- The Golden State Warriors are the defending NBA champions after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games last season. The Warriors are coming off the greatest regular season in NBA history, finishing with a 73-9 record, as they look to defend their NBA title.
- The Warriors became the tenth unique team to win the title since Magic Johnson and Larry Bird entered the league way back in 1979-80. They join the Los Angeles Lakers (ten championships), Chicago Bulls (six), San Antonio Spurs (five), Boston Celtics (four), Detroit Pistons (three), Miami Heat (three), Houston Rockets (two), Dallas Mavericks (one), and Philadelphia 76ers (one).
- Warriors PG Steph Curry should run away with the MVP award this year. It's not even close. There isn't even a realistic argument for anyone else. He hit over 400! three-pointers this year and was the clear best player on the clear best team. It would be Steph's second consecutive MVP award, making him the eleventh player to win consecutive MVPs, joining Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and LeBron James. Not a bad list to be on.
- The Warriors finished 39-2 at home and 34-7 on the road, which is tied for the second best home record ever and is now the best road mark in NBA history. They also shot the three-point shot as a team better than any other team in NBA history (and I'm probably understating it). It was a pretty good season out in Oakland.
- The San Antonio Spurs finished the season 67-15, including a 40-1 record at home. That home record tied the 1985-86 Boston Celtics for the best home record in NBA history. Not too bad in their own right. Not surprisingly, they'll be the best #2 seed in league history seeing as how only six teams in NBA history won more than the 67 games they won this year. It just so happens one of those six did it this year. Tough luck.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers will be the #1 seed in the East, as SF LeBron James will look to reach his sixth consecutive NBA Finals. He made four straight as a member of the Miami Heat before making the Finals with the Cavs last year. One of the most underrated and compelling storylines for these playoffs is the fact that LeBron James is an underdog for the first time in who knows how long.
- Speaking of LeBron, I've picked the team that he plays for to win the championship each of the last five seasons. He's also my favorite player in the NBA. I feel the need to disclose this every time I write about him.
- Arguably the greatest tragedy from a matchup perspective in NBA history is the fact that Kobe Bryant and LeBron James never met in the playoffs. As Kobe's career ended last night, we'll never see them play against each other on the NBA's biggest stage despite the fact that one of the two of them have made it to the last nine NBA Finals. The last Finals that didn't feature either Kobe or LeBron? Way back in 2006, when the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks. In fact, since LeBron joined the league in 2003, there have only been three NBA Finals that didn't have one of those two: 2003, 2005, 2006. The fact that we never saw them play each other in the playoffs is ridiculous and a crime.
- There’s no reseeding in the NBA Playoffs. Straight bracket format. This means that the winner of the 1-8 matchup will play the winner of the 4-5 matchup and the winner of the 2-7 matchup will play the winner of the 3-6 matchup regardless of who wins each series.
- All series are Best of 7 with a 2-2-1-1-1 format for each round. This means the higher seed (when I say higher seed, I mean lower number) is the home team for Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.
E1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. E8. Detroit Pistons (Season Series: Detroit, 3-1)
The Pistons had a good season. They even won the season series against the Cavs. C Andre Drummond and PG Reggie Jackson seem to be developing a great chemistry together and the future seems bright in Detroit. That being said, they're not beating Playoff LeBron. Cavs in 5.
E2. Toronto Raptors vs. E7. Indiana Pacers (Season Series: Toronto, 3-1)
The Raptors were probably the most consistent team in the East this season despite finishing second. The backcourt of PG Kyle Lowry and SG DeMar Derozan may be the second best backcourt in the league and the rest of the team is good enough to make a run in the East. The Pacers bounced back after a disappointing season last year (in large part due to the broken leg of SF Paul George). This series could be closer than many think, but Toronto should be able to win relatively easily. Raptors in 6.
E3. Miami Heat vs. E6. Charlotte Hornets (Season Series: Split, 2-2)
The Miami Heat may be one of the most perplexing team in the league. One night, they'll look like the best team in the league. The next, they'll put up five points in a quarter and blow a 26 point lead. Trying to figure these guys out isn't exactly easy. That kind of inconsistency over a seven game series could brew an upset. Miami should be able to easily handle the Hornets, but with how up and down the Heat have been, I like the Hornets to at least extend the series longer than the Heat would want. Heat in 7.
E4. Atlanta Hawks vs. E5. Boston Celtics (Season Series: Atlanta, 3-1)
This may actually be the most competitive first round series on either side as these two teams matchup pretty well against each other. Both teams are more of an ensemble approach rather than letting one guy set the pace for either team (although Celtics PG Isaiah Thomas may beg to differ). Should be a fun series that comes down to the wire. Celtics in 7.
W1. Golden State Warriors vs. W8. Houston Rockets (Season Series: Golden State, 3-0)
The Rockets were actually my preseason pick to win the West. Let's just say that was a bad pick and leave it at that. Warriors in 4.
