NBA PLAYOFFS PREDICTION (ROUND 1)

By Muntradamus

BEAST DOME NATION.

A little late to the program, did not get this article out before Game 1 around the NBA. However there is plenty of time to get the party started, and give you my Round-by-Round playoff predictions.

EAST

CELTICS vs. HEAT

If Jimmy Butler is healthy, this series goes to the wire and the Heat have the chance to pull off the 1 v 8 upset. However without Jimmy, this could easily be a sweep for the Celtics. Herro is not good enough to lead a team in the playoffs, barely good enough for the play-in. If the Heat had to play a Western Conference team in the Play-in, they would not be here. Regardless, Celtics easily advance.

KNICKS vs. 76ERS

Knicks may have won game 1, but I still like the 76ers to win this series. Knicks got an unreal bench performance from McBride in game 1, while Tobias Harris looked like Rui Hachimura at best. Long series, if 76ers can steal game 2, they have the series locked. Regardless, Embiid is the one player you want to build around in the East when healthy, maybe Giannis, and Embiid is healthy enough to win this series. 76ers would have been the #2 seed if Embiid was healthy all year.

BUCKS vs. PACERS

We may or may not see Giannis in this series, regardless the Pacers are not that good of a team. They are the victor of being in a very easy Eastern Conference and that is why they are in the playoffs. Haliburton is no longer the same player, and the Pacers traded away all their depth and now do not have enough, especially with Mathurin out. Might not be a sweep, but the Bucks are advancing with or without Giannis.

CAVS vs. MAGIC

Cavs were the smartest team in the East. They could have been the #2 seed, but they strategically tanked so they would fall out to the #4 seed and had a chance to face the Celtics in Round 2 as opposed to a healthy Bucks squad. Magic are another reason why the East is a joke. Magic would never make the playoffs in the West.

WEST

THUNDER vs. PELICANS

Thunder are very lucky Zion is out for this series. With Zion, Pelicans win. Without Zion, this is a very easy matchup that the Thunder need to win. Thunder are maybe the worst #1 seed in Playoff history, but this Pelicans team is a lottery team without Zion.

NUGGETS vs. LAKERS

Lakers lost game 1, and they had the game on lockdown before getting comfortable with a big lead. The winner of this series will be in West Conference Finals. Lakers have the talent to win this series, they have more capable players and more stars, but Jokic is the best player in the NBA and that is why the Nuggets are tough to beat. I still like Lakers to win.

WOLVES vs. SUNS

Even though the Wolves won game 1, the Suns have enough offense to win any game in this series and should be able to take this series easily. Would take the Suns easily from here, Wolves are lucky to have KAT back but if Book/KD/Beal start getting hot, it is over for Minnesota before it begins. Suns win.

CLIPPERS vs. MAVS

Mavs may have lost game 1 with the Clippers not having Kawhi, but the Mavs have no excuse not to win this series. If Luka cannot win with this team, than he is the problem. Clippers always choke, but now they got Harden so things can change. However Luka is good enough to carry the Mavs all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Winner of this series will be in the Western Conference Finals and even though Clippers took game 1, I like the Mavs to get it done and Luka to show the world he is ready to be in the GOAT conversation.