Predictions for the first round of the Western Conference playoffs
We've looking into our crystal ball to see how the playoff bracket will evolve.
The NBA playoffs begin in earnest on Saturday and the results of four Game 1s could set the tone for how the rest of the postseason will unfold. Here, we're giving our best effort to predict how the Eastern Conference and Western Conference will play out and lead to what should be a dramatic NBA Finals in June.
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans/Sacramento Kings
Nobody seems to trust the Thunder despite them proving their worth all season long and earning the No. 1 seed in the West. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeious-Alexander is as good and clutch as they come and Chet Holmgren is one of the best two-way rookies in a long time. Mix in Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey and all of a sudden you're staring at one of the best starting fives in the NBA.
The Thunder aren't the deepest team in the league so an injury or foul troubles could prove costly, but so long as they can shed what ails most teams that are experiencing high-end playoff basketball for the first time they should be clear for takeoff in the first round. The Pelicans are in trouble without Zion Williamson so we see the Kings earning the No. 8 and losing to the Thunder in six games.
#2 Denver Nuggets vs. #7 Los Angeles Lakers
The Nuggets are a beast and they enter the postseason in fairly decent health with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic forming one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in the league. But the Lakers are nothing to sneeze at. Remember, the Lakers were swept the juggernaut Nuggets in four games last season but every game was competitive and these Lakers might be better.
Since the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8, the Nuggets are 22-9 and the Lakers are 21-10. But the sneaky-scary stat about L.A. is that they've averaged 121.2 points per game since then. That's No. 1 in the West and No. 2 in the NBA. Nobody thinks the Lakers can win and that's exactly why we're not sleeping on LeBron and A.D. Lakers in seven.
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. #6 Phoenix Suns
Nobody is on the Timberwolves bandwagon for a series against a Suns team that whipped them all three times they met during the regular season. From what we understand, the Timberwolves are aiming to take Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen out of the offensive picture as much as possible and take their chances with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
So long as Minnesota doesn't fall into giant holes in the first quarter, shoots like they're capable of and doesn't turn the ball over at an alarming rate, things should turn out in favor of the Timberwolves.
Minnesota has the best defense in the league. They're fully healthy with more depth than pretty much any team in the league and they have home-court advantage. There's no reason the Timberwolves can't take their game to another level and advance to the second round. Timberwolves in seven.
#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks
Is it just us or are the Mavericks the hottest team on the planet? Their hot streak coincides with the flurry of moves they made at the trade deadline. Since Feb. 8 they have a net rating of +5.9, which ranks fifth in the NBA. The Clippers' net rating since Feb. 8 is -1.9.
Kawhi Leonard, as of Wednesday, hasn't been cleared for five-on-five basketball so his status for the series is up in the air. Without him, the Clippers are dead. With him, they have chance. But even with Leonard we don't think the Clippers can get past a very talented, deep Mavericks team that is getting legendary performances from Luka Doncic. Mavericks in five.
