Finally, the best time in basketball has arrived. After an eventful 82 game season and 4 play-in games, the NBA Playoffs are underway with several teams poised to make a run at an NBA Championship. With that, comes playoff predictions from any and every source. The barber you go to once a week, all the way to your co-worker has an idea of who will hoist up the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.
Nevertheless, we are here to make some predictions of our own.
Here at The Scope we pride ourselves on providing the best takes possible based on our knowledge of the game, our understanding of matchups, and years of studying the NBA.
Both creators of The Scope will give their predictions for each series, as well as key factors that will lead to the success, or failure for each team.
Eastern Conference
№2 Boston Celtics vs. №7 Atlanta Hawks
Key Factors (Caleb) — When you look at Boston and the depth of their team it’s hard not to look at this series and think this will be a clean sweep. Between the balanced scoring of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, matched with the defensive presence of Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III, Al Horford, and Grant Williams –the Celtics have it all. Atlanta struggles on the defensive side of the ball, and I’m not too sure they’ll be able to out score the Celtics. Boston is ranked #2 in offensive rating, while being #3 in defensive rating. Although the Hawks are a top 10 offensive team– where they struggle is the defensive side. They are in the bottom half of the league in terms of defensive rating. Trae Young will have to play EXTRAordinary in order for Atlanta to have a chance in this series, but look for guys like John Collins and Saddiq Bey to step up in this series. The key for Atlanta is getting Dejountue Murray and Deandre Hunter going as well as creating open opportunities for Bogdan Bogdanovic. Should be an entertaining series with some explosive offensive games from some of the young stars in the league.
Key Factors (Mancer) — As Caleb mentioned, it would take some extraordinary play from Trae Young for Atlanta to have a chance in this series. It’s not like he isn’t capable, but I don’t see Boston’s defense allowing Trae to get into a rhythm. They have a lot of willing defenders and won’t be short of bodies to throw on Trae, while also hunting him on the defensive end. It’ll be hard for Trae to sustain a high level of play with Boston’s defense, but Dejountue Murray should be able to make up for that a little. If he can stay downhill and get to the free throw line, I can see Atlanta taking Boston to 6 games. He has the ability to put pressure on Boston’s defense and find shooters for Atlanta. (Bogdan Bogdanovic’ and Deandre Hunter being the shooters I speak of). I trust Boston’s defense in this series.
Caleb’s Pick — Celtics in 6
Mancer’s Pick — Celtics in 5
№3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. №6 Brooklyn Nets
Key Factors (Caleb) — When you talk about a team that has a lot to prove in the postseason, Philly is at the top of MY list. With MVP front-runner Joel Embiid, former MVP James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and P.J. Tucker — Philly is poised to make a deep run. In this matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, we will see if Joel Embiid can maximize his touches, as well as see Harden control the pace of this Philly offense. Defensively they will have their hands full with the likes of Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Cam Johnson. What the Nets lack in star power, they make up for with depth and grittiness — which can give you all the opportunity you need to change a series. Unfortunately, Brooklyn just doesn’t have the depth to handle Embiid inside. Besides Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe, the Nets have no depth inside making it extremely difficult for them to win this series. This will be a learning experience for the young core of Brooklyn, but ultimately the 76ers have way too much fire power.
Key Factors (Mancer) -To make it quick: James Harden is the key factor. Throughout the 2023 Playoffs, he is the guy that Philly will need increased output from. We know that they have the best player in the league in Joel. I expect the Nets to do everything in their power to keep the ball out of his hands, and double him as much as they can afford. Nic Claxton guarding Joel will be fun to see though. I don’t want to downplay Embiid, but I expect him to get to the free throw line at will, which will in return slow the game down and work in Philly’s favor. This is where I expect James Harden to excel, particularly in the pick and roll. I think that Philly makes a statement with this series. The Nets go into the postseason with a large reason for their positioning being from the KD and Kyrie era. Mikal Bridges has been great for them, and I expect that to continue. The game works in the Nets’ favor if they get out and run, allowing their (streaky) shooters to get out and spot up. I can see Brooklyn winning two games.
Caleb’s Pick — Sixers in 5
Mancer’s Pick — Sixers in 6
№4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. №5 New York Knicks
Key Factors (Caleb) — This to me will be the most entertaining series in the Eastern Conference. You have two balanced teams that are youthful but also have playoff experience. As far as matchups go, I really like Julius Randle vs. Even Mobley. Mobley has been making a case all season to make an All-Defensive Team in only his second year. However, he will have his hands full having to contain Julius Randle from getting down hill and creating opportunities at the line. Mobley will also have the help of 2022 All-Star Jarrett Allen whose presence is always felt in the paint. Guard play will be a huge factor and ultimately decide this series. With Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell on one side, and Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley, and R.J. Barrett be on the other side — we should be treated to a great series. An X-Factor in this series will be Knicks’ sixth man Josh Hart who has come in and sparked a grit in this New York team that they have been missing. The Cavs are the best defensive team in the league and will test New York’s potent offense. Shot making is a must in any playoff series, but especially in one where Mobley and Allen control the paint.
