It's the most wonderful time of the year for hardcore basketball fans. Following March madness and the NCAA championship game, the NBA Playoffs is set to get underway today at 12:30 EST on ESPN between the the fourth seeded Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards in the East. Here at Causeway Street Blog we're not only excited for the postseason, but also for the chance to watch the Boston Celtics still playing and extending their season after sitting at home last year.
Here our predictions for the 2015 Playoffs:
Adrian Mendoza (@Doza321) says:
East
(1) Atlanta vs (8) Brooklyn-
Atlanta wins in five-games. The Hawks have way more depth. Pierce's words motivate Brooklyn to get one win. That's it.
(2) Cleveland vs (7) Boston-
Cavs win in six games. The C's get in a time warp for a few days and feel like it's 2010, when they owned little Brony. But he's too good now. Solid experience for Stevens and the young guns.
(3) Chicago vs (6) Milwaukee-
Bulls will be the one of two teams to sweep in the first round. The Bucks just don't score enough. Their nucleus is solid, but Salem State's Tom Thibodeau is far more experienced than J-Kidd.
(4) Toronto vs (5) Washington
Raptors win in seven games. I hate seeing Drake geeking out up north. He's such a cornball. Best series in the East for round-1. Toronto wins in a squeaker.
Eastern Conference Finals:
(1)Atlanta vs (2) Cleveland
ECF Champs: Cleveland
West
(1) Golden State vs (8) New Orleans
The Warriors will sweep the inexperienced Anthony Davis and the Pelicans. Baby-faced Assassin and the Unibrow on the same court will be fun, but not for long.
(2) Houston vs (7) Dallas
The Mavs will win in seven games. Yes, Dallas hasn't been too good since the Rondo trade. Him and Dwight Howard will be sitting out for many clutch situations due to free-throw shooting ineptitude. I think Dallas pulls the "upset" with former '86 Celtics player Rick Carlisle out-coaching former teammate Kevin McHale.
(3) L.A. Clippers vs (6) San Antonio
The Spurs will "Beat LA" in six games. This is Pop's time. I love Doc, but his team just doesn't have "it" (Paul Pierce's voice).
(4) Memphis vs (5) Portland
The Grizzlies will beat the Blazers in seven games. Lillard vs Conley will be must-see TV (we'll need toothpicks for our eyes at work here in the East Coast), but Memphis' defense takes them over the top.
Western Conference Finals:
(1) Golden State vs (6) San Antonio
WCF Champ: San Antonio
NBA Finals:
(6) San Antonio vs (2) Cleveland
2015 NBA Champion: San Antonio. Sorry haters.
Will Burke (@Will_nba33) says:
East
I think it will be Cleveland vs Atlanta in the ECF. While it pains me to say it, I think LeBron and company take it in six. Just so much talent on the Cavs, and the Hawks have looked shaky the last couple of weeks and have health issues. Although if Kyrie Irving's hip becomes a problem, I think that Jeff Teague could have a big series and give the Hawks a shot.
ECF Champs: Cleveland
West
In the WCF I got Golden State over the Los Angeles Clippers in seven. I think Clippers-Spurs will be a bloodbath in the first round and would not be surprised at all if the Spurs win, but I am going Clippers because their starting five is so good. L.A.will give the Warriors a run for their money, but Steph Curry is just too much and the Warriors have been the best team all year, can't see them losing a game at Oracle Arena.
WCF Champs: Golden State
NBA Finals:
Golden State vs Cleveland
In the NBA Finals I got Golden State over Cleveland in seven, which will be a fantastic series. I just can't pick against the Warriors - they have had the best team all year and don't have any weaknesses. The Cavs have a shot if LeBron goes crazy, but I don't think he is at the stage of his career where he can carry a team and beat a team as good as the Warriors.
2015 NBA Champion: Warriors
Joel Pavón (@CausewayStreet) says:
East
(1) Atlanta vs (8) Brooklyn-
Atlanta takes this series in six games, while both teams win at home through the first four games, and the Hawks win at the Barclay Center to wrap it up.
(2) Cleveland vs (7) Boston-
I'm clearly having a hard time picking the outcome of this series because I'm used to picking the C's but this time around the series will go at least six games, it will be competitive, I'll leave it at that...
(3) Chicago vs (6) Milwaukee-
Bulls win in five games, I'm giving the Bucks one win for the simple fact that they had a great season, but Thibbs is on a mission in what could possibly be his last playoff run in Chicago.
(4) Toronto vs (5) Washington
In what will be the best series in the East for the first round, Paul Pierce beats the Raptors once again with Drake in attendance. Pierce becomes enemy number one in Game 7... It will be Deja-Vu at the Air Canada Centre from a year ago.
