2023 NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

By Muntradamus

BEAST DOME NATION.

The NBA playoffs is here. While there are still two spots left to be determined. We will predict the whole thing. Enjoy the commentary.

WEST PLAY-IN

LAKERS vs. T-WOLVES

Lakers are destined to win this game. Expect AD and LeBron to dominate while the T-Wolves will not get enough for Anthony Edwards and KAT to make up for the fact that the Lakers can get easy buckets all game with the T-Wolves slow defense. Especially with no Gobert.

LAKERS ADVANCE.

PELICANS vs. THUNDER

Amazing that OKC made it to the play-in. They are a young exciting team, but come must-win games down the stretch the veterans have the advantage. Here the Pelicans have a huge advantage. Ingram/Jonas/McCollum, these guys can dominate at home while the young Thunder need to play perfect basketball throughout.

PELICANS ADVANCE.

T-WOLVES vs. PELICANS

If Gobert plays, the T-Wolves have a much stronger chance to advance. Gobert will not let Jonas control this game, yet alone have much of an impact. McCollum can go off against the T-Wolves, and both Edwards/Ingram should cancel eachother out. Kat should be able to dominate, and Gobert really needs to be there so Kat can easily dominate. Kyle Anderson should also do a great job on Ingram.

T-WOLVES ADVANCE.

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WEST PLAYOFFS

1st ROUND

NUGGETS vs. T-WOLVES

If Gobert plays, this can get interesting. Gobert can do enough to limit Jokic from really dominating this series like he could if Gobert did not play. If Jokic is limited, the starter/role players of the Nuggets will not be able to do enough damage compared to Edwards/KAT. T-Wolves can make a huge impact in this series early stealing one on the road, and that could be enough to get them to the next round.

T-Wolves Advance.

GRIZZ vs. LAKERS

LeBron and AD can easily dominate this series with the Grizz shorthanded down low. Ja Morant should be able to make huge noise as the Lakers have nobody that can guard him, but the Lakers veteran stars and key role players are suited to make a huge impact on an immature young Grizz team that is not ready to make a playoff run. If AD shows Jaren Jackson Jr. who is boss, the Lakers will advance with ease.

Lakers Advance.

KINGS vs. WARRIORS

Sabonis should have a monster series, while Fox also runs through the Warriors. However you can never count out the shooting of the Warriors, as well as how hard they are to beat at home. Both teams should win their home games which will make this series very exciting, but the Kings will get a lot more shots at the rim, I give them the edge.

Kings Advance.

SUNS vs. CLIPPERS

No Paul George is a huge loss. Ayton should have his way down low, but the real question is Kawhi vs. Durant. Kawhi is maybe the only player in the NBA who can guard Durant, as well as a player that can easily score on Durant. Kawhi may have the advantage there, and the Clippers do have better shooters off the bench. CP3 is going to have to turn back the clock to his Clipper days, but Russell Westbrook also has a great matchup to be vintage. At the end of the day, Devin Booker has the chance to show the NBA world he is the next superstar, and this is the series to do it.

Suns Advance.

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2nd Round

SUNS vs. WOLVES

KD is going to look amazing against the Wolves and remind everyone why he is a superstar, but the real superstar that will carry them once again is Devin Booker. Look for Book to go off against the Wolves as they have no answers for him. Kat should be able to do a lot of damage. Edwards will see a lot of Okogie, who has practiced against him a lot. Look for Ayton to get shutdown by Gobert, but at the end of the day, CP3 is the guy you want leading the pace in this series.

Suns Advance.

KINGS vs. LAKERS

AD has to remind everyone he is better than Sabonis in this series. LeBron will do his thing keeping the Lakers in every game. D-Lo and the shooters have to shoot, because the Kings are going to be playing with speed, which means the Lakers have to keep up. Kings can definitely run away with the score multiple times in this series. Problem is the Lakers have no answer to Fox.

Kings Advance.

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WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

KINGS vs. SUNS

Sabonis vs. Ayton will be a good matchup where both players will put up big numbers. KD is going to go splash mountain for the Suns. While Devin Booker continues his next-level run. Kings have no answer for Book, and CP3 will set a good pace to tire Fox out the best he can. Fox needs to dominate and keep his MVP run going. KD should easily be MVP of this series and bring the Suns to the next round.

