Originally, I was intending to write playoff predictions for each separate team. But there's too many variables to be making long-term guestimations at the moment.
At the top of the list of those variables is the potential for injury. Back in the old days, when a team submitted their playoff roster, you could pretty much take for granted that the players listed would be active throughout. Nowadays, I would speculate that every team in the playoff has at least one key player, a star even, who is either currently injured or injury prone. So even if none of the games during this postseason are rigged, still, you can't be going crazy with the predictions. And that brings us to the first contest on this list:
SIXERS 104, KNICKS 111
Joel "the Injury Report" Embiid got hurt but still managed to play the fourth quarter. However, despite putting on a show during the earlier parts of the game, he didn't appear to be a factor near the end. That would likely have something to do with injuries. Now, I'm reading he may not play in Game 2. So the luck of the Knicks continues.
For instance, I'm now starting to believe that NYK may actually be better off without Randle and with Anunoby starting in his stead. Why? Because OG is a lot saner than Julius in terms of shot selection.
As for the Sixers, they've been playing musical chairs for too many seasons now. Now, I also see why they need a second superstar. With a second superstar alongside Maxey, even with Embiid hurt, they could still probably beat most teams. But that said, Philly's depth also isn't as intimidating as it has been in the recent past, even like going back to the beginning of this season.
That dunk Joel did off the backboard, the one that re-f*cked up his knee, has to be one of the top 10 in-game dunks in NBA history. Like that sh*t almost caused me to jump out of my seat.
SUNS 95, TIMBERWOLVES 120
That, my friend, is what you call an ass bustin.
I picked Minnesota to win it all at beginning of last season, but fortune and favor wasn't on their side. This year, it looks like they're actually entering the playoffs at or near full strength. Also, Anthony Edwards has emerged as perhaps the best 2-guard in the league. So, to me at least, it's easy to envision the T-Wolves emerging as WC champions. The only western teams I think may be able to beat them in a series are DEN and LAC.
As for the Suns, their roster is designed to thrive on firepower. So if the big 3 aren't dropping like 30 points each against an opponent of this caliber, Phoenix doesn't stand much of a chance.
Braintrusts are finally starting to wise up and realize that size does matter. So we may be entering the age of twin towers, with organizations such as MIN, CLE and to some extent even the likes of DEN, LAL and NOP having already gone such routes. Up against those types of odds, Nurkic isn't likely to cut it. So dudes are prolly missing Ayton right about now.
PELICANS 92, THUNDER 94
Holmgren may have had five blocks, but OKC's interior defense still sucks, to the point of being a cause for alarm. They put the defensive onus of holding down the post on a rookie who's too skinny for that kind of responsibility.
SGA showed why he's a tier above most other stars in the NBA. It isn't only about points. He has the ability to takeover and actually win games, with consistency, which is rare, jordanesque even. McCollum, who's a damn fine player himself, had a chance to win the game. But ultimately, he's not in the MVP conversation.
That said, the Pelicans aren't the ones to sleep on. I believe I said last season that they were deepest team in the league, and that may also be true or near true now. The homey Alvarado, repping NYC, needs to play with a more level head.
PACERS 94, BUCKS 109
When the star of your team is an (oversized) PG, if you go out to seek a second star, you're supposed to look for one who's dominant in the post. Instead, the Pacers went out and got Siakim, who has a similar playing style to Tyrese.
That would imply that they intend to rely on Myles Turner into the foreseeable future. He's like a fringe allstar, so that isn't a bad decision. But something just didn't look right with the way they played, like they didn't have composure. Maybe it's just lack of experience running together under such circumstances. Contrastingly, Milwaukee's core already has experience playing at the highest levels, and you could tell by the way they handled business.
That said, dudes should be praying that Giannis pops up sooner rather than later. Dame will do what Dame does, but, you know what I'm saying? Once the Pacers settle down, I don't think they're going to be getting their asses bust like that.
MAVERICKS 97, CLIPPERS 109
Dallas is a perfect example of what I mean by you can't have a star PG without a post player to match. Lack of interior presence is one of the issues they continue to deal with during the Luka era.
