It has been almost a month since the NBA Playoffs have started, and we are in the middle of the Conference Semifinals. Sport Editors Drew Elbogen and Joshua Reiser share their predictions for the rest of the Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals below.
Eastern Conference Semifinals: New York Knicks (3) @ Boston Celtics (2)
Knicks lead 2-0
Next Matchup: Saturday (May 10) @ 3:30 pm
Drew: The Knicks stole not one but two games from the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. New York fought back from being down 20 points in each game. In the first game, the Knicks three-point shooting won them the game. The Celtics missed 45 three-pointers in this game and did not change their approach in Game 2, as Boston shot 10 for 40. Boston combined to shoot 25/100 (25%) in these first two games of the series. The Celtics need to change their approach and focus on closing out the next two games at Madison Square Garden. However, now that the Knicks are up 2-0, I can’t see a way for the Celtics to come back and win this series.
Drew’s prediction: Knicks in 6
Josh: I didn’t think the Knicks stood a chance in this series, but the team surprised me and won Games 1 and 2. However, I don’t think the Celtics need to panic because in Game 1, the Celtics shot a playoff record 60 three-pointers and missed 45 of them, and the Knicks were only able to win by three in overtime. If the Celtics were to shoot their average of 36.8% from three, then Boston would have made 22 threes and would have won by 18. So, while I think there should be concern from Boston fans and people around the organization, it isn’t time to give up hope because the Celtics are still very much alive in this series, as long as their shots start to fall. But, winning Game 3 is a must.
Josh’s prediction: Celtics in 7
Indiana Pacers (4) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (1)
Pacers lead 2-0
Next matchup: Friday (May 9) @7:30 pm
Drew: The Pacers have taken the first two games of the series with a crazy miracle at the end of Game 2, as Tyrese Haliburton hit a buzzer beater three pointer to win. Darius Garland was out for Game 1, where the Cavs lost by nine. He was also out in Game 2, along with Evan Mobley and Deandre Hunter. I can see the Cavs winning one game, either Game 3 or 4, and Cleveland will be down 3-1 heading home. The Cavs can win one more game I think, but Cleveland is not the better team in this series right now. Once it goes back to Indianapolis, I think the Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers will take care of business and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Drew’s prediction: Pacers in 6
Josh: The injury riddled Cavs have dropped two straight to the Pacers, and now sit in a 2-0 hole. It now seems like the Cavs are in panic mode, as Cleveland is preparing to bring back Deandre Hunter, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. Although this gives the Cavs a huge boost bringing back two starters and their six man, rushing them back from injury could very well backfire. I think Hunter and Mobley will be fine as their injuries weren’t major, but all it takes is for Darius Garland to land wrong and his sprained big toe becomes an even bigger issue. However, if Cleveland is back at full strength and there are no concerns of injury, I think the Cavs will show why they are the number one seed and take control of this series. I believe that Cleveland will go up 3-2 but the Pacers will strike back taking Game 6, but the Cavs dominate them in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Josh’s prediction: Cavs in 7
Western Conference Semifinals
Denver Nuggets (4) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: Friday (May 9) at 10:00 pm
Drew: The Nuggets won on a buzzer beater by Aaron Gordon in Game 1. The series is knotted up at one with two completely different games. The first one being an absolute thriller and the second game being an absolute blow out by OKC. Although Oklahoma was so dominant in this second game, I think the Nuggets got what they wanted in the split. I think both teams will split games in Denver and tie it up at two. I then think both teams will split again in Games 5 & 6. This series will go to Game 7 between these two dominant teams. I think the Nuggets will win Game 7 at Oklahoma and advance to the Western Conference finals.
Drew’s prediction: Nuggets in 7
Josh: After the Nuggets were able to steal Game 1 vs the Thunder, Denver completely fell apart in Game 2 losing by 43 points. On the other hand, the Thunder bounced back very well as Oklahoma City scored an NBA playoff record 87 points in the first half. The Nuggets role players were amazing in Game 1, but in Game 2 Denver completely disappeared. Between the inconsistency of the Nuggets role players and the depth of the Thunder, I don’t know if the Nuggets are going to be able to put up much more of a fight. Jokic can score 40 and grab 20 rebounds every game, but if the Thunder stop everyone else from scoring, they don’t care how many points Jokic scores. This seems like one of those series where the Thunder will go up 3-1, the Nuggets will blow them out in Game 5, but the Thunder will get the job done in Game 6 and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Josh’s prediction: Thunder in 6
Golden State Warriors (7) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
Series tied 1-1
Game 3: Saturday (May 10) 8:30 pm
The Warriors and Timberwolves is a very fun series. However the Warriors best player Stephen Curry has a hamstring injury and the earliest he can come back is for Game 6. However I don’t think the Warriors can even force it to Game 6 and Curry won’t even be fully healthy if so. The Timberwolves lineup is just simply better in four out of the five categories with Curry out. Rudy Gobert is also a huge mismatch for Draymond Green and the Warriors have been struggling to rebound against the Timberwolves. In all the Wolves are just too much for this injured Warriors squad. The Wolves will move on in 5 games to move onto the Western Conference Finals.
Drew’s prediction: Timberwolves in 6
After the Timberwolves couldn’t hit a shot if their lives depended on it, the Warriors were able to steal Game 1 in a low scoring defensive battle, 99-88. However, at what cost because the Warriors lost their star franchise player in Steph Curry, who is out for one week with a strained left hamstring. This series is now very tricky, because the Timberwolves dominated Game 2 with no Curry who most likely won’t return until Game 6. The question is, will this series even go 6 games? So basically, if the Warriors can’t steal another game without Curry, this series will probably end in 5 games, but if Golden State can win one of the next three, then this becomes a completely new series. If the Warriors can force six games, whether Golden State enters that game down 3-2 or up 3-2, I truly believe the Warriors will win the series in seven games. Although Curry only played 13 minutes, he was already up to 13 points and it just felt like one of those Curry games, until he got hurt. As long as Curry can comeback healthy and the Warriors force six games, Golden State will take this series and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Josh’s prediction: Warriors in 7
Predictions for Eastern Conference Finals, Western Conference Finals, and Finals:
Drew
Eastern Conference Finals prediction: Knicks over Pacers 4-2
Western Conference Finals prediction: Timberwolves over Nuggets 4-3
NBA Finals: Knicks over Timberwolves 4-3
Josh
Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics over Cavs 4-3
Western Conference Finals: Thunder over Warriors 4-2
NBA Finals: Thunder over Celtics 4-2
