By The NBA restart seeding games have been awesome with phenomenal performances, shocking letdowns, pleasant surprises, and exciting atmosphere that has been like March madness or an AAU tournament. The playoffs started this afternoon, so I am going to give my give 1st round predictions as well as some my choices for phenomenal performances, letdowns, and surprises.
I will begin with my western conference playoff predictions where it can either way with all the match ups in this insanely competitive conference, let’s get this one out of the way right now and that’s the Portland Trailblazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers. This series is going to be interesting as the Lakers go in the playoffs not so good as their play during the seeding games were less than desirable for most of them, while the trailblazers played inspiring basketball led by star and front runner for bubble MVP Damian Lillard who went a monstrous scoring tear to get the blazers into the playoff.
The Lakers were one of the heavy favorites to make the finals I am going to with my heart and momentum as much as I don’t want to LeBron James season to end I’m taking the blazers to upset the Lakers and world in 7 games, if I’m wrong on then that’s ok that means the Lakers will have a chance to complete a season with a happy ending dedicated to the late Kobe Bryant hopefully that mean Anthony Davis finally shows us what many people have been raving about when it counts.
We go from one LA to the other who is also a heavy favorite to make the finals, the Clippers were a well-oiled machine in the bubble which worked for that team with much needed rest for stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to take on the big perimeter assignments that await them. However, they do not an easy out as the Dallas Mavericks are one of the many sleeper teams in these playoffs that may catch teams off guard. Maverick young superstar Luka Doncic has been sensational during the restart with a couple of 30-point triple doubles and just filling box scores at legendary rate.
However with all the playoff match ups the bench and role players will make the difference and with clippers energy man Montrez Harrell returning at the right time to go along with guards Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley, the Clippers should win a tough series in 6 because their depth on perimeter defense and their ability to make Maverick star center Kristaps Porzingis uncomfortable taking him out of most games winning the series.
Rockets vs. Thunder has become a rivalry, and this will decide who got the best of the Russell Westbrook/Chris Paul trade. Houston looked pretty much the same which is not totally a bad thing, but James Harden looked rested and like he has something extra in the tank to go far in these playoffs. However they face a very gamed OKC Thunder team that everyone thought wouldn’t make playoffs this season but did lead by the fearless Chris Paul who seems to be determined to prove his naysayers wrong and get this young far in the playoffs. This series is a pick ‘em for many reasons but I will never bet against a determined and motivated Chris Paul so I’ll the Thunder in 7 games.
Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets is a possible dead even match up. Both led by young stars and coaches, supported with unselfish veterans but most importantly teams with high aspirations in the playoffs. Battle of the big men is the match up that may make the difference here between Jazz center the elite rim protecting Rudy Gobert vs. the ultra-savvy Nuggets center Nikola Jokic who to me is the best center in the NBA (Sorry to Joel Embiid and his fans). However, the performances from Jazz exciting guard Donovan Mitchell and Nuggets swingman Michael Porter Jr to me will be significant difference for their teams to advance.
I’m picking Denver to win in 5 simply because the Nuggets have the better team chemistry, depth and slight edge in playoff toughness/experience, Mitchell and Gobert will have monster performances but the lack of depth, Bojan Bogdanovic’s injury and Mike Conley Jr still trying to find his place on this team will come back to hurt as they will have to wait another year to reach their potential that many believe they can, now we head over to the eastern conference.
We with the defending champion Toronto Raptors who are often forgotten especially during this restart where they were quite impressive. The champs face a Brooklyn Nets teams that is basically a make shift team compared to what was expected but there is no Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie which leaves the burden on young up and coming guard Caris LaVert to hopefully make a series. Unfortunately for the Nets their season will end here as the Raptors will win the series in 5 games as my dream of witnessing the Raptors defend the NBA title is a reality.
This is going to be a short prediction no disrespect to the Orlando Magic but their series will be done in 4 games as the Milwaukee Bucks surge on their dominant run to the NBA finals led by back to back MVP and defensive player of the year Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers is the series that will frustrate many us, two teams with so much promise and potential but cannot get out of their own way. The 76ers snake bitten luck continues with the untimely injury to star Ben Simmons, the sixers have been quite the fragile experiment as a team and their success comes down on the back of their star center Joel Embiid and if his body will hold up but I have the feisty Celtics winning the series 6 games leading to the inevitable blow up of the sixers where they must decide who to keep Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid this off season.
The Indiana Pacers/Miami Heat series is a mirror image of each other, Pacers forward TJ Warren has been a scoring machine in the restart and the Heat were consistent in their play with star players Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo leading the way with exceptional shooting from young wing players Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn. This series is going to be a back and forth 7 game fight with the Heat winning and advancing to the next round.
With my predictions out of the way now here are my bubble top performers, surprises and let downs.
Top Performers: Damian Lillard may have single handedly stole the show in Orlando with out of this world offensive performance to get the Trailblazers into the playoffs.
Devin Booker would be the next best performance behind Lillard including his clutch game winner against the Clippers, for me show he could be a big star and made up a little for his whining about being double teamed in pick up games a few years ago (laughs).
TJ Warren maybe the decision the Suns wish they did over again, considering they got rid of Warren for cash considerations (No not an error) that’s right CASH CONSIDERATIONS was the Pacers treasure especially in the bubble with Warren showing the promise he had in North Carolina State along with being a great compliment for star Victor Oladipo along with big men duo of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis.
Luka Doncic continued showing his magic on full display with some monster games that resulted in a couple of triple doubles that had some high number of rebounds and assists, but to me Doncic showed his dedication and toughness in the bubble when many thought he would slack off with the time off but in improved and became the unquestioned leader of the Mavericks.
Shocking Letdowns: There were some really let downs or disappointments in this restart that caught me off guard, The LA Lakers overall performance was completely baffling especially considering what’s at stake for them especially from the mega stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis who seemed a little off at times but hope clinching the #1 seed early on meant more rest for them hopefully results to a different looking Lakers team for the playoffs.
Zion Williamson just didn’t have a steady season, hard as he tried there were times his conditioning got the best of him and cost him along with the Pelicans their chances in the playoffs, hopefully this is learning tool for Williamson who comes back better and determined for his second season.
The San Antonio Spurs long running playoff appearance streak ended this years sadly with a whimper, this doesn’t tell us if this is leading to an end of an era causing a rebuild or small setback for the storied franchise as the future of legendary coach Gregg Popovich hangs in the balance this offseason could be the beginning of the end for the Spurs.
Pleasant Surprises: Now to the pleasant surprises and I’ll start with the Phoenix Suns who went undefeated in the bubble which wasn’t enough to make the playoff but was enough to put everyone on notice that are a team on the rise if they keep this group together led by Devin Booker and young upstart DeAndre Ayton.
Another young team in the west that surprised everyone was the Memphis Grizzlies led by potential unanimous rookie of the year Ja Morant, who held his own against the league’s best during the restart and led a young group into a possible playoff spot but came up short against the blazers but have a lot to look forward to with this team.
A little bit lengthy but it felt good because basketball is in full swing and bloom, the playoffs are underway and this may make the summer a whole lot better especially during this pandemic so get lost in the playoffs because their going to be fun.