2025-26 NBA Playoff Predictions

East

Heat 126-127 (OT) Hornets

I was curious to see if the underachieving Heat (right? I mean they're supposed to be better than 10th in the East, right?) could give it to the overachieving Hornets (right? I mean the Hornets have sucked for so long that finishing 9th in the East is worth hanging a banner, right?). The Hornets had a stretch around the all-star break where they were arguably the best team in the league, while Miami had one of their weird injury-plagued, funky rotation seasons. Miami has at least been here before, while the Hornets haven't been anywhere in a long long time. Well, it was a fun game. I can't even count how many times the Heat bungled this game in regulation and again in OT. But bungle it they did and LaMelo streaked from end to end to sneak a buzzer beater layup and a W. (*) So the Heat got bounced and the Hornets get to keep playing. 

Magic 97-109 Sixers

The Magic have had such a woeful offense all year (well, for a few years now), that I can't say that I was surprised by this result. Philly's speed alone would outscore the Magic. So Philly are headed to Boston as your #7 seed and the Magic are headed back to Orlando for a second chance.

Hornets 90-121 Magic

If Bam finishes out the first game in Charlotte, don't you think Miami gives Orlando a much rougher time than the Hornets did? Well, I sure think so. This one was over quick as Charlotte just sorta forgot to show up. The Magic were hitting on all cylinders--something they rarely do!--and this match was a laugher long before halftime. (**) 

(8) Magic @ (1) Pistons (I'll take Pistons in 5)

The Pistons took a leap this season behind a for-real MVP season by Cade Cunnigham. Worth remembering that when Cade got hurt (collapsed lung) near the end of the season, the team rallied without him and held on to the #1 seed. Dang, that was impressive--I totally wrote off the Pistons at that moment. I love a good youth movement squad and though it was about time for Cade to blow up, I was skeptical of the Pistons for most of the season because they just seem too one-dimensional, not enough depth, not enough seasoning, not sure about the coach. But the way they carried on when their leader went down showed me something. And the horrible offense of the Magic is not likely to perturb the Pistons. Now the Hornets could have given the Pistons a struggle, the Heat might've outworked them, the Sixers speed surely would've had them reeling....but the Magic? No worries. I think the Pistons will cruise into the 2nd round. 

(7) Sixers @ (2) Celtics (I'll take Celtics in 5)

The Sixers are Tyrese Maxey's squad now (and Edgecombe's, too). The idea that they need Joel Embiid to carry them was always fanciful (full disclosure: I was never an Embiid guy), but now it seems downright lunacy to think they need Embiid. Quite the opposite! I think they're better off without him. That said, either way, I think the Celtics are well disciplined, deep and they have played so hard, so well, all season long, I don't see any reason why the Sixers would interrupt them. I think the Celtics mail in one game in Philly (I would bet it's Game Four) and then wrap it up back in Boston. 

(6) Hawks @ (3) Knicks (I'll take Knicks in 7)

This should be a good one. The Knicks are a nice team but I thought they wildly overachieved last year: beat the Pistons in 6--but were the lesser team in all 6 games!, beat the Celtics in 5--but were the lesser team in all 5 games!, fell to the Pacers, who were the better team throughout. People lost their minds when they fired Coach Thibodeau but I thought it was the right move (***). They have a nice collection of talent but they are a weird fit and sometimes that offense becomes standing around watching Brunson go to work (there are worse ways to go). If the Knicks ever find their rhythm, they could be the best team in the league; but until they do, they're actually quite vulnerable to falling prey to a hard working squad that knows who they are. Are the Hawks that squad? They've definitely had moments of feeling that way since they finally got out from under the Trae Young cloud (whose greatest NBA success came when he single-handedly stomped the Knicks in the playoffs a few years back). The Hawks have fallen a bit from their peak this season but if they can get back to that, they can sting this Knicks team. But I think in the end, Brunson will have a monster Game Seven and drag the Knicks into the 2nd round. 

