For most of the 2018 NBA playoff participants, it’s now time to inactivate the cruise control button–in most cases in effect since early March–and get serious. After about a six-week hiatus, the games count again. Only a handful of teams in the Western Conference got to experience playoff-level intensity at the end of the regular season while trying to secure one of the top eight spots in the standings. Unfortunately, the Denver Nuggets didn’t quite make the cut, but their time is coming. As usual, there are some interesting pairings, but in a seven-game basketball series the better team usually prevails. Undaunted by the hideous attempt at prognosticating the 2017-2018 regular season, here are my 2018 NBA Playoffs First Round Predictions.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Toronto Raptors versus (8) Washington Wizards
Not really into the gossip, but by many accounts the Washington Wizards spent a good portion of the season fighting against each other. Whatever the case, this is a very dangerous 8th seed. The Raptors strength lies in the backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and Demar DeRozan, but the Wizards’ Bradley Beal – John Wall combo is at least as good. The Wizards’ bench suffers a blow of sorts with the suspension of backup SG Jodie Meeks. The Raptors get the slight nod on the defensive end, but this looks to be a long series and clearly the best shot at an eight versus one upset this season.
RAPTORS IN SEVEN.
(2) Boston Celtics versus (7) Milwaukee Bucks
Another dangerous matchup for the higher seed. The Celtics will be without their best player, Kyrie Irving, and the Bucks will have theirs, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are just the kind of wingspanned outfit that could give the smallish Celtics problems, and they will. The Celtics will certainly limit the Greek’s space, and will need their young’uns like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to take on more of the scoring load if they’re to take out the inconsistent Bucks, who are playing with house money.
CELTICS IN SEVEN.
(3) Philadelphia 76ers versus (6) Miami Heat
The young Sixers haven’t lost a game in a month, winning their last 16 regular-season games, while the Heat staggered to the finish line, splitting their final ten games which included losses to both New York teams. But the playoffs have a way of waking teams up, and the Sixers will play at least Game One without Joel Embiid, so the Heat have an opportunity to steal one of the first two games in front of a raucous Philly crowd hungry for playoff basketball. Tough task for them with Dario Saric and Ben Simmons capable of taking over and Markell Fultz getting comfortable while the Heat try to overcome their own scoring droughts.
SIXERS IN SIX.
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers versus (5) Indiana Pacers
The Pacers were one of the league’s biggest surprises; I had lots of company in thinking they’d freefall after dealing Paul George away. But an unleashed Victor Oladipo and company followed the lead of the demanding coach Nate McMillan and banged out 48 wins. They’ll give Lebron an’ ’em all they can handle for awhile, but the experience and talent will take over. Seeding doesn’t matter for the Cavs at this time of the year as they can win on anyone’s court, especially in the Eastern Conference, and the young legs they acquired during the season will help for the next several weeks.
CAVALIERS IN FIVE.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Houston Rockets versus (8) Minnesota Timberwolves
Nowhere in the Milky Way will you find a basketball pundit who predicted a Mike D’Antoni-coached squad would be better defensively than a Tom Thibodeau squad, but this is an upside-down season. The Timberwolves have already experienced a couple of playoff games just to qualify, and any team with Jimmy Butler and Karl Anthony Towns aboard will be difficult to play against. But the Rockets did a nice job of supporting their stars with veteran defensive-minded wing players. The three-pointer is a real weapon for Houston, and it’ll be enough to get them at least through Round One.
ROCKETS IN SIX.
(2) Golden State Warriors versus (7) San Antonio Spurs
Even had we known Kawhi Leonard would only play nine games all season, it’s difficult to imagine the San Antonio Spurs as a 7 seed. For a fleeting moment, it appeared they might miss the playoffs altogether. But here they are, and they might even have a shot in any other matchup, just not this one. Even with Steph Curry officially ruled out for Game One, the Warriors have enough weapons to beat the outmanned Spurs. Heck, it’s equally difficult to imagine the Warriors as a 2 seed, but they won’t be bored anymore.
WARRIORS IN FIVE.
(3) Portland Trailblazers versus (6) New Orleans Pelicans
Yep, I admit it–I didn’t have either of these teams qualifying for the postseason. Didn’t like the Twin Towers stuff or the clipboard in New Orleans nor the Blazers’ isolation-heavy offense and lack of defensive intensity. But here they both are, and one of them is going to the Western Conference semis. It’ll likely be Portland on the strength of their guard play, and Josef Nurkic gives them some inside toughness, though the Pels’ Anthony Davis is worth at least a game for them.
BLAZERS IN SIX.
(4) Oklahoma City Thunder versus (5) Utah Jazz
This might be the most difficult of the eight playoff series to predict . Both teams are already battle-tested from having to scramble for a playoff spot. OKC has the experience advantage, but one of their so-called Big Three (Carmelo Anthony) is clearly in decline AND tired. Utah has one of the league’s few dominant interior defensive players in Rudy Gobert and a confident rookie in Donovan Mitchell, but he’s still a rookie. OKC doesn’t shoot it well from the perimeter, but with Gobert lurking in the paint they’d better figure out a way. Gut feeling is that Westbrook and George find a way to get it done in a long, physical series.
THUNDER IN SEVEN.
After those college brackets, I’m taking it one round at a time…
