By Zayn Thompson
The NBA playoffs are just around the corner, and the matchups are set.
In the Western Conference we will see the league-best Golden State Warriors take on Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. In a series featuring two elite players, Golden State will prevail in five games with their superior supporting cast. The next matchup in the West will see the Los Angeles Clippers host the Dallas Mavericks. In what will be a high-scoring series, the Clippers will come out on top in five games. The San Antonio Spurs will take on the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Spurs will win this one in five games. The Portland Trail Blazers will take on Houston Rockets in the last West matchup. James Harden will prove to be too much for Rip City to contain, leading the Rockets to a series victory in six games.
The second round in the West will feature the battle of MVP candidates; we will see James Harden and the Rockets take on Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Golden State’s top ranked offense will be too much to overcome, as they will defeat Houston in six games. The second semi-final in the West will be Los Angeles against San Antonio. In a tough series, the Clippers will emerge on top in seven games.
In what will be the best series in the playoffs this year, the Clippers will face Golden State in the battle of California. This exciting, fierce rivalry will go all the way to game seven, with Golden State coming out on top in this tough series.
The Eastern Conference’s first matchup will be the Atlanta Hawks hosting the Brooklyn Nets/Indiana Pacers. The Hawks, which do not have a superstar, win by committee, and will handily take this series in five games. The Cleveland Cavaliers will play host to the Boston Celtics. This series will feature the only sweep in the playoffs, as Cleveland takes this series easily. The next matchup will be the Toronto Raptors hosting the Washington Wizards. This series will go all the way to game seven, with the Raptors being victorious. The last series will feature two stout defenses in the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. Chicago will handle this series easily, taking it in five.
The second round will feature the Cavaliers and the Bulls. Cleveland and its star players will be to much for D-Rose and the Bulls, as they take this series in five games. The next East semi-final matchup will be between Toronto and Atlanta. In a series that could go either way, the Hawks will take it in six.
The top two seeds will face of in the conference finals, as Cleveland will be in Atlanta to start. Cleveland will finish the series at home in game six.
In what will be a high-scoring series, the Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Golden State Warriors. This series will feature the best team from each conference, which will make for an exciting matchup. The Cavalier’s LeBron James and Kyrie Irving will have their fair share of highlights, but Golden States high scoring “Splash Bros” duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will prove to be too much for Cleveland’s average defense. Golden State in six.