The playoffs have been underwhelming the past few years. The predictable Warriors Cavs coupled with ridiculous blowouts have made it hard to watch. The West has awesome talent, but Warriors Rockets is inevitable. That is going to happen.
The East, on the other hand, a total crapshoot. I genuinely believe any of the teams can make the Finals….. except for the Wizards, because they are dysfunctional and John Wall is the most overrated player in the league.
1. Raptors
Kyle Lowry is absolutely horrendous in the playoffs, which is because he is usually worn down and he is older than people realize. He is playing the least amount of minutes in the last 5 years, and that is definitely calculated due to just how awful he’s been come playoff time. But I’m not sure that will make a difference, because the playoffs are simply a different animal. The Raptors are 1-11 all-time in playoff Game 1s.
I have no confidence this team is a lock to do anything, I don’t care that people are saying, this is the Raptors year. I wouldn’t consider it an upset for them to get taken down in round 1. If they end up facing the Milwaukee Bucks I genuinely believe it goes 7 games. I am a huge Heat fan, but we don’t match up great with the Raptors, they will likely beat us in 5.
***When the #1 seed has a history of choking in the playoffs, that leaves the door wide open.
2. Celtics
The Celtics have been a lot of fun to watch, but they are still very very young. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are hugely important on the team. Gordon Hayward is not coming back. Kyrie & Al Horford have the experience, but thats about it, and this team is still completely different than last years. This is essentially Year 1 for this team. I would really love to see them make the Eastern Conference Finals, but if a match up with the Cavs happens in round 2, that will be the real Eastern Conference Finals in my eyes.
3. Indiana Pacers
This is what I mean when I say the East is crazy wide open. The Indiana Pacers have gotten no respect the entire year, yet they are the #3 Seed! Oladipo is suddenly a superstar, yes I said it, not an all star, a superstar. Myles Turner is back. Lance is doing Lance things, and Sabonis is a very solid player. Bojan Bogdanovic is averaging just under 18 points per game on 53 percent shooting from the floor and 47 percent from deep the past 15 games. Its safe to say before the year started literally no-one predicted they would be set to host an opening round playoff series. The Pacers are 9-3 in their past 12 games
4. Cavaliers
They have Lebron James. Thats all the matters, and its kind of sad. No combination of players in the East can beat him, even when the team is as sorry as they have been this year. The playoffs are just a different animal. Its 10 days of playing the same team over and over & Lebron has the highest IQ in the league. He slowly dissects teams game by game.
I think Kevin Love will be in a good place when he comes back but they really may only have 5-8 games for him, Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson to get a rhythm. I am picking the Cavs to come out of the East, but I really hope its someone else. Warriors Cavs for a fourth straight year will really make me unhappy. Its not good for the league, its just not.
5. Washington Wizards
Brad Beal and John Wall don’t like each other. I am worried this team is in for an implosion when he comes back. It is going to take 5 games for him to get back in a rhythm, and the playoffs are nearing everyday. John Wall is an egomaniac and when the teams starts losing when he comes back fingers will be pointed and there won’t be enough left in the season to fix it. He just isn’t a good teammate. They are losing in the first round this year.
6. Philadelphis 76ers
Joel Embiid is the most entertaining player in the league, & Ben Simmons is the next GOAT. The East is so wide open, and this team has so much talent, that they could actually make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. I have a feeling the intensity of playoff basketball will catch these two surprised, but I Trust The Process!! I think it totally depends on who they draw in the first round. If they gets the Cavs, they lose, but if they get the Pacers they win.
7. Milwaukee Bucks
Any team with the Greek Freek can’t be overlooked. Eric Bledsoe, Kris Midleton, and a nice cast of characters. I seriously think they are going to get at least 2 games of the Raptors in the first round, and if the Raptors blow Game 1 like they do every year, the Bucks have a serious chance to win this series.
8. Miami Heat
D Wadeeeee baby. The Heat are my team so the bias is obvious. I think we have a chance to make a push, because of our depth. We are literally 10-12 players deep and in a playoff series that gives Spo every option he needs in terms of rolling out lineups he deems as mismatches. Lucky for us Heat fans, D Wade hasn’t spent much energy the last 2 years and he is looking like the superstar of old. Dragic, Whiteside, & Wade are the three headed push, but we have incredible role players.
Josh Richardson may be the best overall player on the team. Rodney Mcgruder is back, no-one knows who he is but trust me he’s a difference maker. He is basically Wayne Ellington but can play defense. Bam Adebayo, James Johnson, Olynyk, Tyler Johnson, etc. Im telling you we have a chance to make a push!
**Because all the seeding is so up in the air, I am unable to make round by round predictions. With that being said, no matter what seed the Cavs end up with, Lebron James is going to his 8th straight finals.
