The NBA Playoffs begin this Saturday, bringing an end to an action filled regular season. The season has seen Russell Westbrook setting records, arguably four MVPs each showing why they deserve the title, and enough off court drama to keep up with the Kardashians. As the season wraps up, there are five teams in prime position to take home the O'Brien trophy in 2017. Here are my top five predictions as to which team might win the NBA Championship this June.
1. Golden State Warriors
Although there is some doubt for me, the Warrior's are my #1 choice to win the championship this year. It seemed as if they lost a step since last year, but no doubt they will be the force to be reckoned with these Playoffs. With Kevin Durant healthy, the Steph and Klay's scoring ability, and a defense that only gets better during a series, it will be hard to beat Golden State.
Realistically, the title is Golden State's to lose and the pressure is solely on them. Golden State has been in the Finals these last two years, placing a huge target on their back. This is especially true now that they have Kevin Durant. If the Warriors don't win the title, it will be safe to call this season a bust for them.
2. San Antonio Spurs
From the beginning of the year, I thought it might be a Spurs year. The Spurs are always playoff ready, probably because they are lead by Coach Pop. Overall, they stand the greatest chance of taking down the Warriors in the West. Kawhi Leonard is the key factor because he will have to guard Durant most of the game. If he can minimize KD's impact on the game, the Spurs can keep Golden State at bay.
The spurs have a quiet but deadly offensive attack, with Lamarcus Aldridge and Kawhi carrying most of the day-to-day load. Overall, the Spurs are the best complete team next to the Warriors, and the next most likely candidate to take home the trophy.
3. Cleveland Caveliers
As much as I hate to put them at number three, the Cleveland Caveliers will have to play lights out to effectively compete with the Spurs or Warriors. That being said, we can never count out King James. Once he wins the East, the Finals are a completely different story. Lebron's ability to lead his team to victory is an amazing to see.
Cleveland will have their hands full since the East is much better to enter this year's playoffs. Both the Celtics and the Raptors pose a threat to the Cavs, but it is still Lebron's East. If Kyrie stays healthy, the role players step up and Lebron does his usual, Cleveland can beat any team over the course of 7 games.
4. Houston Rockets
The Rockets have had a great season altogether. Although it would be tough for them to do, they could upset any of their predecessors on this list. As it stands now, they will have to play Oklahoma City, a team that has played them well during the regular season. If they are able to gain momentum from this series and catch a team like the Spurs or Warriors off guard, we could see them in the Finals.
James Hardens' Rockets have been an offensive powerhouse all year, being able to shoot with the best teams in the league. They have also been a surprising defensive force this year, which could be a major factor during the playoffs. The Rockets have everything they need to win in the playoffs, but they will have the most challenging road ahead of them in the West.
5. Boston Celtics
It would be a Cinderella story if Boston ended up winning the title. Isaiah Thomas has been outstanding this season, keeping the Celtics at the heels of the Cavs for most of the year. Because of this, we very well could see them in first in the East, putting them in prime position to make magic during the playoffs. But, in order to beat The King in the playoffs, the Celtics need more than a better record.
The Celtics are very talented and well put together team, but I am not sure that they will have what it takes to beat a team like the Cav's over the course of a series. I like the Celtics though, they are a great underdog to watch in the Playoffs. Hopefully, the Celtics can upset teams and make an interesting playoffs, because really, thats all that matters.
Honorable Mentions:
6. Los Angeles Clippers
The clippers are a much better team than the Celtics, in my opinion. In a series against the two. If they were in the East, they would be the team to beat Lebron. But, the Clippers are in the West. In order to get to the finals, they have a long way to go. Led by Doc Rivers, they are the best sleeper team in the NBA. They could easily replace the Rockets on this list; both are well coached and have enough play makers to make things happen.
The difference though, for me, is James Harden. But, looking past that, the Clippers are a great team with superstars all over the court. This year, the Clippers need to find their groove and stay in it. If so, they could make a long run and maybe even win the whole thing. Although they have a tough road, I will be rooting for the Clippers. It's always good to see a team do something different for a change.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
While I would like to actually have them on the list, Russell just isn't enough for me to consider them a top five team heading into the playoffs. With that said, don't count them out. At any moment, Westbrook could light a spark in his team, creating momentum and confidence, making them a tough match-up. In the first round, they will face James Harden's Rockets, a tough match-up to start the Playoffs.
If they can take down the Rockets over a series, the momentum will build and I believe we could see something special from OKC. They can run with anybody, but realistically, they do not have the bench to keep up with a stronger team such as Houston. Over the course of this series, I see Russell's energy weakening at solid collective defense from the Rockets, forcing other players to step up. Who knows, maybe Russell can pull of some more magic in the post season and lead OKC to an unlikely Championship.
With these teams leading the way this Playoffs, we should see a ton of excitement come Saturday. Maybe this year we will see someone else other than Lebron in the finals, who knows? For me, I am just excited to watch it all play out.
