The NBA's second season has begun and now is the time that the sure-fire teams go for broke and go after the Golden Larry O'Brien trophy. So who wins it all? Here is my predictions for the NBA Playoffs that start today.
Eastern Conference
1st Round
Atlanta Hawks vs Brooklyn Nets: Atlanta in 5
Atlanta is going to give the Nets some serious problems. Atlanta's teamwork is going to work in full effect as I don't see Brooklyn having the necessary players or talent to compete with how well the Hawk have been playing all season.
Toronto Raptors vs Washington Wizards: Toronto in 7
This series, in my opinion, will be one of the best in the first round. Both of these teams mirror each other and it will be hard to tell who will win in the early play of the series. But I believe that Toronto will eventually sneak past Washington and go to the second round.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics: Cleveland in 4
I apologize in advance, Boston Celtic fans but your team is in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't care how hot you are after sneaking into the playoffs, you are facing a team, that despite its record, is the best in the Eastern Conference. LeBron will help both Kyrie and Love are going to get through their playoff jitters by playing a easy round in the first.
Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks: Chicago in 6
This series could be a winnable one for Milwaukee if they can somehow take advantage of the fact that Derrick Rose more than likely won't be able to play +30 minutes per game. If they can do that, they could push it to a winner-take-all game 7, but more than likely, Chicago will win the series, injury free for their sake.
2nd Round
Atlanta Hawks vs Toronto Raptors: Atlanta in 7
Atlanta will win but is going to be tested in a very serious manner in this round. I don't see this being a series where there are a lot of blowouts, I wouldn't be surprised if the series comes down to a last minute shot or block. Toronto will give them issues especially seeing how they will be in game mode after playing another great in Washington in the first round.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Chicago Bulls: Cleveland in 6
Parents, I would advise you have your kids watch this series because this is as old school as it gets. These two teams don't like each other at all and there will be a lot of fouls, and-1's and "ooh" moments in this series. The series all comes down to this, how long can the Bulls keep the Cavs at bay knowing that Derrick Rose won't be able to play the entire game? I think Cleveland will use long scoring drives to beat Chicago and move on to the ECF, passing their first big hurdle.
Eastern Conference Final
Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers: Cleveland in 6
Lets be honest, we all guessed this would be the matchup after the All-Star break. Atlanta has beaten the Cavs twice this year, but the only issue with that is that this wasn't the same Cavs team that they faced. I think the one player the Hawks have to worry about isn't Lebron; Its Kyrie. If Kyrie Irving does what he did to the Trailblazers and the Spurs with plus 50 point nights, the Hawks have no answer for it. On the same axiom, the Cavs have to worry about Kyle Korver and his sniper-like shooting from the perimeter. This should be a great series and one that can't be missed.
Western Conference
1st Round
Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans: Golden State in 6
Golden State is going to go gangbusters on the Pelicans in the first two games. The Oracle Arena is one the hardest places to play, and that pressure will play a huge factor against the Pelicans. New Orleans will more than likely win its home games but I believe this will be one of the most exciting series in the West.
Portland Trailblazers vs Memphis Grizzlies: Portland in 7
This is going to be a slugfest. Neither team will leave this series unscathed. Both these team are interior post play teams and then move to the outside. But if I had to give a reason as to why Portland wins this series, I go back to last year's playoffs, in which Damien Lillard arrived by hitting a series winning shot vs Houston last year. I believe that Lillard will hit a shot just like that.
Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks: Houston in 5
This is will be a fun series. The guard matchup will be awesome between Harden and Rondo as both can take over the series very quickly. I believe that the one thing that will decide the series will be Dwight Howard's play: is he fully healthy and can he be a serious factor in the series? Well, even without Howard, the Rockets will win this series.
Los Angeles Clippers vs San Antonio Spurs: Spurs in 7
This series will be the third game 7 series of the first round. I think that the interior play, the coaching and everything above will be an all-star caliber series. The two biggest factors of the series will be if San Antonio wakes up and wants to win a championship, and if L.A. can be healthy enough to beat a tough San Antonio team.
2nd Round
Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trailblazers: Golden State in 6
This series will be Golden State's hardest series to date. Portland presents a problem in that they can somewhat match Golden State's perimeter shooting, and that if Andrew Bogut isn't fully healthy, Portland's Lamar Aldridge is going to be a serious issue for the Warriors. The one thing that puts Golden State is the play of the Splash Brothers, as both Klay Thompson and future MVP Stephen Curry will be on fire for most of the series to get them to the Western Conference Finals.
Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs: Houston in 6
Normally, if San Antonio swept their last series, I would say that Spurs are going their third straight Western Conference Final. This time I'm not. Houston's youth, along with the fact that San Antonio is playing a extremely tough team in the first round and more than likely won't be able to push this series to seven games.
Western Conference Final
Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets: Golden State in 7
1 vs 2. Golden State vs Houston, this will be a very good series, that for the most part will the second in which two MVP caliber players will face-off in James Harden and Stephen Curry. I think that Dwight Howard will be a huge factor in this series as he will be able to put up a good effort against Andrew Bogut. The key to winning the series for Golden State will be Klay Thompson, not Stephen Curry. Curry will have his hands full with guarding James Harden, but Thompson is going to be a problem because of his natural athleticism and the fact that he can shoot the lights out of the night sky with his perimeter game.
NBA Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors: Cleveland in 7
This is going to be one of the best NBA Finals in a very long time. 5 All-Star players playing for the right to host the Larry O-Brien trophy. I think that Golden State's perimeter shooting will give them an advantage but Lebron will be a X-factor that Golden State can't match. Don't get me wrong there won't be a blowout in the series but it definitely will deserve an entire Sportscenter Top Ten for it.
