So lets not waste any more time, here's my predictions for the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.
Western Conference
#1 Golden State Warriors vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans
Golden State comes into this playoffs with the best record in not only the Western Conference, but the entire NBA with a record of 67-15. This marks the most wins that the franchise has ever picked up in the regular season, making the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row after making the playoffs just once in the prior 18 seasons. New Orleans comes in with a record of 45-37, marking just the 6th time in franchise history that the team has made the post season. The last time New Orleans made the playoffs, they were bounced in the opening round in 2011. This marks the 1st ever meeting between the teams in the post season, while the Warriors won three of the four meetings between the teams during the regular season.
Here are the dates and times for the games in this series:
April 18 3:30 pm New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
April 20 10:30 pm New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
April 23 9:30 pm Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
April 25 8:00 pm Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
April 28 TBA New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors* Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
May 1 TBA Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans* Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
May 3 TBA New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors* Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
Golden State has flat out dominated every team that has been put in their path. The Warriors went 39-2 at home this year. 39-2 at home, a flat out SICK number. Head Coach Steve Kerr managed to get the best possible talent out of his basketball team. Lead by the Splash Brothers, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, Golden State has a tight core with few flaws. At certain points this season, Golden State has ranked first in both offensive and defensive efficiency, something that is tough to do. Lets also not forget they have talent all over the court besides the Splash Brothers. There's plenty of talent here with guys like Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut joinging the brothers up front, with David Lee and Andre Iguodala coming off the bench, they pose a tough task for any team to play against. New Orleans got in the playoffs by holding off the Spurs 108-103 in their regular-season finale. The Pelicans maintained their composure and were solid when the stakes were high, and they are deserving of a postseason appearance. New Orleans has a decent starting five being lead by Anthony Davis. But here's something that sticks out to me about this Pelicans team and that's their record on the road. Since the Warriors have home court, the Pelicans have to travel and they are just 17-24 on the road this season. Playing at Oracle Arena is going to be tough to do and this series isn't going to last very long.
Pick: Warriors in 4!
#2 Houston Rockers vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks
Houston comes into the post season with a 56-26 record, which was 11 games behind the Warriors for the top spot in the West. This marks the 3rd straight playoff appearance for the Rockets and the 7th time in the last eleven years for Houston. The 54 wins for the Rockets are the most in a season they've had since winning 55 games back in 2008. Dallas comes in with a record of 50-32. This marks the 2nd straight year Dallas has made the playoffs, in fact since the turn of the century, the Mavericks have missed the playoffs only once in that time frame. This is the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with Dallas winning both previous meetings. The last time they faced off was in the 2005 Western Conference First Round, which saw Dallas win the series in seven. During the Regular season, Houston won three of the four meetings.
Here's the date and times for games in this series:
April 18 9:30 pm Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
April 21 9:30 pm Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
April 24 7:00 pm Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
April 26 9:30 pm Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texasa
April 28 TBA Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets* Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
April 30 TBA Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks* American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
May 2 TBA Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets* Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Dallas had been an offensive force early this season, but seemed to have fallen to an average basketball team since. Yes they still have a talented basketball team with guys like Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki, Amar'e Stoudemire Charlie Villanueva and Tyson Chandler. Chandler Parsons surely will want to step up against his ex-teammates. Parsons is a key here, though, as he will not have played in more than two weeks by the opener because of a knee issue. Dallas still has a talent lineup, even though Dirk hasn't been quite the same player he once was. Dallas won't be able to matchup against Houston. Rockets have a loded lineup with guys like Jason Terry, James Harden, Trevor Ariza, Donatas Motiejunas, Dwight Howard and Pablo Prigioni coping off the bench. I'm sorry but James Harden is having an MVP type season and will carry the Rockets in this series. Dallas won't be able to have much of an answer for him.
Pick: Rockets in 6!
#3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles comes into this series after finishing the regular season with a 56-26 record, good enough for 2nd place in the Pacific division, behind only the Golden State Warriors. This marks not only the 3rd straight playoff appearance for the Cluppers, but the 3rd straight season of 50 or more wins. Los Angeles has managed to win their first round matchup twice in the last three years. As for the Spurs, they come into this postseason with a 55-27 record, which was good for 3rd place in a loaded Southwest division. This also happens to mark the 18th straight year that the Spurs have made the postseason, the longest active run in the NBA, and 2nd longest in all pro sports behind only the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. This is the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the last meeting coming in the 2012 Western Conference Semifinals, a series which the Spurs won in a clean sweep. The teams split the four meetings during the regular season.
