The Western Conference playoffs, as usual, should be must watch tv this year. Though the Golden State Warriors are the obvious favorite on paper, there are multiple teams that could potentially give them a run for their money in a head to head matchup. First, to get to a game against Golden State, each of the top teams have to get past tough opponents that, if a team plays badly at all, could very well win a 7 game series.
Golden State (1) vs Portland (8)
The Warriors could very well play this series without Kevin Durant, but that shouldn’t really matter. Stephen Curry, who is having a down year for him but a year that would be great for anyone else, and Klay Thompson should be enough on offense, while Draymond Green should be able to bully around the Blazers big men throughout the series. This should be the easiest series, regardless of who plays for the Warriors, and who their opponent is(Nuggets are only a 0.5 game out). However, the Blazers are solid at home and have been playing well since acquiring Jusuf Nurkic from the Nuggets, so they very well could steal a game in Portland.
Prediction: Warriors win series 4-1.
San Antonio(2) vs Memphis(7)
San Antonio is having a very Spurs like season. They are on their way to another 60 win campaign despite losing franchise stalwart Tim Duncan to retirement. Memphis, as usual, has surprised, and because of their defense, they can beat almost any team on any given night. The key for them is to make the game ugly, which makes the Spurs the worst matchup for them. San Antonio plays great team basketball, getting everyone involved, which keeps ugly basketball at a minimum. This should be a good series though just because these two teams are so familiar with one another, and very little that is done by either squad will surprise their opponent. Look for the series to be close, perhaps tied 2-2 before going back to San Antonio, before the Spurs win two in a row to advance.
Prediction: Spurs win series 4-2
Houston(3) vs OKC(6)
The Rockets have been one of the feel good stories of the regular season. After finishing at .500 last year, Houston said goodbye to big man Dwight Howard and said hello to a 50 win season, and probable home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. James Harden has a lot to do with that, averaging over 29ppg, over 11apg, and nearly 8rpg. Harden is now the Rockets point guard, which would have been tough with the players the team had last season, but with a large amount of three point shooters around him, the Beard was given plenty of space to operate for drives to the rim, finding rollers for alley oops, or if neither of those two options are available, find an open shooter. Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon have been spectacular from behind the arc this season, and would have maybe been enough on their own for a playoff run, but GM Daryl Morey went out and acquired Lou Williams from the Lakers, giving the Rockets yet another bench option, as well as a playmaker to play alongside Harden at the end of games. The Thunder are led by Russell Westbrook, who is averaging a triple double for the season, and has played like a man on a mission throughout the year. Like Harden, Russ has plenty of solid players around him now. Enes Kanter has the second most double doubles off the bench in the NBA, and if it weren’t for his injury in the middle of the season, the Thunder might be seeded much better going into the playoffs. This should be one of the better series in the first round, and could very well be a 7 game series in the end. Home court advantage wins out in the end and the Rockets come out on top.
Prediction: Rockets win series 4-3
Utah(4) vs Los Angeles Clippers(5)
The Utah Jazz have been a great story all year, and look to be rewarded with home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Gordon Hayward has been great all year averaging over 20 ppg, but the real story of this team has been their defense, which has been top 5 in the NBA all year. That’s due in large part to Rudy Gobert, who is currently leading the NBA in blocks and has proven to alter any shots taken within close range of the rim when he’s around. The Clippers have been a disappointment all year, and if they can’t advance deep into the playoffs, then this may be the last time we see this group of players on the court for LA. Chris Paul missed extended time during the season, as did Blake Griffin, but the Clippers didn’t falter much during those stretches. Their bench is better than it has been in recent years, thanks to the jump in production by Austin Rivers. Experience might be the key in this series, and the Clippers have plenty of it, and they have a big man that can match, or even best, Gobert.
Prediction: Clippers win series 4-3