect for Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond for getting this team back to the playoffs. But they simply do not have the depth to match the Bucks, if playing at their best. A strong Milwaukee squad is led by the best player in the world right now, in Giannis Antetokounmpo, locked in on winning his first NBA title.
CW’s Prediction: Milwaukee in 4
CW’s Analysis: As is expected, the 8-seed Pistons are heavily out-matched by the 1-seed Bucks. Detroit traded away the only player, Reggie Bullock, that would be able to possibly slow down the league’s expected MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Blake Griffin-Andre Drummond could make a game or two interesting, but Detroit has very little to offer outside of those two. Giannis and the Bucks cruise past Detroit and send the Pistons into an off-season of uncertainty.
(4) Boston vs (5) Indiana
DD’s Prediction: Boston in 7
DD’s Analysis: We all know that the absence of Victor Oladipo for the Pacers totally alters the outcome of this series. With that being said, the Pacers are still one of the best defensive squads in the league, and couple that with great shooting. We have seen doubt in Boston over the last few months. They will be tested by the tough and physical Pacers team. But at the end of the day, I think Kyrie turns on the clutch gene and game 7 and the Celtics escape the Pacers. Going into the Milwaukee series, all the pressure will be off. Escaping near elimination in this series, the Celtics will be battle tested. I expect them to go into the Milwaukee series feeling loose. Just because I see them struggling with the Pacers doesn’t mean they are out of the picture to win the East.
CW’s Prediction: Indiana in 7
CW’s Analysis:This is one of the more interesting match-ups in the first round. The Celtics are one of the more talented teams in the league, but showed zero consistency and very rarely played like the dominant team many expected them to be coming into the season. On paper, Indiana is completely out-matched, especially after losing Victor Oladipo to injury earlier this season. Surprisingly though, they didn’t skip a beat after Oladipo’s injury and edged out Boston in the standings to claim home court in this series which could prove to be vital. Also, the loss of Marcus Smart in a series that should be as gritty as this one will hurt Boston immensely. Boston should win, but the dysfunction that was on full-display all season can’t be ignored just because it’s the playoffs. I expect Indiana to take it to Boston every second of the series and test the Celtics resolve, and I don’t see the Celtics being able to respond. Indiana moves on to the second round.
(3) Philadelphia vs (6) Brooklyn
DD’s Prediction: Philadelphia in 6
DD’s Analysis: What a turnaround for the Nets organization this year. I have been very impressed with the development of the game of their star player in G D’Angelo Russell. Russell is quickly becoming one of the game’s top point guards. Philly is a legitimate east contender. But the scrappy Nets have shown that they’re not intimidated by any Eastern Conference foes. I’ll give the Nets two games. I see them giving Philly some frustrations throughout the series. You may see doubt at times in the young 76ers.
CW’s Prediction: Philadelphia in 7
CW’s Analysis: The 76ers are a very difficult team to gauge. They added Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris to an already young talented young roster who made it to the second round last season, but haven’t completely gelled with the additions. Thanks to the play of D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie, the Nets have finally crawled out of the NBA’s cellar and are one of the NBA’s best stories this season. I don’t know if they have enough consistent fire-power to win the series but I expect them to push Philadelphia to the edge.
(2) Toronto vs (7) Orlando
DD’s Prediction: Toronto in 4
DD’s Analysis: ESPN reports that the Magic will be at full strength after reports that rookie F Johnathan Isaac and star C Nikola Vucevic would not play. Unfortunately, this will not be enough to stop a hungry Raptors squad. Expect the Kawhi and Raptors to put up gaudy numbers in this series.
CW’s Prediction: Toronto in 4
CW’s Analysis: With LeBron’s strangle hold on the east finally over, Toronto made the move to nab Kawhi Leonard from San Antonio to make a move on the empty throne in the east. The emergence of Siakam and the trade for Gasol has helped take the Raptors to a level they weren’t able to get to in the Derozan-Casey era. Orlando has been a bit of a surprise this season, but I don’t see any path for them in the series. Vucevic, Ross, and Fournier will have to play lights out the entire series for them to have any inkling of a chance. I don’t see that happening and I don’t see them winning a game in the series.