A couple of months ago, reports were implying that the Mavs finally found their C in Daniel Gafford. By the looks of things, that may have been more of a regular-season type of phenomenon. Dwight Powell, who has been relegated to the bench, may not be the most talented bigman in the NBA, but at least he knows how to put up a fight.
Also, I just checked and, oh sh*t, Jason Kidd is still coach of this team. If he had been reading this blog, he would have known that Doncic's biggest on-court issue, regardless of how many assists he may tally, is lack of rapport with his teammates, thus disqualifying Luka as the ideal PG. That means, move him to the 3. But, you know, these days coaches are afraid to tell superstars to play in positions where they may not want to.
As for the Clippers, the world needs to realize that there is a such thing as a "Playoff James Harden" - a beard for all seasons, so to speak. Also - wait a minute - Westbrook is the best pound-for-pound player in league history, in terms of actually generating stats. So, sleep on him if you want. He didn't thrive with LBJ + AD, but then again, who does? If you play for the Lakers, either you're going to underachieve and become a scapegoat, or overachieve and get traded or snubbed. The only player who has really bucked that trend has been Austin Reaves.
The thing that impresses me the most about LAC is that they have multiple stars with similar skillsets, yet they don't overlap each other. You have the Beard out there busting ass with PG13 lurking in the shadows, and you forget like oh dip, their third and fourth options are future hall-of-famer. I guess that's one way of beating the injury bug, by having so many superstars that it doesn't matter so much if one is hurt.
HEAT 94, CELTICS 114
This one pretty much went as expected. Miami is a different team without Jimmy Butler.
Still, I'm not so quick to completely count them out, as in getting swept or blown. Soon, some team is going to expose Boston's lack of interior defense. They have Porzingis, who's visibly the tallest dude on the court in most games he's in, out playing at the top of the key and behind the three-point line.
'Hey Kristaps, get your ass down in the post.'
'But, I don't like playing there, coach.'
'Then TF is you 7'2" for?'
Also, I'm sure I stated in the past that Adebayo should be moved to the point. That's taking nothing away from Jacquez, who has a ridiculously amount of grit for a rookie. But Bam needs to at least touch the ball during every offensive position, and all things considered, it'd just be best to let him bring it up. The Heat have the best pair of jump-shooting whiteboys in the league amongst their wings. And I don't see any reason why Thomas Bryant can't start at C. Hey Erik, time to really exercise that bigass P-pop dome head of yours.
MAGIC 83, CAVS 97
You really can't ask for a better franchise player than Donovan Mitchell. He's confident, fearless, and the fans totally feel him. But I've believed, since the time he was drafted, that Evan Mobley is Cleveland's x-factor. I'm not saying that he needs to shoot threes like other people are recommending, but it should be that when he's on the court, he makes it impossible for the opposing team to forget, even for a moment, that he's there.
The Magic are likeable, and I deadass didn't know that Jonathan Isaac was now playing. Last I heard, he came back and got re-injured yet again. Dude is tall AF, which is something I never knew.
But that said, now obviously isn't Orlando's time. But again, they are likable, have a valid leader in Banchero and, I would say most importantly for a young team like this, at least made the playoffs. So their future is looking brighter than any other of the youthful squads in the East.
LAKERS 103, NUGGETS 114
Of course, the first thing I'm going to argue, as always, is that LBJ should be running the point. After that, LAL's second-biggest problem is lack of continuity.
It's amazing how teams who are a lot less storied than the Lakers are able to consistently field better rosters. And, it isn't as if the one Los Angeles currently has is that bad.
I'm not going to call for Darvin Ham's head yet. But he's another one who needs to, let's say take full advantage of the extra cranial circumference he's been blessed with.
Also, I'm still foreseeing that, at some point during these playoffs, the Nuggets are going to miss Bruce Brown.
CONCLUSION
It feels strange writing about the playoffs without mentioning Steph, so I wanted to do it at least once before closing out.
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