The NBA Playoffs are BACK and bigger than ever! This year, the State Farm Play-In Tournament is a welcome edition to the expanded bracket. The NBA decided to keep the Play-in idea from the Disney bubble in 2021 as now the top ten teams from each conference will have a chance to compete for a trip to the playoffs. Here's how it works..
There are six games total in the play-in tournament. The winner of the 7-8 game will be the slotted into the 7th seed. For example, if the Lakers win, they'll keep their seventh seed spot and play the Phoenix Suns in Round One of the actual playoffs. If they lose, the Golden State Warriors will take their spot and the Lakers will play the winner of the 9-10 seed game. Whoever loses the 9-10 game is eliminated from playoff contention and the winner faces the loser of the 7-8 in a win-or-go-home contest. Makes sense? Great!
Who do you think will play their way into the playoffs? Check out my predictions to see who wins every postseason game from play-in games all the way to the NBA Finals? Will the defending champs get bounced early? Can the young point guards in LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant carry the load in an elimination game? Will Stephen Curry go OFF? Will the Jazz or Suns live up to their number one seed? Is the Brooklyn Big Three unstoppable? We will find out soon enough...
Play-In Tournament
Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 at 6:30pm ET on TNT
CHA leads the season series 2-1 against IND
This is a matchup of "what-ifs." The Hornets came into the 2020 season with low expectations. To make it to the play-in tournament with an inexperienced roster is a win for their growth. However, Charlotte has crashed down to earth, losing five straight headed into the play-in tournament. Just winning one of those would've given them the highly coveted eighth seed. Instead, they stumble into this game searching for some confidence. They reached as high as the 4th seed in the standings before injuries to Gordon Hayward, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges contracting COVID took a major toll on this team. On the other hand, Indiana was expected to be in the playoffs and didn't reach their potential with injuries to T.J. Warren (out for season), Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring), and Myles Turner (foot). Call it bad luck but it's a big reason why both teams find themselves in a win-or-go-home matchup on Tuesday night.
Rookie superstar and possible Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball has been a human highlight reel. Charlotte isn't in primetime too often but it's almost certain that we'll see him step up to the occasion. His teammate Miles Bridges has made "Hum Diddly Dee" a catchphrase to remember. As the MVP in the 2020 Rising Stars challenge, Bridges has been Charlotte's most improved player. The Pacers are led by All-Star Domantas Sabonis who has continued his ascension with a career-best year. A midseason trade to get Caris LeVert might have saved his life. No really. Finally, Oshae Brissett isn't a household name but came out of nowhere to help lead Indiana to the sixth-highest scoring team in the NBA.
This game could go either way. Charlotte won the regular season series and might have more depth with guard Devonte Graham coming off the bench for Terry Rozier. However, the Pacers offense has been hot lately whereas a previously clutch Hornets team seemingly had their magic dry up in the last two weeks. It'll be challenging for this young team to get back to their winning ways with no room for error.
Indiana Pacers 116, Charlotte Hornets 112
Confidence scale: 55-45 Pacers
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Hornets 50.6%
UPDATE at 12:40pm ET (Tuesday): Pacers guard Caris LeVert (health protocols) out for Play-In Tournament.
Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 at 9:00pm ET on TNT
BOS leads the season series 2-1 against WAS
The Celtics might be the most disappointing team of 2021. A team that had a golden opportunity to make it to the NBA Finals in the bubble last year, fell to Miami in six games. The Wizards were headed for a similarly disappointing fate until a second-half surge propelled them all the way back to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Russell Westbrook had another masterful season. Recently, he passed Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson for the most triple-doubles in NBA history (182 and counting). The Wizards other superstar, Bradley Beal, has had his fair share of 40 point games this year to lead the Wiz's high octane attack. He has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury but was able to come back against Charlotte in the regular season finale, scoring 25 points.
The X-Factor for me in this one is easily Kemba Walker for Boston. The UConn product has been banged up all season long with knee, oblique, and neck injuries. When he is hot, Boston is simply a different animal. At the end of the day, without Jaylen Brown, it'll take a Tacko Fall sized effort from Jayson Tatum to take down a blazing hot Wizards team from capturing the W.
