NBA Western Conference First Round Preview and Predictions

1. 1.  Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Houston Rockets

It what looks like potentially the most entertaining series of the first round in either conference, James Harden and the Rockets square off with his former team the Oklahoma City Thunder. Led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, the Thunder, with their young core continue to grow as a basketball team having gone deeper in the playoffs each of the last three years capped by a five game defeat in the Finals at the hands of the Miami Heat. Is this the year the Thunder take the biggest step of their development and win the championship? To do so they will have to get past the young explosive Rockets. With former Thunder sixth man James Harden having an MVP like season and the Rockets leading the league in scoring offense will be at a premium. However, when it comes down to it defense wins in the playoffs, and the rockets don’t play any of it especially to unseat the West’s best team.

Prediction: Thunder in 6

1. 2.   San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Los Angeles Lakers

After a full season of panic in L.A. the Lakers clinched a playoff berth on the last day of the season, and bypassed Houston for the seven seed with a win over the Rockets in their final game. The Lakers draw the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, in what some people say is the best chance for an upset. However without their MVP and best player Kobe Bryant I’m not buying it. The Lakers have been a mess on defense all season, and losing their best perimeter defender won’t help. With Gregg Popovitch at the helm and their ultimate team style of play the Spurs will steamroll the Lakers with Tony Parker having his way with ailing Steve Nash.

Prediction: Spurs in 5

 

1. 3.      Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Golden State Warriors

Without a true superstar, the Nuggets were able to grab the three seed in the West behind balanced scoring, coach of the year front-runner George Karl and the NBA’s best home court advantage. In, come the young, athletic, high powered Golden State Warrior team led by All-Star snub and new NBA three point season record holder Stephen Curry. While the youth of the Warriors will help with the altitude issues, as well as Danillo Gallinari’s torn ACL hurting Denver, the Nuggets still squeak by in the highest scoring series of the entire playoffs.

Prediction: Nuggets in 6

 

1. 4.      Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

This series is by far the toughest to predict in the entire first round of these NBA playoffs. Since last week, when the likelihood of this series happening had increased, I have been flip-flopping back and forth between each team. On the one hand there is “Lob City”; Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and one of the best benches in the league to compliment the starters. On the other hand one of the league’s best defensive teams led by two Defensive Player of the Year award front runners in Marc Gasol and Tony Allen, as well as double-double machine Zach Randolph. The question is with Memphis’ great defense, and the Clippers high powered offense, which one will give? Home court might turn out to be a huge factor for the Clippers as they won the tiebreaker finishing with the same record as the Grizzlies. Game seven will be an instant classic in the most tightly contested series of the first round.

Prediction: Grizzlies in 7

 

Yoni Levine’s Predictions:

Thunder in 5

Spurs in 6

Nuggets in 7

Grizzlies in 7

Yoni Pollak’s Predictions:

Thunder in 6

Spurs in 7

Nuggets in 5

Clippers in 7