2017 NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
The second round of the playoffs officially begins tonight even though game one of Boston versus Washington started yesterday. It was a decent first round with some good games. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors swept their series. The Cavs washed away the Indiana Pacers and Warriors knockout the Portland Trail Blazers. The Boston Celtics won four straight to take out the Chicago Bulls in six games after losing the first two games at home. The Toronto Raptors took out the young Milwaukee Bucks. The Houston Rockets sent Russell Westbrock and the OKC Thunder home early beating them in five games. The San Antonio Spurs eliminated the Memphis Grizzles in six games. The Washington Wizards ended the Atlanta Hawks season winning in six games. Finally, as I said in my playoff preview the best series of them all ended in a seven games as the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday. I was 7-1 in predicting all the series, the Houston/OKC series is the only one I got right with the amount of games and the winner. I got the LAC/Utah series wrong. Now onto the predictions for the second round.
Eastern Conference:
(4) Washington Wizards vs. (1) Boston Celtics
Celtics and Wizards split the Four Game Season series: 2-2
All-Time Playoff Series: Celtics 2-1 (1975, 1982 and 1984) Washington was known as the Bullets. They haven't played each other since they changed to the Wizards.
This should be a very good series between two teams that play hard. This is probably my favorite series of the second/semifinals round. I like the matchup between John Wall and IT2 (Isaiah Thomas).
The series already started and Celtics won Game 1 yesterday: Celtics 123 Wizards 111
Game 2 Tuesday Night.
Prediction: Celtics in Seven Games.
(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavs won Seasons Series: 3-1
All-Time Playoff Series: Cavs 1-0 (2016 won 4-2)
The rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals from a year ago. I don't think the Raptors are good enough to win the series but they will keep most of the games close. It should be a good series. The Raptors are slightly better than last season. I hope they keep the games close unlike last year.
Prediction: Cavs in Six Games.
Western Conference:
(5) Utah Jazz vs. (1) Golden State Warriors
Warriors won the Season Series: 2-1
All-Time Playoff Series: Warriors 2-1 (1987, 1989, 2007)
I don't know how much the Jazz have to complete in this series but they will give it everything they got and I think they can steal a game or two. It isn't that the Jazz are a bad team because they aren't it's the fact that the Warriors have a super team and can't really be stopped this season, they are on a redemption tour from last season after blowing a 3-1 series finals lead to the Cavs. You never know what could happen so I'm not saying it's a lock because nothing is lock in sports.
Prediction: Warriors in Five Games.
(3) Houston Rockets vs (2) San Antonio Spurs
Spurs won Season Series: 3-1
All-Time Playoff Series: Houston 3-0 (1980, 1981 and 1995)
This is my second favorite series of the semifinals. I think this is gonna be a hard fought competitive series. This is a toss up to me.
Prediction: Spurs in Seven Games.
