The Knicks-Pacers rivalry is simply awesome

 

                                             (Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP Photo) 

The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are locked up in an intense Eastern Conference Finals right now. The Pacers are up 2-1 with one more game in Indiana on Tuesday before things go back to New York for Game 5. The Pacers will look to go up 3-1 and put all the pressure on the Knicks. The Knicks will look to even up the series 2-2 and get momentum back. 

Just three games in, the series already feels like an instant classic. Tyrese Haliburton's overtime forcing shot in Game 1 led to what is now being dubbed "Choke 2.0" after Haliburton re-enacted Reggie Miller's choke sign to Spike Lee from Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers went on to win Game 1 138-135 in overtime and while Haliburton's shot is the most iconic moment from that game, Aaron Nesmith's 30 points on 8/9 shooting from 3-point range cannot be forgotten. Nesmith looked like Miller did in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals in which he scored eight points in 8.9 seconds. 8 of 9 shooting from 3-point range; 8 points in 8.9 seconds. To quote Mark Twain, history doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. 

While the Pacers delivered the first blow in this year's series, the Knicks bounced back in a big way to take Game 3 after being down 0-2. With Jalen Brunson in foul trouble Karl-Anthony Towns took over for the Knicks, finishing with 24 points and 15 rebounds to help them come back from 20 points down to win 106-100 on the road in Indiana. Towns played with a lot of passion and fire, showing that the Knicks care about this rivalry just as much as the Pacers do. 

When looking at this rivalry from the big picture, I think what makes it awesome is the combination of it being big market versus small market while also featuring two places that are rich in basketball history. It's Hoosiers versus Rucker Park. And then on top of that, both teams have had big time names. In the 90s, the Pacers had Reggie Miller and the Knicks had Patrick Ewing. This year, the Pacers have Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam while the Knicks have Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.  When you put those elements together, you have the potential for a lot of amazing basketball moments. 

Looking ahead to the rest of the series, while the Pacers remain the favorites at the moment, the Knicks still have a pulse. There's still plenty of basketball left and if history is any guide, there will be more twists and turns in this series before it gets decided. I for one can't wait to see how it all unfolds. 

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Five things to look for in the Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks vs. Pacers

 

                                            (Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images) 

The Eastern Conference Finals begins this week between the 3rd seeded New York Knicks and 4th seeded Indiana Pacers. Game one will be on Wednesday at 5:00 PM PT on TNT/TruTV. Below are five things to look for in the series. 

#1. Can the Pacers slow down Jalen Brunson? Jalen Brunson is coming into the series averaging a ridiculous 28.8 points and 7.7 assists per game during the playoffs. He's really in the zone right now. Something to look for is whether or not the Pacers will be able to do a better job defending him than the Pistons and Celtics did. If not, the Knicks are going to be extremely tough to stop. 

#2. Can the Pacers' ball movement make the difference? The Pacers averaged 29.2 assists per game during the regular season, which is 3rd in the NBA while the Knicks averaged 27.5 points per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA. During the playoffs, the Pacers have taken it up a notch with 29.7 assists per game as Tyrese Haliburton's 9.3 assists per game during the playoffs leads the NBA. If the Pacers are going to win the series, their ball movement is going to have play a major role. 

#3. Will the Pacers' rest help them out at all? The Pacers come into this series with more rest having taken out the top-seeded Cavaliers in five games while the Knicks had to play a game six to dispatch of the Celtics. Getting a couple extra days to rest should certainly help the Pacers, but will it make any meaningful difference? Game one should tell us a lot. 

#4. Can the Knicks close the gap on the 3-ball? The Knicks are shooting 35.8% from 3-point range in the playoffs while the Pacers are shooting 40.6%. If the Knicks want to win the series, it would help them a lot if they could get more threes to fall while defending the Pacers from the perimeter. The Pacers are coming in with a lot of confidence in their 3-point shooting, so slowing them down in that department will be no easy task. 

#5. Will the rivalry feel rekindled? The Knicks and Pacers had a lot of battles in the 1990s and have formed one of the more iconic NBA rivalries. This series certainly has a chance to add an exciting chapter to it. The fans should be fired up on both sides. It certainly would be good for the NBA to have this be a competitive series given the history between these two teams. 

Prediction: The Pacers seem to have really taken things up a notch during the playoffs. I got them winning this series in six games. 

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Five things to look for in the Western Conference Finals: Thunder vs. Timberwolves

 

                                             (Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images) 

This week, the Western Conference Finals begin with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder squaring off. Game one will be on Tuesday in OKC at 5:30 PM PT on ESPN/ESPN2. Below are five things to look for over the course of the series. 

#1. Who has the better series: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) or Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)? 

The top-seeded Thunder are led by guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 29.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game during the playoffs while the Timberwolves are led by guard Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game during the playoffs. The NBA is such a star driven league that series' are often decided by which star players play better. The Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Edwards matchup is going to be crucial to deciding the outcome. Both guys will need to bring their A-game for sure. 

#2. Which team will control the pace? The Thunder are 6th in the NBA in pace of play while the Timberwolves are 24th. The Thunder average 120.5 points per game which is 4th in the NBA while the Timberwolves are 13th in the NBA with 114.3 points per game. The Thunder like to get out and run it more while the Timberwolves play a slower game. If the Thunder can get out and run to their heart's desire, they should be in a good spot to win the series. If the Timberwolves are able to slow it down and play more to their pace, they'll have a real chance. Pace of play is going to be key given the contrasting styles between the two teams. 

#3. Who wins the battle in the paint? The Thunder have some big bodies inside with Chet Holmgren (15.0 points & 8.0 rebounds) and Isaiah Hartenstein (11.2 points & 10.7 rebounds) while the Timberwolves have Naz Reid (14.2 points & 6.0 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (12.0 points & 10.9 rebounds). Whichever team wins the battle inside will give themselves an edge. It'll be fun to see how that shakes out. 

#4. How much will home court matter? The Thunder will have home court advantage and that could end up being a huge factor. Both teams have dropped only one game at home so far in the playoffs while also winning multiple games on the road. Given the fact that these teams have done so well on the road and both have dropped one game at home, one has to wonder how much of an impact home court advantage will make. It's usually a huge factor, but this could be a case where we see the road team find some success. 

