(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (8) Miami Heat

Season Series: Cavaliers 2-1

The Cavaliers come into the playoffs after one of their best seasons of all time. They had a historic start, a historic offense and rode that to the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are still looked upon as an underdog to Boston and they want to show that they can hang.

Miami has had a rough year, between the drama with Jimmy Butler and the ups and downs of the schedule. They should be happy to have reached a playoff series, but it may be a short run.

Prediction: Cleveland in 5

(2) Boston Celtics vs (7) Orlando Magic

Season Series: Magic 2-1

Boston are the defending champions and they are playing their best basketball of the season. They are healthy and they know what they need to do for a long play off run. Boston though has not played really meaningful games in a month or so and will need to turn it on for the playoffs.

Orlando had an up and down season, mostly due to an insane amount of injuries. Most of their top players missed time this year and it is really the only reason they were in a play-in team. The real question is if Orlando can score enough to keep up with Boston.

Prediction: Boston in 5

(3) New York Knicks vs (6) Detroit Pistons

Season Series: Pistons 3-1

This is a very intriguing series, two teams we definitely had different ideas about before the season started. For the Knicks, they somewhat coasted to a 50 win season and the 3 seed in the East. After going all in during the offseason the Knicks had huge expectations coming into the 2024-2025 season, but they do feel a step or two below the teams above them in the Eastern Conference Bracket.

The Pistons on the other hand are playing with house money, they were not expected to make the playoffs and had an over/under of 24.5 wins to start the season. The Pistons have not won a playoff series since 2008 and have a tough task in this matchup.

Prediction: Knicks in 6

(4) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Milwaukee Bucks

Season Series: Bucks 3-1

Two teams here that have recent playoff history. The Pacers had a fantastic late season run to climb into the 4th seed and almost caught the Knicks for 3rd in the East. The Pacers will use their start point guard Tyrese Haliburton to play at an all-star level.

For the Bucks, two years in a row they have had disappointing first round exits in the playoffs. The thing this time is a healthy Giannis, who is the best player in this series. The health of Damian Lillard is also a huge concern for the Bucks.

Prediction: Pacers in 6

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8)Grizzlies

Season Series: Oklahoma City 4-0

Oklahoma City just had one of if not the most dominant season of all time. They won the majority of their games by double digits, they had one of the best point differentials of all time. Now they need to finish it all off with their first NBA Championship.

Memphis has had an awful last month or so. They were seen as potentially the 2nd best team in the West this year after dealing with a million injuries last year. Then 2 weeks before the playoffs they fire their head coach and slip into the play-in tournament. They get rewarded with OKC, good luck.

Prediction: OKC in 4

(2) Houston Rockets vs (7) Golden State Warriors

Season Series: Warriors 3-2

What a fantastic year for these young Rockets, after just missing out on the play-in last year they rocketed (pun intended) to the two seed in the West. The honor of getting the two seed is Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Steve Kerr.

The Warriors are a different team since they acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. They lost in OT on the final day of the season and were forced to play in the play-in. But it may be a blessing in disguise as they won’t have to play Nikola Jokic in the 1st round.

Prediction: Warriors in 7

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

Season Series: Tied 2-2

What a treat this series will be for NBA fans. Two of the faces of the NBA young new superstars match up in Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic. These two battled it out in last year's Western Conference Finals with Luka emerging on top and pushing Dallas to a Finals appearance.

Anthony Edwards though is not about to get pushed around but Luka and Lebron. The Timberwolves will need to utilize the three ball and rebound better if they want to upset the Lakers.

Prediction: Lakers in 6

(4) Denver Nuggets vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers

Season Series: Tied 2-2

I don’t think we expected either of these teams to be in the situation they are in. The Nuggets fired Michael Malone with about 7 days before the playoffs started and won on the last day of the season to remain the 4 seed. The Nuggets will need contributions from their bench to compete in the series.

The Clippers beat the Warriors in OT in the last game of the regular season to snag the 5 seed. Los Angeles came into this season as a real coin flip after letting Paul George go and Kawhi Leonard hurt again. Ivica Zubac will need to play elite defense against Jokic.

Prediction: Clippers in 6

NBA Playoff Preview