My Picks for the 2025 NBA Playoffs:
East
1st Round
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat
The Cavs have been a pleasant surprise this year, whle the Heat have beena big dissapointment. Ever since the Butler trade, the Heat have been a shell of their formerselves, however, they seem to have found a spark as of late. Herro is playing really good basketball right now, and they have the size to stack up with Cleveland. That is where the positives end for Miami. Cleveland’s depth has maybe been the most improved part of any team this season with leaps forward from just about everyone. The addition of Hunter was one of the best moves at the deadline as well.
The Heat could definitely take a game given their historic playoff success no matter the seed, but they don’t have Playoff Jimmy, so an outright series win is extremely unlikely.
Cleveland wins in 4
Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic
The Celtics are looking to buzzsaw their way through the postseason yet again, but I think Orlando could pose a legitimate challenge if they’re not careful. The Magic won the season series 2-1 and have won 4 straight againt Boston at home. Every game should be defenseive struggle as these teams give up the least PPG of anyone.
The real X-factor here is the Magic’s offense. They have been bad this year, and I would contribute a lot of that to the failure of the KCP signing. His much needed 3pt shooting is down to 34% when he had been shooting at or around 40% for the last several years. If the Magic want to make this a tight series, they need KCP among others to step up their shooting.
In the end, the matchup will make things tough for Boston, but their offense can function, and the Magic’s can’t.
Boston wins in 5
New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons
The Knicks have been an interesting team this year. With the addition of KAT, their offense has reached new heights, and yet their defense has been uncharacteristically mediocre. Can KAT be the 5 for championship team? I’m not sure. Can he be the 5 to beat Detroit? Probably.
The Pistons have completely turned around in just 1 year, and Cade Cunningham has been the star they have been hoping for. Their depth has been really good, an they have a rare oppurtunity to go from the worst team in the NBA to winning a playoff series. This all relies on two players: Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. Cunningham needs to be able to prove he can turn it on the playoffs. He needs to be able to go off to counteract when Brunson goes off, or to take advantage when teh Knicks are struggling. Duren needs to be able to beat KAT down low. If the Pistons can’t expose KAT, then it’s over.
This series could really go either way, but I’ll lean towards the Knicks. They are much more proven, and not confident that Detroit will have the consistency to win 4 games.
New York wins in 6
Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks
Well, what is gonna happen with Dame? I don’t know waht to expect, but I’m thinking at least the 1st two games in Indiana. Indiana won this series a year ago against an injury riddled Milwaukee, and despite Giannis being healthy, the Bucks just don’t have any sort of depth. Haliburton is playing his best ball, and the Pacers have the depth necessary to make a postseason run.
If Dame was playing the whole series I would be a little more hesitant to pick the Pacers, but I don’t see the Bucks being able to hold on without him.
Indiana wins in 6
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers
These are my two personal favorite teams in the East this postseason, so I hope whoever wins this can beat Boston or New York. Indiana is leagues better thane Miami, especially from a talent perspective, so Cleveland may be caught lacking a little early on, but I still think it is unlikely the Pacers can win a full series here. Haliburton and Nembhhard are going to have a really hard time trying to guard Mitchell and Garland.
Cleveland has too much to throw at Indiana, and should win the series, but I don’t expect this to be a sweep.
Cleveland wins in 5
Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks
The Knicks have been very good this year, but they have really struggled against the elite teams this year, and I expect that to continue here. New York’s defensive woes will be exposed, and the Celtics are gonna have a field day shooting their 3s all day every day. The Knicks need KAT to step up, and Jalen Brunson to play his butt off.
The Knicks don’t have that extra edge to them that I think would be necessary to have any sort of big upset to make this series interesting.
Boston wins in 5
Eastern Conference Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics
These two teams have been pretty evenly matched for the whole year. Both teams have good depth and a plethora of high end talent, but I think the Cavs will ultimately have the edge here. Their bench scoring is much more reliable, and I think they will have the extra chip on their shoulder to out play the Celtics when it’s close.
The real X-factor here is Evan Mobley. If he can dominate the paint, then the Celtics can kiss there chances of a repeat good bye, and I think Mobley will be able to do it. The Celtics elite defense will keep this interesting though.
Cleveland wins in 7
West
1st Round
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have been way better this year as they have been much more healthy, but the Thunder are another animal. Shai is playing at an MVP level, Chet and JW have been amazing, and their defense as a whole has been elite. The Grizzlies don’t have to the extra it-factor really pose any sort of threat as Ja Morant has kind of stagnated.
OKC wins in 4
Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors
A lot of people are writing off the Rockets because of their experience, but I actually think they will win the series. Jimmy Butler has been playing really good lately, I can’t dispute that, and so has Steph, but even with them both playing at elite levels, they have still been barely eeking out wins lately, and even falling short despite amazing individual performances. The Warriors rely too much on just two players. They don’t play as a team quite as good as Houston, and the Rockets’ defense should be ready to throw something at GS that will slow down one of the 2 stars.
Rockets win in 6
Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
My favorite team in the West vs my least favorite team in the West. I think Minnesota is one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA, and Anthony Edwards has been playing at an All-NBA level as the T-Wolves have been playing better lately. The Lakers obviously have the bane of Rudy Gobert’s existence, Luka Doncic. Luka and LeBron will be able to keep LA in any game, no matter what situation they may find themselves in.
Here’s why Minnesota is going to win. Luka and Austin Reaves can’t guard ANT, and Rudy Gobert is going to dominate Jaxson Hayes. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle will have their hands full with LeBron, but they should be able to do good enough. I also think the Lakers lack in depth while Minnesota has a very deep bench they can pull from when they need to.
Minnesota wins in 7
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers
I’m gonna keep this short and sweet. The Nuggest suck outside of Jokic. Jokic is best in the world, but he can’t be everything, especially when you have to play against a well coached, defensive team like LA.
Los Angeles wins in 6
Western Conference Semifinals
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers
The young stars vs the old stars. LAC defintely ha more experience both on the court and with their coaching staff, but I still like OKC here. The Thunder have scoring all over their roster, and the Clippers really have to rely on three guys (Harden, Leonard, and Norman Powell). This will be a good test for OKC, but LAC will have to play the series of their lives to advance.
OKC wins in 5
Houston Rockets vs Minnesota Timberwolves
This is where teh Rockets will fall after having a good turnaround season. In order to make a deep run, you need a go to superstar, and the Rockets don’t have that. Minnesota has Anthony Edwards. That will be the difference as well an overall experience advantage.
Minnesota wins in 6
Western Conference Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves
This is where things run short for the Wolves yet again. The Thunder have two much firepower, and I don’t know how they will be able to guard SGA or Chet. SGA vs ANT will be a fun matchup, but the Timberwolves don’t have to plethora of scorers that OKC has at their disposal.
OKC wins in 6
Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers
These have been the two best teams all year. SGA vs Donovan Mitchell. Mobley vs Chet. Jalen Williams vs Darius Garland. Jaret Allen vs Hartenstein. This is star on star across the board, with both teams having deep benches, but only one can come iut with the victory, and I think that team is OKC. I have two main reasons. 1. OKC has a the objectivly better defense, even despite Mobley’s great season. 2. I trust SGA to be great more than I trust Donovan Mitchell. This will be the best finals series we have seen in a while, but the Thunder will come out on top with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning Finals MVP.
OKC wins in 7
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