#5. Will the Timberwolves' experience make a difference? The Timberwolves were in the Western Conference Finals last season and have made the playoffs four seasons in a row. The Thunder in contrast have made the playoffs two seasons in a row with this young nucleus and haven't been to the conference finals since 2015-16, back when they had a totally different team. It'll be interesting to see if the Timberwolves' experience will make a difference. On paper, they'll have an advantage in that department. But can they capitalize? That's the question. 

Prediction: I gotta roll with the Timberwolves in six games. I think that experience will make a real difference. 

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The Minnesota Timberwolves are catching fire

 

                                             (Credit: Matt Blewett/Imagn Images) 

The NBA playoffs are in full swing and one of the upsets underway is the 6th seeded Minnesota Timberwolves taking a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. On Sunday, the Wolves won 116-113 behind 43 points, nine rebounds, and six assists from Anthony Edwards, closing the game out on a 14-6 run. The Wolves took game one in Los Angeles 117-95, lost game two in Los Angeles 94-85, and then bounced back to take game three in Minneapolis 116-104 before winning on Sunday in Minneapolis. 

A major reason for the Wolves' success this postseason is the performance of their star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 29.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game during the series. Edwards is only 23 years of age in his fifth NBA season, playing like a guy who has been in the league for a decade. He makes smart decisions with the ball, knows when to attack the rim, when to pass it out, etc. He's got superstar gifts and isn't solely consumed with getting buckets even though that's what he does best. 

In addition to Edwards, forward Julius Randle has been playing fantastic as well. Randle had 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in Sunday's win, averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the series. Edwards has needed somebody to be a reliable number two man and Randle has been that. And then of course, other guys like Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels have done their part as well. It's been a true team effort. 

If the Wolves can close out the Lakers, don't be surprised to see them make another push to reach the Western Conference Finals like they did last year. And if they get that far, who's to say that they can't reach the NBA Finals? When you got a superstar like Anthony Edwards, you're always in contention. 

Update: The Timberwolves took the series 4-1, defeating the Lakers 103-96 in game five. Rudy Gobert had a ridiculous 27 points and 24 rebounds. 

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The NBA needs to simplify its playoff system

 

                                             (Credit: Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images) 

The NBA playoffs begin later this month on April 19th. Before that, the NBA will hold the "SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament" from April 15th to April 18th. Click here to check the format out on NBA.com. 

In case the graphic the NBA has posted confuses you, you're not alone. I'm well versed in brackets and tournaments, but just looking at the graphic, it's kinda hard to figure out what exactly is going on. From what I can tell, it looks like the winner of the 7/8 game in each conference becomes the 7 seed while the loser plays the winner of the 10/9 game. The winner of that game becomes the 8 seed. The top six seeds are safe and locked into their respective seeds. 

While I love the idea of making things more exciting at the end of the regular season, I find the "Play-In Tournament" to be kinda clumsy. Like, upon looking at the bracket, you can figure it out, but during the game I'm sure there's plenty of confusion of what exactly the hell is going on in terms of what happens to the winner and the loser. 

What I propose is the NBA streamlines and simplifies things. If they want to make things more interesting than just sending the top eight teams to the playoffs from each conference, that's cool. But this play-in tournament just doesn't seem like the right way to do it. 

What I propose the NBA does is simply have a best-of-three game series decide the final two spots in each conference: 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9. If they want to reduce travel, they could have the lower seed be home the first game and then next for the two games (if a third game is necessary) the higher seed could get home court advantage. That would be easy for fans to understand while also rewarding the 7th and 8th seed with home court advantage. You could call it the "NBA Playoff Wild Card" round. You could get the three games done over the course of five days and then start the playoffs. 

What I like about my format is you get the extra playoff action you want, you make each game really intense, and you also have a format that fans can better understand. It's a simple tournament bracket. Top six seeds get a bye. Winner of the 7/10 series faces the the 2 seed. The winner of the 8/9 series faces the 1 seed. 

On top of that, I also propose the NBA brings back best-of-five for the conference quarterfinals. Best-of-five was way more entertaining as it made each game matter a bit more. Best-of-seven isn't ideal because a lot of times these top seeds advance rather easily. But if you make it best-of-five, especially if a team is coming in hot after winning a best-of-three series, you suddenly have a real possibility for some first round upsets, which the NBA playoffs could always use more of. 

Overall, I think my solution is better than what the NBA currently has. Heck, I think just keeping it top eight is better than what the NBA has. Top eight was easy to understand. This whole play in tournament thing that's double elimination is just kinda weird and feels gimmicky. Make it make sense. That's all I'm asking. 

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Saturday Slam: 10 things to look for in the 2021 NBA Playoffs

 

                                                (Credit: NBA.com) 

The 2021 NBA Playoffs are now here. After a fun and exciting play-in tournament, the bracket is fully filled in. Out West, the #1 overall seeded Utah Jazz will take on the #8 Memphis Grizzlies, the #2 Phoenix Suns will take on the #7 Los Angeles Lakers, the #3 Denver Nuggets will face the #6 Portland Trail Blazers, and the #4 Los Angeles Clippers will face the #5 Dallas Mavericks. In the East, the #1 Philadelphia 76ers will face the #8 Washington Wizards, the #2 Brooklyn Nets will face the #7 Boston Celtics, the #3 Milwaukee Bucks will face the #6 Miami Heat, and the #4 New York Knicks will face the #5 Atlanta Hawks. Action will start on Saturday. 

I'm starting something new this year by writing 10 things to look for in the NBA playoffs. I've done this over at my tennis blog ATPGuy.com (click here to check that out) to preview grand slams and I think it's been a pretty effective type of blog post. So now I'm going to start doing it for the NBA playoffs as well! Enjoy! 

#1. Can the Utah Jazz silence the haters? Despite having the best record in the NBA, the Utah Jazz still have plenty of doubters and haters. Part of this has to do with the fact that the Jazz have never won an NBA championship and also the fact that relative to other superstars, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert kinda fly under the radar. This is in part because they play in Utah but also because a big reason for the Jazz' success is the fact that they don't overly rely on Mitchell and Gobert. This is why they were able to hang onto the best record in the NBA despite Mitchell being out for approximately one month due to an ankle injury. 

