Fred’s Round One NBA Predictions

1st Round NBA Playoff Predictions

Western Conference

#1 Golden State Warriors over  #8 Houston Rockets in five. Look for a tougher series than the Warriors would want. A significant injury to a prominent player for the World’s Champs will put a damper on the series. James Harden will keep the Rockets close in the games in Houston and Dwight Howard will have a better than expected series.  Curry is always the dagger in the heart for the opponent but Klay Thompson will display his talent and have big scoring games.

#2 San Antonio Spurs  over  #7 Memphis Grizzles in four.  This will be a complete wipeout for Memphis and the Spurs will knockout the Grizz early in each of the four games.  San Antonio will have a well-rested team going into it’s second round series.

#3 Oklahoma City Thunder over  #6 Dallas Mavericks in six.  The Mavs will pull the upset in game one in OKC but will lose the next two before taking the second of two in Big D.  The Thunder will capture game five at the Peak and finish off the Mavs in game six in Dallas.  The late game problems will continue for the Thunder in their two loses but will get in right in the final two games in blowout fashion.  Russell Westbrook will have two triple doubles in the series.

#4 Los Angeles Clippers over #5 Portland Trailblazers in six.  A very competitive series as Portland will give LAC all they want.  Damian Lillard will show his tremendous ability to win ball games as Portland will take games three and four in Oregon. Blake Griffin will find his stride in games six and seven and the Clips will move on.

Eastern Conference

#1 Cleveland Cavs over #8 Detroit Pistons in five. Detroit will hang with the Cavs and take one of the first two in the Motor City.  James and company are just too strong for the Reggie Jackson led Pistons.

#2 Toronto Raptors over the #7 Indiana Pacers in six. A competitive series as each game will go to the finals minutes.  Toronto is the better of the two and should prevail. A possible upset here and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Raptors get beat. But I won’t call it at this time.

#3 Miami Heat over the Charlotte Hornets in six. The young Hornets will show that they are the improved and dangerous Eastern Conference foe of the future.   Again, like the Toronto/Indiana series, upset special is possible.  Still, I like Wade and Whiteside to hold the day in six.

#5 Atlanta Hawks over #4 Boston Celtics in seven.  Both teams have deficiencies with excellent coaching. Coin toss and it comes up Hawks with a game seven win in Boston.