NBA 2024 Playoff Predictions!

NBA 2024 Playoff Predictions!

The NBA season is over. What a dog fight it was. The West playoff race went down to the wire. The Rockets, Warriors, and Kings did everything to earn a chance to make a run. The West was tough, as the fifth to tenth seeds all shared the same record. As for the East, we had a lot of surprises. Orlando Magic Rose Cleveland made a mid-season run. The Celtics were dominant. Teams have prepared after completing the 82 games. The goal is to pivot and win games. Key players, like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson, are out. Everyone is looking at the throne that the Nuggets are sitting on. The first round of the playoffs is where you show off the firepower you have. Either elite teams win a title, or we could see a team rise like a phoenix and take the championship for themselves. Here are my predictions for the first round of the playoffs.

Western Conference Prediction.

OKC #1 vs. Pelicans #8 w/o Zion: OKC Wins 4-0

The playoffs look bad for the New Orleans Pelicans. They are missing their star player, Zion Williamson. He had a legendary game against the Lakers. He dropped a massive 40 points and then went down with a hamstring injury. Now, the Pelicans are looking at a run without their franchise star. They had an impressive win tonight. They beat the Sacramento Kings. New Orleans is a top-10 defense team along with being a talented three-point shooting team. The pressure is on Brandon Ingram to carry the Pelicans in this series. Which will be a tough task moving forward. Along with the hopes that CJ McCullum steps up despite him regressing. Herb Jones will most likely take on the SGA task. Beating the Thunder isn't a difficult task, but it is challenging.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had an amazing season this year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been playing at an MVP level. Along with Jalen Williams, who has made strides in his second season. Chet Holmgren has been top three in the rookie of the year run. The way OKC has changed their offense is amazing. They did it by having the guards set screens. The Thunder have been in the in the top 5 on offense and defense, making them the clear-cut first seed. With Zion Williamson out, the Thunder should have a by-week and sweep the Pelicans.

Thunder #1 vs. #8 Pelicans with Zion 4-1 OKC wins

Zion Williamson has been special since coming to the league. He has made two All-Star appearances. He has also carried the Pelicans to a high playoff seed. But the problem is that Zion has not been healthy since coming to the league. Zion's ability to play physically causes problems for the Thunder. They do not have a muscle man on their team. In the playoffs, players get away with contact. This will make it hard for the thunder to contain him. But Zion has no real second option, which gives the Thunder a chance to win in five games.

Nuggets #2 vs. Lakers #7: 4-0 Nuggets win

The Nuggets have been one of the best teams the past few seasons. They killed every team on sight last postseason. Beating the Timberwolves, Suns, Lakers, and Heat. Jokic showed that he was the king of the world. Jamal Murray overcame the difficult trial of injury by winning his title. And Denver won their first title. Jokic is one of the greatest playmakers of all time and can score at will. Aaron Gordon is good at cutting to the basket and playing off the big man. KCP is a good off-ball player and defender, and Jamal Murray is a guy who can play on and off the ball. The perfect second-ball handler. This first-round series could be an easy dagger for the Nuggets.

The Lakers have fought their way into the playoffs. Dealing with incompetency from Darvin Ham. Going through many lineup changes along with injuries. LeBron James has continued to defeat Father Time as he continues to be one of the best players in the world. Anthony Davis has been one of the best power forwards in the league. But the problem is his inconsistency. He is a talented two-way player, but he tends to not play aggressively, which is a problem against the Jokic. And the lack of a big man on the Lakers will put more pressure on AD. Austin Reeves has been a great offensive player. DeAngelo Russell has been a good backup ball handler. There is a one-in-a-million chance for the Lakers to make it past the first round. Lebron James will have to do an all-time performance to make it to the second round.

Timberwolves #3 vs. Suns #6 4-3 Timberwolves win

The Phoenix Suns are finally healthy. Throughout the season, they have missed their important players. Now Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant are finally healthy. All three are terrific shooters. Despite the Suns not having a ball handler, they have made it work. But when the game gets slower, you cannot rely on jump shots. The Suns are a talented ISO team. But they are one of the worst teams in the fourth quarter. They do not have a floor, and the ball does not move. One thing going for the Suns is that they have talented scorers who can help them make a deep run. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have had deep runs in their careers. Grayson Allen has had a good regular season, but we have to see how that translates in the playoffs. The Suns could be the dark horse that beats the Timberwolves, or they could lose a lot sooner.

