If you read my post from a little over two weeks ago, I said, before the playoffs started, that I felt like the NBA Playoffs were a 4-team race between the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers. So far, my prediction is right on schedule. I predicted that the Rockets would face off against the 76ers in the finals and nothing in the playoffs so far has shown me that this prediction will not come to fruition.
Both the Rockets and the 76ers handily won their first round series 4 - 1. The Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves with an onslaught of 3-point baskets, tough defense and crisp ball movement from James Harden and his fellow teammates. For the 76ers, they handled the Miami Heat like true world beaters, with dynamite passing from Ben Simmons, clutch shots by J.J. Redick and great post play by Joel Embiid. Embiid even missed the first two games of the series, but it did not make a difference.
Golden State defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to move on to the second round, but they did struggle throughout the series. The Spurs did not have their best player, Kawhi Leonard, due to injury, yet the Spurs kept most of the games close. Now the Warriors also did not have one of their best players, Point Guard Steph Curry, but they still should have put up a much better effort, especially since they are the defending champions.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in a dog fight (metaphorically) with the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs lead their series 3 - 2, and unless the Pacers shock everyone in the sports world, the Cavs will be moving on to the next round. Though they are leading their series, the Cavs do not look like a team that can challenge the 76ers in the East. They have continued their sloppy play and look quite vulnerable to young, fast teams with good outside shooting, exactly what the 76ers have.
As for the others series' in the East, no teams in the Washington Wizards vs Toronto Raptors series, nor the Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics series look like they can challenge the 76ers or even the struggling Cavaliers.
As for in the West, the Utah Jazz still look like they are going to eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder, up 3 - 2 in their series. The New Orleans Pelicans swept the #3 seed Portland Trailblazers in four games, setting up a matchup with the Golden State Warriors in round 2. After the addition of Nikola Mirotic at the trade deadline, the Pelicans have looked like a dangerous team. They are the only team that I could see throwing a wrench into my predictions. They have the outside game with Mirotic and Jrue Holiday, as well as the post game with All-Star Anthony Davis (don't forget Rajon Rando running the point position), but I do still believe that the Warriors have too much firepower and will defeat the Pelicans in a hard fought matchup. And I do believe the Rockets will defeat either the Jazz or the Thunder, handily.
In conclusion, I still see a matchup between the Rockets and 76ers in the finals. Both teams look like the strongest in their conferences and are playing with a lot of fire and attitude. What do you guys think will happen? Let me know and thanks for reading!