While they lack the star power that most top seeds usually have, the Jazz do make it up with their depth and unselfishness. They know how to play as a team and how to play off each other's strengths to maximize what they have. 

Donovan Mitchell has been averaging 26.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on the season, so by no means can they win the title without him. They absolutely need him healthy. If he's able to go with little issues, the Jazz could shock the world and win the NBA title. They play basketball the right way, have a great home court advantage, and I also think they're motivated by the fact that everyone is counting them out. 

Note: I also shared this on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check that out if you are a Jazz fan. 

#2. Can the Philadelphia 76ers back up their #1 seed out East? I feel like the 76ers have more respect than the Jazz because of the presence of Joel Embiid (28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks), but they too have a lot to prove. They haven't been to the NBA Finals since the 2000-01 season in which Allen Iverson disrespected Tyronn Lue in Game 1 and in general, have found ways to fold in the playoffs over the years. 

Given that Joel Embiid is considered by many to be the best player in the game right now, one can actually argue there's even more pressure on the 76ers than the Jazz. The good news for the 76ers is their draw is pretty friendly. They get the Wizards in round one and then the winner of the Knicks/Hawks series in round two. There's no reason the 76ers shouldn't at least reach the Eastern Conference Finals and in that series, they would have home court advantage. So, count me in as picking the 76ers to win the East. I do think if they faced off against the Brooklyn Nets, they'd find a way to pull it out. Assuming everyone stays healthy of course. 

#3. Can LeBron James will the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship again? The Lakers do not have any easy path to the NBA Finals at all. They are the #7 seed and have to face a very difficult Phoenix Suns team in round one. Even if they win that series, they'd still have to go through the Nuggets and Jazz assuming the brackets hold to get back to the NBA Finals. 

Honestly, I think the Lakers should feel reasonably confident in their abilities to go the distance since they won it all last year and also the fact that the only reason they're seeded so low is because LeBron took a lot of time off to rest his ankle. With everyone now back, they should feel ready to rock and roll. 

As for the part about LeBron willing them specifically, I do think LeBron will need to get a little help from his friends. Namely Anthony Davis, who is the #2 option on this team. LeBron will need to play a big role of course, but he can't do it all by himself. It'll take a team effort like it did last year. 

#4. Can the Brooklyn Nets stay healthy? If they can stay healthy, the Brooklyn Nets should be favored to come out of the East. I mean, they got Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. That's a killer trio to go up against. The issue though is health: Kevin Durant played in just 32 games this year, James Harden played in 44 games (36 with the Nets), and Kyrie Irving surprisingly played the most out of the bunch at 54. The fact that they still found a way to finish #2 in the East is pretty impressive when you consider the lack of cohesiveness they've had all season. If the Nets can stay healthy, one has to like their odds. If not, it'll likely be the 76ers or some other team. 

One other question mark for the Nets is their defense. Durant, Irving, and Harden are known for their offense, but not their defense. While their defense has been good enough in the regular season, they'll have to step it up a notch come playoff time. It'll be interesting to see if that part comes together for them as well. 

#5. Can the Los Angeles Clippers figure it out? On paper, the Los Angeles Clippers are really dangerous. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George form a really good one-two punch and they have plenty of depth with Marcus Morris, Lou Williams, Serge Ibaka, Rajon Rondo, and others. But for whatever reason, these guys finished 4th in the Western Conference and weren't able to have a more productive regular season. It'll be interesting to see if they'll be able to hit the reset button in the playoffs or if they'll once again disappoint. 

#6. Can the Miami Heat recapture the magic from last year? The Miami Heat had a pretty improbable run to the NBA Finals last year and once again, they find the odds stacked against them as they are the #6 seed in the East. It'll be interesting to see if the Heat can find their mojo once again and recapture the Eastern Conference crown as a lower seeded team. So long as Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro stay healthy, they got a shot. 

#7. Can the Phoenix Suns prove that they're for real? The Phoenix Suns find themselves in a similar situation as the Utah Jazz. They have the second best record in the NBA and yet nobody thinks they got much of a shot to go all the way. Chris Paul has had an MVP worthy season (click here for my blog post on that) while Devin Booker (25.6 points per game) is one of the most dangerous scorers in the game. If they weren't in a small market, more people would take them seriously. Just like the Jazz. Hopefully they too will be able to prove their fantastic regular season was no fluke. 

#8. Can Jayson Tatum carry the Boston Celtics past the first round? Without Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics are in a lot of trouble right now and yet they still got a pulse, even if it's very faint. We've seen Jayson Tatum have some big nights and carry the Celtics on his back. Doing that in the playoffs is a different animal, but I think Tatum is eager to find out how far he can push himself. While I do see the Nets winning the series, Tatum could give them more trouble than they bargained for. 

#9. Can the Denver Nuggets make a deep run without Jamal Murray? With Jamal Murray done for the season due to a torn ACL, many people have written the Denver Nuggets off, though the team hasn't exactly gotten the memo. They are third in the West and Nikola Jokic is the front runner to win MVP. It'll be interesting to see just how far Jokic can lead this Nuggets team and whether or not they'll be able to sneak into the Western Conference Finals. Or maybe deeper. 

#10. Are the Milwaukee Bucks still contenders? With Giannis Antetokounmpo, one has to think the Milwaukee Bucks are serious contenders once again. The Greek Freak is averaging 28.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, doing everything for his team as always. And yet, they took a step back this year, finishing third in the East after having the best record in basketball a year ago. It feels like people are sleeping on this Bucks team when perhaps they shouldn't. It'll be fun to see if the Bucks are able to make some noise and finish the job they should have completed a season ago. 

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Saturday Slam: What to look for in the 2019 NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs begin on Saturday and rather than previewing each series, I wanted to provide a quick primer for the playoff as a whole, listing key things to look for. Before I begin my primer though, let me quickly list each series for those that aren't aware:

In the Eastern Conference, the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks face the eight seeded Detroit Pistons; the two seeded Toronto Raptors face the seven seeded Orlando Magic; the three seeded Philadelphia 76ers face the six seeded Brooklyn Nets; and the four seeded Boston Celtics face the five seeded Indiana Pacers. Out West, the top seeded Golden State Warriors face the eight seeded Los Angeles Clippers; the two seeded Denver Nuggets face the seven seeded San Antonio Spurs; the three seeded Portland Trail Blazers face the six seeded Oklahoma City Thunder; and the four seeded Houston Rockets face the five seeded Utah Jazz. One thing that is kinda comical is the Magic won the Southeast Division with a 42-40 record.

