Hoop Talk - NBA Playoffs 2017: First Round Edition

Written by Zeke Perez Jr.

​The NBA Finals matchup no longer appears set in stone as it seemed to just a few months ago. While the Golden State Warriors are still dominant and remain the odds-on favorites, they have shown that they’re human after all. The Cleveland Cavaliers have garnered some doubt about their plans to repeat. The Cavs skidded down the stretch and chalked up a losing record following the All-Star break (no team has ever won a title after doing so). With some powerful contenders in the West and with the Cavs faltering a little, a Warriors-Cavaliers Finals for the third year straight is not a given anymore.
 
The postseason should be much more entertaining than it appeared it would be as the season was born. Instead, we’ve been gifted with Harden v. Westbrook, the return of the Lebron-Lance Stephenson rivalry, and glimpses at the NBA’s future elite in playoff form with Isaiah Thomas, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard all set to take on big roles. It’ll be a rollercoaster from now until June, so buckle in and prepare for the first round with previews of every series and my predictions for each.

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Western Conference

Golden State Warriors (1) v. Portland Trailblazers (8)
The Golden State Warriors are the unsurprising number one team in the NBA after their tour de force 2016-17 season. Golden State seeks a return to the NBA Finals and their second title in three years. Durant is back on board, though not quite 100 percent, after missing 19 games with an injury. Even when they’re not at full speed, this team is still quite scary. Portland has potential to steal a game away from Golden State, especially if Damian Lillard plays as lights out as he has been. This Blazers squad is not the same one that the Warriors played earlier in the season. Since then, the Blazers have acquired Jusuf Nurkic (who should be healthy enough to play in the series) and have gone on a hot streak. Still, the Blazers shouldn’t be expected to do much more than provide a slight amount of resistance.
Series Prediction: Golden State Warriors in 5
 
San Antonio Spurs (2) v. Memphis Grizzlies (7)
The Spurs are a fundamentally sound, well-oiled machine programmed by Gregg Popovich to emerge as competitors for the rest of eternity. Behind MVP-caliber Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs have reached the playoffs for the 20th consecutive year, the longest active streak in any of the big four sports. The Spurs meet a familiar foe in the Memphis Grizzlies. The two have met in the playoffs five times, including four times in the last seven seasons. The Grizzlies showed some promise earlier on in the year, before sinking to the seven-seed. Ranked last in shooting percentage and second to last in points scored, running up the scoreboard isn’t their game. As a staunch defensive team, they’ll need to draw the Spurs into a gritty battle to win.
Series Prediction: San Antonio Spurs in 5
 
Houston Rockets (3) v. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)
Easily the marquee matchup of the entire first round, this battle brings a clash of the MVP frontrunners in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Houston won the season series 3-1 and each of the four times these teams played was a treat, with three of those games being decided by three points or less. A close, hard-fought series should be expected. The Rockets were second in the NBA in scoring and first in three-pointers made. The Thunder did a great job battling in the paint, finishing first in the league in both offensive and total rebounds. OKC’s Andre Roberson is a great defender; he will guard Harden and could potentially slow him down. But Houston edges out OKC in depth, boasting a more complete roster and a long list of shooters.
Series Prediction: Houston Rockets in 6
 
Los Angeles Clippers (4) v. Utah Jazz (5)
The Clippers looked like true contenders at times this season and like same ol’ LA at others. They’re back on the upswing at just the right time though, ending the season on a seven-game win streak. LA is wildly unpredictable and is haunted by their slew of past playoff exits; they’ll need to stay consistent to advance. The Utah Jazz snagged their first Northwest Division title in almost 10 years. Utah allowed the fewest points per game in the entire league and play at a slow pace that lends itself to playoff basketball. If there were an upset to be had in the first round, the Jazz would be the ones to do it.
Series Prediction: Utah Jazz in 7

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Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics (1) v. Chicago Bulls (8)
Isaiah Thomas and a rising defense pushed the Boston Celtics passed the Cavaliers to the top of the Eastern Conference. Avery Bradley, who was injured during Bean Town’s playoff run last season, has served as the team’s number two scorer and a vital source of defense. The Celtics split four games with the Bulls this year, but otherwise proved to be dominant against the East’s lower seeded teams (they couldn’t replicate that success against those atop the conference). After an incredible amount of inconsistency and locker room disputes, it looked like the Chicago Bulls were phoning it in and gearing up for next year at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, the Bulls somehow made the playoffs. Superstar Jimmy Butler will attempt to be the rising tide that lifts the Bulls’ boat to a postseason upset.
Series Prediction: Boston Celtics in 6
 
Cleveland Cavaliers (2) v. Indiana Pacers (7)
Cleveland’s defense looked like Swiss cheese late in the year and their win-loss column reflected that. But the Cavs are still the Cavs and should be given the benefit of the doubt that they’ll get things rolling for the playoffs, at least for the first round. Unable to find a rim protector who could stay healthy, their biggest vulnerability is inside defense. Paul George has done a lot to lead the Pacers to the playoffs. That may end up being the highlight of their season… They may be able to catch the struggling Cavs off guard for a game, but it would take a lot more than Indy currently has for them to accomplish anything big.
Series Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers in 5
 
Toronto Raptors (3) v. Milwaukee Bucks (6)
After pushing the Cavs to six games in the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Toronto Raptors are back and hoping to make some noise. The Raptors have their sights set on using that experience and their talent to challenge Cleveland late in the playoffs, not just to emerge from the first round. Toronto bulked up at the deadline, adding Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker to an already well-rounded and deep roster.  On the other end, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is a player you probably don’t want to mess with in the playoffs. 'The Greek Freak' can do it all, and with an emerging core of young Bucks by his side, this team has the potential to give the Raptors a run in the series.
Series Prediction: Toronto Raptors in 6
 
Washington Wizards (4) v. Atlanta Hawks (5)
The Wiz Kids of D.C. have the makings of a solid contender in the Eastern Conference. Washington brings one of the NBA’s best one-two punches in guards John Wall and Bradley Beal. Wall was second in assists per game (10.7) and the pair got buckets by the bunches, both averaging 23.1 points per game. Home court advantage should also prove vital for the Wizards, who earned one of the league’s best home records at 30-11. In the ATL, scoring wasn’t necessarily a strong suit, with the team sitting in the bottom 10 in points per game. The Hawks will look for defensive production across the board to counter Washington’s backcourt.
Series Prediction: Washington Wizards in 5

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