Washington Wizards 120, Boston Celtics 110
Confidence scale: 60-40 Wizards
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Celtics 67.7%
8th seed game: Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics
Winner gets #8 seed; loser goes home
BOS won the regular season series 2-1 over IND
If the Celtics fail to make it out of the play-in tournament, there is a small chance we could see Brad Stevens out of a job. This is a much closer matchup than one may think. Indiana's offense can produce and if they can somehow get Malcolm Brogdon back from a hamstring injury, I think the Pacers can pull off the upset. That being said, that is a big if right now. In another narrow play-in game, Kemba Walker hits a game-winner to redeem himself after a disappointing season and send the C's into the postseason to face the top-seeded Sixers.
Boston Celtics 109, Indiana Pacers 106
Confidence scale: 70-30 Celtics
Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 at 7:30pm ET on ESPN
MEM won the regular season series 2-1 over SA
A battle of two teams headed in opposite directions. The Spurs weren't expected to be a major factor in a stacked Western Conference this year but a Gregg Popovich team is always going to be competitive. It's not a great sign that they are stumbling into the postseason, losing four straight games.
While the Toronto Raptors aren't in the playoffs, a pair of former Raptor teammates could be the difference for their team respectively. The obvious one for San Antonio is DeMar DeRozan. Averaging nearly 22 points per game, he'll need to be a major factor for the Spurs to win. For the Grizz, Jonas Valanciunas matching up against center Jakob Poeltl is a key matchup. Valanciunas is having a career season, averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds. If the Grizzlies are effective on the glass and in the paint, it should help open up opportunities for Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant. San Antonio is a scrappy and gritty team but I have Memphis moving on in the play-in tournament.
Memphis Grizzlies 115, San Antonio Spurs 100
Confidence scale: 75-25 Grizzlies
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Grizzlies 62.3%
Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 at 10:00pm ET on ESPN
LAL won the regular season series 2-1 over GSW
This is EXACTLY what the play-in tournament is born for. Just don't tell that to LeBron James who isn't a fan of the idea. The Lakers have dealt with injuries to their two stars: LeBron and Anthony Davis but have gutted it out to try and defend their crown. After being one of the worst teams in the NBA last season, Golden State showed why they can be lethal. While Klay Thompson has missed the entire season, Steph Curry has almost carried the Warriors roster from being a lottery team into a possible dark-horse playoffs pick.
Both teams come in red-hot with the Warriors winning 15 of 20 and the Lakers winning their last five games. Aside from the fact that we get a star studded matchup in Curry vs LeBron, one of these teams will be one game away from an elimination game. This will be the most watched game of the season up to this point and I have no doubt that it will deliver a great show. In an overtime classic, I'll take King James and AD over Steph and Draymond Green.
Los Angeles Lakers 121, Golden State Warriors 118 (OT)
Confidence scale: 51-49 Lakers
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Lakers 59.4%
8th seed game: Memphis Grizzlies @ Golden State Warriors
Winner gets #8 seed; loser goes home
I don't have to think too hard on this one. I will say that Memphis might have a better overall roster than Golden State. However, the Warriors will have the best player on the court, the NBA Scoring champion Stephen Curry. Golden State Warriors 105, Memphis Grizzlies 97
Confidence scale: 70-30 Warriors
NBA Playoff Predictions
First Round
#1 Philadelphia 76ers over #8 Boston Celtics- I'll give Jayson Tatum a chance to help Boston from getting swept but I would be stunned if the series goes any farther than that. 76ers in 5
#2 Brooklyn Nets over #7 Washington Wizards- I expect most of the games in this series to be hard fought but with Bradley Beal clearly struggling with his hamstring, It'll take more than a quadruple double from Russell Westbrook to carry Washington out of the first round against the Brooklyn super-team. Nets in 5
#3 Milwaukee Bucks over #6 Miami Heat- Can lightning strike twice for the Heat? I doubt it. The emergence of Jrue Holiday alongside Giannis and Kris Middleton makes Milwaukee a scary matchup for any team. Bucks in 6
#4 New York Knicks over #5 Atlanta Hawks- Julius Randle vs. Trae Young in the playoffs? Sign me up! Fans will get to watch a great series of two rising squads that were at the bottom of the conference not too long ago. For this series, the Knicks defense has been suburb (best in the league) and they also swept the season series against Atlanta. The dream run continues for NYC. Knicks in 6
