Round One NBA Playoff Predictions: No Surprises

It's become fairly standard practice around these parts for me to kind of dismiss the first round of two of the NBA Playoffs since most every series seems to have a rather one-sided outcome, although I'm sure I'll probably mention multiple times this year how much I enjoyed last year's Game 7 of the NBA Finals (seriously, like best-ever type stuff for any sport). I guess this year's festivities are kicking off this weekend, so I'm cranking out my throwaway picks for the first round here with not a single upset.

A couple years ago, I got all eight of the first round series correct, but you have to seemingly try really hard to pick most basketball playoff series incorrectly. I guess there's some theoretical potential for my preseason Warriors-Cavs rematch to come undone, but let's just say I'm not completely sold on any of the possible alternatives. The Celtics as a top seed in the East seem to be a team that's going to have more success in the regular season than the playoffs, and the Spurs are always formidable contenders in the West although it's just hard to see how even San Antonio can stop a Golden State team that's going to have Kevin Durant again.

Yes, hockey will still take priority for this viewer on any given night, but here's how I'm guessing the first round is going to shake out. Just to make things different, I'm going to use some old school logos.


In descending order of confidence, as always:

Golden State Warriors over Portland Trail Blazers in four games

Perhaps the Blazers steal a game at home, but I'm not counting on it.

Cleveland Cavaliers over Indiana Pacers in five games

Cavs didn't finish the year on the strongest note, but guessing that LeBron gets the team focused rather quickly.

Boston Celtics over Chicago Bulls in five games

Feel as though I'm obligated to invest more hope in the hometown Bulls, but they're a bad team. While I harbor some doubts about Boston, I'm confident they're good enough to expose Chicago's many weaknesses. 

San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies in five games

Remember all too well the year the top-seeded Spurs got knocked off by an eighth-seeded Memphis squad, but not counting on a repeat of that this year. Grizzlies could steal more than one game though.

Houston Rockets over Oklahoma City Thunder in six games

Russell Westbrook could very well push this one seven—or hell, even steal the entire series. Too bad James Harden is on the other team though.

Washington Wizards over Atlanta Hawks in seven games

If there's one team that I'm thinking could give Cleveland some problems in the conference, it's probably Washington. Atlanta will probably do something like win every home game and all seven will be blowouts.

Toronto Raptors over Milwaukee Bucks in seven games

Fans up north will probably be crazy, but at least all those Canadians will get a series victory this year.

Los Angeles Clippers over Utah Jazz in seven games

The one real toss-up, but I give the Clips the edge because of the home court and the previous experience.