Suns Advance.

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EAST PLAY-IN

HEAT vs. HAWKS

Hawks have a lot more talent than the Heat. Better shooters, more depth, more scoring off the bench, more size, more speed. The Hawks are too good to be in this situation. Jimmy Butler is going to have to be MJ, but I do not see that happening as the Hawks have Hunter and others to slow him down, while Capela meets him at the rim. Not enough scoring, Herro has to really go off, but Trae and Murray are way better.

Hawks Advance.

RAPTORS vs. BULLS

Both teams can run, but the Bulls are at their best when Vucevic is controlling a game. Poetl is maybe one of the few centers that can make like diffucult for Vuce and turn him more into a jump shooter as Jakob is no easy task in the block. DeRozan and Siakim will be a great matchup. Lavine vs. Scottie Barnes on who can score more is an important matchup, as well as Beverly stopping FVF. This will be a great game that can go either way and should goto the end. However the Raptors are at home, which is a huge advantage in the end, even though this is home for DeRozan. In the end, always go with the veterans in the playoffs.

Bulls Advance.

HEAT vs. BULLS

Jimmy Butler vs. his old team is a great storyline. Should be an easy game to see Butler go off. DeRozan and Lavine should dominate, and Vuce will be good enough against Bam. Herro will have to go off, but Beverly can do enough to get in his head. Butler will not have enough help

Bulls Advance.

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EAST PLAYOFFS

1st ROUND

BUCKS vs. BULLS

Bucks are too fast, too strong, and too good for the Bulls. Bucks are going to dominate this game from start to finish. DeRozan will do nothing, and Lavine will be inconsistent. Vuce will not do a thing against Brook.

Bucks Advance.

CELTICS vs. HAWKS

Jaylen and Jayson will be a lot for the Celitcs. However Trae and Murray will be a lot for the Celtics to handle. Truth is it would be more than shocking to see the Hawks win a playoff game in Boston, and you can easily see the Celtics stealing one in Atlanta, which is enough at the end of the day.

Celtics Advance.

76ERS vs. NETS

Good underdog story with the Nets. However that story is over now that the 76ers with big Embiid is here. Embiid should make Claxton look small. Harden will be vintage, and the Nets are going to go down softy.

76ers Advance.

CAVS. KNICKS

Knicks with a less than 100% Randle do no stand a chance against the Cavs. It will not be easy for the Knicks to get any scoring down low, while Mitchell and Garland dominate the guard game. Knicks do not have a lot of answers in this series.

Cavs Advance.

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2ND ROUND

BUCKS vs. CAVS

Bucks are just way too much for the Cavs to handle. No way the Cavs have any chance of stopping all that firepower from all directors. Jrue will shutdown Don Mitchell if Don starts going off, and it is not like Garland can take on enough scoring to stop the Bucks from draining points at all directions. Mobley and Allen is a good defense for Giannis, but the Bucks have weapons all around him that can score at any moment.

Bucks Advance.

CELTICS vs. 76ERS

Embiid is going to dominate this series. On the flip side so will Taytum and Jaylen. Guard advantage definitely goes to the speed of the 76ers, though Harden may be shutdown by Smart. Then it will be all on the shoulders of Embiid, and while he can handle the shoulder load, Taytum and Jaylen can carry them. Jaylen has a weird relationship with the Celtics right now. Look for the 76ers to steal one on the road and win their home games.

76ers Advance.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

BUCKS vs. 76ers

Giannis is going to domiante this series. Brook makes things semi tough for Embiid. Harden gets shutdown by Jrue. Bucks can score from all different areas, but with Giannis dominating the Bucks cannot be stopped.

Bucks Advance.

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

BUCKS vs. SUNS

Giannis shows the NBA world why he is better than KD. KD cannot contain him, Ayton cannot make an impact with Brook on him and all the effort he will have to put on defense. Jrue should make life tough for Booker, and CP3 cannot score enough to keep his team in this series against the Bucks offense that can score from so many ways. However once again, if Giannis dominate, the Bucks dominate.

BUCKS NBA CHAMPIONS