Are we ready for a four-peat of the Cavs and Warriors? More importantly, are those teams even ready? Do we even want it? The third finals between the two was much anticipated last year. I am not sure if we want a 4th edition. But then again, how can you say "no" to LeBron in the Finals? Can he make it to his 8th straight Finals? Can the Warriors turn on the switch? Is there even a switch to turn on, especially with Curry out right now? Are the Rockets really better than the Warriors? Can teams like the Thunder and the Jazz trip up either of these top teams even before the Western Conference Finals? We will find the answers to these and other questions starting tomorrow in the NBA playoffs. It will take us a good 2 months, but we will get there. The NBA playoffs start with a lot of excitement, but then it almost meanders along for a bit as it takes its sweet time to get to the later rounds. It is what it is and we will be watching. Many matchups on deck for round 1 and here are my thoughts.
Timebewolves @ Rockets: I expect Jimmy Butler to give Harden and the Rockets some tense moments in round 1. I pick the Rockets to win 4-2. There will be tougher matchups for the Rockets in these playoffs later, but this one won't be a walk in the park either due to Butler.
Spurs @ Warriors: This is probably the softest starting point for the Dubs. There is typically nothing soft about a Pop coached team, but this team just may not have the talent to compete with even a Curry-less Warriors. Nobody knows whats going on with Kwahi. Without him, this should be a 4-1 series in favor of the Warriors. Dubs have to play with effort, seriousness, and smarts. All of that has been missing for long stretches of this season and they better find that switch they have been waiting to turn on. If they show up, this should be an easy series.
Pelicans @ TrailBlazers: Blazers should win this one 4-2. Anthony Davis can only do so much and one-star teams are easier to manage in a 7-game series than in a regular season game in February. Pelicans do have some supporting talent starting with Jrue Holiday, but Blazers should be able to handle them.
Jazz @ OKC: Not only is this the best first round series in the West, the winner, regardless of who it is, will also make life extremely uncomfortable for the Rockets in the next round. To do that, they have to get out of this round in tact and healthy. I think the Jazz do that with a 4-2 win here. They are the lower seed, but 4-V-5 is never a big upset. Definitely not this year in the west where seeds 3 through 8 are separated by just 2 games.
Wizards @ Raptors: I am one of like 800 millions people who don't entirely trust the Raptors in the playoffs. They will make this interesting, difficult, and finally win it 4-3. Great back-court matchup and will be fun to watch.
Bucks @ Celtics: I have no idea what's going to happen here. An under-manned higher seed going against a under-achieving lower seed. The Bucks will have the best player in the series and the Celtics will have the better coach. I have to say Bucks win 4-3, but I can totally see the president and his system coming through at home in game 7.
Heat @ 76'ers: Another well-coached team here in the Heat, but the Sixers are flying high. Prince Ben Simmons is no joke and he may be offended if he knows I pick them to win this one 4-2. That's how confident him and his team are as they are rolling in to these playoffs with great momentum.
Pacers @ Cavs: Last but not the least, LeBron and the Cavs will have an interesting 4-V-5 series on their hands. Oladipo is no joke and the Cavs defense will give the Pacers a lot of opportunities, but how can I pick against the King? He has been sensational the last couple of months and it's scary to think he will find an even higher gear in these playoffs. He wins this one 4-3.
Call me boring, but if I have to put my money on it, I will still pick the Warriors and Cavs to play in the NBA finals. The East is still weak and may not be able to stop LeBron. Sixers are too young, the Celts are too injured, and the Raptors are well, too Raptors. In the West, there are some serious challengers to the Dubs and they won't go 12-0 through these teams this year. However, I think it is fair for us to tell the Rockets "show me" before making them the favorites over teams like the Warriors and LeBron. Rockets have 3 key assets that have not had big-time playoff success.