(5) Raptors @ (4) Cavs (I'll take Cavs in 6)

(Sitting here watching Game One, but it hasn't really changed my thinking) The Raptors are a nice squad that are unfortunately overpaid and therefore seem like a disappointment when actually they are a nice squad. The Cavs added James Harden, which should center their offense, allowing Donovan Mitchell to be more additive rather than load-bearing. The Cavs have been kinda disappointing this season but I think they've been waiting for the post-season and they'll tighten up from here. I like the Raptors and they're frisky on the road, but they're just not as deep or reliable as the Cavs. 

West

Blazers 114-110 Suns

Interesting game. Both teams made wild swings back and forth, so the Suns are down by 12, suddenly they're up by 8--and vice versa. Normally a close game stays within a range of 4-6 points with each team going slightly back and forth, but this one had big runs by both teams. And here, the Blazers made the last big run and held off the Suns. I was kinda surprised because it seems to me that all season long the Suns have been the team that beat the teams they should beat and loses to the teams they should lose to; now this sounds rather basic but I assure you, the NBA doesn't work that way. Everybody has good night and bad night, good stretches and bad stretches, but the Suns this year were pretty consistent all year long, they didn't have a lot of upsets nor did they suffer a lot of upsets. So....the Blazers are better than the Suns (at home), right? I can dig it. The Blazers are an interesting team that had a good thing going by season's end. 

Warriors 126-121 Clippers

Everyone will remember this as the Clippers falling apart and Steph Curry as the big hero. But what I saw was Al Horford getting buckets down the stretch and the Clippers being unprepared for points from the scrubs. The Clippers should've won, they were the better team for most of this match, but the Clippers gon' Clip.

Warriors 111-96 Suns

The Warriors were never really in this game. Their philosophy is keep the game close and let Steph go nuts down the stretch. But Steph never warmed up and the Warriors couldn't keep up. Draymond was able to get Devin Booker ejected by the end but I thought that was bull shit! If the ref wanted to warn them both, that's fine; if he wanted to just toss Draymond, that's fine; but the game had already re-started, Booker was literally dribbling the ball when the ref stopped play to throw them both out. I didn't like the call and I still don't. Draymond is a great player but, god, what an annoying dick! The good news is that his season is over. 

East 1st round

(8) Suns @ (1) Thunder (I'll take Thunder in 5)

I like the Suns, as I said I think they've played to their competition as well as any team I've seen in eons. Well, the Thunder are way better than the Suns, so I don't see the Suns winning too many games. The Thunder have been murdering people all season long (that's two season in a row, if you're paying attention) and I don't see the Suns standing in their way. 

(7) Blazers @ (2) Spurs (I'll take Spurs in 6)

The Spurs blew up this season because Wembyama decided he was ready to play (though he was still clearly on a pitch count all year long--does that continue in the playoffs?) and because the supporting cast around him was a little better than everyone thought they'd be. I'm not surprised the Spurs were good, but even I thought it was a little early for them to get to 2nd place in the vaunted West. The Blazers have been down for a while but with the emergence of Dani Avdija, the Blazers looked as good as they have in a while. Is Donovan Clingen enough to slow down Wemby? Can Avidja and Shaedon Sharpe match the wing scoring of Fox, Castle and Harper? As much as I like the momentum of the Blazers, I think the answer to both of those questions is "no". I like the Blazers to make the Spurs work--everyone should be pissed that the Spurs will have to get better rather than just cruising into the next round--but I just don't see the Blazers outscoring the Spurs more than once or twice in a 7-game series. 

(6) Wolves @ (3) Nuggets (I'll take Nuggets in 7)

Gonna be a fun one.  These two have played a few times over the years with some crazy-town results. I think the Nuggets are better than they've been in a while (****), while the Wolves feel like they're sleepwalking. Are the Wolves just biding their time til the playoffs? They can tell themselves that but I don't think the Wolves were better this year in any way than the previous year and that's not a good sign. I still think the series goes 7 but I can't shake the notion that the Nuggets are waaaaaaay better than the Wolves.

