#24 NBA Play-offs First Round Predictions (Haas News)

Today is the day! The Play-offs start! Are you ready for the best Basketball of the year?

Hi, welcome back my Steemit friends and Basketball lovers! Starting today I will be in front of my TV more than I would want. Why? Because the NBA Play-offs start! I am really excited to see what it will bring this year and would like to share my first round prediction with this post.
But first I want to give some attention to the Denver Nuggets who missed out by losing the last game of the season, thanks for playing so hard. I am also very happy to see the Sixers back into the post-season.
And for all the teams tanking, come on is it really worth it to give up on a season.

All games are played and the first round is about to start! Will there be a major upset? Let’s all cheer for as many games seven’s as we can get!
If everybody stays healthy we will be in for some great series and maybe even a new Champion!
Enjoy the games to the fullest here are my first round predictions.

Eastern Conference
As mentioned happy to see the Sixers back, well played Boston with all your injuries. I don’t think the Cavaliers will make it to the final in the Conference. Disappointed in the Charlotte Hornets they should have finished higher in the standings.
Will the title go to a Canadian team? We will all find out in the coming weeks.

(1)Toronto Raptors – (8) Washington Wizards
In 2015 the Wizards swept the Raptors and left the Canadian team in shock, Toronto was not a winning team for a long time and the few times they did go to the play-offs the choked! The support for the team is tremendous and I am sure many people will line up outside the stadium to support the team.
This year the Raptors are more experienced and have the best bench in the NBA. The Wizards are not as strong as last year so I expect Toronto to win the series 4-1 (five game series)

(2) Boston Celtics- (7) Milwaukee Bucks
The Celtics are not the biggest challenger to win the East if you ask me, mostly because of injuries. The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo who can win every game for you! I do expect the Celtics to win because they found different ways to win games the whole season.
(six games series) 4-2

(3) Philadelphia 76ers – (6) Miami Heat
The Sixers are very young but they have experienced guys to guide them (Johnson, Reddick, Belinelli)
They do miss Embiid this series witch will hurt them for sure but the ended the season 16 game win streak so they must feel reall good!
On the other hand we have the Heat they ae really well coached and are very dangerous if you ask me. I expect a (seven games series 4-3) Sixers to win

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers – (5) Indiana Pacers
Can Lebron go to the Finals again? We know his teams play better in the play-offs, but do they have enough chemistry? I think the talent is still there is they play strong defense. And don’t forget even though they are a fourth seed, it’s still the King!
I expect the Pacers to have a very difficult series and see them lose. (five game series) 4-1

Western Conference
This conference is just unbelievable, so strong! We all know the Champion will come out of this Conference but who will it be?
The Dever Nuggets would have made it to the play-offs if they would be in the Eastern Conference and a good team like the Clippers missed out here to!

(1) Houston Rockets – (8) Minnesota Timberwolves
The Rockets added some good pieces to make a deep play-off run, before the season they signed Tucker and Paul and they also added Gerald Green and Joe Johnson so they are deep! Can they really beat the Warriors?
The Timberwolves struggled at the end of the season mostly because they played their starters heavy minutes all year. their bench in not that deep and they have hardly any experience. So I don’t see them making much noise, unfortunately.
(four game series) 4-0

_ (2)Golden State Warriors- (7) San Antonio Spurs_
The Spurs saw their 50 wins seasons be broken and ended up with 47 this year. Without Leonard they simply miss the star power to make a very deep push (is he ever coming back?)
I still think because of the experience they have to will be tough to beat. The Warriors are without Warriors but have all the other stars back, I believe they will survive the first round.
(six games series) 4-2

(3) Portland Trailblazers – (6) New Orleans Pelicans
Give the Pelicans credit for making it into the play-offs without Cousins! Anthony Davis is just incredible and can carry a lot on a nightly basis. The Trailblazers have a loud arena and an impressive backcourt. I therefore expect them to win. (six games series) 4-2

(4) OKC- (5) Utah Jazz
What will win, talent and better team play? I hope better team play, but I don’t think so. Coach Snyder did a fantastic job! But I do believe the Thunder will win this series. The also won the season series so it’s just a bad match-up for Utah, a shame these to team are matched up in the first round!
(Six games series) 4-2

I hope you liked my prediction! So enjoy the games and see what will really happen! No big surprises in the first round but I expect more of that in the second round. How did you like my prediction, what do you think?