Right as ryan: Predicting the nba postseason
April 13, 2016
Playoffs? We talking about playoffs? Yes, as an answer to former Colts coach Jim Mora. I am talking about the postseason, but not the NFL. We’re delving into the NBA.
This season has been filled with many storylines, from the final season of Kobe to the Golden State Warriors’ quest of topping the 1996 Chicago Bulls’ 72-10 regular season record. However, once the date hits April 16, none of it will matter as 16 teams fight for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the playoffs.
In the postseason this year, there seems to be only five teams that have the true potential to make it to the NBA Finals: The Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Toronto Raptors .
Obviously, the Warriors are the favorite this year, as they are the defending champs along with posting one of the greatest single-season records in NBA history. Led by the trio of all-stars Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry, Golden State is in shape to protect its title. Backed up by a consistent supporting cast, the Warriors should have no problem until the West Conference Finals. Golden State would be my favorite to win it all if it weren’t for this next team.
The San Antonio Spurs have created a culture of teamwork and unselfishness that has brought them success for the last 20 years. This year’s team may be the best that legendary coach Gregg Popovich has built. With reigning Defensive Player of the Year and MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard, all-star Lamarcus Aldridge, and the greatest power forward of all time Tim Duncan, the Spurs have already proven themselves to be the best defensive unit in the NBA. Add on six-time All-Star Tony Parker and former Sixth Man of the Year Manu Ginobili, and that may be the best lineup in the NBA. With their given track record in the playoffs, the Spurs are the biggest threat to the Warriors’ bid for a repeat.
The Thunder should easily be recognized as one of the biggest threats to the Warriors with the best scorer in the league Kevin Durant and Mr. Triple Double Russell Westbrook, but it’s not offense the team should be worried about, it’s defense. The team has choked in more than ten games where the Thunder held the lead going into the fourth quarter, a few of those games against the Warriors, Spurs, and Cavaliers. As of late, however, the team has found its groove with its terribly weak bench coming alive and finishing off games. OKC has the ability to take down every team in the postseason, but it all depends on if the team chooses to.
The Cavaliers have a self-explanatory reason why they’re the top contenders in the East: LeBron James. King James has returned to his dominant self, once again, collecting a few triple doubles along the way. While he’s been able to carry his team through the regular season, he can’t do it alone in the playoffs. The Cavs have been hindered from its true potential due to inconsistent play from everyone else on his team. It doesn’t help that the Cavs switched coaches in the middle of the season. If the team can pick up the chemistry and mesh as a unit, it may have a chance at finally taking down the Warriors.
In their last two playoff experiences, the Raptors faced disappointing defeats with the seven game series against Brooklyn in 2014 and the sweep by the Wizards in 2015. This year, the Raptors have learned through their mistakes and improved as they’ve claimed the second seed in the East. The addition of big Bismack Biyombo and development of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan has given the city of Toronto a chance at hosting a NBA Finals this year.
With just three days left before it starts, the first round will be filled with excitement and unpredictably. However, you can easily bet that these five teams will be in the next round.
