Following up on my Season Predictions, here are the playoff series and predictions.
Playoff basketball is always exciting so let's talk about why each series is worth a watch from first round to finals:
1's vs 8's
HEAT V. CAVS
Well here we go! A series where Lebron returns to Cleveland in a playoff atmosphere and we get to see Kyrie Irving make a fool of Mario Chalmers or whoever guards him. This will be a quick series but entertaining because of the energy in Cleveland for the games they host and the possibility of a game or two where Lebron goes for 40, 50, maybe even 60 points. Heat in 5
SPURS V. PELICANS
I like this series because I expect the Pelicans (Fly, Pelican, Fly) to make the postseason by way of late season push where will also see Anthony Davis transform into a superstar much like KD did in 2010. The Spurs are the Spurs so there's not much to talk about there. The series will be enticing because the Pelicans will put up a fight no one will see coming in the same way the Thunder had against the Lakers in 2010 and the Rockets just a year ago against the Thunder. Spurs in 6
2's v. 7's
BULLS V. PISTONS
Not exactly Jordan versus Zeke and Dumars, but still...The Pistons made big moves in the offseason and have the ability to make some in season because of Charlie Villanueva's expiring deal. The Pistons have the bigs and guards that will allow them to win a few games in this series. Derrick Rose will have Bulls fan aggravated because he will display the kind of play they lacked in last year's playoffs. Defensive series are not exciting but the match ups down low and the guard play of Rose and Brandon Jennings will make up for the lack of offense. Bulls in 6
CLIPPERS V. GRIZZLIES
Now we have a rivalry. Again. The Clippers and Grizzlies are rivals. The fact that these two teams are competitive and competitive against each other to the point that casual basketball fans love to tune in and watch would be unfathomable 10 years ago. I'm already imagining a world where an Andrew Wiggans led-Raptors and Jabbari Parker led-Hornets pull of compelling playoff series in the 2020's. Clippers in 7
3's v. 6's
KNICKS V. WIZARDS
Well, other than hoping Iman Shumpert emerges as James Harden-lite. The player to watch in this series is John Wall (Do the John Wall, Do the John Wall) should ball out as he brings the intensity that made the Wizards the first team on the waiting line outside of the nightclub known as the Eastern Elite. Wall can't do it by himself though...Knicks in 4
THUNDER V. BLAZERS
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will come together hoping to prove many doubters to be wrong. Portland is slowly building through the draft and low-key moves. Damian Lillard versus Westbrook should be fun. Durant making Portland fans cry over the fact that they picked Oden over him will always be fun. I do expect certain players to be swapped between these two, but I will cover that in my trade preview. Thunder in 5 (maybe even 6?)
4's v. 5's
NETS V. PACERS
Well these is the only series I picked in the first round to go seven, only because I see these 4's and 5's as evenly matched and they are the closest in record. Watching Jason Kidd coach his first playoff series against a basketball wiz like Frank Vogel will be fun. Kidd took advantage of the other teams mistakes as a player I expect him to do the same as a coach, it also helps having an Lawrence Frank as his underboss. The Nets will tire down against the Pacers and there's no coaching against that. This intensity of the games in this series will rival the Nets/Bulls spectacle in 2013. Pacers in 7
ROCKETS V. WARRIORS
The Rockets have the de facto best center in the league but the matchups elsewhere favor Golden State and we've seen Dwight Howard nullified in series before. This series will be a nice watch because of the shooters. I'm talking raining 3's. Warriors in 7
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