2023 NBA Playoff Predictions: Round 2
By Nick M.W.
The first round of these NBA playoffs has been exciting unless you’re a Bucks or Clippers fan. Injuries derailed your playoff aspirations, and I thought the Clips had a great shot at winning it all this year. They just couldn’t stay healthy, which I find ironic since they load managed Kawhi in order to prevent him from getting hurt so that he could play during the playoffs. As you know, Paul George gets hurt towards the end of the regular season, and he doesn’t step on the court again for the Clippers this year. Westbrook alone wasn’t going to carry this team past the Suns, and so they went out in the first round. I called it, and that was with Kawhi healthy. Without him, they had no chance of winning a game let alone a series.
Similarly for the Bucks, they needed Giannis to be healthy and perfect against the Heat and Jimmy Butler, who becomes superhuman during the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, Giannis had a back issue that kept him out for a couple of games. By the time he was able to return in Game 4, it wasn’t enough. In addition to dealing with having his superstar player out, Bucks’ head coach Mike Budenholzer was also dealing with the death of one of his brothers, who was killed in a car accident before Game 4. The Heat and Jimmy Butler took advantage of not having Giannis on the court, and the Bucks had no way to deal with it.
Overall, I did a pretty good job with my Round 1 predictions.
I hit on three out of four of my Western Conference picks (Lakers, Nuggets, Suns, Kings). Once again, shame on me for doubting championship experience. I thought the Kings would put the Warriors out in six games, but Golden State handled the Kings easily to close out in Game 7. They beat them up the same way the Lakers laid out the Grizzlies in Game 6 of their series. No doubts left about who the better teams were.
I didn’t do as well with my Eastern Conference picks. I didn’t think the Knicks would advance because they’re the Knicks, and for my entire life they’ve been the Eastern Conference version of the Clippers, but worse. Good for them for advancing to play the Heat, who I didn’t think would make it out of the play-in. I picked the Bulls to nab the eight seed and square off against Milwaukie. Shame on me for doubting “Jimmy Buckets” and Erik Spoelstra, who is one of the NBA’s great active coaches, and perhaps when it’s all said and done one of the Association’s great all-time coaches. His teams have always been competitive, and he’s a three-time NBA champion (two of those as the head coach and one as Pat Riley’s assistant) with six total NBA Finals appearances. I would love to have that dude coach the Lakers, but it feels like he’ll be in Miami for his entire career, like Gregg Popovich.
Let’s get into Round 2 since Round 2 has already begun.
Eastern Conference
The Heat already took game one from the Knicks earlier today, but I would’ve picked them to win this series if they’d lost this first game. Maybe it’s because I don’t know enough about the Knicks and how they matchup against the Heat, which is fair. I don’t. I’m just going with my gut on these predictions, and I think the Heat win this series in five games. Heat advance
Damn, I hate the Celtics, but if Embiid isn’t 100%, the 76ers won’t advance. He’s listed as “doubtful” for tomorrow’s Game 1. It doesn’t look good for Philly. With Embiid at full strength, this series would likely go the distance, but I think Boston wins in six. Celtics advance
Western Conference
The Denver Nuggets aren’t messing around. They’re healthy, they have home court and the damn “5,280” mile-high altitude advantage, and they are motivated to beat the Suns. They have that ’21 Playoffs sweep taste still in their mouths, and they want to use Devin Booker’s blood to rinse it out. Too far? Maybe that was, but it’s not out of the question to suggest the Nuggets stun the Suns and sweep them. Nuggets advance
My Lakers did what I said they would do and moved past the Grizzlies in six games. Memphis, this one’s for you!
Thanks for the memories, Memphis. On to the next level.
Now, the Lakers get to face probably the best backcourt in NBA history (probably) and the defending champs. It’s LeBron vs Steph, LeBron vs Draymond, Dr. Dre vs E-40, Nor Cal vs So Cal, the Bay vs L.A., and it’s going to be a lot of fun. Steph is going to be a problem (what’s new?), but the Lakers are hot. AD is going to play like a maniac, and the Lakers defense is going to frustrate Klay and contain those other dudes. Lakers in six. Lakers advance