Here's the date and times for the games in this series:
April 19 10:30 pm San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
April 22 10:30 pm San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
April 24 9:30 pm Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
April 26 3:30 pm Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
April 28 TBA San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers* Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
April 30 TBA Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs* AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
May 2 TBA San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers* Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
This matchup seems like it should be a Western Conference finals, not something in the opening round, but such is the case and we have it to start off the playoffs. Both teams got off to a slow start to the season, managing to turn it on late. San Antonio has been on fire since the All-Star break. San Antonio ranked first in offensive and second in defensive efficiency. No team has outscored its opponents by more points per 100 possessions than the Spurs. Spurs have a very experienced roster, with talent like Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter starting, with Boris Diaw and Manu Ginobili coming off the bench. They are the defending champions for a reason. Los Angeles is no pushover. The Clips are streaking into the playoffs, having closed the regular season 14-1 in their last 15 games, with a single close loss to the Warriors during that run. A starting five that consists of Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan make for a solid matchup for the Spurs. Last years series went the distance and so will this one. This is where home court is going to come into play and the Spurs finished the year 33-8 at home during the regular season.
Pick: Spurs in 7!
#4 Portland Trail Blazers vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies
Portland won the Northwest division, with a record of 51-31 during the year. They were the only team to make the playoffs, with the Thunder just missing out. This marks the 2nd straight year and 5th time in the last seven years for Portland when it comes to the playoffs. This also marks the 2nd straight season of 50 or more wins for the Blazers. As for Memphis, they come in with a 55-27 record, which was good enough for 2nd place in the tough Southwest division. This marks the fifth straight year the Grizzlies are in the playoffs, and the third straight year of 50 or more wins. This is the first meeting in the playoffs between the Blazers and Grizzlies. Memphis swept the regular season series, winning all four games.
Here's the date and times for the games in this series:
April 19 8:00 pm Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
April 22 8:00 pm Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
April 25 10:30 pm Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
April 27 10:30 pm Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
April 29 TBA Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies* FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
May 1 TBA Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers* Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
May 3 TBA Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies* FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Both teams are coming into this series a little bit banged up, Portland more so than Memphis. In fact, nobody is more banged up that Portland. LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing hurt, Wesley Matthews is out for the season, Arron Afflalo will miss time with a shoulder injury, and Nicolas Batum, who hasn't been right all season long, picked up a right knee contusion recently. Had they been healthier, then I would have given the Blazers more of a chance. Don't get me wrong, Memphis is hurting a little too, but should be able to field a full team once the playoffs tip off. A solid starting five of Mike Conley, Courtney Lee, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are good enough. Yes they have added in guys like Vince Carter and Jeff Green, but they haven't really bolstered the offense in the way the team might have hoped. Still, the Grizz have a balanced roster that is capable of a deep postseason run.
Pick: Memphis in 5!
Eastern Conference
#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets
Atlanta comes in as the best team in the East, at least record wise, with a 60-22 mark, winning the Southeast division. This marks the 8th straight year for the Hawks making the post season, the first time the team has ever hit the 60 win mark and the first time they have won more than 50 games in a season since they won 53 games back in 2010. As for the Nets, they made the playoffs with a 38-44 record. It marks the 3rd straight year for the Nets in the post season, they have made it every years since they've been in Brooklyn. Their 38 wins is the lowest total the Nets have had since they left New Jersey. This is the first meeting in the playoffs between the Hawks and Nets. Atlanta swept all four meetings between the teams during the regular season.
Here's the dates and times for games in this series:
April 19 5:30 pm Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
April 22 7:00 pm Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
April 25 3:00 pm Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York City, New York
April 27 TBA Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York City, New York
April 29 TBA Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks* Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
May 1 TBA Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets* Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York City, New York
May 3 TBA Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks* Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta had its best season in franchise history, yet somehow they still don't managed to get enough respect. I guess winning 60 games in the East isn't good enough eh? Well I think Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, DeMarre Carroll, Paul Millsap and Al Horford may have something to say about that. The Hawks rank sixth and eighth in offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively, per ESPN, and that shows that they are a balanced basketball team. he Brooklyn Nets managed to squeeze their way into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season but aren't exactly poised for an extended run. They are a below-average team on both ends of the floor and lack the stability of their first-round opponent.
Pick: Hawks in 4!
