The NBA playoffs are back, and with the regular season in the rearview, it is time for the best two months of basketball. For those who are not familiar with the format of the NBA playoffs, there are eight teams from the Eastern Conference and eight teams from the Western Conference. Each team will compete in a seven-game series with hopes of winning four games and advancing to the next round. The higher seeds have home court advantage, meaning they get one extra home game in the seven game series (4-3). With legacies on the line, and many dramatic storylines reaching their conclusion, who will come out victorious?
This years storylines:
Luka’s betrayal
In the most stunning move of the century, MVP candidate and Finals runner-up Luka Dončić was shipped off to the City of Angels and betrayed by the Dallas Mavericks—an organization he used to call home. Dončić is coming off a season where he led his team to the NBA Finals averaging 33.9 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game and 9.8 assists per game, and was third in MVP voting, but the Mavericks decided to trade him due to “injury and conditioning concerns.” Going into this year’s playoffs, Dončićwill look to silence the haters and prove that the Dallas Mavericks made the wrong move. Teaming up with the legendary LeBron James, the duo are looking to lead the Lakers to the next level.
The defending champions’ quest for a repeat
The Boston Celtics are attempting to achieve one of the hardest feats in the modern NBA: winning back-to-back titles. No team has won back to back Championships since the 2017 and 2018 Warriors. Although the Celtics are having a slightly worse season than they were last year, they are still 61-21 and second in the Eastern Conference. Led by superstar Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have one of the scariest rosters in the NBA. The Celtics have also developed a “live by the three, die by the three” motto, as they smashed the record for most three-pointers made in a season. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Tatum all have over 230 made threes this season, so the Celtics are looking to continue splashing threes all the way to the Finals.
The young Thunder’s electrifying season
The Oklahoma City Thunder have lit up the league this season, finishing 68-14 and first in the NBA. They are led by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous Alexander (SGA), who is averaging a league high 32.7 points per game. He is surrounded by many other young emerging stars, such as Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, resulting in the team sporting an average age of 24.4 years old. However, last season the Thunder was also the number one team in the West, and they ended up falling short in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks. Can SGA redeem himself and lead his young Thunder to the promised land?
The Chef and the Butler
The Warriors dynasty may be over, but the cornerstone Steph “Chef” Curry is still playing at an elite level. After their Championship in 2022, the Warriors have only won one playoff series. With the midseason addition of Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are right back in the mix for title contenders in the West. Butler has come very close to the Larry O’Brien trophy, with two Finals appearances in his five years on the Miami Heat. However, after tensions flared and relationships crumbled, the Heat shipped him off to Golden State, where he hopes to finally get over the hump and win a title.
The post-LeBron Cavs
It has now been six years since Lebron James left Cleveland for Los Angeles, and the Cavs have not achieved anything. This year, however, the Cavs look poised to have a real shot at winning it all. They are led by six time All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who has averaged 24 points per game this season and has been in many playoff appearances, but has never made it past the second round. The Cavs went 64-18 this year, propelling them to first place in the East. When asked about this, Mitchell responded, “At the end of the day, what have we truly done?” Mitchell is surrounded by many key pieces this year such as Darius Garland (20 points per game), and DeAndre Hunter (17 points per game), but will it be enough to bring the Cavs to their first Finals appearance since the 2018 season?
The Big Apple
The New York Knicks have been bad for the past two decades, tallying only two playoff series wins since 2000. This year they acquired seven-footer Karl Anthony Towns (KAT) from the Minnesota Timberwolves. KAT has been averaging 24.4 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game this season. Paired with the all star guard Jalen Brunson, the Knicks are looking to finally make a Conference Finals appearance at least. With a record of 51-31, the Knicks are one of the top teams in the league. The blemish on the season, however, is the Knicks’ whopping 0-10 record against the top three teams in the league (Thunder, Cavs, Celtics).
My predictions
This year provides an array of opportunities for upsets. First, I see the Thunder and Celtics sweeping their respective first round opponents: the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic. I think the Cavs and Knicks will have hard fought wins in either six or seven games over their respective opponents: the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons. I think the Lakers will barely edge the Wolves in seven, and the Warriors will upset the 2-seeded Houston Rockets. I would not be surprised if the Nuggets beat the Clippers in a seven game back and forth series, and the Indiana Pacers outlast the injured Milwaukee Bucks in six games. This will lead to a second round slate of Thunder versus Nuggets, Warriors versus Lakers, Celtics versus Knicks and Cavs versus Pacers.
The least competitive series will be Celtics-Knicks, as the Celtics are 4-0 against the Knicks in regular season play: Celtics win in five. The Cavs-Pacers series is going to be a bloodbath. The Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals last year, and will be looking to do it again, but I have the Cavs winning this series in six games. Their roster is much deeper than previous years, and I think Donovan Mitchell will have a great series. In the West, I see the Thunder beating the Nuggets in six games. Nuggets star and three time MVP Nikola Jokic will put up crazy stats, but it will not be enough to beat this juggernaut of a Thunder team. Lastly, Warriors-Lakers is going to be the series of the year. It could be the last time we see Stephen Curry and Lebron going head to head in the playoffs. Also, the new additions to both teams— Butler to the Warriors and Dončić to the Lakers—will each be hungry to get their first ring. While this will be a very tight series, I do not want to bet against the greatest player of all time. Give me Lebron and the Lakers in seven games.
In the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder will get off to a hot start, winning the first two games. However, the Lakers will battle back and force the Thunder to earn their trip to the Finals. Yes, I think SGA and Thunder will pull through in seven games and make their first Finals since 2012. In the East, the Celtics and Cavs will be very evenly matchedJayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have made six Eastern Conference Finals appearances in their first eight years, with two trips to the Finals and one Championship. I believe the Celtics will win and advance to the Finals in six games.
The Finals
Finally, the NBA Finals stage will be set as Celtics-Thunder. Both teams have compelling storylines, deep rosters and legacies on the line. I think the Celtics will shock the Thunder by stealing a game in Oklahoma City and taking away home court advantage. The Celtics playoff experience will be enough to outlast the Thunder’s top ranked defense, and the Celtics will win in six games, and be back-to-back champions.
Regardless of the outcome, I know that this year’s NBA playoffs will not disappoint. With this many compelling storylines, who will come out on top and take home the title? We just have to wait and see.