Key Factors (Mancer) — I’m with Caleb on this being the most interesting series in the first round by far. Jalen Brunson has proven himself as an elite guard in this league, and his ability to keep the Knicks under control is huge. The Knicks have a huge burden on their hands with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, and they have a legitimate pick and roll/pop threat in Evan Mobley. Julius Randle has proved his ability to at least be a threat from the three point line. I expect him to be forced to put the ball on the floor a lot in this series, and whether that’ll work in his favor or not depends on his shot selection. He has developed a solid handle for his position and this allows him to take advantage of many of his matchups. This series will be slightly different, with Cleveland being able to throw Mobley on Julius. Between the high level guard play on both ends and in the frontcourt, I expect this to be a six or seven game series. Shoutout to RJ Barrett on his improved play, he’s made his case for being the third pick in that stacked 2019 draft. Between him and Brunson going downhill, Cleveland will have a lot on their hands. Donovan Mitchell is still the best player in this series, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets upset. This is a really good Knicks team with slightly more grit than Cleveland.
Caleb’s Pick — Cavs in 7
Mancer’s Pick — Knicks in 7
Western Conference
№2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. №7 Los Angeles Lakers
Key Factors (Caleb) — I’m gonna be honest, if you know me, you know who I pick. But in order to preserve fairness and keep my credibility — I’ll explain my reasoning. Don’t get me wrong, Memphis has everything it takes to make a deep run. They have elite guard play with star Ja Morant and Tyus Jones running the second unit, elite shooting from guards like Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard. Pair that with the menacing defense of Dillon Brooks and paint coverage of Jaren Jackson Jr. The Grizzlies could sweep any 7 seed any other year in the West. But this year is different. They are playing the Los Angeles Lakers, who are led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Since the trade deadline back in February, the Lakers have posed the best record and are clicking on all cylinders. They have tremendous depth at the guard position but will have to neutralize Morant in transition. If the Lakers are making shots with LeBron facilitating and controlling the pace of the game, I don’t see the Lakers losing this series. Memphis will obviously have a “anybody but” Bron and AD mentality but look to D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dennis Shchroder to step up when called upon.
Key Factors (Mancer) — The Grizzlies will win this series. Aside from them being a complete team with much more experience playing together than the Lakers, they have a top five defense in the NBA for a reason. With this being said though, I do think that Steven Adams being missing for the playoffs will haunt them in this series and going forward, but not enough against LA. Ja Morant will be hard to slow down, specifically because Memphis has the ability to play through their role guys, as they’ve proven these past two years, with winning records while Ja has been out. I expect the Lakers to win at least two games, and possibly three. But they haven’t shown me that they can consistently play through Anthony Davis, which is pivotal at this point in the season. The Lakers will win a few games on the sole shoulders of LeBron, but until he can consistently knock down the three, the Grizzlies have favorable odds at keeping him passive. I’m looking for Anthony Davis to carry in order for me to be proven wrong on my prediction for this series. Memphis’ core has been together for 3 years now, and it’s been evident as coach Taylor Jenkins has them playing extremely efficiently with their shot selection. I look forward to amazing performances from Bron and AD, though.
Caleb’s Pick — Lakers in 6
Mancer’s Pick — Grizzlies in 7
№3 Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors
Key Factors (Caleb) — This series has a chance to be a straight shootout. Between the Kings’ potent offense led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, to the Warriors’ fast paced and motion filled offense spearheaded by Stephen Curry. This series will come down to the defensive end, which is typically how playoff series are decided, but is especially true in this series. The Kings have a dynamic offense that has an amplitude of weapons. They are one of the most dangerous teams in transition — led by De’Aaron Fox who is a nightmare on the break. Kevin Huerter has turned into one of the most reliable role players in the league, and Sabonis terrorizes defenses with his versatility. Their bench has solid scoring coming from Malik Monk and pieces like Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes complete this team. However, on the other end we have the Golden State Warriors. This season has surely had its ups and downs for the Dubs, but we all have to remember, who exactly this team is. They have the two best shooters in NBA history in their backcourt and retained a solid core from their championship a year ago. Another thing we have to remember is that experience plays a huge part in beating a team in a seven game series. When it comes to experience the Warriors have that in abundance. I believe Steph Curry will step up and be who his team will need him to be, but I’m especially intrigued to see how Draymond Green and Kevon Looney defend Sabonis this series. Look for Jordan Poole to play an important role throughout the series, with the defense keying in on Steph and Klay. I’m excited to see how this series plays out and I hope we can have some high scoring games in the process.