The Timberwolves have had one of the best seasons this year. Anthony Edwards has been incredible this year and continues to make strides. Rudy Gobert has been one of the best rim protectors in the league. But come playoff, he has had problems going against other bigs. Like Clint Capela back in the 2017-18 post-season. Karl Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards have struggled in the playoffs. They have not made it past the first round. Mike Conley is the only starter to have deep runs in the offs. Minnesota is one of the biggest teams in the West, which can match up against the Nuggets. The sky is the limit for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Clippers #4 vs. Mavericks#5: 4-3 Mavs win

Can Luka finally overcome the Clippers? Back in the 2020 and 2021 playoffs, both teams went into a seven-game war to make a deep run in the playoffs. A young player coming into the league and making a mark in his first few seasons. He is showing the world that he is the future of the league. Tim Hardaway Jr. has had an amazing career against the Clippers. He has shown up as the second option in those two battles. Now, the Mavs have a legit second option. Kyrie Irving has had a great season with no bullshit. Continuing to be one of the best point guards in the league. A guy who can create his shot, play make, and play off the ball. He is the ex-factor for the Mavs. One thing the Mavs improved on was getting more wings. PJ Washington is an improvement player and can be a good 3&D player. This will be his debut playoff series, as he is playing for a team worth a shit. Along with bringing Derrick Jones Jr., who is a good two-way player, And they added new bigs in Derrick Lively III, who has been one of the best rookies this year. Daniel Gafford has been a good rim protector throughout his career. The Mavs have made many improvements since 2021. They could end up making a deep run this year and finally beat the LA Clippers.

The Clippers are on a journey. 4 future Hall of Famers who are on the decline. Kawhi Leonard is looking to add another ring to his accolades. James Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook want to add a title to their esteemed resumes. The problem LA has is that they do not swing the ball enough. There is no flow when they play together, and it is all hero ball. As history has shown in the past, it is not sustainable. James Harden's playoff history has not been pretty, as he has a history of being a choke artist. Paul George has been on and off in the playoffs in the past. And Kawhi Leonard's health always comes into question. Luckily, the Clippers are deep. Zubac and Norman Powell could be big in the playoffs. A talented team has a lot of questions surrounding their ability to make a run.

Eastern Conference Prediction.

Celtics #1 vs. Heat #8: 4-3 Celtics win

The Boston Celtics are looking to add an 18th banner to their stadium. Jayson Tatum is looking to add his name amongst the greats like Bill Russell and Larry Bird. Boston has been the best defensive team in the league. They have players like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis. They also have the second-best scoring offense. Which makes them a threat on both ends of the court. Jaylen Brown got paid big off-season. Many fans questioned it, but if Brown helps win a title, they will forget about it. The Celtics are a deep team with good depth. Al Horford, Peyton Pritchard, and Luke Kornet could step up big. The Celtics are a clear-cut favorite to win a title, but the Heat can cause problems.

The Miami Heat are dangerous. It does not matter where they rank; they'll always be a tough team. Last year, the Heat made a deep run by beating the Bucks, Knicks, and Celtics. Jimmy Butler takes his game to another level once the post-season comes around. Being elite on both ends of the court. Tyler Herro is finally healthy. Last post-season, he was out due to a finger injury. Now, he can be a huge spark plug for the Heat. Duncan Robinson has done one hell of a job of reinventing himself. Bam Adebayo has been one of the best defensive bigs in the league and a great second option. Jamie Jaquez Jr. has had a terrific season this year, and it will be interesting how they insert him into the lineup. The Heat have the perfect amount of veterans, with the likes of Kevin Love, Terry Rozier, and Caleb Martin. I have the Celtics winning, but the Heat can sneak up.

Knicks #2 vs. 76ers #7 4-3 Philly wins in 7

The New York Knicks have changed their direction. From being mediocre for the past decade to now being one of the most electrifying teams in the league. Madison Square Garden is always popping when the Knicks put on a show. Jalen Brunson has been one of the best guards in the league. New York needed a face that had been missing since Patrick Ewing. Josh Hart has been the Charles Oakley of the team, as he hustles and does all the dirty work for the team. Donte DiVincenzo has been playing his best basketball since the start of his career. OG Anunoby is a great two-way player who has playoff experience. They also have good rotational players. These include Isaiah Hartenstein, Miles McBride, and Mitchell Robinson. New York has talent. They can lock down any player on the opposing team. But they will miss Julius Randle. He is the second option who can score and pass. The Knicks could miss his impact, and it could hurt their chance of a deep playoff run. Though they can pull a surprise and make a deep run,.

