NBA Playoffs First Round Takes

1. The Denver Nuggets are frauds.

As the Timberwolves head into this series, they are certainly considered “black horses” for the entire tournament. The Denver Nuggets will be without one of their best defenders, Aaron Gordon, and on any given night, a Jamal Murray off night, combined with Rudy Gobert clamps, can lead to a blowout loss in favor of Minnesota. 4x Defensive Player of the Year Gobert is certainly going to be a hard matchup for Nikola Jokic. I believe Gobert will dominate this matchup. Additionally, Timbs player Ayo Dosunmu has slowly become a breakout star this season and has perfected his craft just in time for the playoffs. With superstar Anthony Edward and, of course, University of Washington alum Jaden McDaniels, this team should at the very least bring the Nuggets to 7. Don’t be surprised if they beat them in 6.

Best Player of the Series: Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves, France)

2. LeBron James and the Lakers will have to watch a sneaky comeback by the Rockets.

As the Lakers’ series with the Rockets starts in a day (April 26), here are a few things to expect out of this matchup. Sources have said that Kevin Durant may be out for game one, so that's an easy win for the Lakers. I think Lebron James will summon his prime in the first couple of games, and the Lakers will go out to a 2-0 lead. A sneaky x-factor in this series is DeAndre Ayton, as he will have a chance to easily dominate the Alperen Sengun matchup. I think Sengun will have a stinker in this series. The Rockets will win Game 3 and lose Game 4, making it a 3-1 lead for the Lakers. At this point, Kevin Durant should be back on his feet and ready to go, so the Rockets will bring it back to a Game 7. Honestly, Game 7 is up to chance.

Best Player of the Series: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers, Saint Vincent-Saint Mary’s High School)

3. Orlando and Detroit will go to 7.

I think this Orlando team does not deserve to be an 8-seed. With Seattle-native Paolo Banchero at the helm, this team will give the Pistons a run for their money. Cade Cunningham will go off per usual, and All-Star Jalen Duren will have an underwhelming series against an amazing defender in Wendell Carter Jr. Ultimately, I think the Pistons will pull through in 7 at home.

Best Player of the Series: Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma State University)

4. The 76ers will upset the Celtics.

This series is an all-time classic. Newly returned Jayson Tatum will team up with co-superstar Jaylen Brown against All-Pro Tyrese Maxey, Rookie VJ Edgecome, and former-MVP Joel Embiid. Here, I think it will be back and forth, as the 76ers are a good squad with great veteran experience, including former-champion and fan-favorite Kyle Lowry. Brown and Tatum will probably have an underwhelming series, and this could easily go to 7 if all three 76ers superstars show up and veteran Paul George steps up in the clutch. 

Best Player of the Series: Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers, University of Kentucky)

5. The Spurs will sweep the Trail Blazers.

With Victor “The Alien" Wembanyama entering his first playoff series, expect his gameplay to step up another level. With their depth at the guard position, including Stephon Castle, DeAaron Fox, and rookie Dylan Harper, the Spurs are by far favorites to make it to the championship, if not win the whole thing. Only superstar Deni Avdija on the Trail Blazers is primarily a downhill layup merchant, and with Wemby as a rim protector, you know he will be suppressed for most of the game. GIVE ME WEMBY IN 4.

Best Player of the Series: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, France)

6. Knicks in 5.

Honestly, this will be a pretty boring series. I see the Hawks winning one game when CJ McCollum, Jonathan Kuminga, and Dyson Daniels all have a good game, but they won’t be consistent. Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns will easily overpower this team.

Best Player of the Series: OG Anunoby (New York Knicks, Indiana University)

7. Cavaliers and Raptors will go to 7.

This will easily be the most entertaining series of them all with two fundamentally rock-solid teams. I think James Harden and Donovan Mitchell will be very good in this series, but I don’t see them having that much support from the bench. On the other hand, the Raptors have a more consistent core of players, with their only superstar being Brandon Ingram. At the end of the day, I think the Cavaliers’ lack of depth will catch up to them. Give me the Raptors in 7.

Best Player of the Series: RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors, Duke University)

8. The Thunder will sweep the Suns.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

2. Chet Holmgren

3. Jalen Williams

4. Shai Gilgeus-Alexander

5. SGA

6. SGA

It's OKC - idk what else to tell you.

OKC in 4

Best Player of the Series: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder, University of Kentucky)

Prediction for the rest of the playoffs:

Semifinals:

OKC vs Lakers: OKC in 6

Spurs vs Timberwolves: Spurs in 6

Pistons vs Cavaliers: Pistons in 7

76ers vs Knicks: Knicks in 7

Conference Finals:

Spurs vs OKC: Spurs in 7

Knicks vs Pistons: Knicks in 6

NBA Finals:

Spurs vs Knicks: Spurs in 7

FINALS MVP: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, France)