Harden and Paul have not had great playoff success and as much as I am pained to say this, Coach D'Antoni has his playoff demons too. So, no need to coronate these Rockets. They have to earn it. Harden has to erase the memory of that horrible final game of last season against the Spurs. CP3 has to let the game come to him in the final minutes of pressure-cooker playoff games and not force bad decisions. Make D'Antoni has to show he can trust and use a bench to take some load of his stars. Oh yeah, even with all that, the Dubs have more talent. So, good luck beating them. Looking forward to seeing how all of this shakes out. Buckle up!
Timebewolves @ Rockets: I expect Jimmy Butler to give Harden and the Rockets some tense moments in round 1. I pick the Rockets to win 4-2. There will be tougher matchups for the Rockets in these playoffs later, but this one won't be a walk in the park either due to Butler.
Spurs @ Warriors: This is probably the softest starting point for the Dubs. There is typically nothing soft about a Pop coached team, but this team just may not have the talent to compete with even a Curry-less Warriors. Nobody knows whats going on with Kwahi. Without him, this should be a 4-1 series in favor of the Warriors. Dubs have to play with effort, seriousness, and smarts. All of that has been missing for long stretches of this season and they better find that switch they have been waiting to turn on. If they show up, this should be an easy series.
Pelicans @ TrailBlazers: Blazers should win this one 4-2. Anthony Davis can only do so much and one-star teams are easier to manage in a 7-game series than in a regular season game in February. Pelicans do have some supporting talent starting with Jrue Holiday, but Blazers should be able to handle them.
Jazz @ OKC: Not only is this the best first round series in the West, the winner, regardless of who it is, will also make life extremely uncomfortable for the Rockets in the next round. To do that, they have to get out of this round in tact and healthy. I think the Jazz do that with a 4-2 win here. They are the lower seed, but 4-V-5 is never a big upset. Definitely not this year in the west where seeds 3 through 8 are separated by just 2 games.
Wizards @ Raptors: I am one of like 800 millions people who don't entirely trust the Raptors in the playoffs. They will make this interesting, difficult, and finally win it 4-3. Great back-court matchup and will be fun to watch.
Bucks @ Celtics: I have no idea what's going to happen here. An under-manned higher seed going against a under-achieving lower seed. The Bucks will have the best player in the series and the Celtics will have the better coach. I have to say Bucks win 4-3, but I can totally see the president and his system coming through at home in game 7.
Heat @ 76'ers: Another well-coached team here in the Heat, but the Sixers are flying high. Prince Ben Simmons is no joke and he may be offended if he knows I pick them to win this one 4-2. That's how confident him and his team are as they are rolling in to these playoffs with great momentum.
Pacers @ Cavs: Last but not the least, LeBron and the Cavs will have an interesting 4-V-5 series on their hands. Oladipo is no joke and the Cavs defense will give the Pacers a lot of opportunities, but how can I pick against the King? He has been sensational the last couple of months and it's scary to think he will find an even higher gear in these playoffs. He wins this one 4-3.
Call me boring, but if I have to put my money on it, I will still pick the Warriors and Cavs to play in the NBA finals. The East is still weak and may not be able to stop LeBron. Sixers are too young, the Celts are too injured, and the Raptors are well, too Raptors. In the West, there are some serious challengers to the Dubs and they won't go 12-0 through these teams this year. However, I think it is fair for us to tell the Rockets "show me" before making them the favorites over teams like the Warriors and LeBron. Rockets have 3 key assets that have not had big-time playoff success.
Harden and Paul have not had great playoff success and as much as I am pained to say this, Coach D'Antoni has his playoff demons too. So, no need to coronate these Rockets. They have to earn it. Harden has to erase the memory of that horrible final game of last season against the Spurs. CP3 has to let the game come to him in the final minutes of pressure-cooker playoff games and not force bad decisions. Make D'Antoni has to show he can trust and use a bench to take some load of his stars. Oh yeah, even with all that, the Dubs have more talent. So, good luck beating them. Looking forward to seeing how all of this shakes out. Buckle up!
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