Just like the NHL Playoffs, the NBA Playoffs begin this Saturday, April 20th. The twenty-team field is set, and the play-in tournament starts today, April 16th. The Celtics seem to be the favorite to win it all, and I’m going to tell you how that might not happen.
The Celtics are the one-seed in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 64-18. The next-best record in the league belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a record of 57-25 (a seven-win difference).
I don’t think the Celtics are immortal, however. I believe that in a seven-game series, there are a few different teams not just in the West, but even in the East that can beat the Celtics.
Obviously in the West, the Nuggets are a gigantic threat to the Celtics, and I honestly don’t think they can beat Denver. They’re coming off a championship win and the Celtics don’t have what it takes to beat Nikola Jokic in a seven-game series.
Also out of the West, I’d take the Dallas Mavericks over the Celtics in a seven-game series all day. Luka Doncic is a perennial MVP candidate, and in my opinion, twice the player Jayson Taytum is. Especially with the Luka and Kyrie duo finding their rhythm this season, the Mavericks run over the Celtics if they meet in the playoffs.
Now out of the East, and my Eastern Conference Final matchup, the New York Knicks are the Celtics’ worst nightmare.
Now yes, the Knicks are 1-4 against the Celtics in the regular season this year, this playoff Knicks team is in the zone and a different team than who started the season. With the addition of OG Anunoby and the emergence of Donte DiVincenzo, this Knicks team is a problem for the Celtics.
Oh… and they have that Jalen Brunson guy.
Now that being said, the Knicks have to get there first. They don’t have the easiest road to the playoffs at the two-seed, having to play the winner of the 76ers and Heat game. But if they do meet the Celtics, I’m ready to parade down the streets of New York.