(5) Rockets @ (4) Lakers (I'll take Rockets in 6)

Coupla different thoughts on this one: if Luka and Austin Reeves aren't available for the Lakers, than this will be over quickly. But if it is even strength (which is what I'm counting on), I think the conventional wisdom is that the Rockets are sluggish and weird while the Lakers are rounding into shape and looking good at the right time. But I'm gonna throw in a curve ball: I think the Rockets are not built for the regular season; not that their talent is just waiting til the bright lights come on, but that the squad as a whole isn't at their best until they come up against a singular opponent to focus on. Playing the same team 7 times in a row should actually help the Rockets. And I think it will. I think the Rockets will be better in the post-season (meaning this Western conference playoffs are gonna be freakin' awesome).

I think I'll come back between rounds and re-do all my predictions, but for giggles I'll go ahead and play the rest of the playoffs out here and now. 

Eastern Conference Semifinals

(4) Cavs @ (1) Pistons (I'll take Cavs in 6)

(3) Knicks @ (2) Celtics (I'll take Celtics in 5)

Western Conference Semifinals

(5) Rockets @ (1) Thunder (I'll take Thunder in 7)

(3) Nuggets @ (2) Spurs (I'll take Nuggets in 7)

Eastern Conference Finals

(4) Cavs @ (2) Celtics (I'll take Celtics in 6)

Western Conference Finals

(3) Nuggets @ (1) Thunder (I'll take Thunder in 7)

NBA Finals

Celtics @ Thunder (I'll take Thunder in 7)

The Thunder have been the best team all year long. The Spurs have been breathing down their necks and shown a notable confidence against the Thunder, but I don't think they're ready to move on in the playoffs just yet, one last heartbreak is what Wemby needs to become a true killer. As for the Thunder, they are just casually better than everyone even if they never quite feel dominant. This Spurs team has come real far, real fast but they still have to beat Jokic and rejuvenated Murray in the playoffs and are we sure they're ready to do that? (I am not) I love where the Spurs are going, but they're not there just yet. Can the Thunder beat the Nuggets? They can and I think they will.

That the Celtics should've mailed this season in was a pretty popular opinion last summer. They had just lost Jaysum Tatum to a gruesome season-long injury, traded away Holliday and Porzingis, let Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk, felt like they'd be replacing too much of their rotation to have a shot; but I was dubious at the time (losing Horford, Porzingis and even Holliday was not much of a loss, indeed moving from noisy veterans was probably addition by subtraction). And while I'm not shocked the Celtics were actually really good this year, I am shocked how much better than the Knicks, Cavs and Magic they were--and how quickly Jaysun Tatum came back from injury ready to rock. It'll be a weird ride into the playoffs for the Celtics, but at this moment I think they're the best team in the East. 

(*) Oh, and LaMelo clearly maliciously grabbed Bam Adebayo's ankle and forced him out of the game in the 1st quarter and...well....nobody seemed to care. I was puzzled by this in the moment and still puzzled a few days later. So, we're just injuring dudes now and nothing happens? So, we're Rollerball now?

(**) Want to know why the Hornets made such an impressive leap this regular season? Because in last year's draft they added, Kon Knueppel, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner, who all played major minutes for this team. They added three impact rotational guys that beefed-up their depth and all from rookie contract players. Wanna know why they got bounced in the play-in? Same reason. Rook don't win in the post, yo.

(***) Quick question: when was Coach Thibs EVER good? All I see is a guy that runs players into the ground, destroys teams and never goes deep in the playoffs. What am I missing?

(****) I was planning on doing my NBA season awards in the same post as my post-season predictions, but I'm double checking my number-crunching, really marinating in the stats this year, so my awards post won't be til later. I say all this to suggest that....I think Jokic is my MVP (again) and Jamal Murray is not gonna be far off. So when I say the Nuggets are better than they've been in a while, what I mean is that Jokic and Murray BOTH may be better than ever. We'll see how it goes. 

