The NBA Playoffs — not the NIT-like Play-Ins, but the REAL NBA Playoffs — start today, and I am so frigging giddy.
These playoffs are unique in that even though there are the betting favorites to win it all (Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, Denver and Phoenix), there is no dominant team to beat. This means these NBA Playoffs are wide-ass open.
I will say the first round should largely go chalk, meaning all of the higher seeded teams should advance to the conference semifinals.
Except for two: the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings.
We all know the NBA Playoffs, as is the case in most professional and college sports, come down to matchups. Who on the Grizzlies could stop and/or contain Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis? Who on the Kings could do the same on the Warriors superstars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson?
Exactly.
So with that being said, this is how I see the first round shaping out:
Eastern Conference
Bucks vs. Heat: Bucks in 5
Celtics vs. Hawks: Celtics in 5
76ers vs. Nets: 76ers in 5
Cavaliers vs. my beloved Knicks: Cavs in 6
Western Conference
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves: Nuggets in 4
Grizzlies vs. Lakers: Lakers in 6
Kings vs. Warriors: Warriors in 6
Suns vs. Clippers: Suns in 5
Categories: NBA
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