Western Conference
1 SAS vs. 8 DAL
(Spurs swept season series 4-0)
Spurs in 5. San Antonio is too good right now and too motivated by last year’s Finals disappointment to lose to an average team in the first round. The Mavs just don’t have the tools to derail the Spurs and pull off an upset. The Spurs’ Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili know this could be their last real chance of winning another championship (yeah, we love to say that every year and the Spurs somehow manage to prove us wrong the following season) so they’re going to give it their all.
2 OKC vs. 7 MEM
(Thunder won season series 3-1)
Thunder in 6. Kevin Durant is having a monster year, nobody, not even Memphis’ solid defense could stop him right now. Then there’s Russell Westbrook, who, without a doubt, is itching to make some noise after missing most of last year’s playoffs due to an injury. But really, the real issue here is stopping Durant. Which seems impossible at this point. So there.
3 LAC vs. 6 GSW
(Season series tied 2-2)
Warriors in 7. This is going to be a fun series that will go down the wire. The Clippers are a solid team, their chemistry is great, everyone knows their role. And they got the best 1-2 combo in the NBA today in Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. The Warriors have the Splash Brothers, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, who will make it rain threes. Their bench is underachieving for most part of the season, though. These two teams are pretty even in my opinion, but I think GSW will eventually prevail. They’ve upset Denver last year. I don’t see why they can’t do it against the LA this year.
4 HOU vs. 5 POR
(Rockets won season series 3-1)
Rockets in 6. I hate to see the Rockets advance (like most of you fellow Lakers fans out there, for obvious reasons) but I don’t think the Blazers frontline can stop Dwight Howard in a 7-game series. We’ve hated him all season long, but we forget how dominant Dwight can be if he gets his head in the game. He’s gonna eat the Blazers’ big men down low (assuming superstar Dwight comes to play). James Harden has had a tremendous season and it’s going to carry over to the playoffs. Portland started the season strong but hasn’t played great in the latter part.
Eastern Conference
1 IND vs. 8 ATL
(Season series tied 2-2)
Pacers in 5. Anyone who picks the Hawks to win this series is delusional. I’m already being generous here by not predicting them to get swept. Seriously, no disrespect to their players, but the only reason these Hawks are in the playoffs is because they play for the weak Eastern Conference. The West’s 10th seed, the lottery-bound Timberwolves (40-42) have more wins than the Hawks (38-44). And don’t worry about the Pacers’ all-star duo Paul George and Roy Hibbert who “lost their skills” after the All-Star break. They’ll be fine.
2 MIA vs. 7 CHA
(Heat swept season series 4-0)
Heat in 5. I love underdog stories but there is no way the Bobcats are beating the Heat four times out of seven. It’s been a successful season for the ‘Cats, they’re excited to be in the postseason, but that excitement could turn to jitters once the playoffs start (plus they’re facing the champs, so…). Durant is having a monster season, but this is the playoffs, a.k.a LeBron James‘ playground the past couple of years. I’m not a fan of the Heat winning, keep that in mind. But LeBron will remind the world he’s still the greatest basketball player of his generation and will begin that reminder with the destruction of the ‘Cats.
3 BKN vs. 6TOR
(Season series tied 2-2)
Raptors in 7. I personally don’t care for this series, but these 3-6, 4-5 matchups, ones people don’t usually pay much attention to, are the fun ones essentially because they’re the middle-of-the-pack bouts, meaning these two teams are more or less evenly matched; whereas in the 1-8 and 2-7 matchups, the best two teams are pitted against the two bottom playoff teams. It’s going to be a neck-and-nect battle, but I’d like to see the Raptors win their first playoff series in like a billion years. Which is why I’m choosing them to win.
4 CHI vs. 5 WAS
(Wizards won season series 2-1)
Bulls in 6. The Bulls are a well-oiled machine, pretty efficient on offense, solid on defense. They’re playing with passion, so much passion. In fact, if you don’t play with as much passion as passion as center Joakim Noah, the big man is going to berate you. Speaking of Noah, he’s been pretty solid this season, a candidate for MVP, Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards. He is and will be the Bull’s anchor whilst Derrick Rose is injured. He took this role way too seriously in the regular season, imagine what he’ll do in the playoffs. The Wizards on the other hand are young and inexperienced. Solid opponent + inexperience = not good for you.
patrickkennan.com 