Can the Milwaukee Bucks navigate through their injuries? Last week, I went into more detail on this topic, so click here to check it out if you want those details. If you want the condensed version, here is the lowdown: Malcolm Brogdon (foot) remains out without a firm timetable while Nikola Mirotic (thumb) could possibly make his return in Sunday's Game 1 against the Pistons. Others are also out as well, but those are the two main guys to watch for. If they can get healthy, there's no reason to pick against this Bucks team to come out of the East. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the conference and appears ready to make a deep playoff run. 

Unlike the Bucks, the Golden State Warriors are entering the playoffs pretty healthy. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins are all in good shape while Draymond Green is day-to-day with a knee injury. This Warriors team is once again the most talented team in the NBA with a plethora of weapons. 

As has been the case for the past few years, it'll be interesting to see who gives the Warriors the most trouble. Teams that come to mind in that department are the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and Milwaukee Bucks. The Rockets because of how close they were last year, the Utah Jazz because of their style, and the Bucks because of Antetokounmpo. Outside of those three teams, I don't see anyone giving the Warriors a serious scare. Fortunately for the Warriors, the Rockets and Jazz face off in the first round, so they'll only have to face one of those two teams assuming they get out of the first round. 

The Toronto Raptors got Kawhi Leonard specifically for this time of year. They wanted someone to get them over the hump and lead them to championship glory. They didn't feel they had the weapons before, so it's really put up or shut up time for them. If the Raptors can't get it done this year or at least reach the conference finals, they should just blow the whole thing up and go full blown tank mode. 

The Denver Nuggets have had a fabulous regular season and are well positioned to make a deep playoff run by securing the number two seed in the West. Paul Millsap is balling out and Nikola Jokic is one of the most versatile bigs in the NBA. The issue is they haven't really been through the fire yet. It'll be interesting to see how much damage this Nuggets team can do and whether or not they can become one of the teams to give the Warriors a serious run.

The Boston Celtics were picked by many to come out of the East after giving the Cavaliers such a scare last year. Instead, they've slipped and regressed. For them, they have to view the playoffs as a chance to hit the reset button. Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward form a really talented core that has the potential to make a deep run and come out of the East. It's just a matter of them putting it all together. One thing to look for is how they manage without Marcus Smart, who is dealing with an oblique injury. He is expected to miss at least a month of action.

Last season, the Houston Rockets were one healthy Chris Paul hamstring away from winning the Western Conference crown. Similar to the Celtics, they've regressed a bit from last year but still find themselves in the playoffs. If they can get past a tough Utah team, they'll get another crack at the Warriors only with a healthier CP3 (hopefully). If James Harden is able to go wild and Paul is healthy, it'll be interesting to see what they can do.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a different look from last year with the addition of Jimmy Butler, but whether or not it's better will be determined by how they do in the playoffs. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are the face of this team, but Butler is the big acquisition that is supposed to help them get over the hump. How much Butler affects them for good or for bad will be something to watch in these playoffs.

Finally, I want to quickly address my favorite team, the Utah Jazz. As a quick side note not related to the playoffs, do read Kyle Korver's piece in The Players' Tribune about white privilege if you have not already done so. I wanted to write a more in-depth piece about it, but I didn't find the time to do so. Let me just say it's excellent and worth the read. Click here to check that out.

As far as the playoffs are concerned, the Jazz are another team that have appeared to regress a bit after having an exciting 2018 season. That all said, they too find themselves in the playoffs with a chance to make some noise. What will be important to look for is if Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert can step up and establish themselves as a legit one-two punch. Mitchell is an explosive scorer that can create for others while Gobert is a fabulous shot blocker, rebounder, and rim-runner. These two guys are the future of the franchise and need to play like it.

One final note is that Ricky Rubio (quad) and Kyle Korver (knee) are both out indefinitely. When they're able to return is something to keep a close eye on if you're a Jazz fan.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Taking a quick look at the Western Conference playoff picture

With the NBA regular season concluding next week (April 10th), I thought it would be good to take a quick look at where things sit in the Western Conference playoff picture. One week from now we'll know who's in, who's out, and who's playing who. Until then, it's going to be a wild week with teams jockeying for position.

Who's clinched

At this point, the following three teams have clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference playoffs: Houston Rockets (63-15), Golden State Warriors (57-21), and Portland Trail Blazers (48-30). The Rockets are locked into the #1 seed and the Warriors are locked into the #2 seed, so they can pretty much chill the rest of this week. With all the injuries the Warriors have had, they in particular would be wise to pump the brakes and go easy during this last week.

As for the Trail Blazers, while they have already clinched, they still have a little bit of work to do in order to hang onto the #3 seed and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.  Their schedule is as follows: @Houston, @San Antonio, @ Denver, and vs. Utah. It's actually a pretty tough schedule, so the Trail Blazers should be looking to go hard all the way until the last night.

Who's in if it started today 

If the playoffs started today, the San Antonio Spurs (45-32), Utah Jazz (45-33), Oklahoma City Thunder (45-34), Minnesota Timberwolves (44-34), and New Orleans Pelicans (43-34) would all be in. The Spurs would have clinched on Tuesday had they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers and had the Denver Nuggets lost. Unfortunately for them, neither of those events happened. The Clippers outscored the Spurs 41-27 in the 4th quarter to win 113-110 and the Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers 107-104.

The Spurs still figure to make the playoffs, but they'll have to wait another day to officially punch their ticket. The Jazz are hoping to take advantage of the Spurs' loss and bump themselves up to the #4 seed, which would give them home court advantage in the first round. The Jazz have won three straight games including a 117-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers today. They have a moderately tough schedule coming up, so they could do it but it won't be a cakewalk: vs. Los Angeles Clippers, @Los Angeles Lakers, vs. Golden State, and @Portland.

As for the Thunder and Timberwolves, they have work to do as well, but they have the temporary luxury of being in front of the 8th seeded Pelicans, who are sinking like a stone as we speak. The Pelicans have lost four straight games and have five games remaining vs. Memphis, @Phoenix, @Golden State, @Los Angeles Clippers, and vs. San Antonio. Their last three games are no slam dunk, so they really need to take care of business against Memphis and Phoenix if they want to ensure that they still make the playoffs.

