After a competitive and at times wacky regular season the NBA playoffs are finally here. Here at Head In The Game, we are here to give you the definitive, if you refuse to read any others, preview of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
1 Bucks v 8 Pistons
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| Deer Beats Car |
Grant's Bucks' Key Player - Well, there is an obvious answer here, and he's a freak who's Greek. But since that's too obvious, I'll go with Brook Lopez, who has had a really good season.
Troy's Bucks' Key Player - I'm not picking Giannis only because it's too obvious and I don't want any of you to claim I'm being lazy. This is why I'm picking Khris Middleton to be the most non-Giannis X-Factor.
Grant's Pistons' Key Player - The reason the Pistons are in the playoffs is Blake Griffin, who is one of the best players in the Eastern Conference.
Troy's Pistons' Key Player - I'm selection is Blake Griffin. After a semi-down year in his first year in Detroit, Blake has bounced back by refining his game and is averaging close to 25 points a game.
Grant's Series Prediction - The Pistons just don't have enough (beyond Blake Griffin) to keep up with Giannis and the Bucks. Bucks in four.
Troy's Series Prediction - I don't think this series will be this close. If the Pistons sneak one out will be due to having familiarity with the Bucks since they share the same division. Bucks in four.
2 Raptors v 7 Magic
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| Magical Rawr |
Grant's Raptors' Key Player - One of the best non-household names in the NBA this season has been
Pascal Siakam (he averaged 17 point and seven rebounds per game during the regular season), and I think he will be the X-factor in this series.
Troy's Raptors' Key Player - Leonard and Lowry have been hurt on and off this season which has opened the door for the best second option to be someone other than one of the two. That second option has been
Pascal Siakam and I think he'll be a key player if the Raptors want to make a run.
Grant's Magic' Key Player - With a chance at redemption against the team that drafted him,
Terrence Ross could make things interesting if he continues his hot play from the regular season.
Troy's Magic' Key Player - The Magic's frontcourt will be a deciding factor if they want to compete but without strong play from the point, that frontcourt won't succeed. That's why my key player is
D.J. Augustin.
Grant's Series Thoughts and Prediction - The Orlando Magic are probably the weakest team in the playoff field, and they don't stand much of a chance against Leonard, Lowry and the Raptors. I'll take
Toronto in
four.
Troy's Series Thoughts and Prediction - Congratulations to Orlando to finally making it out of Basketball Purgatory. Unfortunately, they don't really have much of chance in this year's playoffs.
Toronto should run away with the
sweep.
3 76ers v 6 Nets
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| Ask Grant about cooking shows |
Grant's 76ers' Key Player - The key players for Philadelphia will be one of their two young stars (Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons). I'll go with
Ben Simmons, who continues to be a bright young star in the league, but still can't (or at least won't) shoot.
Troy's 76ers' Key Player - I concur with Grant on this.
Ben Simmons is a matchup nightmare as someone with the body of a power forward with the skill set of a guard, something the Nets don't have someone to match up with.
Grant's Nets' Key Player - It's clear who the key player for the Nets is. It's Ben Simmons' high school teammate,
D'Angelo Russell, who has blossomed into one of the best young scorers in the NBA.
Troy's Nets' Key Player - Brooklyn has been a team led by one key engine,
D'Angelo Russell, who is the one who will determine success in this series for the team.
Grant's Series Thoughts and Prediction - I think Russell and the scrappy Nets can give Philly a little scare, but the 76ers, with players like Embiid, Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and J.J. Redick, just have too much talent.
76ers in
six.
Troy's Series Thoughts and Prediction - Despite not benefitting from their several high picks over the last few years due to one of the most one-sided trades ever the Nets have made the playoffs. Brooklyn is a solid team but the Sixers have too much talent. I like
Philly in
five and not just because I like alliteration.
4 Celtics v 5 Pacers
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| Lepre-car |
Grant's Celtics' Key Player - Any number of Boston's young stars could step up, but I think the key factor will be the Celtics' "veteran leader",
Kyrie Irving.
Troy's Celtics' Key Player - This is an easy one for me. In the last couple matchups between these two teams,
Kyrie Irving picked apart Indiana's defense.
