NBA Playoff Preview AKA Warriors Victory March
The Big Bad Golden State Warriors are ready to dominate.
Last season the Golden State Warriors learned just what 73 wins in the regular season means, and that is nothing, as they were reminded that it don’t mean a thing if you don’t get the ring. The Warriors to that end got stronger by picking Kevin Durant off the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant was hurt over the last two months but it is getting back into action just as the playoffs get under way. The Warriors will not need Durant at full strength until the later rounds of the playoffs as they should breeze by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round.
Most have expected the NBA Finals to be Golden State Warriors facing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third straight season, setting up the ultimate rubber match. However, the Cavaliers have hardly looked like championship team in the final weeks of the regular season, posting a record of 10-14 since March 1st. The hope in Cleveland is that once the playoffs begin the Cavaliers could flip the switch, but that is often easier said than done, since losing as well as winning is a hard habit to break.
Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics hope their home court edge could get them past the LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers struggles opened the door for the Boston Celtics to grab the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. You may not buy into the Celtics chances this year, but if they are a stock it’s the one to buy for the its future yield. The Celtics will have a chance to get the number one overall pick due to the Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce trade with the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. The Celtics have the option to swap picks with the Nets who finished with the worst record in the NBA and have the most balls in the lottery. The Celtics also own the Nets pick in 2018 so they could end with a super team in a few short years. Isaiah Thomas has been magical in the fourth quarter and will be key to the Celtics success in the 2017 postseason.
Advertisement
The veteran San Antonio Spurs, are the NBA’s bedrock franchise they always seem to be among the best teams, and finished with the second best overall record again this year despite the retirement of Tim Duncan. Once again most expect the Spurs to battle the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, though the Spurs path will be a tough one as they face the bruising Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. Don’t be shocked if the Grizzlies throw a major scare into San Antonio a first round series that could go the distance.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook have been locked in a MVP duel all season will meet in the first round.
The best series of the first round will be the showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets as the players who finished 1-2 in the league in scoring and will likely finish 1-2 in MVP voting meet head-to-head. Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s record with 42 Triple Doubles, becoming just the second player to average a Triple Double with 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. However, some may argue Harden’s numbers were more impressive as he averaged 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game, while putting up a better shot percentage. This one should be a close series, as the two teams played close games all season against each other.
The team who has the most to prove this postseason is the Los Angeles Clippers who have the talent, but never seem to live up to expectations as they often choke in big games. The Clippers should be able to get by the Utah Jazz in the first round, but then will run into the Golden State Warriors which usally does not end well for the Clip squad.
Back East, the Washington Wizards return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2016 season and could emerge as a real dark horse with both John Wall and Bradley Beal playing at a high level, don’t be shocked if they find their way in the Eastern Conference Finals where they could throw a real scare into the Cavaliers.
Up North, the Toronto Raptors should fear the deer, as Giannis Antetokoump seems to be getting better with every game. However, in a tough seven game series the Raptors should be able to survive with the home court edge and DeMar DeRozan’s history of making big shots in the playoffs.
The first round should have its share of close series as I see at least half of the eight match ups going the full seven games. Though the postseason as a whole will be all about the Golden State Warriors, who may have an excellent change to march through the playoffs with 16 straight win. The Warriors have a new focus this playoff year and come in healthy, looking to erase the bad taste from last year’s NBA Finals making every team the face along the way pay the price.
Frank Fleming is the creator of the Sports Ecyclopedia
First Round Picks via Sports Ecyclopedia