Who's on the outside trying to get in 

If any of the four teams above miss the playoffs, it'll either be the Denver Nuggets (42-35) or Los Angeles Clippers (41-36) who take their spot. The Nuggets have won three straight games and are only one game back of the Pelicans, really turning the heat up as of late. The Nuggets' remaining schedule is as follows: vs. Minnesota, @Los Angeles Clippers, vs. Portland, and @Minnesota. That's a pretty tough schedule, but considering how the Pelicans are playing, they should like their chances of sneaking in.

As for the Clippers, their 113-110 win over the Spurs tonight saved their season. Their remaining schedule is as follows: @Utah, vs. Denver, vs. New Orleans, and vs. Los Angeles Lakers. It's not an easy schedule, but what helps is they have a chance to gain a full game on both the Nuggets and Pelicans if they win those games. Playing at Salt Lake City won't be easy, but if they can somehow pull off a miracle in that game, they'll be well positioned to make up some ground and take out both the Nuggets and Pelicans.

Prediction 

My personal prediction is I think the Spurs, Jazz, Thunder, and Timberwolves will make the playoffs. They still have their work to do, but at the end of the day, I think they'll all make it. As for that 8th spot, I think that is too close to call right now. The Pelicans couldn't be hitting a four game losing skid at a worse time so I really am not feeling that they get in. If I had to make a final prediction, I think the Clippers will be the team that gets in. Their schedule is pretty friendly and tonight's win over the Spurs seems to be sign of things to come.

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz

The #1 seeded Golden State Warriors and the #5 seeded Utah Jazz will face off in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Game 1 will be played tonight  (Tuesday) at 10:30 PM EST on TNT. The Warriors come into this series having swept the Portland Trail Blazers while the Jazz come in having survived the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games.

When looking at this series, what really stands out is the contrasting styles that both teams like to play. The Warriors, while very strong on defense, like to run up and down the floor and get easy baskets in transition. The Jazz in contrast like to slow it down and play more of a grind it out style that limits possessions and plays much more in the half court. Whichever team is able to control the pace more and make the game fit their style of play will have a huge advantage in this series.

It's no secret the Warriors are the heavy favorites. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant make for one of the most lethal scoring trios the NBA has ever seen and then when you add a multifaceted Swiss army knife like Draymond Green into the mix, you have yourselves a championship recipe. The bottom line is if the Warriors play up to their maximum potential, they will win this series. They are the better team and their 67-15 record reflects that.

That said, there are reasons to think the Jazz can make this series a lot more competitive than most people think. First, they have a huge advantage inside. Rudy Gobert is one of the top rim protectors in the NBA and Derrick Favors, while not having quite lived up to the hype, is still a load to handle down low. If the Jazz can protect the paint and not allow the Warriors to get easy baskets inside, they'll make things a lot tougher than the Warriors would like.

In addition to their stellar rim protection, the Jazz are a very good offensive team, ranking 12th in the league in points per possession. While they slow the game down and are 28th in points per game, their low scoring numbers aren't a good reflection of their overall abilities to get points. The Jazz are an efficient scoring team, they just slow the game down and have fewer possessions, which has been a key to their success.

What makes the Jazz efficient on offense is their combination of inside and outside scoring. George Hill, Rodney Hood, Joe Johnson, and Joe Ingles can all shoot from outside, while Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors know how to get baskets inside. As for their star Gordon Hayward, he can do both very well. He can spot up and knock down the open three as well as slash to the rim for the emphatic dunk. Hayward's ability to score at all levels of the floor make him one of the best small forwards in the NBA and a tough guy for defenses to stop.

A big wild card in this series is going to be coaching. Steve Kerr is not expected to be back for the rest of the playoffs, which puts Mike Brown at the helm of the Warriors. Last week, I addressed this topic in more detail, stating that I think the Warriors should be just fine without Kerr due to the quality system he has implemented. That said, Quin Snyder is a better coach than Mike Brown. Snyder has the Jazz playing very efficient basketball, implementing lots of motion and cuts, which frees up a lot of easy looks on offense. Defensively, the Jazz are as good as any team in the league. If Snyder is able to out-coach Brown, that could have a big effect on this series.

I think this series is going to be a lot closer than people think. While I do have the Warriors advancing, I think the series will go seven games. The Jazz have proven that they can win on the road. I wouldn't at all be shocked to see them get a game in Oakland. Likewise, the Warriors should be able to get a game in Salt Lake City. Both teams play in hostile environments, so I expect the home team to win most of the games in this series. I think it'll go seven and the Jazz, with their elite defense and efficient scoring, will give the more talented Warriors all that they can handle.

Note: This article also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. If you want to listen to the podcast that previews this series, click here. 

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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Washington Wizards

The #1 seeded Boston Celtics and #4 seeded Washington Wizards are facing off in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Celtics won Game 1 of this series by a final score of 123-111. Game 2 will be held tonight at 8:00 PM EST on TNT. The Celtics come into this series having taken out the Bulls in six games while the Wizards come in having taken out the Hawks in six games.

After understandably struggling right after the death of Isaiah Thomas' sister, the Celtics have now won five straight games and appear to be fully locked in. Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Al Horford are playing really good basketball right now and are back to playing the type of basketball that got them the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, playing unselfishly and getting everyone involved.

The Wizards likewise come into this series playing good basketball. John Wall is showing why he is arguably the top point guard in the NBA, scoring 42 points and dishing out 8 assists in the Wizards' series clinching win over the Hawks in Atlanta. Bradley Beal is also playing at a high level, putting up points and proving himself to be a fantastic backcourt mate for John Wall, dropping 31 points in Game 6 against the Hawks.

Last week, I said the key to the Celtics' success is Al Horford stepping up his game and he is so far doing just that. In Game 1 against the Wizards, Horford scored 21 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists. When Horford plays at an elite level, the Celtics become a really difficult team to stop. Isaiah Thomas is one of the best scoring guards in the NBA, Jae Crowder has emerged as one of the top small forwards, and Avery Bradley is one of the best two-way guards in the NBA. When you combine their stellar play with a big man like Al Horford who is putting up 20 points and 10 rebounds, they can hang with anyone in the league.

