NBA Playoffs Predictions (After the First 4 Days)

Ben Auten and Nate LeRoy
April 20, 2016

The NBA Playoffs started last Saturday as the 16 best teams in the NBA play for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a grueling, two-month long tournament. The usual favorites headline the field, with top seeds going to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, the two teams that met in the Finals last year. Also, teams such as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are locked and loaded for a championship run through the deep Western Conference. On the other side, the only other competition to LeBron James’ Cavs are the Toronto Raptors, but they hadn’t won a playoff game in 2 years until Monday night. However, there are still a few dark horses with outside shots of making a deep run in the Playoffs. In the East, Paul George, a.k.a. PG13, is back from a horrible knee injury, and with his unparalleled ability on both ends, he could single-handedly carry the Indiana Pacers to another Eastern Conference Title appearance. Out in the West, a rising star named Damian Lillard, and his backcourt partner C.J. McCollum, will be hoping to turn a few heads by leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a deep run. So, here are our predictions for this year’s NBA Playoffs.

In the East:

First Round

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons: Cavs in 6

Toronto Raptors vs Indiana Pacers: Raptors in 6

Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets: Heat in 5

Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics: Hawks in 4

Second Round

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Atlanta Hawks: Cavs in 5

Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat: Raptors in 7

In the West:

First Round

Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets: Warriors in 5