This Saturday begins the NBA playoffs, and there is storyline after storyline about who is playing the right type of basketball at the right time.
In the Eastern Conference we have the Atlanta Hawks leading the way, just as they have all season. They will ride into the playoffs as the first seed in front of the Cavaliers and the Bulls who sit at the two and three seeds. The Hawks started hot but have mellowed out over the course of the season allowing me to think the window is open for multiple teams to come out of the East. The overall strength of the East isn’t what it used to be like back in the ’90s, so I really only see a few teams competing for a title come June.
The Cavaliers, Bulls and Raptors are three teams I think will push Atlanta to the brink. The Cavaliers, who I think are the strongest out of the conference, have Lebron James and Kyrie Irving who are playoff-caliber players and will make a run at the title this year. The Bulls got Derrek Rose back and look to ride him to their first finals appearance since the Jordan era, which will only happen if Rose can actually stay healthy. The rest of the teams are basically garbage outside of the Raptors, especially the Celtics and Pacers who have no business being in the playoffs with below .500 records.
Now on to the more exciting, fierce and competitive conference out in the West where the Warriors sit on top, but are looking over their shoulder at seven other teams who are just as scary.
First off, the Warriors have played outstanding with sharp-shooter Stephen Curry, and have a league best record with as good of a chance as any to win it all. The Clippers, Blazers, Grizzles and Rockets all seem to be on their game heading into the start of the playoffs this Saturday, but no one is on their game more than the Spurs who recently beat all the top seeded western teams listed earlier. The Spurs are the No. 6 seed and have won 21 of their last 25 games, moving them up in the standings after being in eigth last month. They are playing solid defense, which is key if you plan on winning the West.
Even though the conference is competitive from top to bottom, and any one can literally steal the West, the Spurs are the defending NBA Champions and are starting to look like they will make a serious run at another title. No one is on a hotter run than Tim Duncan and the Popovich-led Spurs.
My pick for the NBA finals matchup is the Cavaliers from the East, and the Spurs from the West. I believe James will fall yet again to ageless wonder, Tim Duncan, and the Spurs will win back-to-back titles.
