Month: May 2018

I’m making this prediction right after game seven of the Western Conference Finals so let’s get into it.

2.Golden State Warriors 4
4.Cleveland Cavaliers 2

Golden State will use their offense to win the series but first they will have to use their killer defense to defend the new Cavs that they will be playing. Kevin Durant has to be consistent and if he is every game, this series will be a sweep. If the Warriors get a couple of eight to ten three point games from Klay Thompson that will help improve their chances. If Steph Curry is on the whole team is on and if they get Andre Iguodala back from injury as a strong threat the series will not be long. Now where do the Cavs have the advantage? LeBron James will be on and we know that but will guys like Jeff Green,George Hill,Tristan Thompson and bench players like Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. play well. While the Cavaliers definitely have a chance I do not see the Warriors have any trouble the fourth time through with the Cavs.

So-this is the start of my summer grind .Let’s get it.

LeBron James getting his twelfth All-NBA first team honors and Klay Thompon getting snubbed of any All-NBA team is just one set of drama with the NBA awards so far.Let’s get into them-

2018 All-NBA Teams

1st Team
G: Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers
G: James Harden, SG/PG, Houston Rockets
F: Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors
F: LeBron James, SF/PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
C: Anthony Davis, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans

Commentary: The three MVP candidates (Davis, Harden, and James) are great picks. Damian Lillard has had his best season in his career averaging twenty-six points per game. Kevin Durant is a no brainer do to his seven foot height at the small forward (or shooting guard) position. All of these guys are very deserving and I don’t think any of these guys deserve and lower.

2nd Team
G: Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
G: DeMar DeRozan, SG, Toronto Raptors
F: Giannis Anteokoumpo, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks
F: LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs
C: Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Commentary: Russell Westbrook might’ve averaged another triple double all season but last season was more special due to LeBron James’ amazing fifteenth season, James Harden and the Rockets best record in the NBA, and Anthony Davis’ dominance. Russell is very deserving,though. DeMar DeRozan’s jump shot was finally existent as he lead Toronto to the first seed in the eastern conference. Giannis is a freak of nature who has a great future in this league. While some people think LaMarcus Aldridge is not deserving for this award, he has been very consistent for a very inconsistent Spurs team. Joel Embiid has played more games than any other season of his career and has been a defensive monster.

3rd Team
G:Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
G:Victor Oladipo, PG, Indiana Pacers
F:Jimmy Butler, SF/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves
F:Paul George, SF/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
C:Karl Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Commentary: The only reason I think Steph Curry is not on the first or second team is due to his injury. Victor Oladipo has had the best season of his career. Jimmy Butler despite being injured is deserving. While Paul George has only averaged twenty-one points per game this season he has still played very well for the Thunder. Karl-Anthony Towns is very deserving as well.

2018 All-NBA Defensive Teams

1st Team
G: Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans
G: Victor Oladipo, PG, Indiana Pacers
F: Robert Covington, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers
F: Anthony Davis, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans
C: Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz

Commentary: Wile all of these players are deserving I don’t see how Joel Embiid is not on the team. Holiday, Oladipo, Davis ,and Gobert are all deserving but I feel like Embiid would switch out with 76ers teammate Robert Covington.

2nd Team
G: Dejounte Murray, PG, San Antonio Spurs
G:Jimmy Butler ,SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
F:Draymond Green, PF/SF, Golden State Warriors
C:Al Horford, C/PF, Boston Celtics
C:Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Commentary: Murray, Butler, Green,and Horford have all earned this honor consistently. Joel Embiid deserves defensive first team though.

2018 All-Rookie Teams

1st Team
G: Ben Simmons,PG/PF/SF, Philadelphia 76ers
G: Donavan Mitchell,SG/PG, Utah Jazz
G: Jayson Tatum, SG/SF, Boston Celtics
F: Kyle Kuzma,PF, LA Lakers
F:Lauri Markkanen, PF, Chicago Bulls

Commentary: Guards Ben Simmons and Donavan Mitchell are likely to be co-rookies of the year but other Rookie of the Year finalist Jayson Tatum is very deserving as well. Kuzma and Markkanen have both been great big men who can stretch the floor for the Lakers and Bulls respectively.

2nd Team
G: Lonzo Ball, PG, LA Lakers
G: Dennis Smith Jr., PG, Dallas Mavericks
G: Bojan Bogdanovic, SG, Sacramento Kings
F: Josh Jackson, SF, Phoenix Suns
F: John Collins, PF, Atlanta Hawks

Lonzo Ball played well in his first season but has little areas in his game to clean up. Dennis Smith Jr. and his athleticism have gotten him these honors and Bojan Bogdanovic has a great future as a Kings guard. Josh Jackson and John Collins are forwards who have improved not so great teams this season (Suns and Hawks).

Eastern Conference
2.Boston Celtics 2
4.Cleveland Cavaliers 4

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers may be too hot right now to lose to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics and the Cavaliers will meet for the second straight time in the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James will be too good. I have the Cavs winning in six.

Western Conference
1.Houston Rockets 4
2.Golden State Warriors 3

This may be the most even Western Conference Finals during the Warriors’ four year run in them against the Rockets. Will they make their fourth straight NBA Finals? I predict not.I have James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, and the Rockets spacing leading them to a seven game series win over the Golden State Warriors.

Sorry guys, I’m coming out with my conference semifinal picks now, as it is a little late but let’s get into it.

Eastern Conference
1.Toronto Raptors
4.Cleveland Cavaliers 1
The Cavs took game one in overtime after the Raptors led by more than ten.LeBron James put up a triple double and is still doing it during his fiteenth season in the NBA. I like the Raptors to win the next couple of games but LeBron and the Cavs are on fire, so I will the give the series to them in seven games. Predicted Series Score: 4-3

2.Boston Celtics 1
3.Philadelphia 76ers
There’s been no excuse for the injury-riddle Celtics to even be in this series. The Bucks choked it away against Boston,and now the Celtics are up a game against Philadelphia. Even if Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and the 76ers’ shooters play well through this series, I don’t see the Celtics losing this series. Predicted Series Score: 4-3

Western Conference
1.Houston Rockets 1
5.Utah Jazz
While Rookie of the Year candidate and Jazz Guard Donavan Mitchell led the Jazz past the Thunder in round one, MVP lead candidate and Rockets Guard James Harden scored forty-one points in the Rockets’ game one victory over the Jazz. Expect the Jazz to come out better in game two,but with playmaking Guard Ricky Rubio out of the lineup, I think this is a five game series.Predicted Series Score: 4-1

2.Golden State Warriors 4
6.New Orleans Pelicans 1
Golden State blew New Orleans out in game one, and when Steph Curry came back from injury in game two, even when the Pelicans came to play,he scored twenty-eight points off the bench to lead them to a five point win in game two. The way this series is looking, the Warriors look unbeatable but I will give the Pelicans one game in this series. Predicted Series Score: