Play In Predictions

 

Play In Predictions


Written By Jake Schmier 


As the regular season comes to a close, we have our first look at postseason basketball. The NBA Play In tournament is a March Madness-style tournament with single-elimination games to decide the 7th and 8th seed. The tournament is set up for the 9 and 10 seeds a chance to compete for a playoff spot. The top 2 teams compete for the 7th seed, and the bottom 2 seeds compete for a chance to play the loser of the 7 and 8 seed game for the 8th seed. This year's matchups include the Atlanta Hawks at the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat at the Philadelphia 76ers, the Golden State Warriors at the Sacramento Kings, and the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Pelicans. 


Hawks at Bulls:

The Hawks are 3-10 in their last 10 games, and their star player, Trae Young, is three games back from a finger injury that has held him out since February 23. Rim Protector Onyeka Okongwu and Rising star Jalen Johnson have also been ruled out for tomorrow's matchup. Although the Bulls have seven players listed as inactive for the matchup against Miami, including star Zach Lavine, their firepower, DeMar DeRozan, has been scorching down the stretch, averaging 30 ppg in the last ten games. Expect the Bulls to come out with a victory against the shorthanded Hawks.



Heat at Sixers:

Although the Miami Heat are commonly listed as a playoff team, they do not have the same depth as in previous years. They lost Lowry, Strus, Dedmon, and Vincent. Kevin Love regressed, and Rozier and Robinson are listed as inactive. On the other hand, the Sixers have been red hot, going 13-2 in their last 15 games, and the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, has been averaging 34ppg during that stretch, including a 70-point game. The Sixers are at full strength, which leads all signs to point to a Sixers victory.



Lakers at Pelicans:

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most dysfunctional teams in the NBA, and while they would be fun to watch in the postseason, the Pelicans will undoubtedly take this one. The Pelicans are 4-1 in their last 5 games and are injury-free. The Zion-led Pelicans should take this game, and it will not even be close.


Warriors at Kings:

This is arguably the most highly touted game: a rematch of last year’s game that went down to the wire. Although the Warriors have a long history of postseason success, their bottom 25 turnover rate will not match up well against a fast-paced and top-5 points-off turnover team. Even though Malik Monk and Kevin Heurter are out with injuries, expect the Kings' hot streak to ride them into the first round.

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