Playoff Predictions

  

Written By: Dylan Grodner of Swish Tribune 

If the playoffs started today we would see some thriller matchups, including Cavs V.S. Knicks, Sixers V.S. Nets, Kings V.S. Clippers, Suns V.S. Warriors, and more. The Bucks, Celtics, Nuggets, and Grizzlies matchup would still be determined as they wait for the winners of the play in. Teams competing for the play-in include: The Heat, Hawks, Raptors, Wizards, Bulls, Pacers, Mavericks, Timberwolves, Jazz, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, Lakers, and Thunder. 

In Eastern Conference play-in games, I have the Heat playing the Hawks and the Raptors playing the Wizards. I think the Heat are one of those teams that turn it up to a whole other level come playoff time. With this being said, I have the Heat advancing over the Hawks. Between the 9 and 10 seeds, I think the Raptors are simply the better team and will advance into the playoffs. 

Shifting gears to the Western Conference play-in games. It is definitely a tight race between the Mavs, Timberwolves, Jazz, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, Lakers, and Thunder. We might even see one of the 1-6 seeds drop into the play-in game later this season, showing just how close the West really is. That being said, I have the Mavs moving ahead of the Warriors and the Warriors moving into the play-in game. This leaves the Warriors playing the Timberwolves, and the Pelicans playing the Trail Blazers. As much talk as there is of the Lakers making the playoffs, I think with the breaking news that LeBron will be out the next few weeks really hurts their chances. Between these four teams, I have the Warriors and Pelicans moving into the playoffs, especially if healthy. 

The matchups for the Eastern Conference now look like the Bucks V.S. Raptors, Celtics V.S. Heat, Cavs V.S. Knicks, and Sixers V.S. Nets. In my opinion, the Bucks will sweep the Raptors, the Celtics will win 4-2 over the Heat, the Cavs will win 4-3 over the Knicks, and the Sixers will win 4-1 over the Nets. The Bucks are the clear winner V.S. the Raptors and they are simply a much better team. Between the Celtics and Heat, as good as the Heat are during the Playoffs, the Celtics have been too good this season to see them be knocked out in the first round. I think the Knicks and Cavs will be an extremely close series, but the Cavs will come out on top, showing the Knicks why Donovan Mitchell is so valuable. Lastly, there is a very good chance that the Nets move into the play-in game and get knocked out, but I am betting that they will stay afloat the rest of the season, maintaining the 6 seed. With that being said, they are not beating the Sixers and will get knocked out of the first round. 

The matchups for the Western Conference now look like the Nuggets V.S. Pelicans, Grizzlies V.S. Warriors, Suns V.S. Mavs, and the Kings V.S Clippers. In my opinion, the Pelicans will beat the Nuggets 4-3, the Warriors will beat the Grizzlies 4-3, the Suns will beat the Mavs 4-3, and the Clippers will beat the Kings 4-2. The big upset I have is the Pelicans getting the win over the Nuggets. This is only with a fully healthy Pelicans team. I think if they are all healthy, the Pelicans are a threat to every team in the league. I think the series between the Warriors and Grizzlies can really go either way, but I had to give the reigning champs the benefit. Thanks to the Nets, the Suns and Mavs became instant contenders after the deadline. It will be an extremely exciting matchup between these two teams, as the Mavs knocked out the Suns in last years playoffs. With that being said, adding KD to a team that already has 3 stars is going to keep the Suns safe in the first round. Finally, the newest battle of LA, the Kings V.S. Clippers will be another exciting game. Due to the inexperience of the Kings, I have the Clippers on top, moving onto the second round. 

Moving onto the Eastern Conference Semi Finals, my matchups look like Bucks V.S. Cavs and Celtics V.S. Sixers. These have been the 4 best teams in the East without a doubt. I think the Cavs are a very good team, but with little playoff experience I don't see them winning 4 games against the Bucks. Therefore, I have the bucks moving onto the Eastern Conference Finals in a 4-2 series. Between the Sixers and Celtics, this is a series that goes down to the wire. It really depends upon health status between these two teams. If both teams are 100% healthy this series can go to 7 games. However, as good as the Sixers are, the Celtics have been the most dominant team all season, which is why I have them moving onto the Eastern Conference Finals to play the Bucks. 

In the Western Conference Semi Finals, my matchups look like Pelicans V.S. Suns and the Warriors V.S. Clippers. I think the Pelicans V.S. Suns will be an interesting series, but the Suns are just too good with a three-headed monster of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant to pass up on a team like that. The Suns will win against the Pelicans 5-1. Another California series, between the Warriors and Clippers, will also be an extremely exciting series. With a healthy Clippers team, they can be extremely dangerous, but the same can be said about a healthy Warriors team. If both teams are 100% healthy, I'm going with the reigning champs. They are too lethal when they get it going, therefore, I don't see how they lose. I have the Warriors winning in 7. 

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks are set to play the Celtics. Both of these teams have been two of the strongest teams in the league, having the two best overall records in the league. This series may take 7 games until a winner is decided. I've always felt that if Giannis is healthy, along with Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, the are unbeatable. We have seen that in their last 15 games together, they have gone 15-0. I the Greek Freak and the Bucks moving onto the NBA Finals after a 7 game series. 

In the Western Conference Finals, the Suns are set to play the Warriors. This may just be my favorite series of all, as Kevin Durant will be playing his ex team for an extension to his postseason. This series will come down to the wire, but I just think the Warriors are a better team, and may just be the best team in the NBA when healthy. This series will take 7 games, but the Warriors will be the team moving onto the Finals. 

IN THE NBA FINALS, the Warriors are set to play the Bucks. This was originally my matchup for last years finals, and I think it will be this year's too. Both of these teams are each coming off championships, as the Bucks won in 2021 and the warriors won in 2022. Khris Middleton had been injured in last years playoffs, which essentially caused them to get knocked out of the postseason. That is not the case this year. With a healthy squad coming into the playoffs, I have the Bucks taking it all the way, winning this series in 5 games.