2023-24 NFL (End of Regular Season)

The also-rans, trying to get a sense of which teams will be better or worse next year.

AFC

Bengals -- They started slow then right as it looked like they might get something going, QB Joe Burrow got hurt and though the backup wasn't bad, it killed whatever shot at the post-season they had this year. Burrow is still great but never looked sharp, I expect that offense will be good again next season. The D, though, was mediocre at best and I suspect that's mostly what they'll be looking for in the draft. Still in on this squad, Burrow is still a baller, they'll be back. (BETTER)

Jaguars -- Started off strong, dominated their London portion of the schedule, but faltered badly down the stretch. LB Josh Allen will go under the radar in DPOY votes but that's too bad because he is a monster! QB Trevor Lawrence was up and down, still a middling talent, could be great next year but it isn't a certainty. That division is still winnable, I expect the Jags to be in the mix, but they need to fatten up their roster as best they can. (I'd say BETTER)

Colts -- Could've been in the playoffs with a final game W that they just couldn't lock down. Started with a rookie QB Richardson, who was promising but unorthodox (his whole career looks like he'll always be two seconds away from a big play or a devastating injury), not clear how they go forward with him. Had pretty good success with backup QB Minshew, he'll be in demand if the Colts let him go. Weird year: they weren't good or bad, I thought they'd be awful but they weren't, but every time they looked like they might get going, they'd stumble. They overachieved and yet disappointed simultaneously. Not sure where this team goes next year but they're actually already better than I thought they would be. (Honestly NO IDEA, perhaps the widest floor to ceiling in the AFC)

Raiders -- Man, they hated their coach! They struggled most of the season, then completely mutinied on the coach and played much better once he was gone. I dunno, man, I have no idea if they're good or not. No telling what they'll be next year. It wasn't clear to me what happened to QB Garropolo, seems like he won't be back next year. No idea what this team is or where they go. (WORSE, they could be a lot better just by finding a consistent Coach-QB combo but I think there are more rising teams in the AFC than the Raiders can keep up with)

Broncos -- Started horribly, had a surprisingly nice stretch in the middle of the schedule, came back to earth and finished with manufactured controversy designed to purge QB Russell Wilson. I expect the Broncos to be more consistent next year. Whether that is consistently good or consistently bad could go either way. Feels like they've got a weird off-season coming. (BETTER, simply by removing the Russell Wilson controversy potential)

Jets -- I thought the Jets would suck even with QB Aaron Rodgers and when he got hurt on the first play of the year, well, on the one hand it felt like a total Jets move, on the other hand I wasn't expecting much anyway. The defense really is good, if they can get one more spicy Rodgers season to go with the okay running game, maybe the Jets could be good. Getting a better draft position is probably the best move for them overall anyway. (BETTER, a full season of a for-real QB with that defense and that running game almost has to be better)

Titans -- Feels like the Titans will be in major flux this off-season. They never got going on either side, even though rookie QB Will Levis was already much better than I thought he could be. I don't think they get better next year, could be moving on from Coach Vrabel and RB Derrick Henry (who may well be the big prize of the off-season for somebody), the Titans are probably moving in the wrong direction. (WORSE, hit with the rookie QB but seem to back-sliding everywhere else)

Chargers -- Another team that benefitted mightily from ditching their awful coach, too late to make a difference this season but next year this offense might be what it's supposed to be. Well....until you realize how far over the cap the Chargers were with this roster that never went anywhere, so they may be in for major changes on both sides of the ball. The time spent indulging their brutal coach may set this team back for years to come. Do they trade QB Justin Herbert and start over? Or do they swing for the fences and take a run at Derrick Henry? I dunno, those are both probably bad ideas. (WORSE....I don't see this situation being better next year, yipes!)