#1 Utah Jazz over #8 Golden State Warriors- The Jazz are the first team in NBA history to make at least ten 3pt shots in every game this year. That is simply outstanding. If Curry is able to carry GSW past Utah, I'd personally walk over and hand him the NBA MVP right now. It'll be a good series but I think if Mitchell and Conley are back to full strength, the Jazz will get it done. Jazz in 6
#7 Los Angeles Lakers over #2 Phoenix Suns- I feel really bad for the Suns. Are they the better team in 2021. Probably. Playing the defending champs in round one is a bad draw for a team making their first playoff appearance in over a decade. Phoenix didn't their bubble run at Disney die and instead rallied behind Chris Paul and Devin Booker, winning 51 games this season. However, there's one lesson that everyone should know by now: don't bet against LeBron James. You'll regret it if you do. I have to go with my gut. A LeBron led team has never lost in the first round of the playoffs...Sorry Suns, maybe next year. Lakers in 7
#6 Portland Trail Blazers over #3 Denver Nuggets- Some guy on the internet bet the Blazers would win 42 games...or he would lose his house. Damian Lillard promised he would deliver and guess how many wins Portland finished with? 42 on the money. Now, can Lillard deliver a first-round upset. I'll say yes. It wouldn't be too surprising to see Denver win the series but the loss of Jamal Murray may be felt in crunch time of a playoff game considering how well he played in the bubble last year. Trail Blazers in 7
#4 Los Angeles Clippers over #5 Dallas Mavericks- A rematch of last year's first round matchup. I see a similar result. Clippers in 6.
Second Round
#1 Philadelphia 76ers over #4 New York Knicks- The Knicks have had the breakout season that fans have been dreaming for. It's also nice to see one of my favorite players, Derrick Rose, healthy and effective again. That being said, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and the 76ers have lit up the stat sheet and have managed to stay healthy. Assuming their good fortunes continue, Philly should advance to their first Eastern Conference Finals in two decades. 76ers in 5
#2 Brooklyn Nets over #3 Milwaukee Bucks- My bold prediction is that this will be the toughest series for Brooklyn. Hot take: there are two teams that can beat a fully healthy Brooklyn team in a seven-game series. Any LeBron James led team and the Milwaukee Bucks. Surprised? You shouldn't be. The regular season series against the Nets showed that Milwaukee is a serious title threat, despite their postseason failures. I'm going to take the Nets here but it is really a coin flip series for me. All it takes is one off night though. Nets in 7
#6 Portland Trail Blazers over #7 Los Angeles Lakers- I'm not sure LeBron's ankle will hold up throughout the playoffs, especially with the Lakers likely having to play in six or seven games in all their series. After seeing Phoenix getting upset in round one, the Trail Blazers will be ready and will carry the momentum from their upset against Denver and make a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals. Trail Blazers in 6
#1 Utah Jazz over #4 Los Angeles Clippers- Sorry Clippers fans. The "curse" is going to continue. The Western Conference is as strong as it's ever been. Until I see Paul George step up in the playoffs, I can't pick LAC to advance to the conference finals. Jazz in 7
Conference Finals
#1 Utah Jazz over #6 Portland Trail Blazers- West coast stand up! There's probably not many people that have this matchup for the conference finals but in the Wild Wild West, anything is possible. Flip a coin on this one. Ultimately, I value the consistency of Utah and have everything you'd want in a top contender. They lead the NBA in rebounds, have a top five offense, and are elite from three point land. The Blazers' cinderella run end here. Jazz in 6
#2 Brooklyn Nets over #1 Philadelphia 76ers- The Sixers won the regular season series 2-1 but they didn't see Harden, Durant, and Irving at the same time. I think that will prove to be the difference as Brooklyn heads to their first Finals since 2003 in New Jersey. Nets in 6
It comes down to this. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and the Utah Jazz against the three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. The two teams faced off against each other, splitting the series in two blowouts. I'd be thrilled to see this matchup since when these teams are at full strength, I have them as the top two teams in professional basketball. I sound like a broken record but the Finals is the Nets to lose. If Kyrie shows up for every game and Durant and Harden healthy, there's no stopping them from taking home the championship. Brooklyn Nets over Utah Jazz in six games
NBA Champion: Brooklyn Nets (1st title)
NBA Awards
MVP: Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets
Rookie of the Year: LaMelo Ball, G, Hornets
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Knicks
Most Improved Player: Julius Randle, F, Knicks
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Clarkson, G, Jazz
Finals MVP: Kevin Durant, F, Nets
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