Basketball

Vardon: My picks and predictions for the NBA playoffs and Play-In games, plus more insider picks


As is always the case this time of year, I’ve been asked to make my picks and predictions ahead of the NBA playoffs, which now include the advent of the Play-In Tournament, which begins on Tuesday night. You can see my picks above, and those of my esteemed colleagues, David Aldridge and Sam Amick, below.

Agree or disagree? Let us know your picks in the comment section.

As for my picks, I hate doing these and I am surely wrong, but here’s my thinking…

My Play-In Tournament Picks

WEST

Lakers beat Warriors: The Lakers are too big, too sound defensively, with too much experience, compared to Steph and Draymond’s supporting cast. But, wow, are LeBron and AD holding their bodies together with duct tape right now or what?

Grizzlies beat Spurs: It feels like the West has nine playoff worthy teams, and one of them is not the Spurs. Memphis has played in some big games the last two seasons and lost them both, that tide turns here.

Warriors beat Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks’ fouling out with about 6 minutes left Sunday mattered, but I still think Steph is too much.

EAST

Wizards beat Celtics: Love Washington’s momentum, depth, and versatility. Celtics don’t have any of that.

Pacers beat Hornets: Ugh, I wish the Play-In was limited to the West.

Celtics beat Pacers: I like stars and Boston, while depleted on depth and morale, still has a couple.


My Round 1 Picks

EAST

Sixers beat Celtics: Joel Embiid enjoys a huge series and Philly’s depth overwhelms.

Nets beat Wizards: Brooklyn never had the chance for its Big 3 to build any chemistry, until this series.

Bucks beat Heat: So, originally I handed in my picks without any blurbs attached, because I’m a Rufus who can’t read instructions from editors. I have concerns about Lakers-Warriors, but this is really the first series where I’m just not sure. The Heat are healthy, and I really don’t know if Milwaukee did anything to address the huge disadvantages from the Heat-Bucks bubble series. I am saying the Giannis-Coach Bud experiment does not die in the first round, and I almost need you to not ask me why.

Knicks beat Hawks: Atlanta might have more talent, but the talent seems a little younger, a little greener. And I love the job Thibs has done all year. Julius Randle is an all-pro and Derrick Rose, a playoff vet, is in the discussion for top Sixth Man.

WEST

Jazz beat Warriors: Utah is so deep and skilled and together. The Warriors, until their current six-game winning streak, have been average all year, with the exception of one player who has been anything but.

Lakers beat Suns: LeBron and AD get their sea legs after edging Golden State in the Play-In, and then experience takes over. The Suns, a darling all season, don’t have nearly enough of it to take down the champs.

Blazers beat Nuggets: Another series that gives me pause, but, yeah, I just can’t back Denver without Jamal Murray. I can’t and I won’t, even though Michael Malone has won more with less.

Clippers beat Mavericks: The Clippers are going to be disciplined and pay attention to detail on defense, and not turn the ball over so damn much this time.


My Round 2 Picks

EAST

Sixers beat Knicks: For as good as Thibs, Randle, and Rose have been, in a seven-game series against a complete team, like the Sixers, the Knicks won’t have enough. Bravo to a brilliant, unexpected season.

Nets beat Bucks: It’s funny, for as down as I sounded on the Bucks in their series with the Heat, I poured over this one for a while. The upgrades the Bucks made do seem to make them a better matchup for Brooklyn. The Nets shouldn’t be able to handle Giannis, I wouldn’t think, and if Jrue Holiday takes Kyrie, this could be a tight series. But that’s as far as I was willing to go.

WEST

Clippers beat Jazz: Until the Nets came along, I would have argued the Clippers were the NBA’s deepest, most talented team. Kawhi is the player I want on my team in a Finals, and Tyronn Lue is an excellent playoff coach. Also, this is proof I haven’t bought in on Utah’s steady, excellent regular season. The Jazz are free to prove me wrong here.

Lakers beat Blazers: The Lakers were too much for Portland in the bubble, and they’ll have it together enough to advance once again to the Western finals.


My Eastern Conference Finals Picks

Nets beat Sixers: After the Milwaukee test, the Nets now fully understand their potential and their faults. Irving, Kevin Durant dominate as their Finals experience carries the entire team.

My Western Conference Finals Picks

Clippers beat Lakers: For two years, I’ve thought the Clippers were the better team in Los Angeles. The Bubble derailed them. I think Lue will have a grand design to limit LeBron and get this franchise to its first Finals.

My NBA Finals Picks

Nets beat Clippers: Brooklyn’s role players gained invaluable experience all season while its main guys took time being AWOL, or COVID-19’d, or hurt. That experience is going to matter in this close Finals, as is having James Harden, Kyrie, and KD on the same team.


My Colleagues’ Picks


Related Reading

NBA predictions unplugged: Anonymous scout, coach and exec pick 2021’s first-round winners

John Hollinger’s NBA awards and Play-In picks: Nikola Jokic as First Team forward? Wizards over Celtics?

NBA play-in tournament odds, picks: Expert selections for Hornets-Pacers and Wizards-Celtics

Related Listening





READ NEWS SOURCE

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.