Pats -- The talk is that Coach Belichick is moving on but I don't buy it. The defense was still pretty good but brutal QB play for the last few years has doomed this team. Belichick is not a tank commander, but it seems pretty clear they didn't do much to field a proper offense, so I don't think they're as bad as they looked this season. They've got the #3 pick, which will undoubtedly be used on a QB, we'll see if that makes the difference. (Hot take: QB Mac Jones will be Josh Allen's backup in Buffalo next year, bet on it) (BETTER, this team isn't this bad, not to say they're a lock for the playoffs or anything, but they'll definitely be better next year)

NFC

Seahawks -- I dunno, I was never in on this team and yet they hung around and had moments and it feels like just a few changes might make this team really good again. On the other hand, the Niners are stacked right now and the Rams opossum-ed their way into the playoffs and as bad as the Cards looked all season, they still beat the Seahawks, so maybe the ship has sailed on the Pete Carroll Seahawks. They're currently right in the middle of the pack, which is kinda the worst place to be in sports. Are they just a few moves away or is total teardown time? (WORSE, just not in a position to get better unless they make major changes and I doubt they will (or that that would work anyway))

Saints -- I never liked the look of this team all year long and yet, like the Seahawks, they hung around and had their chances. I suspect QB Derek Carr will not be back, not sure if QB Jameis Winston will be back either, so are they trading up in the draft or taking a run at a mid-tier QB for next year? The defense was okay, as was the special teams but there was not much magic on the offensive side, don't see how that improves next year. (WORSE, as annoying as their QB play was this year, I doubt it gets better next year)

Vikings -- Lost QB Kirk Cousins, I guess he'll be ready for next season, had some ups and downs and they still have Justin Jefferson (IMHO, the finest WR in the biz right now) and an okay defense. If they can sprinkle in some depth, keep Jefferson healthy and get Cousins back, the Vikings can be pretty good again right away. Disappointing season but not devastating. (BETTER, they just need to get back to normal, which is already better)

Bears -- Awful awful awful early on, then turned a corner and showed some real spice on the offensive side. Okay, all year long I've been saying they should trade QB Justin Fields and prepare their #1 pick for USC's Caleb Williams....but....I've flip-flopped! I was never out on Fields--I was out on the Bears!--but I like what they did on D this year, Fields matured nicely, now I think they should trade the #1 pick for as many picks as they can get, build around Fields and take a run at the best pass catchers the free agent market has to offer. The Bears weren't great this year but they showed enough life that it makes me think Fields can be really good and the defense can improve, too. If they trade Fields and blow it up, they'll be starting over from scratch but the last 6 weeks or so of the season was something to build on rather than discard. Curious to see what they do, they are in the driver's seat on draft night. (Flip a coin; I think keeping Fields will make them better next year but overhauling will not make them better next year)

Falcons -- Man, if they just had a QB this would've been a pretty good team! I wondered why they didn't trade for Justin Fields in July (or August or September or October or November--by December it was too late!), and I'm still convinced that if they had, they would've won their division and wouldn't have fired their coach (yeah, he's already gone). The offense has weapons but no one to pull the trigger, this was the problem all year and it still will be until they get a QB (or until the roster just naturally falls apart). The Falcons in a way are the most disappointing team because they really only have one clear problem--and they knew from day one! (BETTER, whatever they come up with at QB, it'll be better than this year)

Giants -- Overachieved last year, underachieved this year, seems about par for an NYC squad, no? The right QB could really make a difference here and still not sure if Daniel Jones is that guy. Is there any chance the Giants make a splash on draft night? (BETTER simply by being more consistent)

Commanders -- For a while now the Commanders have been the kind of team that starts balling out once it becomes clear they have no shot of winning. I don't know how that changes. They have the #2 pick in the draft, so they're guaranteed to have a shiny new QB next season, will it be the right one? (Magic 8 ball says: Outlook not good) (WORSE, because there's no reason to think a rookie QB will make a difference right away)