Eastern Conference Finals:
(1)Atlanta vs (2) Chicago
That's right, no Cleveland in this round folks, the Wizards take the Hawks to game seven, but Atlanta is just too strong this season and advance to the ECF for the first time ever. While Cleveland runs into a Bulls team that is finally healthy for the first time all season and finally rolling on all cylinders. After beating the Cavs in six games, Chicago makes it to the ECF for the first time in four-years.
However it's Atlanta's year and this series goes the distance, with the Hawks advancing to the Finals and improving on best season in franchise history, and capping it off with a chance to play for a title.
ECF Champs: Atlanta
West
(1) Golden State vs (8) New Orleans
The Warriors win in five games, only because the Pelicans worked so hard to make it to the playoffs. But if the 'splash bros' have an off-night or two, it could go longer.
(2) Houston vs (7) Dallas
The Mavericks pull off the 'upset' in six because the Rockets are too banged up. Besides James Harden, their other good defenders are out, and no one knows how healthy Dwight Howard really is.
(3) L.A. Clippers vs (6) San Antonio
The Spurs could have been the third seed had they beaten the Pelicans on the last night of the season, but I have to believe they didn't want OKC in the playoffs despite the chance of maybe not running into them at all. Only Pop knows what's going on in that brain of his. But S.A. wins this series in seven, sorry Doc.
(4) Memphis vs (5) Portland
The Grizzlies having been the second seed all year until the last two weeks of the season will have their hands full with Damian Lillard and the Blazers. However, Memphis's front line is stronger than Portland's, I give the Grizz the edge in six games.
Western Conference Finals:
(5) Memphis vs (6) San Antonio
The Warriors will not get past the Grizzlies and their front-court, sorry Dub Nation. They will slow down their offense and Golden State can't play at a slow pace. Memphis wins in six, but will lose to the mighty Spurs. These two teams know each other pretty well, but I see the Spurs winning in seven at the FedEx Forum, of all places, on their way to a third straight Finals appearance.
WCF Champ: San Antonio
NBA Finals:
(1) Atlanta vs (6) San Antonio
In a matchup of team chemistry against team chemistry, this will be a display of beautiful basketball at it's finest. Not a lopsided series like a year-ago, and it will go seven games and the Spurs will repeat as championships for the first time in their history. Pop and Tim Duncan both retire and ride off into the sunset, while rebuilding gets underway in San Antonio. (Leonard will be offered big money elsewhere this summer) Tony Parker wins the MVP. You read it here first.
2015 NBA Champion: San Antonio
Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway10) says:
East
It won't be easy for the Cavaliers but after tough battles against the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving will lead their club to the NBA Finals. Atlanta’s big men will push the series to Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals but that’s when James will take control and finish off the Hawks. Atlanta doesn’t have an answer for LeBron. Paul Millsap will do the best he can in guarding LeBron but it won’t be enough to slow him down.
The Cavs have the weakest bench in this year’s playoffs but have the deepest starting lineup in the Eastern Conference. Don’t overlook Iman Shumpert’s great one-on-one defense. It’s was something they were missing in the backcourt, the addition of him and J.R. Smith has made them a better team on both ends of the floor.
Eastern Confereance Finals:
Atlanta vs Cleveland
ECF Champs: Cleveland
West
The Western Conference playoff games that we’re about to witness will be legendary. There will be plenty of hero ball to see when (soon to be MVP) Steph Curry dances his way into the NBA Finals. Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut will provide plenty of scoring and rebounding down low and will help get them past the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. The Splash Brothers will of course get their buckets but rebounding and scoring in the paint will hurt the Spurs most, especially with David Lee and Marresse Speights coming off the bench and cleaning up the glass. The Warriors’ depth will overpower the Spurs in six games.
The San Antonio Spurs will fall short against Golden State in what could be the last run for the Popovich’s big three. Tony Parker is the only one out of the three who is under contract for next season. However, I don’t see Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili retiring or signing with another club this summer. They’ll most likely return next season and take a final crack at winning another NBA title.
Western Conference Finals:
Golden State vs San Antonio
NBA Finals:
Golden State vs Cleveland
(LeBron James vs. Steph Curry in the NBA Finals)
It will be a classic. Cleveland has plenty of offense to counter Golden State’s outside shooting but the Cavs lack an inside presence. Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson are good rebounders but they’re going to have trouble guarding Draymond Green in the post. Harrison Barnes and Green will probably take turns guarding LeBron James, and Andre Igoudala will probably be in the mix too. Those are three good defenders who will wear James down throughout the series. The Warriors are too deep for the Cavs. Golden State wins in six games.
NBA Champs: Golden State
Overall It should be a playoff for the ages, probably better than last year's that featured five-game 7's in the first round. Who do you have winning it all?
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