Joel Embiid is finally back. The former MVP's goal is to add a title to his resume. If he makes that feat, he will be in the discussion for one of the greatest centers of all time. Being a talented scorer and defender. Tyrese Maxey has made a huge jump to All-Star this season. He and Embiid have been great with the hand-off screens. Tyrese can score at will and has a floater that is a work of art. Maxey can take over in key moments when Embiid has not found his rhythm. The pressure is on Tobias Harris. He has not lived up to the expectations of being an incredible third option. Harris has not lived up to the hype, which has led to people mocking him on Reddit. Nick Nurse is an incredible coach. Paul Reed and Kelly Oubre have been solid. Lowry and Batum are veterans with experience. Pressure is on Joel Embiid to break the ceiling that he is stuck on. Embiid needs to live up to his MVP standard. He needs a memorable playoff season. This could be it if he remains healthy.

Bucks #3 vs. Pacers #6 4-2 Pacers win without Giannis

The Indiana Pacers have lucked in on a golden opportunity. With Giannis out, the team will miss his defensive anchor presence. It is a great opportunity for Tyrese Haliburton. He has the chance to have a series that comes once a generation. Malik Beasley and Damian Lillard are awful defenders, which has been a problem for the Bucks. The defensive reputation of the team is gone now that Jrue is gone. Brook Lopez is good at drop coverage but is too slow to guard the 3-point line. Pascal Siakam has experience, as he won a title back in 2019. With Giannis's injury, it opens up the chances of a Siakam takeover. He can be a huge factor for Indiana. Myles Turner is a great stretch 5 who can also defend. Myles can guard the perimeter and paint. The Pacers are a deep team but will miss their third option. Benedict Mathurin, who is out with an injury, Andrew Nembhard has the chance to step up big for Indiana. While the Pacers are deep, there is a lack of veterans. Outside of Turner, Siakam, and TJ McConnell, there aren't many veterans on the team. Rick Carslie is a championship coach who can be a vocal leader. Tyrese Haliburton's debut will be fun to see!

Bucks win in 5 with Giannis

If the Greek Freak returns, then the playoff landscape changes. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the league. He is dominating on both ends of the court. Giannis is unguardable. A man with championship experience. An anchor on both ends of the court. An amazing help defender. He has been the tape that keeps the Bucks together. With him out, the chances make it hard for the Bucks to win. They have talented offensive players. For example, Damian Lillard can score from half-court. He is difficult to guard and can create shots for others. But the problem has been his defense. While he is dropping points on offense, he is giving up a lot of points on the other end of the court. Khris Middleton is incredible, but he is far removed from his prime. Too much injury and mileage have caused his decline. From being reliable to now being unreliable. He is always injured. Which shows that Middleton is unreliable. He's still a perfect third option, but you have to pray he is healthy. The team falls apart without Giannis, but if he is healthy, they could make a deep run. Nobody on the Pacers can stop Giannis. It would be a tough challenge for Siakam, Turner, and Aaron Nesmith. He would dominate on both ends of the court, which would ensure that the Bucks would advance to the second round.

Cavs #4 vs. Magic #5 Cavs win 6

The Orlando Magic has been the surprise of the season. Paolo Banchero has been one of the best young players in the league, making his first All-Star team. Franz Wagner continues to make jumps three years into his career. Johnathan Isaac has figured out a new role for himself as a defensive anchor on the team. The Magic are defensive-minded and scrappy, making it tough for other teams to score on them. Mo Wagner has been perfect off the bench. But the problem the Magic face is that they have no scoring point guard. They will have a tough time trying to win this series. But their talent is enough to shut down any team. Orlando has surprised this league. The debut of the young superstar will be fun this year!

There is a lot of pressure on the Cavs to perform this post-season. Donovan Mitchell might end up leaving, and the pairing of him and Garland comes into question. Along with JB Bickerstaff's job security. During February, when Mobley and Garland went down, many role players were able to step up. Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Caris LeVert, and Dean Wade have been able to perform well for Cleveland. The talented Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have a problem with spacing between them. The Cavs have a chance to steal this series due to their experience. They tanked for the fourth seed so they could have a favorable matchup. Darius Garland is also on the hot seat due to his lack of consistency and injury. Cleveland has good depth, but there is a lot of pressure on them to win this series.