Cards -- Didn't really try to be good this year, QB Kyler Murray missed the first 10 games, they gave away the QB (Dobbs) they had, and yet still seemed kinda dangerous at times and ended up with the #4 pick (a WR I imagine), so they put forth zero effort and got rewarded. I have no idea if this team is ready for next year but they'll have a raft of good draft picks to add to the roster, so don't be shocked if they're awesome next season (especially if the Seahawks flail, the Niners get injured and the Rams just rest on their laurels). (BETTER, weirdly it feels like everything is lining up for them, I could see the Cards really good next year outta nowhere)

Panthers -- Disaster from beginning to end. And they don't even have their #1 pick to show for it. (You realize that the #1 pick in the NFL draft is probably the most precious commodity in all of sports and the Panthers just gave it away for some magic beans!). And their #1 pick from last year, QB Bryce Young, is not the guy they need or want (I didn't even like him at Alabama! You think he's gonna be good on the worst NFL team in the league?), so they are already in line for next year's #1 pick. Total disaster, no upside to this season, worst season possible, worst season in many years by any team (thank god no one gives a shit about Charlotte or they would've made for a late more talk show fodder). (Oh my god, I can't believe I'm saying this but....WORSE, this team has nothing right now and another bad draft is awaiting? .....Oh, man, this team may well have had the worst year ever but it can still get worse)

Playoff Predictions (East)

Bulls-Cavs
This was my pre-season pick and here we are.  I thought the roles would be reversed, the Bulls with home court advantage, but I don't think it much matters.  Game 6 was a debacle for the Bucks but I think it may have been the wakeup call the Bulls have been waiting for.  I thought at the beginning of the year the Bulls would get out of the East (and lose to the Spurs....nope) but all season long I kept waiting for the Bulls to be better.  They were a fine team, but I never saw unstoppable.  The Hawks were the juggernaut team this year but it feels like it should've been the Bulls: Pau had a great 1st year, Butler had a great maturation season, D Rose was in and out but generally a positive contributor, Noah wasn't great but it never felt like he had to be this year (could be that not be needed is his Kryptonite), Mirotic was a pleasant surprise all over the court, Dunleavy and Brooks slid back to their proper positions and contributed just fine; that alone is way more than they had last year so why aren't they any better than last year?  The Hawks made no moves and took off this year, the Bulls made many good moves and are in the same place they were last year.  I thought they'd be a better regular season team and a dangerous force come playoff time.  The Bucks gave a belated challenge and made the Bulls look sloppy but game 6 was the united front performance the Bulls needed.  (Note that Mirotic played sparingly, see if Dunleavy gets more meaningful minutes while Mirotic gets spot duty against the Cavs)

The Cavs tried hard to make the Celtics look good but in the end they blew past them just like they always should have.  They lost Love for the rest of the playoffs (my first thought was the injury story was smokescreen allowing Love to return at his own pace, but surgery's no joke, guess he's out) and they're without JR Smith for the first two games at home; losing Love is tough: he could've spread the floor and kept Noah in check, now the Cavs need Mozgov and Thompson to man up and play some damn ball.  And losing Smith too is a blow especially since he's missing home games where the role players generally contribute more in the playoffs.  Kyrie can outscore most anyone he plays against and Lebron is still the best player in basketball, they can beat the Bulls.  But this was already an imperfect team now further limited.  Been 4 years since Lebron and the Spurs have both lost in the playoffs (and then to the team that beat them both), but I think the Bulls get it going.  I'll say Pau has 2 big games, Butler has 1 big game and D Rose has 1 big game and the Bulls move on.  Bulls in 6 (1,2,4,6).

Wizards-Hawks
The Wizards are peaking.  They did this last year too: played their best basketball after the all-star break, smoked the Bulls, ran into #1 Pacers (who had been struggling mightily).  Seemed like everything was right for the Wizards....but they lost.  Scenario kinda the same this year. no?  Wall is ready to be a star, Beal is dangerous, Pierce is the old timey Pierce, Gortat is in a good mood and playing good ball, Otto Porter stepped off the milk carton and into our hearts, even Drew Gooden is raining 3's.  Oh, times are good in DC!