Western Conference
(1) Golden State vs (8) LA Clippers
DD’s Prediction: Golden State in 4
DD’s Analysis: The Clippers were one of the pleasant surprises of the NBA this year. They have had a great season and have a great group of young players to build around. It’s too bad they’re getting stuck with the Warriors in the first round because they do not have enough experience to beat the juggernaut in the playoffs. Wouldn’t be surprised to see one or two of the Warriors massive, shocking 2nd-half comebacks in this series. Just when you think you have a chance to take them down, the impossible will happen. When the Warriors get hot, you just can’t stop the mirage of threes.
CW’s Prediction: Golden State in 4
CW’s Analysis: What is there to say? The Clippers had a nice season and are set up for the future, but aren’t any match for the two-time defending champions. The Warriors will make quick work of LA.
(4) Houston vs (5) Utah
DD’s Prediction: Houston in 5
DD’s Analysis: James Harden can hardly wait for his shot at the Warriors this year. He will waste no time looking to get out of this series in Utah. He knows his rest is valuable for him to regroup and go try to take down the juggernaut. Expect Harden to put up historic numbers in this series. What he did in the regular season- he wants to show he can do it in the playoffs. Utah is a tough place to play. We know that the fans are known to be particularly hateful toward the players. It’s going to be a zoo when this series gets to Salt Lake. I don’t see this bothering Harden. In fact, it may push him to higher levels of play. Harden probably has one off game at some point where the rest of the team can’t pick up the slack. But they’ll have no problem winning this series.
CW’s Prediction: Houston in 6
CW’s Analysis: Unfortunately for Houston, they slipped down to the four slot in the closing hours of the regular season. They are matched up with a talented Utah team who play both ends of the court well. I see Utah stealing a couple games but Houston’s offense is ultimately too much to deal with. When Houston gets hot, they are almost unstoppable as was on display when they took the Warriors to seven last year. The Rockets set up a rematch with Golden State in round two.
(3) Portland vs (6) Oklahoma City
DD’s Prediction: Oklahoma City in 7
DD’s Analysis: Wow. This is a doozie. I’m a huge fan of Dame Lillard, and of Russ. That’s gonna be one hell of a PG battle. Both of these teams seemed to have gotten over the hump this year and made themselves a legitimate threat to the juggernaut in Oakland. Both have built good depth and appear to be ready for a playoff run. To me, the biggest key to this series is who can control themselves out there and avoid technical fouls and suspension. This is going to be a nasty, physical series filled with plenty of trash talking. Westbrook led the league in ejections this year. The Thunder cannot win this series without him. They need him to keep his cool out there. If he can do that, I think the Thunder defense will be too much for Blazers to overcome.
CW’s Prediction: Oklahoma City in 7
CW’s Analysis: I went back and forth on this one. McCollum and Lillard will have to step up their game to make up for the loss of Nurkic, and they are more than capable of doing so. However, I see the talent outside of Paul George and Russell Westbrook for the Thunder being the deciding factor in this series. I don’t have enough confidence in the talent surrounding McCollum and Lillard. Whoever gets out of this series makes it to the Western Conference Finals, and I think that will be Oklahoma City.
(2) Denver vs (7) San Antonio
DD’s Prediction: San Antonio in 7
DD’s Analysis: Denver has been another pleasant surprise and were certainly one of the best teams in the league this season. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are establishing themselves as elite players. But most of the Nuggets have no playoff experience, and lucky them- they landed the hardened wizard Gregg Popovich and the Spurs first round. Not only will Popovich’s scheme be hard to combat, but the Spurs have several players that can take over a game. This will be a highly competitive series that will be a lot of fun to watch. But I expect DeMarr DeRozan to close this one out for the Spurs.
CW’s Prediction: Denver in 7
CW’s Analysis: Denver has been awesome to watch this year. They have a well put together young roster with Jokic as the center-piece and are only going to get better in the years to come. The only problem I have with Denver, is I have no idea what to expect with them in these playoffs. You know what you’re going to get from a Popovich-led Spurs team in April. With that in mind, I’m still going to give the young Nuggets the edge in seven games as they matchup well with SA and should be able to beat the Spurs up and down the court and out-shoot them.
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