W2. San Antonio Spurs vs. W7. Memphis Grizzlies (Season Series: San Antonio, 4-0)
I'm gonna continue to try and save some column space. I don't see any possible way the Grizz beat the Spurs. At all. Spurs in 4.
W3. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. W6. Dallas Mavericks (Season Series: Oklahoma City, 4-0)
Thunder PG Russell Westbrook will probably finish second in MVP voting after his ridiculous triple-double filled season. Couple him with former MVP SF Kevin Durant and the Thunder probably have the best 1-2 punch in the league. The questions come into play after that. The rest of the starting lineup should be alright, but the depth of OKC will be tested. Maybe not in this series, but definitely in round two. Thunder in 5.
W4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. W5. Portland Trail Blazers (Season Series: Los Angeles, 3-1)
The Blazers were easily the most surprising team in the league this season. After losing four starters, they were supposed to be in contention for a top five pick. Instead, they're in the playoffs. I don't think they're good enough to take down the Clips, but the fact that they even made the playoffs is incredible. Clippers in 5.
E1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. E5. Boston Celtics (Season Series: Cleveland, 2-1)
This was the first round matchup last year that ended Cavs PF Kevin Love's season. Let's say the Cavs have had this potential matchup circled for a while. They'll want, not just to win, but to win big. The Cavs have struggled to stay motivated during the season. I don't think they'll struggle for motivation in this one. Playoff LeBron rolls on. Cavs in 4.
E2. Toronto Raptors vs. E3. Miami Heat (Season Series: Toronto, 3-1)
The two teams that are basically opposites in terms of consistency. You know what you'll get on a nightly basis from Toronto. You have no idea which Miami team will show up on any given night. Even so, I like the talent and playoff experience of the Heat in this one. So long as the Heat stay healthy, they're the second most talented team in the East. That talent should carry them past a very good Raptors team. Heat in 7.
W1. Golden State Warriors vs. W4. Los Angeles Clippers (Season Series: Golden State, 4-0)
These two teams have hated each other long before the Warriors got ridiculously good, so there is nothing the Clippers would like more than to end the Warriors fairy tale run. That said, I just don't see the Clippers being able to handle the multiple looks the Dubs can throw at them. The Warriors are just too deep and too talented for the Clippers top-heavy team. Warriors in 5.
W2. San Antonio Spurs vs. W3. Oklahoma City Thunder (Season Series: Split, 2-2)
Everyone is looking forward to a seemingly inevitable Warriors-Spurs Western Conference Finals, but this series is not one to overlook. The Spurs and Thunder have played some fantastic games and playoff series over the last few years. Watching Spurs SF Kawhi Leonard guard KD is one of the best one-on-one matchups in the entire NBA. The top three teams in the West are all awesome, so any matchup between two of them is must-see. This entire series is no exception. Spurs in 7.
E1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. E3. Miami Heat (Season Series: Miami, 2-1)
The last team the Cavs want to see in the Eastern Conference Finals is the Heat. They seem to be the team in the East that played them the toughest during each matchup. Even so, I don't see anything in the East stopping Playoff LeBron from rolling on to a sixth consecutive NBA Finals berth. Whether he can win, well, we'll see. But the Cavs are the best team with the best player in the East and should be able to win the conference relatively easily. Cavs in 6.
W1. Golden State Warriors vs. W2. San Antonio Spurs (Season Series: Golden State, 3-1)
The seven game series everyone has been waiting for. The first team to win a road game probably wins this series, and seeing as how the Warriors won a road game during the regular season (the "one" of the Spurs 40-1 home record came against the Warriors in the last week of the regular season), it makes me lean towards them. That, plus Steph Curry is really freakin good. Warriors in 7.
W1. Golden State Warriors vs. E1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Season Series: Golden State, 2-0)
A re-match of last year's Finals seems to be a fitting end to this season. My heart says Cavs, my head says Warriors. Last year, this series was more competitive than it maybe should have been last year due to a superhuman effort from LeBron after injuries decimated the Cavs. If the Cavs can stay healthy, I truly do believe the Cavs can keep this series close throughout. They'll need all three of their stars to play like stars if they want to pull the upset, especially Playoff LeBron. That being said, this Warriors team is historically good. They're obviously one of the best offensive team in the league, but it's their defense that really makes them great. SF Draymond Green has developed into one of the best players in the league, and he's the catalyst for the Warriors' "Lineup of Death," a lineup that has everyone between 6'3" and 6'9". This lineup gives them the versatility to switch everything on defense, but Draymond's presence allows them to do it without a true center on the floor. It's amazing to watch. Add in the fact that no one in the league has figured out how to stop the Steph-Draymond pick-and-roll, and the Dubs should be on their way to a second consecutive title. I expect Playoff LeBron & Co. to push them to the brink, but the Warriors are just too good at home and too good overall to drop a series over seven games. For the first time in six years, I'm going to pick against LeBron James in the playoffs. Forgive me. I'll be rooting for him and the Cavs, but it's too tough to pick against the Warriors. Warriors in 7.
Finals MVP: Draymond Green