My NBA Playoff Predictions
The NBA playoffs are well underway and the hype is here. Many stars have reached a new stature within these past couple of weeks. The chase is on for this year’s champion to be crowned and there are many different possibilities which I will discuss today. In this article I will discuss every series currently happening, and what I think will happen in this heated race for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Knicks V. Pacers
This series hits close to home as I was born and raised in the city that never sleeps so I will do my best to stay impartial. This series isn’t too hard to predict as the Knicks took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series last night. The struggles for the Pacers start with their star, Tyrese Haliburton, although his playmaking ability is second to none, he is stuck in an awkward middle ground, trying to figure out his identity on the court. In game 1, he only scored 6 points, an embarrassingly low mark for a player of his caliber. In game 2, he looked more regulated, scoring an impressive 34 on efficient shooting. All NBA players do not have the leisure of taking nights off as role players do. Due to the incredible play of Jalen Brunson as well as his supporting cast such as Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo,
I predict the Knicks win the series 4-1.
Cavs V. Celtics
There is not much to say about this series, the Celtics are on the brink of being labeled a super team and the Cavs are a young, developing team. I believe the Cavs will be a hazardous team in years to come, however, facing a Celtics team is a challenge they may not be ready for yet. The Celtics have everything they need to make a very successful playoff run, to put it in perspective, their consensus 4th best player, Derrick White, has been repeatedly stepping up to drop around 20 a game so far this postseason. To beat the Celtics you have to stop their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and maybe even 5th option which makes them a very tough out.
I predict the Celtics win the series 4-1
Timberwolves V. Nuggets
This series is extremely interesting and contains many different storylines occurring. The Nuggets are looking to repeat their win last year and have looked very strong leading up to this point in the postseason. On the other hand, the Timberwolves look seemingly unstoppable as Anthony Edwards starts to write his name into the conversation of the best player in the league. With the Timberwolves up 2-0 in the series, they are 6-0 in the playoffs! An incredible feat that should scare the teams who may have to go against them in the future. The Nuggets will not be an easy team to get past, with Jokic being crowned MVP for the 3rd time in his career, and Jamal Murray hoping to play the way he did in the series previously against the Lakers, nothing is out of the picture for this series.
I predict the Timberwolves win the series 4-2
Thunder V. Mavericks
This series may not be as close as we think. Although the Mavericks are a team with a solid base and well as an incredible duo in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Thunder have shown no weaknesses so far. They are also 6-0 in the playoffs so far and show no signs of slowing down. Every member of their team fits together like a puzzle and is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist who perfectly rounds off this talented squad. With excellent minutes being supplied by players in their sophomore year, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, expect big things from this Oklahoma City squad.
I predict the Thunder win the series 4-0