The Hawks haven't played their best ball in quite some time.  That January freight train has long since left the station.  The Nets pushed the #1 seed further than anyone else got pushed in the East but the Nets only suck because they kinda want to not because they actually suck, so I'm not gonna clown the Hawks for not sweeping them.  As with the Bulls, I was impressed with their game 6: confident, in control, the Nets had a stretch where they just couldn't help but turn the ball over, the game was over quick.  The January Hawks are not walking through that door but I think the April Hawks are about to get their game on and show the Wiz what's what.  Teague and Korver can outscore Wall and Beal, the Wizards' difference maker is Pierce and I just can't see Pierce pulling out 4 games.  It'll be tough but I think the Hawks have too much offense for the Wizards.   Hawks in 6 (1,4,5,6).

Conference Finals: Bulls-Hawks
That should be a pretty good match.  My gut right now is the Bulls will enter drained from the Cavs, the Hawks will enter rejuvenated from the Wizards.  Hawks in 7.

Playoff Predictions (West)

Grizzlies-Warriors
The Grizzlies laid a whooping on the Blazers but the Blazers were depleted and by the end the Grizzlies were too.  Look, I like the Grizzlies, love their fire, their devotion to each other, their dedication to the dirty work...but man if Conley doesn't play, I just don't see how they score enough to even come close to hanging with the Warriors.  Like, not even close, I don't see it at all.  And if Conley does play...I like Conley, underrated scorer and defender but...with a broken face?  Come on, man, Curry is gonna bury him deep.  (If the Grizzlies get swept, is Gasol suddenly available like Aldridge?  Do we whisper Gasol in every town in this league?)

The Warriors just rolled the Pelicans and they're about to roll the Grizzlies.  The Grizzlies have pride (Bogut better watch himself, maybe Barnes too) but they just don't have enough offense to hang with the Warriors.  The Warriors shouldn't really even have to try hard more than a few minutes at a time in this series, I can see Speights and Lee getting decent minutes in this series.  Warriors in 4.

Clippers-Rockets
The Clippers did it, they beat the Spurs.  (Unbelievable game 7, tied with ten seconds to go, you knew it was gonna be tight)  Watching that series I thought all along that the winner of that series would beat the Rockets (even on the road).  And I'll stick with that.  We all saw it: the Clipper 6-man rotation is awesome, nothing past 6 is awesome.  If that 6 can stay on the floor, they can beat the Rockets. That team took a game in San Antonio, they can take one in Houston.  I don't think Griffin will use and abuse Terrence Jones the way he dominated Splitter/Duncan but he'll be better than Jones, Deandre will be better than Dwight, CP3 will get one more win than Harden.

The Rockets are a team dominated by James Harden.  At his best he's unstoppable, at his worst he's still better than your best guy.  How deep can one scorer, dominant as Harden is, go in the playoffs? The Rocket supporting cast is missing Beverley, Motiejunas and McDaniels, three energy guys that can make plays on defense and keep the possession on offense; none of them are all-stars but this late in the season you'd rather that bench was fuller.  Corey Brewer might have a coupla good games in him but against the Mavs the Rockets got time out of Prigioni and Capela, can those guys see the floor against the Clippers?  In game 7, even in Houston, I'll take Paul over Harden.  Clippers in 7 (2,3,6,7).

Conference Finals: Clippers-Warriors
I say the Warriors roll into the Final on an 8-game (playoff) winning streak.  Meanwhile the 6 guys that call themselves the Clippers will have gone seven with the Spurs, then seven with the Rockets, and then roll into the Bay Area expecting to win.  After watching UK fall after a 38-game winning streak, I hesitate but I gotta take the Warriors to sweep again.  Warriors in (fo, fo) fo.

Finals: Hawks-Warriors
I don't think the Warriors would sweep the Hawks but I can't see the Hawks winning four games out of seven.  The Hawks will give the Warriors pause, the Warriors will have some struggles, but they'll prevail because they're the better squad.  Warriors in 7.

That's it for now.  Let's see how I long I agree with myself...