Key Factors (Mancer) — The Kings have been a great story this year for the league. They play a very fun brand of basketball, led by De’Aaron Fox and his fast paced style. This series should be decided by which brand of Golden State Warriors we get. They’ve shown their ability to blow leads and force the issue at times that has led to a shaky road record. But with a confident Klay Thompson coming off of a good playoff showing last year, I expect Golden State to be clicking as we’ve become accustomed to seeing them be. The Kings have a good bench and really good shooting, which should be reason for Golden State to be wary of when getting down, in particular on the road. Jordan Poole has been the guy since he’s gotten to Golden State that sets the tone in the playoffs for GSW. If he can get going, he takes the load off of Steph on the shot creation side of things and in return gets guys like Kuminga and DiVincenzo going. To me, the Warriors are the scariest when the ball isn’t even having to touch Steph’s hands for them to get a quality look. Not to mention, Andrew Wiggins is cleared to return in this series, so I will assume that he’ll be playing at some point. He’s settled into his role in Golden State nicely, and has essentially fit into the Harrison Barnes prototype with a higher ceiling and a much more trusted scoring option. I expect Golden State to go as far as they allow themselves to go in these playoffs.
Caleb’s Pick — Warriors in 6
Mancer’s Pick — Warriors in 6
№4 Phoenix Suns vs. №5 Los Angeles Clippers
Key Factors (Caleb) — We get a heavyweight championship in the first round. Out of all the series in the first round, this may be the toughest series for me to choose a winner. To me, these are the two best teams in the West when healthy. Both teams could make it to the conference finals, if they weren’t squaring off in the first round. The new look Suns are undefeated when Kevin Durant is in the lineup — do with this information as you wish. I look at it as an obvious indicator that teams are going to struggle defending this team. Between Booker and Durant killing from all three levels and Chris Paul running the show — they have Deandre Ayton who is one of the most underrated players in the league. If Chris Paul can control the tempo of this series and get KD and Book the ball in their spots, the Clippers are going to have to make a ton of adjustments to take these guys out of their rhythm. It is nice for the Clippers that they have “The Fun Guy” Kawhi Leonard, who we all know can be the best player in any series. When the playoffs come around Kawhi goes from load managing superstar, to unguardable “Hall of Famer”. I’m not kidding, Kawhi Leonard turns it up to a level that only a few list of guys can get to. It would help if he had his co-star Paul George out there with him, but it is highly unlikely that we will see the 2023 All-Star. The Clippers have great depth and that will be their best weapon when taking on this high powered Suns team. Even though this Clippers team has plenty of firepower, I’m not quite sure they will be able to outplay Phoenix. The fans will definitely get their money’s worth in this epic first round battle.
Key Factors (Mancer) — This is going to be my favorite series to watch in the first round, by far. Two teams stacked with experience and elite players, both well coached, and both have championship aspirations. Paul George recently stated on his Podcast P show that he’d been working 6 days a week to get back, which makes me believe that he’ll give it a shot in this series at some point. A lot will be riding on Kawhi Leonard and Terrance Mann as the two top wing defenders for LAC. They have to excel in limiting Devin Booker’s looks, and as for KD; I expect him to get his looks and show up eager to disprove his first round exit last year to Boston. Kevin Durant is the best player in this series, but not too far behind him is Kawhi. This makes me believe that LAC can keep the series within arms reach, regardless of going down in the series. Kawhi will be able to get to his spots the same way that Kevin Durant can, and the Suns will not have an answer for it. He’ll be able to initiate offense until Paul George returns, but it’ll have to be done this way for the Clips to get the best looks each time down the floor. Chris Paul and Devin Booker being able to take the load of scoring and playmaking away from Kevin Durant will allow him to operate in a style that allows him to be the shot maker that he is. We saw last year with Brooklyn when KD had to be the initial creator when Kyrie wasn’t in, and this worked in Boston’s favor. Phoenix will exceed in being able to put KD in his best positions to score. It’s a match made in Heaven. I will be paying attention to Bones Hyland in this series to see if he can help the Clippers with some creation.
Caleb’s Pick — Suns in 7
Mancer’s Pick — Suns in 7
No matter the outcome of these playoffs we will all be treated to some exciting basketball. Stay tuned as The Scope will have more playoff updates, as well as end of season awards articles coming during the playoffs.
