At the start of the season, it seemed like the Oklahoma City Thunder would be able to cruise through the Western Conference relatively unscathed. Then emerged the San Antonio Spurs, who racked up 60+ wins themselves en route to becoming true contenders entering this playoff run.
The Los Angeles Lakers showed plenty of promise throughout the season, but with both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves nursing injuries, it’s all up to 41-year-old LeBron James to lead the Lakers past a stacked but somewhat underachieving Houston Rockets squad. The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are once again viable threats, but one of them is going to eliminate the other in the first round.
That sets the stage, now let’s dive into some predictions. CLICK HERE for East Predictions.
1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8 PHX Suns/GS Warriors
Regardless of who comes out of the Western Conference Play-In, the Thunder are going to have little problem with either. SGA and company didn’t quite reach the historic 70-win mark this regular season, but they’re still the deepest and most dangerous team in the conference even with the emergence of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. This should be relatively light work for the defending champions, though I wouldn’t be surprised if either Curry or Booker do enough to steal a game before OKC makes it a gentleman’s sweep.
Prediction: Thunder in 5
2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 7 Portland TrailBlazers
TrailBlazers interim coach Tiago Splitter has done a fine job raising the ceiling of this group, thanks in large part to the performance of breakout contributors Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan. With that being said, the Spurs are rolling unlike any other team in the league with 18 wins in their final 20 regular season wins to finish off a remarkable 62 win regular-season. The Blazers are certainly ahead of schedule, but the Spurs are on a completely different planet. Which makes sense considering they have the Alien.
Prediction: Spurs in 4
3 Denver Nuggets vs 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
It’s hard to argue against this being the most intriguing series in the first round, between Nikola Jokic playing some of the greatest basketball in the history of the sport and Anthony Edward’s known propensity as a legend killer. Beating this version of Jokic would only extend that reputation, but I just have a hard time believing that Minnesota can keep getting out of the first round year-in, year-out when they don’t earn seeds in the top half of the playoff picture. I think Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets survive in a hard-fought six-gamer.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6
4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5 Houston Rockets
All signs seem to be pointing to an early exit for LeBron James and the Lakers after the unfortunate injuries suffered by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Still, part of me believes the suddenly rejuvenated version of LeBron that we’ve seen over the last month or so could carry this island of misfit Lakers over a Rockets squad that’s dealt with plenty of turmoil this season. However, eight wins for Houston in the final nine games of the regular season proved Ime Udoka’s team is ready for the challenge. LeBron steals one or two and goes out on his sword.
Prediction: Rockets in 6
The post NBA Playoffs: Western Conference First Round Preview + Picks appeared first on Ballislife.com.
