The NBA playoffs are almost here. Most matchups are set. All the matchups will be set after the play in games. Here they are below.
I’m going to do a quick run down of both conferences. But for this post, let’s take a look at the West.
The West
The West is stacked with a lot of good teams. I can make a case for 5 or 6 teams to get to the Western Conference Finals and battle it out. I’ll start with the favorite to actually come out the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
OKC Thunder
We have to start with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have the best record in the league and most likely the NBA MVP for this season. SGA has to show he can continue his MVP play and raise his team’s play round after round. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren also have to show the league they are not just role players. The shooters need to keep shooting well. But if this team just keeps playing that tough defense, the offense will fall into place and they will stack up the wins. I fully expect them to be in the Western Conference Finals.
LA Lakers
It’s going to come down to their Big Three of Luka, Lebron and Austin Reaves on offense. How many good shots can they create for themselves and others? And how good can their defense be with JJ Redick using a centerless lineup for most of the game? It can work for a round or two but flying around on defense to cover the deficiencies may begin to wear on a team sooner or later. They are a tricky team. I have no clue if they will lose in the 1st round or make it all the way to the NBA Finals.
LA Clippers
Yes, they are playing well and Kawhi looks really good. But do we really think he is going to stay healthy for any realistic amount of time in a tough playoff series or two? I don’t. And James Harden can have a big series but we’ve seen him come up short a few times before too. I expect them to start out like gang busters before they eventually succumb to injury and under performance in clutch games. They’ll probably win round 1 if they stay healthy. But that’s it. They won’t go any further.
Denver Nuggets & Memphis Grizzlies
Denver lost it’s head coach with 4 games remaining in the season. Memphis lost their coach with 11 games to go. There’s no way I give either of these teams a real chance to make a run after losing such a key peice of their team. And for anyone who thinks that coaching doesn’t matter, I feel for you. Denver either loses against a healthy Clippers team or loses in the next round against OKC.
Houston Rockets
Houston has a very strong defensive team. I am not worried about Dillon Brooks getting kicked out of any game (although it could happen). But I just don’t trust this team to make the right plays on offense to create good shots at the end of games. I don’t know if they will win in round 1. Regardless, I don’t think they have the goods to get to the Western Conference Finals.
Minnesota Timberwolves
They did it last year with a magical run to the Western Conference Finals. Ant Edwards was on fire and this team looked as if they were headed to the Finals before Luka and Kyrie showed up and spoiled their fun. And because of Edwards, I give them a punchers chance of making it to the Conference Finals. However, I say they lose in round 1 to the Lakers in 5 or 6 games. But if they win, they are going to win the next round as well and end up playing OKC for a chance to make it to the NBA Finals.
Golden State Warriors
Sure they have a rejuvenated team after trading for Jimmy Butler. And sure they could end up playing a young Houston team in the 1st round. But that’s as far as I think this group goes, the 2nd round. They are small and will have to run up against bigger, tough minded defensive teams (OKC or Houston) in the first round. They could win a round if they play Houston, but that’s it. I think not clinching a top 6 spot will severely hamper their ability to make a run.
The NCAA Teams
The Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks are NCAA teams. No, not college teams. But they have No Chance At All to do anything in these Western Conference playoffs. You know it and I know it.
There’s a quick recap of the Western Conference playoffs/play-in teams through my eyes. Check back in later for the Eastern Confernce teams.