After months of anticipation, the best time of the year is here. The Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets are tipping off the NBA playoffs at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, so why not make the picks for the first-round matchups and give a glimpse of what I predict the outcome will be.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Golden State Warriors vs. L.A. Clippers
Although this was a big year for the Clippers, they got the short end of the stick by being matched up with the Warriors. The Clippers are no match for the reigning NBA champions. I do see at least two of their games coming close, but the Warriors are just overall a better team in every aspect with more playoff experience.
Get the brooms out because its Warriors in four.
Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz
This really is an interesting matchup because both teams have different approaches offensively. The Rockets strive off isolation play, while the Jazz often moves the ball and runs through actual plays.
The Jazz has great shooters and good teamwork, but the Rockets are going to take the series due to the lack of a closing player in Utah.
Rockets in seven. Be prepared for an exciting series.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Damian Lillard and the Blazers will host the Thunder on Sunday to start the series.
If they can defend their home court and start off with a 2-0 lead heading into Oklahoma, the series will be done for. However, the Thunder is hungry for a deep playoff run after being eliminated in the first round by the Jazz last year.
I see OKC marching into Blazers’ territory and stealing the first game, losing the second and coming back home for two straight and finishing off the series in six.
Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Nuggets ended the regular season ranked No. 2 with Spurs at No. 7. On paper, this looks like a mismatch, but I don’t see it that way. This will be a good series to watch.
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich is a mastermind and will find a way to slow down the Nuggets’ big men in the paint. The only player I see slowing them down is LaMarcus Aldridge and this will be too much of a workload over the course of the series.
With two games coming down to the wire, I see the Nuggets taking the series in six.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons
Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond fought to bring the Pistons to the playoffs but will now face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the No. 1 seed Bucks.
There is no player on the Pistons who can guard the Greek Freak through the game, and he will have a field day with them.
You know it, I know it. Bucks in four.
Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers
Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward are making their playoff debuts with the Celtics, and the expectations are high. Marcus Smart will not play this series due to a recent injury, but Terry Rozier will have to step up in his place.
The Pacers were a threatening team with Victor Oladipo in the mix, but, unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury earlier this year. By no means are the Pacers terrible without him, but the Celtics will take the series in six.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets
Who would’ve thought D’Angelo Russell would lead the Nets to the playoffs, let alone the No. 6 seed. The Nets are not a team to be taken lightly in any way.
On the other hand, neither are the 76ers with Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons leading the team. Philadelphia showed promise last year, but were missing the one piece, Jimmy Butler. He will help them make a push to get through the first round by taking the series in six.
Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic
Talk about a mismatch. Hats off to the Magic for making it this far without any superstars on its roster, but Orlando’s season will end April 21 when the Klaw–Kawhi Leonard–takes over the series in four.
That’s it. There’s not much to it.
We’ll see how the first round plays out. Stay tuned for round two.