Grant's Pacers' Key Player - Without Victor Oladipo, Indy's other pieces will have to step up. That includes the other piece in the Paul George trade, underrated big man
Damantas Sabonis.
Troy's Pacers' Key Player - Thad Young has been the rock for this team. Sabonis has been great all year, Miles Turner leads the league in blocks, and Bojan Bogdanović led the team in scoring but Thad is the player who has been the leader of the team who has used chemistry and hustle to overcome losing their star Oladipo.
Grant's Series Thoughts and Prediction - If Victor Oladipo were healthy, I could see the Pacers taking Boston to seven. But without Oladipo, it'll be tough for Indy to take the Celtics six games, let alone seven.
Celtics in
five.
Troy's Series Thoughts and Prediction - These teams were tight during the regular season with two games being decided by one possession. The lack of top end talent will be the hill the Pacers won't be able to overcome which is why I'm picking the
Celtics to win in
six.
1 Warriors v 8 Clippers
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| This is what came up for Warrior Ships, I'm sorry |
Grant's Warriors' Key Player - Kevin Durant is the best player on the team and Klay Thompson can take over a game, but this is
Steph Curry's team.
Troy's Warriors' Key Player - I mean you could probably pick anyone you want from the starting five but I'm picking
Klay Thompson because why not.
Grant's Clippers' Key Player - I like players with two last names, and I like referring to players with two last names by their initials. With that in mind, SGA (
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) can establish himself as a young star in this series.
Troy's Clippers' Key Player - The Clippers have relied heavily on their young guards. His has a tough task but
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a chance to make a real name for himself if he can have a big series.
Grant's Series Thoughts and Prediction - I'm tempted to say the Clippers will steal a game or two (which they absolutely can), but the Warriors, as usual, just have an incredible amount of talent.
Golden State in
four.
Troy's Series Thoughts and Prediction - I do think that the Clippers can steal a game at home in this series if for no other reason due to the Warriors not trying that much.
Golden State in
five.
2 Nuggets v 7 Spurs
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| Stay golden Ponyboy |
Grant's Nuggets' Key Player - There are a few players to choose from here. The Nuggets must play through Nikola Jokic, and young point guard Jamal Murray needs to play well. But I'll go with shooting guard
Gary Harris, who has shown the ability to light it up from deep.
Troy's Nuggets' Key Player - The Nuggets have been super impressive this season after narrowly missing the postseason last year. A young, highly talented core is super encouraging for the Mile High City. I think the advantage for Denver is at point guard which is why I'm picking
Jamal Murray.
Grant's Spurs' Key Player - After years of playoff disappointment in Toronto,
DeMar DeRozan has a chance at redemption in San Antonio.
Troy's Spurs' Key Player - DaMar DeRozan is their best player. He hasn't gotten too much talk this year as San Antonio hasn't been in the spotlight this year.
Grant's Series Thoughts and Prediction - The Nuggets had an outstanding regular season, and they have more talent than the Spurs, but Gregg Popovich's team is always a tough matchup. I think
Denver will get by San Antonio, but it will take
seven games.
Troy's Series Thoughts and Prediction - Congrats to Denver on having an amazing season and as a reward for your achievements you get to play the most consistent franchise over the last two decades. I still think the
Nuggets will beat the Spurs, but it'll take them
six games.
3 Trail Blazers v 6 Thunder
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| Droppin' dimes and droppin' dimes |
Grant's Trail Blazers' Key Player - Damian Lillard is the obvious answer, but his backcourt mate,
CJ McCollum, is also a major factor. CJ is often overshadowed by Lillard, but like Dame, he can turn it up in crunch time.
Troy's Trail Blazers' Key Player - Portland has maybe the most underappreciated star in the league.
Damian Lillard is a true talent that we don't talk nearly enough about. Watching him go against Russ is maybe the thing I'm looking forward to most this round.
Grant's Thunder's Key Player - Paul George is the best player in Oklahoma City this season, but this team's fate rests in the hands of
Russell Westbrook.
Troy's Thunder's Key Player - OKC has two of the best players in the league but only one of them is a true MVP candidate. That's why
Paul George is going to be the leader for them this series.
