NBA Playoffs 2018: Questions, Concerns, and Predictions
#NBAPlayoffs
30 teams entered the season. 82 games and 7 months later, 16 have survived and earned a chance to compete for a place in history. The NBA Playoffs are finally here, and here is everything you need to know.
Raptors (1) vs. Wizards (8)
The Raptors had the best record in the East this season. Let that sink in for a moment, and then consider why we’re barely talking about it. Why? Their playoff history. The Raptors have proven themselves to be a strong regular season team the last half-decade, but have followed those seasons with disappointing playoff performances year after year. The Wizards, on the other hand, have had an up-and-down year, as usual, but they have an irrational confidence that the Raptors need, which could make things very interesting.
Lowkey Question: Being the #1 seed means you’re expected to go far in the playoffs. With a reputation of lackluster playoff play, can the Raptors handle the pressure?
Prediction: Raptors in 6.
Celtics (2) vs. Bucks (7)
Boston is without their two best players in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, and they’ll likely be without Marcus Smart, too, so it’s to their credit — and Brad Stevens’ in particular — that you still can’t quite count them out. The Bucks will have the best player in the series, and you can make the argument that they have the second best player, too. That being said, they have been shaky all season. Things will get awkward if they struggle against this Celtics team, so it’ll be on Mr. Antetokounmpo to truly cement his superstar status.
Lowkey Question: Can Giannis prove that he can carry a team deep into the playoffs like LeBron?
Prediction: Bucks in 7.
Sixers (3) vs. Heat (6)
This is what Sixers’ fans have been waiting for. Their team is finally back in the playoffs after a grueling few years as the NBA laughingstock, and they finished the season on a sixteen-game win-streak, mostly without Joel Embiid. They’re a young team, but they don’t seem like it. On the other side, the Heat are a tough team with playoff experience and savvy, as well as a trusted go-to-closer in Dwyane Wade, which can’t be ignored. We don’t know when Embiid will return, but nonetheless, this is gonna be fun.
Lowkey Question: Is Ben Simmons the best player on the Sixers roster?
Prediction: Sixers in 6.
Cavaliers (4) vs. Pacers (5)
Who would’ve thought the Pacers would be here after trading Paul George this summer? It’s been one heck of a season for the Pacers, who are now playing with house money, but in the post-season, you get a whole different LeBron James, and as good as Victor Oladipo is, he won’t be shutting LeBron down. With the trade deadline rebuild the Cavs executed, they also acquired several young players with no playoff experience, which could potentially become a factor, but this Pacers match-up should be a good warm-up.
Lowkey Question: Will playing all 82 games of the regular season come back to haunt LeBron?
Prediction: Cavaliers in 4.
Rockets (1) vs. Wolves (8)
It took 13 seasons for the streak to end, but the Wolves are back in the playoffs, this time as the result of a do-or-die game on the last night of the regular season. The Rockets torched the league this season, but like the #1 seed in the East, they— Chris Paul and James Harden, to be specific — have had lackluster post-season success. Similarly, the pressure is all on them, while the Wolves have nothing to lose, which is always a dangerous combo. Between Tom Thibodeau, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, and Jamal Crawford, the Wolves don’t necessarily have less playoff experience than the Rockets, too.
Lowkey Question: Can Chris Paul and James Harden exorcise their playoff demons?
Prediction: Rockets in 6.
Warriors (2) vs. Spurs (7)
We’ve been waiting for a Warriors rematch with the Spurs ever since Kawhi Leonard was forced out of last season’s playoff match-up, but who would’ve thought it would happen in the first round? Golden State will be without Stephen Curry and the Spurs look like they’ll be without Kawhi Leonard, which takes the luster off of this match-up, but it’s still an interesting match-up. Time to see how critical Stephen Curry really is to the Warriors.
Lowkey Question: Will LaMarcus Aldridge show up?
Prediction: Warriors in 5.
Blazers (3) vs. Pelicans (6)
Which of these two teams have been more surprising? The Blazers have somehow made a leap without greatly altering their roster, and the Pelicans have managed to survive despite losing DeMarcus Cousins, thanks to a few mid-season acquisitions in Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic. Anthony Davis has been a monster since DeMarcus went down, and Jrue Holiday just quietly played the best season of his career. On the flip side, the Blazers have found another level with a more reliable defence thanks to last season’s mid-season acquisition of Jusuf Nurkic.
Lowkey Question: If the Pelicans hold their own in this series, will we start wondering if they’re better off without DeMarcus?
Prediction: Blazers in 6.
Thunder (4) vs. Jazz (5)
Looking at the rosters for these two teams, you may think that the Thunder will run away with this, but it will be much closer than you think. The Jazz have a great defense, anchored by Rudy Gobert and supported by solid defenders all around him, and just enough offense that you can’t dismiss them. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Donovan Mitchell can bring his excellent play into the playoffs with teams game-planning for him much more thoroughly. On the other side, it’s time to see if Melo reverts back to his hero-ball self after taking a backseat during the regular season.
Lowkey Question: Is Carmelo Anthony washed up?
Prediction: Thunder in 7.
