The 2023 NBA Playoffs are finally here (after a week of play-in games that I could care less about). The stage is set to chase the Larry O’Brien trophy and I'm here to give you my predictions for Round 1 of the playoffs. So here we go!
Eastern Conference
1 Milwaukee Bucks vs 8 Miami Heat
The question for this series is how long will it last. I love Milwaukee, their energy, defense, the shooters on the team and the ability to assimilate to any kind of game. Uptempo, slowing the pace down, running their offense through Giannis or setting screens for shooters.
Miami has Jimmy Butler their star but every yes, there's the question of who's going to be that second guy alongside Jimmy. Is it Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, no one truly knows. Miami has been shaky since their NBA Finals appearance in 2020 and with no second legitimate star, Milwaukee wins this series in six games.
Milwaukee wins 4-2
2 Boston Celtics vs 7 Atlanta Hawks
Boston has had an interesting season to say the least (more offcourt soap opera drama than the TV shows) but they finished second in the East. They added Malcolm Brogdon which was a nice addition and he became a solid scorer, distributor and leader off the bench.
Tatum and Brown have held their own once again this season becoming all-stars but the question is can they stay healthy for the playoffs? There's no doubt they win this series quickly if they take care of business.
The Atlanta Hawks scraped and clawed to get in the playoffs but coaching changes, star player drama and a solid role player in John Collins being in constant trade rumors, this team surely won't get past Boston.
Trae Young will get his for sure along with new addition Dejounte Murray but who else is stepping up against a tough, gritty, Celtics defense. Boston wins in five games.
Boston wins 4-1
3 Philadelphia 76ers vs 6 Brooklyn Nets
Philly has had a nice season in the standings once again but can they make a deep playoff run this year? Sadly, I'll say no and it boils down to coaching and x’s and o’s. With MVP Joel Embiid and James Harden leading the charge, they can surely get out of the first round against the Brooklyn Nets.
Philly won't miss Mateese Thybulle for this round because they have enough firepower to beat Brooklyn but as the rounds progress, it'll be tougher for Philly.
The Brooklyn Nets dismantled their whole team at the trade deadline and they have a new star in Mikal Bridges who plays both sides of the ball and is an Ironman in regards to games played (knock on wood).
Brooklyn has a bright future with the young guys they have in Bridges, Johnson, Claxton, Cam Thomas and vets Curry, Harrris and Mills but they don't have enough to beat Philly.
Maxey for Philly is the key player in this series and he helps Philly win this series 4-2.
Philly wins 4-2
4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5 New York Knicks
This will be the most interesting series to watch in the Eastern Conference and the only series I see potential in it going seven games. The matchups in the backcourt will be crucial in who wins this series.
The Knicks are back in the playoffs and y'all know the Garden will be rocking in Midtown Manhattan. Ticket prices will skyrocket obviously but the stars will be out from the celebrities to the players.
Jalen Brunson will be ready to go for the Knicks. It's whether RJ Barrett is ready to take that next step and be that go to guy. Julius Randle is dealing with an ankle injury and while he'll be ready for Game 1, how will that affect his play for this series?
The Cavs have firepower in the backcourt with Mitchell and Garland and a frontcourt of Allen and Mobley who can play pick and roll, Mobley can pick and pop out for jumpers and this will become a tough matchup for the Knicks.
The Cavs firepower will propel them past the Knicks and because of the uncertainty in Randle, Cavs in six games.
Cleveland wins 4-2
Western Conference
1 Denver Nuggets vs 8 Minnesota Timberwolves
The #1 seed in the West is under a lot of pressure. They revamped their roster and added Bruce Brown, got Christian Braun in the NBA Draft, Aaron Gordon has come into his own for the team, Jamal Murray is back and healthy.
The Nuggets are primed to make a run this year but the lower seeds in the playoffs will be the true test as they advance.
Minnesota is the soap opera team of the playoffs and while I love Edwards and respect Towns' game, this series shouldn't last long. Team chemistry is down the tubes after Gobert throws a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson, plus McDaniels breaking his hand out of anger, they'll be going home fast. I'll give them one game to win.
Denver wins 4-1
2 Memphis Grizzlies vs 7 Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis maintained the #2 seed through the Ja Morant saga, not having Steven Adams and losing Brandon Clarke for the season. I like the Grizzlies, a nice team but LeBron is coming and with his new revamped roster at the trade deadline.
The Lakers have Austin Reaves, Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell and plenty of other solid role players. If Anthony Davis can win the match up against Jaren Jackson Jr, the Lakers win this series because LeBron is going to get his in this series. Memphis has no one to slow down LeBron.
This will be a gritty series but experience wins this one. Lakers in seven games.
Lakers win 4-3
3 Sacramento Kings vs 6 Golden State Warriors
It's been 17 years since the Sacramento Kings have been in the NBA Playoffs. They're the longest tenured sports team that hasn't made the playoffs. The city of Sacramento will be rocking and the highway matchup of these two teams will be a good one. Mike Brown has done an amazing job with transforming this team.
The addition of Kevin Huerter, the drafting of rookie Keegan Murray, adding Domantas Sabonis with underrated point guard in De’Aaron Fox, I think the Kings will give the Warriors a run for their money.
Golden State got back Wiggins after he's been out for over 20 games tending to his sick father (may he heal and get better soon). The Warriors' experience and drive will propel them past the Kings but this series will be long due to Mike Brown's experience of being with the Warriors as an assistant coach with Coach Steve Kerr.
Coach Brown knows the offense well and after the Kings get through the first two games, they'll be in a nice groove so homecourt will help them early on. Harrison Barnes has playoff experience and a ring with the Warriors so that will be a crucial factor to this series.
The backcourt will determine this series and the trio of Curry-Thompson-Poole will win against Fox-Huerter-Murray. Warriors win in seven games.
Golden State wins 4-3
4 Phoenix Suns vs 5 Los Angeles Clippers
With Paul George and Kawhi Leonard’s health in question, it will be up to the role players of the Clippers to keep this series interesting. Right now, the Clippers need a scorer in Reggie Jackson but they traded him and Luke Kennard away (which I'm still baffled about).
Bones Hyland will have to step up off the bench for the Clippers. I can't count on Westbrook to carry this team but I can say Norman Powell will be tasked with shouldering the scoring load and having to guard either Devin Booker or Kevin Durant.
I don't want to disrespect Coach Lue and the Clippers so I'll give them two games in this series whether PG-13 comes back or not. It's apparent the Suns have too much firepower in Booker and Durant (they're a walking 30 points), plus Ayton down low who is a double-double machine. Phoenix wins this series for sure and in six games.
Phoenix wins 4-2
That's my predictions for the first round of the NBA Playoffs. As teams advance, I'll be coming with more articles on my predictions throughout the playoffs.
It's gametime!
