First let me start by saying, work has been killing me so I haven’t had much time to write…BUT I’m back! With the NBA playoff match ups set and the playoffs beginning on Saturday 4/13, a whirlwind 82 game season has come to an end. Below I will be previewing and giving my prediction on the Sixers’ playoff first round series and the rest of the match ups around the NBA.

(3) Philadelphia 76ers (51-31) v. (6) Brooklyn Nets (42-40)

The Sixers come stumbling into a first round playoff match up with the “upstart” Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have overachieved this season due to the play of 1st time all star D’Angelo Russell. He’s grown into a leader that his team rallies around. The Nets come in with a 12-10 record since the all star break and a trendy upset pick for the first round of the playoffs. I mean if we’re being honest here, I could see why Media and “Twitter basketball experts” expect for this to be a 7-game series or the Nets getting the series victory. The Sixers have played like crap for the last 2-3 weeks. They have struggled to stop anyone from scoring and this team is supposed to be defensive first with potentially 3 top 15 defenders in the NBA on one roster. We can also attribute the Sixers issues and crappy play to the absence of Joel Embiid. He has played in only 10 of the last 24 games due to left knee soreness. The team also hasn’t had any continuity due to other starters being in and out of the line up as well. The starting 5 has only played 10 games together so they will have to learn on the fly in these playoffs (8-2 in those games).
The Nets are a team with athletic guards who can create for others and get their own shots. For some reason this kills the Sixers and one can only be worried that this will haunt them in this playoff series.
Even through all of the Sixers slumping and late season issues, talent should trump all, especially in this series. The Sixers have 4 all star level players in their starting line up and JJ Redick is having his best season as a pro. They should be able to handle the upstart Nets and send them packing before Cinco de Mayo. Prediction: Sixers win series 4-1

(1) Golden State Warriors (57-25) v. (8) Los Angeles Clippers (48-34)

There has been so much talk of the Warriors Dynasty falling apart, Kevin Durant to the Knicks, Draymond Green drama but these guys are still really really good at basketball. They have looked bored all season and only get up for the games they want to prove something in. They look like a team that thinks their finals berth is a formality and they may be right.
The Clippers didn’t tank after trading Tobias Harris to the Sixers and actually played very very well. Lou Williams will have the Sixth Man of the Year award named after him some day and Danilo Gallinari got in shape and actually started playing good basketball again. Montrezl Harrell is a beast off the bench and they have baby JJ Redick with Landry Shamet. With that being said, the Warriors have arguably the best team and starting line up in NBA history (we can debate that if you want) and should win this series sleep walking. Prediction: Warriors win series 4-0

(1) Milwaukee Bucks (60-22) v. (8) Detroit Pistons (41-41)

Personally, I think this series will be a snooze fest and the only reason to watch would be for the Giannis to solidify his MVP campaign. The Bucks are fun to watch but it won’t be fun watching them play the Detroit snoozefests in a 4 game series. The snoozefests might be able to get a game at home if Blake Griffin is healthy but he didn’t play the last 3 games of the season and was seen in a walking boot. Don’t care to analyze this one anymore than I have. Prediction: Bucks win series 4-0

(2) Denver Nuggets (54-28) v. (7) San Antonio Spurs (48-34)

This match up is a very intriguing one to me. The Denver Nuggets have been really good all year led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Their offense is ran through Jokic effectively as he is the best play maker on the team. Besides him, you can’t key in on another guy to stop because it can be someone different every night. It could be Gary Harris, Paul Milsap, Will Barton, or Torey Craig that could go off. I also believe Pop will have the Spurs ready and have his guys believing they can upset the Nuggets. LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing lights out this last month of the season and Demar Derozan is still in all star form. I feel like we say Pop has done his best coaching job each year but I truly believe it this time. This could wind up being a hard fought series because the Nuggets have no playoff experience and the Spurs have a ton of experience. Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-3.

(2) Toronto Raptors (58-24) v. (7) Orlando Magic (42-40)

The Terrance Ross revenge series! Nah, only people who care about this series are the people of Canada and Sixers fans because they want to see how vulnerable the Raptors look. Kyle Lowry has historically played bad in the playoffs but I think this is the year that he plays well especially with a good chance Kawhi Lenard leaves and the Raptors start their real rebuild. He wants a real shot at a Finals berth.
Kudos to the Magic for making a late push for the playoffs and should thank the Sixers for trading someone to them with playoff experience…Markelle Fultz! Fultz hasn’t played a minute for the Magic and is taking his usual place on the bench in a suit. He must be telling them all the playoff secrets he’s learned from the Sixers (being really sarcastic here if you can’t tell). This is a good experience for the Magic and Nikola Vuecevic, who will be auditioning for a Max contract. Prediction: Raptors win series 4-1.

(3) Portland Trailblazers (53-29) v. (6) Oklahoma City Thunder (49-33)

I DON’T BELIEVE IN THE BLAZERS IN THE PLAYOFFS. NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL. Prediction: Thunder win series 4-2.

(4) Boston Celtics (49-33) v. (5) Indiana Pacers (48-34)

This playoff series has some very intriguing story lines, starting with the Celtics turmoil. All eyes will be on Kyrie “Holla at me July 1st” Irving as he tries to lead this team that he says doesn’t want to be lead. The Celtics should be a heavy favorite in this series against the Pacers without Oladipo. The Pacers tried their hardest to hold on to the 3rd seed but ran out of gas with a tough schedule at the end of the season. The Pacers are top 10 in team defense and that could be their saving grace in this series. How will Tatum, Brown and Rozier play? What about Gordon Hayward? The Celtics said they aren’t having fun this season and aren’t playing for one another so will selfishness do them in this series? This has a potential to be a grueling 7 -game series but talent should win out. If it doesn’t and they lose, Boston will burn down in racist flames. Prediction: Boston Celtics win series 4-1.

(4) Houston Rockets (53-29) v. (5) Utah Jazz (50-32)

This series should be entertaining with reigning MVP James Harden most likely averaging 40 plus points per game. The Rockets hopes rest on the health of Chris Paul in my opinion and if he doesn’t stay healthy in this first round series they can be beat. The Jazz have a really good defensive team with Rudy Gobert blocking everything that comes to the rim. I think ultimately Donovan Mitchell’s shooting can win them some games and he can shoot them out of some games (He averages 23 points per game on 21 shots per game, bad efficiency). I look for the Rockets to get out of this round in a victory. Prediction: Rockets win series 4-2.