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #7 Boston Celtics
Cleveland comes into the post season with a 53-29 record, good enough for Cleveland to win the Central division. This marks the first time that the Cavs have made the playoffs since 2010 and the first time they have won fifty games or more since that same season. Boston comes in with a record of 40-42, making it the first time ever that the Celtics make the playoffs with a losing record. This is the 2nd time in the last 3 years for Boston in the post season, after missing the playoffs a year ago, and the 6th post season appearance in the last seven years. This is the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Boston winning four out of the first five meetings. The last meeting between the teams was the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a series which Boston won 4–2. During the regular season this year, the teams split the four games.
Here are the dates and times for the games in this series:
April 19 3:00 pm Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
April 21 7:00 pm Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
April 23 7:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
April 26 1:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
April 28 TBA Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers* Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
April 30 TBA Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics* TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
May 2 TBA Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers* Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland got off to a bit of a rocky start, but as the season progressed the team bought into coach David Blatt system and came into the playoffs hot, winning seven of their final ten games. At home this year, Cleveland lost only ten games, which again shows that having home court advantage could be a good think in this series. Plus when you have a starting five composed of Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Timofey Mozgov starting. Then throw in Anderson Varejao and Iman Shumpert coming off the bench, it makes nit tough for teams to play against. Boston came in closing out the season on a six game winning streak and won eight of the final ten games this season, which may make one start to wonder about the hopes of the Celtics in this series. As good as the starting five of Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Evan Turner, Brandon Bass and Tyler Zeller are, they are going to be outmatched by Cleveland.
Pick: Cavaliers in 5!
#3 Chicago Bulls vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago comes in with a 50-32 record, good enough for 2nd place in the Central Division this season. This marks the 1st time since 2012 that the Bulls have won 50 or more games. This also happens to be the 7th straight year in the post season for the Bulls, who last missed the playoffs in 2008. Milwaukee got into the playoffs right at .500, finishing the year at 41-41, finishing 3rd in the Central division. Their 41 wins are the most the Bucks have had since 2010, when they won 46 games. This marks the 2nd time in three years and 3rd time in the last six years that the Bucks are playing Basketball in the spring. This is the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Milwaukee winning two out of the first three meetings. Tghe last time these two clubs played in the playoffs was the 1990 Eastern Conference First Round, a series Chicago won 3–1. Chicago won three of the four regular season meetings between these teams.
Here's the dates and times for the games in this series:
April 18 7:00 pm Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls United Center, Chicago, Illinois
April 20 8:00 pm Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls United Center, Chicago, Illinois
April 23 8:00 pm Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 25 5:30 pm Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 27 TBA Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls* United Center, Chicago, Illinois
April 30 TBA Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks* BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 2 TBA Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls* United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Things didin't look too good for the Bulls earlier this year when Derrick Rose had to go under the knife again with knee surgery. Since then, Rose has come back into the fold and the Bulls are off and running. They won four straight and seven of their final ten games to close out the regular season, so Chicago is coming in hot. They have Rose, Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson coming off the bench to complement a starting five of Aaron Brooks, Tony Snell, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, its going to be a tough team to play against. Milwaukee has done well under coach Jason Kidd. Despite the midseason turmoil with Larry Sanders and the blockbuster trade that sent Milwaukee's best player, Brandon Knight, packing, the Bucks are a feel-good story this year, yet they are a couple of seasons away from being a legitimate contender. Milwaukee is terrific defensively but simply doesn't have enough offense to threaten the seasoned Bulls in a seven-game series.
Pick: Bulls in 6!
#4 Toronto Raptors vs. #5 Washington Wizards
Toronto won the Atlantic division for the 2nd year in a row, this time finishing the season with a 49-33 record. Those 49 wins were one better than last years 48, making it the first time the Raptors had back to back 40 plus win seasons since 2007 and 2008. It also makes the first time since 2007 and 08 that the Raptors have made the playoffs in back to back years. Washington finished the year at 46-36, good enough for 2nd in the Southeast division. This marks the 2nd straight year in the playoffs for the Wizards and the 2nd straight year of 40 plus wins. Washington hasn't done that since 2005-2008. This marks the first ever playoff meeting between Toronto and Washington. The Raptors won all three of the regular season meetings between the teams.
Here's the dates and times of the games in this series:
April 18 12:30 pm Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
April 21 8:00 pm Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
April 24 8:00 pm Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
April 26 7:00 pm Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
April 29 TBA Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors* Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
May 1 TBA Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards* Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
May 3 TBA Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors* Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
This is a truly exciting matchup that will feature two contrasting styles, and it could go either way. Toronto swept the season series against Washington and has home-court advantage in the series, but these teams are evenly matched. This one was hard to make the pick, but at the end of the day I'm calling a bit of an upset.
Pick: Wizards in 6!
So there you have it, my predictions for the Opening round of the NBA Playoffs!
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