Grant's Series Thoughts and Prediction - This should be an exciting series, and I could see it going either way. Portland is the favorite, but I'm leaning towards OKC, especially if Paul George plays like he did during the regular season.
Thunder in
six.
Troy's Series Thoughts and Prediction - I think this might be the most competitive series in the first round. This is the one I think has the best chance at going seven games. I like
OKC winning
game seven on the road.
4 Rockets v 5 Jazz
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| Here's Don Lind, the first Mormon astronaut |
Grant's Rockets' Key Player - I don't know if you've heard of this guy, but
James Harden is someone I would call a key player for Houston. He's got a huge beard. You can't miss him.
Troy's Rockets' Key Player - Of course, James Harden will be important in this series, that's no question. The thing is if you ask the Rockets the biggest reason they couldn't get past the Warriors last year was
Chris Paul's injury.
Grant's Jazz's Key Player - Who else could it be but
Donovan Mitchell. It will be fun to see Mitchell and Harden trade daggers in this series. Mitchell will have to keep up with Harden for the Jazz to have a chance.
Troy's Jazz's Key Player - If you're going to match the Rockets you need someone to match up against Harden and you need to score points. I think the player that's best help them do this is
Donovan Mitchell.
Grant's Series Thoughts and Prediction - Mitchell and company have the ability to push the Rockets to the edge, and the Rockets have the ability to miss 27 threes in a row. However, I think
Houston will win in
six.
Troy's Series Thoughts and Prediction - This will be another tight contest but I think I know how this will end up. The
Rockets are going to be on a mission this postseason and will get past the Jazz in
six games.
Schedule (Just Through Game Four, Will Be Updated)
Saturday 4/13:
- 2:30 - Game One - Brooklyn Nets @ Philadelphia 76ers - ESPN
- 5:00 - Game One - Orlando Magic @ Toronto Raptors - ESPN
- 8:00 - Game One - Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors - ABC
- 10:30 - Game One - San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets - ESPN
Sunday 4/14
- 1:00 - Game One - Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics - TNT
- 3:30 - Game One - Oklahoma City Thunder @ Portland Trail Blazers - ABC
- 7:00 - Game One - Detroit Pistons @ Milwaukee Bucks - TNT
- 9:30 - Game One - Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets - TNT
Monday 4/15
- 8:00 - Game Two - Brooklyn Nets @ Philadelphia 76ers - TNT
- 10:30 - Game Two - Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors - TNT
Tuesday 4/16
- 8:00 - Game Two - Orlando Magic @ Toronto Raptors - TNT
- 9:00 - Game Two - San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets - NBA TV
- 10:30 - Game Two - Oklahoma City Thunder @ Portland Trail Blazers - TNT
Wednesday 4/17
- 7:00 - Game Two - Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics - ESPN
- 8:00 - Game Two - Detroit Pistons @ Milwaukee Bucks - NBA TV
- 9:30 - Game Two - Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets - ESPN
Thursday 4/18
- 8:00 - Game Three - Philadelphia 76ers @ Brooklyn Nets - TNT
- 9:00 - Game Three - Denver Nuggets @ San Antonio Spurs - NBA TV
- 10:30 - Game Three - Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers - TNT
Friday 4/19
- 7:00 - Game Three - Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic - ESPN
- 8:30 - Game Three - Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers - ABC
- 9:30 - Game Three - Portland Trail Blazers @ Oklahoma City Thunder - ESPN
Saturday 4/20
- 3:00 - Game Four - Philadelphia 76ers @ Brooklyn Nets - TNT
- 5:30 - Game Four - Denver Nuggets @San Antonio Spurs - TNT
- 8:00 - Game Three - Milwaukee Bucks @ Detroit Pistons - ESPN
- 10:30 - Game Three - Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz - ESPN
Sunday 4/21
- 1:00 - Game Four - Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers - ABC
- 3:30 - Game Four - Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers - ABC
- 7:00 - Game Four - Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic - TNT
- 9:30 - Game Four - Portland Trail Blazers @ Oklahoma City Thunder - TNT
Monday 4/22
- 8:00 - Game Four - Milwaukee Bucks @ Detroit Pistons - TNT
- 10:30 - Game Four - Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz - TNT