In order for the Celtics to win this series, they not only need Al Horford to step up. They also need Avery Bradley to do all he can to slow down John Wall and Bradley Beal in the backcourt. When Wall and Beal are on a roll, the Wizards are very difficult to stop as well. Bradley is one of the few defenders in the NBA that can give those guys trouble and he needs to do all he can to get in their grill, fight through screens, and not allow them to get easy looks. If he is able to do that, the Celtics will be in really good shape.

As for the Wizards, they need to do more than just get stellar production from John Wall and Bradley Beal. They need to do a good job on the glass and not allow Al Horford, Jae Crowder, and Kelly Olynyk to have an easy time inside. Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris, and Otto Porter, Jr. need to do all they can to keep things competitive on the glass. Morris injured his knee in Game 1 and his status for Game 2 is a game-time decision. If he is unable to go for an extended period of time, that could be trouble for the Wizards.

My prediction for this series is Celtics in six games. I think the Wizards will get a couple of games, but the Celtics are simply the better team. Plus, the Celtics want to be as rested as possible for the Cavaliers. This will be a fun series, but in the end, it will be the Celtics advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets

The #2 seeded San Antonio Spurs and #3 seeded Houston Rockets will face off in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Game 1 will be held tonight (Monday) at 9:30 PM EST on TNT. The Spurs took out the Grizzlies in six games while the Rockets took out the Thunder in five games.

When looking at this series, what stands out is the matchup between Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard and Rockets shooting guard James Harden. Leonard averaged 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game in the series against the Grizzlies, while Harden averaged 33.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game against the Thunder. Both guys will be expected to deliver the goods for their respective teams and live up to their MVP billing.

If the Spurs are going to win this series, they'll need more than just Kawhi Leonard. LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker will need to come up big as well. Both guys played well against the Grizzlies, but they'll need to continue to provide the type of support that Leonard needs. Pau Gasol will also likely need to produce more than the 6.5 points per game that he was averaging against the Grizzlies. If this turns into the Kawhi Leonard show, the Spurs could be in trouble due to the plethora of weapons that the Rockets have.

In addition to James Harden, the Rockets have other guys who give defenses trouble in Eric Gordon, Nene, Lou Williams, and Ryan Anderson. Even their defensive specialist on the perimeter Patrick Beverley knows how to score when needed. The Rockets' potency on offense will make them a tough opponent for the Spurs and will require the Spurs to play excellent defense both on the perimeter and down on the block.

The big advantage the Spurs have over the Rockets is that the style they play is a more proven formula for success. The Spurs have a nice blend of inside and outside play with Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Tony Parker as their core trio. Leonard is a Swiss army knife that does it all, giving them a lot of versatility on offense and defense.

The Rockets in contrast heavily rely on their three-point shooting and truly adhere to the mantra "Live by the three, die by the three." When the Rockets heat up from beyond the arc, they are very difficult to stop. When they get cold and the shots aren't falling, they suddenly become very vulnerable.

The Rockets' ability to get hot will make this series interesting, but given that Gregg Popovich's system is more proven for playoff success than the run and gun system of Mike D'Antoni, I see the Spurs coming out on top in six games. Kawhi Leonard will win the matchup against James Harden and the Spurs' championship pedigree will shine through.

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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

The #2 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and #3 seeded Toronto Raptors will face off in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Game 1 will be held tonight (Monday) at 7:00 PM EST on TNT. The Cavaliers swept the Pacers in the first round while the Raptors took out the Bucks in six games.

Given how easily the Cavaliers took out the Pacers and how the Raptors struggled to take out the Bucks, the Cavaliers come into this series as the heavy favorites. They are at full strength and appear to be on a mission to get through the Eastern Conference playoffs as swiftly as possible. LeBron James is playing elite basketball right now, averaging 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game while Kyrie Irving is averaging 25.3 points per game. The James/Irving one-two punch will likely be too much for the Raptors to handle, especially considering how much they struggled in the first round against the Bucks.

If there is any reason to give the Raptors some hope, it's that they found a way to close out the Bucks in six games and stepped up under serious pressure. They could have folded or let the Bucks take them to a Game 7. Instead, they turned up the heat and didn't let the Bucks get back in the series after it was tied 2-2.

A big reason for that is the play of DeMar DeRozan, who averaged 23.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game against the Bucks. DeRozan is turning into an elite swingman in the NBA and he isn't afraid of anybody. He definitely has the mindset and instincts of a superstar and his play reflects that.

If the Raptors want any chance at winning this series or making it interesting, they need a big series from DeMar DeRozan and they also need other guys to step up, namely Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Jonas Valanciunas. If DeRozan has a big series and he gets enough help from Lowry, Ibaka, and Valanciunas, the Raptors could give the Cavaliers a bit of a scare.

The problem is I don't see those guys giving DeRozan the help that he needs. While there was some growth that we saw from the Raptors by closing out the Bucks in six games, I just don't see them having what it takes to contain LeBron James and win this series.  I see the Cavaliers winning this series in five games. LeBron James will be too much for the Raptors to handle as the Cavaliers waltz into the Eastern Conference Finals.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Previewing the 2nd Round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, DJ Rikki Rick joins me to help breakdown the 2nd Round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. Boston Celtics vs. Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz, and San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets. Click here for the podcast if you are getting this via e-mail.



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Wednesday Windmill: The Boston Celtics need Al Horford to step up

The Boston Celtics are now up 3-2 on the Chicago Bulls after a 108-97 victory on Wednesday night. Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley each scored 24 points while Al Horford finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Horford was the major offseason acquisition for the Celtics, signing a 4 year, $113.3M contract in free agency. After inking such a massive contract, he was expected to be the new face of the Celtics and cement himself as the next great big man in franchise history.

While the Celtics had a great regular season, finishing as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Al Horford didn't exactly live up to expectations. He averaged a solid 14 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, but "solid" isn't going to cut it when you are making top of the line money. Instead of being a 20 & 10 guy, Horford has been a 14 & 7 guy, which isn't what the Celtics paid for. They are paying for Horford to produce like he did on Wednesday night on a regular basis and at times exceed that level of production.

