NBA Playoff Predictions 2015-16: Knicks surprise, Spurs return to glory

Apr 22, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; A detailed view of basketballs in front of the NBA Playoffs logo at the FedexForum before the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; A detailed view of basketballs in front of the NBA Playoffs logo at the FedexForum before the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Conference Semifinals

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Observations

  • You may have forgot about how good the Oklahoma City Thunder were before Kevin Durant got injured — and now they have Enes Kanter. The Clippers haven’t at all instilled us with confidence they can win, and the Billy Donovan-led Thunder are hungry to return to prominence.
  • Memphis is destined to always be just good enough to get into the postseason but not fully equipped to handle business once there. They’re a top team in the NBA but not an elite team.
  • The Heat being back in the postseason is bad news for the Bucks, who will lose in the first round again as we get the Cavs-Heat matchup in the postseason we’ve been dying to see since LeBron returned home.

Bold Predictions

  • While the Jazz are just a sleeper team this year for many, they’re going to win at least one game against the Dubs in the first round. They won’t win the series but they are going to channel what the Bucks did last year and arrive in a big series against a great team that gets everyone’s attention.
  • This was eventually going to happen — the Raptors will make it out of the Eastern Conference’s first round.

Next: Conference Finals