Here’s what the NBA Playoffs would look like if they were played today. I predict the match ups, too.
Eastern Conference
Conference Quarterfinals (First Round)
1.Milwaukee Bucks 4
8.Orlando Magic 1
Orlando had success a year ago in a six game series loss to the eventual champion Raptors, but its hard to see them playing with the Bucks longer than five games.
4.Miami Heat 4
5.Indiana Pacers 3
Wing Jimmy Butler outduels Victor Oladipo in a classic four-five opening round series. Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth.
3.Boston Celtics 4
6.Philadelphia 76ers 3
I spy a potential “upset”. With the way the inconsistent 76ers played before the quarantine, I can see them winning two or three in this series. Philadelphia’s talent level is great but Boston clings to a series win with the play of young pieces Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
2.Toronto Raptors 2
7.Brooklyn Nets 4
Despite the inconsistent and most of the time injury-prone Kyrie Irving, he outduels a Raptors team that doesn’t have Kawhi Leonard anymore to fall back on.
Western Conference
Conference Quarterfinals (First Round)
1.Los Angeles Lakers 4
8.Memphis Grizzlies 2
Young players Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson show that the Grizzlies won’t go down without a fight, but are nowhere near the level of superstars LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers.
4.Utah Jazz 4
5.Oklahoma City Thunder 2
Despite the consistent play of veteran point guard Chris Paul, Utah’s talent (Guard Donavan Mitchell and Center Rudy Gobert) are too much for their division rival.
3.Denver Nuggets 3
6.Houston Rockets 4
This would be a fun, high scoring series. But the Rockets have James Harden and he pulls them to a tough seven game series win.
2.Los Angeles Clippers 4
7.Dallas Mavericks 2
What many people believe to be a six or even seven game series does not disappoint. Mavs Guard Luka Doncic shows that he’s next but the defensive tandem of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George defending the Mavs’ superstar throttles Doncic and the rest of the Mavericks. LA wins in six.
Eastern Conference
Conference Semifinals (Second Round)
1.Milwaukee Bucks 4
4.Miami Heat 2
A fun match up between superstar Forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler. The play of Bucks Guard Khris Middelton leads the Bucks to a six game series win and the conference finals.
3.Boston Celtics 4
7.Brooklyn Nets 1
The Celtics’ defense stymies their old teammate Kyrie Irving. They dominate the Nets, and in just five games punch their ticket to the conference finals.
Western Conference
Conference Semifinals (Second Round)
1.Los Angeles Lakers 4
4.Utah Jazz 2
The play of LeBron James gets the Lakers back to the conference finals for the first time since 2010.
2.Los Angeles Clippers 4
7.Houston Rockets 3
Just like in their first round series, Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George show that they are elite defenders and deny Rockets Guard James Harden a buzzer beater in game seven.
Eastern Conference
Conference Finals (Third Round)
1.Milwaukee Bucks 4
3.Boston Celtics 3
Giannis Antentokounmpo dominates the Celtics in game seven and leads them to the NBA finals.
Western Conference
Conference Finals (Third Round)
1.Los Angeles Lakers 4
2.Los Angeles Clippers 3
LeBron sinks a buzzer-beater to send the Lakers to a match up with the Bucks everyone saw coming.
Eastern/Western Conference
NBA Finals (Fourth Round)
1.Milwaukee Bucks 4
1.Los Angeles Lakers 3
The difference in the series is Milwaukee’s supporting cast outplays that of the Lakers. Giannis outduels LeBron in game seven and brings a championship to Milwaukee.
Projected Winner:Milwaukee Bucks