If the Boston Celtics want any chance of reaching the NBA Finals, they need their highest paid player (by a lot) to play like it. Isaiah Thomas has been the MVP of this Celtics team and he is making roughly 25% of what Al Horford is making. At the beginning of the season, the Celtics were expecting Al Horford to be their top player, not Isaiah Thomas.

While it's obviously a great thing that Isaiah Thomas has exceeded expectations, it shouldn't be forgotten that according to the payroll, this is Al Horford's team and it's time he plays like it. If Horford is able to produce closer to the 20 & 10 level that he was expected to, the Celtics have a great shot at making it to the NBA Finals. If he stay right around where he's been all season, the Celtics are not going to get past the Cleveland Cavaliers. It's that simple.

The NBA playoffs are where the stars earn their money and so while he hasn't had the best regular season, Al Horford can still earn every penny of what he is making if he leads the Celtics to the NBA Finals. Will he do it? I honestly doubt it, but I'm willing to say he deserves a shot. He had a huge game in a pivotal Game 5, so he's proven that he can step up in the playoffs. Whether or not he can do so consistently is the $113.3 million dollar question.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Breaking down the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com podcast, I break down the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs up until this point. I especially focus on the series' that are tied 2-2 (Celtics-Bulls, Raptors-Bucks, Spurs-Grizzlies, and Clippers-Jazz). 

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Wednesday Windmill: Can the Chicago Bulls reach the Eastern Conference Finals?

The 8th seeded Chicago Bulls are stunning the NBA world right now by taking a 2-0 series lead over the 1st seeded Boston Celtics. With the next two games in Chicago, the Bulls have an excellent chance at sweeping the Celtics and pulling off one of the most monumental playoff upsets in NBA history. I don't care if the Celtics are regarded as one of the weakest top seeds ever. An 8 seed sweeping a 1 seed would be the biggest playoff upset in NBA history. The Bulls are two games away from doing the unthinkable and there's no reason to think they are done making history. 

When the NBA season began, I predicted that the Chicago Bulls would meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. At the time, I really thought they had the pieces. Jimmy Butler is one of the best shooting guards in the NBA, Dwyane Wade while aging still is capable of putting up 20 points per game, and they have some other quality pieces like Rajon Rondo, Nikola Mirotic, and Robin Lopez. Given how there was no clear #2 team in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, I figured the Chicago Bulls were as good of a pick as any to get the #2 seed and take on the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Things didn't exactly go the way I predicted. The Bulls had to wait until the last day of the regular season to find out if they would even make the playoffs. I picked the Celtics to sweep them in my series preview and thought that I was a fool for picking the Bulls to reach the Eastern Conference Finals at the beginning of the season. The Bulls looked like a team that was just lucky to squeak into the playoffs while the Celtics looked like a team poised to make a deep playoff run. 

During these past two games, the Bulls and Celtics have switched roles. The Bulls are looking like a team capable of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Celtics are looking like a team that could be swept. It's crazy how things can change so quickly after just two games. 

To answer the question that titles this article "Can the Chicago Bulls reach the Eastern Conference Finals?" the answer is yes they can. They have the pieces and those pieces are finally coming together. While Jimmy Butler is averaging 26 points per game during this series, he's not the only one who has come to play. In addition to Wade, Lopez, and Rondo, the Bulls have gotten double-digit scoring productions from the likes of Bobby Portis and Paul Zipser. It has truly been a team effort to go up 2-0 in this series. 

At this point, I like the Bulls' chances of winning this series and advancing to the second round, where they will likely face the Washington Wizards. As good as the Wizards are, they are no slam dunk to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. They are still a team that is learning and growing. Dwayne Wade's playoff experience could be the x-factor in a Bulls-Wizards series and be what pushes the Bulls into the Eastern Conference Finals. 

I understand there is a lot of basketball to be played and the Bulls still have to take care of business in their series against the Celtics. But that notwithstanding, it can't be ignored that the Bulls suddenly have a very clear path to the Eastern Conference Finals. They're playing good basketball and are finally looking like the team that I thought they would be at the beginning of the season. It will be interesting to see if they can sustain this. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Can the Utah Jazz advance without Rudy Gobert?

                                        (Credit: RantSports.com. Click here for source)

The Utah Jazz escaped with a 97-95 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday to take a 1-0 series lead after Joe Johnson rattled home the game winning shot. Unfortunately for the Jazz, their star big man Rudy Gobert went out for the game with a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee, leaving him out for an indefinite period of time that likely lasts the duration of the series. Gobert, who averages 14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game is the fiercest defensive force the Jazz have had in the paint since Mark Eaton, who averaged a whopping 3.5 blocks per game for his career.

The question that is on the minds of everyone is whether or not the Jazz can win this series without Rudy Gobert. The answer to that question is yes they can, but obviously without him it will be a lot tougher. Fortunately, the Jazz have some things in their favor.

#1. They got the road win they needed: In my series preview, I stated that the Jazz needed just one win in Los Angeles to win this series because of how good they are at home. With or without Rudy Gobert, the Jazz should be able to hold down the fort in Salt Lake City. So long as they can just win out at home, where they are 29-12, they'll be fine.

#2. All the pressure is on the Clippers: The Jazz are playing with house money. The very fact that they made the playoffs is enough of a reason to call this season a success. They can just go out and play their style of basketball and see what happens. If they win the series, they exceed expectations and if they lose, they're still ahead of schedule in their rebuild process.

#3. They have some front court depth: Rudy Gobert is clearly the best big man on this Jazz team, but it isn't like he's their only big man. Derrick Favors, Trey Lyles, Boris Diaw, Jeff Withey, and even Joel Bolomboy can come in and give the Jazz good minutes in the front court. The Jazz have other guys who they can turn to in the post if needed.

#4. Rudy Gobert isn't done for the season: If MRI results had come back showing that Rudy Gobert had damage to his MCL, LCL, or ACL, it would be tough psychologically for the Jazz to win this series. Knowing that he isn't done for the season and that he will return if they can just hang on for a little while without him has to give them tremendous peace of mind. There are good odds Gobert is back for the second round of the playoffs, which is when they'll absolutely need him. The Jazz just need to weather this storm as best they can, knowing that if they do so well enough, the storm will cease and they'll get Gobert back.

The bottom line is that while it is a tough break for the Jazz to be without Rudy Gobert for an indefinite period of time, there are a lot of reasons to think they can still win this series without him. They already have a road win in the bag, very little pressure, quality reserves, and the knowledge that Gobert isn't out forever. I picked the Jazz to win this series in six games and I still stand by that pick.

Note: This article also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers

In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the #1 seeded Golden State Warriors (67-15) will take on the #8 seeded Portland Trail Blazers (41-41). The Warriors won the regular season series 4-0. Game 1 will be played on Sunday at 3:30 PM EST  on ABC in Golden State.

It's nearly impossible to argue a case for how the Portland Trail Blazers can win this series. They are sitting right on the .500 mark and barely made the playoffs, edging the 40-42 Denver Nuggets by one game. The Warriors on the other hand have the top record in the NBA and are one a mission to win another NBA championship. They are determined to prove that the addition of Kevin Durant was worth it, wanting to move on from this series as quickly as possible.

What the Trail Blazers do have going for them is they have Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in the backcourt. Lillard is averaging 27.0 points and 5.9 assists per game on 44.4% shooting from the field, 37.0% shooting from three-point range, and 89.5% shooting from the foul line. As for McCollum, he's averaging 23.0 points per game on 48.0% shooting from the field, 42.0% shooting from three-point range, and 91.2% shooting from the foul line. Both guys are elite scorers and shoot the ball very well from all ranges on the floor. If those guys get hot, they have the chance to beat anybody on any given night.

The problem is that it's hard to win four games that way. The Trail Blazers will need others to step up in order to give the Warriors any sort of a scare. If there's one guy who could actually do this, it's Jusuf Nurkic, who may or not be available to play due to a right leg fibular fracture that he is recovering from. If Nurkic is able to go and be productive, that will be huge since he gives the Trail Blazers a third scoring option (15.2 points) and a big body down low (10.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks). In addition to Nurkic, the Trail Blazers need guys like Allen Crabbe, Maurice Harkless, and others to step up and produce to take some pressure off of Lillard and McCollum. If the Trail Blazers turn into the Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum show, this series will be over quick.

The Trail Blazers can't rely on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to carry them because the Warriors are simply too loaded. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson combine for nearly 73 points per game and are all capable of getting hot from beyond the arc. In addition to their offensive potency, the Warriors are playing elite level defense thanks to Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and Kevin Durant, who is averaging a career high and team high 1.6 blocks per game. The Warriors are simply the more talented team in this series and they should be able to put the clamps on both Lillard and McCollum on the perimeter.

My prediction for this series is the Warriors win in five games. The Portland Trail Blazers will win a game in Portland. They have a good home crowd and have the pieces to defend their home floor for one night. Once it shifts back to the Bay Area for a Game 5, the Warriors will win in a blowout and close out the series. The Warriors will simply prove to be too much for the Trail Blazers to handle. It's that simple.





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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks

In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the #3 seeded Toronto Raptors (51-31) will take on the #6 seeded Milwaukee Bucks (42-40). The Raptors won the regular season series 3-1. Game 1 will tip off on Saturday at 5:30 PM EST on ESPN.

The Raptors come into this series with a lot of momentum. They've won 4 straight games and 8 of their last 10 games. They are playing really good basketball with DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry leading the charge.  DeRozan is averaging 27.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while Lowry is averaging 22.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. Together, they form one of the more potent scoring duos in the NBA.

When looking at this Raptors team, the big question going into this post-season is whether or not trading Terrence Ross for Serge Ibaka will pay dividends for them. The Raptors have been in need of some sort of change or acquisition to elevate them into championship status and they are hoping that landing Serge Ibaka at the trade deadline will do just that.

So far, Ibaka has played well, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, but he hasn't exactly lived up the hype either. Given that the Raptors ended up with the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference instead of the #1 seed is disappointing for them in light of the Ibaka trade. They hoped that by landing him, they'd have home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs instead.

That all said, the Raptors are definitely a better team with Serge Ibaka on the floor. He is much more multidimensional than Terrence Ross due to his ability to control the paint and shoot from beyond the arc. I want to make it clear that the addition of Serge Ibaka has made the Raptors better. They just haven't done as well with him as they hoped.

In regards to the Milwaukee Bucks, this team begins and ends with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who commonly goes by his nickname "The Greek Freak." Antetokounmpo has had a fantastic season, averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. With Jabari Parker going down in the middle of the season due to a torn ACL, Antetokounmpo has had to lead this Bucks team and he has so far done an amazing job at doing so.

In addition to "The Greek Freak" playing like a superstar, the Bucks have gotten stellar production from a lot of their role players. Khris Middleton, Greg Monroe, Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell, and Michael Beasley have all done a really good job of taking the pressure off of Antetokounmpo and giving him the support that he needs. Without their production, the Bucks wouldn't have made the playoffs let alone finish sixth in the Eastern Conference. A lot of credit has to go to their head coach Jason Kidd for the way he has gotten his players to buy in and play as a team. The job he has done this season has been amazing and deserves to be mentioned.

The bottom line with this series is that on paper, the Toronto Raptors should win this series in five games. They have more weapons than the Bucks and while the Bucks do have Giannis Antetokounmpo and a solid supporting cast, there is a reason the Raptors have won 50+ games and the Bucks barely are above .500. The Raptors are the vastly superior team and smart money says they beat the Bucks rather convincingly in this series.

Usually, I go with smart money when I make predictions, but not this time. I do have the Raptors winning this series, but I think it goes the distance. The Raptors have had a history of underperforming in the playoffs and the Bucks on the flip side have nothing to lose. All the pressure will be on the Raptors to win this series quickly and I expect the pressure to get to them a bit. Milwaukee is not an easy place to play on the road and I expect the Bucks to be really tough when they are at home. Gianni Antetokounmpo will have a big series and his supporting cast will do a tremendous job at extending this series far longer than it really should.

What will decide this series in the end is home court advantage and the Raptors being the better team. I think that in a Game 7 in Toronto, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry will find a way to get the job done and put the Bucks away rather handily. I expect Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas to play big in the post and step up when they absolutely need to. That said, this will be a close series and the Bucks will put a good scare into the Raptors. Don't glaze over this series. I expect this to be a fun one.

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