2015 NBA Playoff Discussion 2015 **Include playoff bracket

[ace_202]

So i've had a little spare time on my hands since returning from o/s and now i've happened to conjure up this playoff bracket for what i think will happen over the next month. This is completely my opinion and is only made for discussion purposes.

First thing i want to make mention of is Boston as the 8th seed in the East. I was thinking it might be Charlotte that sneak in there but their run home is not as good as Boston's IMO. They pulled a clutch as win out the other night against the Raps and their oozing confidence. Same cannot be said for Charlotte.

Obviously, up top i've got the Warriors to breeze through their playoff matches this year. The reason why i've decided this is because after looking back at their losses for the year, they either lost games when they had an injured player out or were caught off with a slumping night. I honestly dont think the Thunder will put up much resistance against them in the first round and i think they get their revenge on the Clips from last years playoffs. The Warriors get a 4 - 1 win over the Rockets and i see that happening, simply because, by the time the Rockets get to that stage, they would've played more games and will have had a tougher run to the Western Conf finals.

Other notable things i think for the West is the Spurs to get ousted by a much hungrier Rockets in the second round. Harden is well and truly on fire and i see a passing of the torch? moment in this series. A younger, hungrier team getting it done in the battle of the Texan teams. I'd be seriously surprised if we didn't see a few retirees from the Spurs organisation after this series as well.

Memphis are simply riding their early season form to their 3rd seed standing and will get bundled out in the first. Portland also have a harder matchup in the first against the Clips which i think is probably the series to watch in the West. I am personally a big fan of the Trailblazers and would love them to advance past the Clips, but just can't see it happening. If that was the case, i'd also see the Trailblazers pushing the Warriors a little more than the Clips in round 2.

Ovvvvver to the East.

Hawks will stroll through their matchup against the Celts or the Hornets, whoever it is, they'll do it with ease. Boston may pinch one in the Garden but other than that, no hassles.

Raptors and Wizards will be a game that uses all 7 games IMO. I really REALLY don't rate either of these teams but in such a weak Eastern conference, someone has to advance and the Raps will do it purely off the fact they'll have a home game advantage. They'll run into the Hawks in the second run and get crushed. Raps cant guard the perimeter and we all know what the Hawks are. Now before i address the Cavs, some may have noticed that i've got the Bucks to advance over the Bulls. The Bulls are super suspect and to be honest have been for most of the year. Noah is out of sorts now that Gasol is there but even with their shared distribution over the floor, teams are finding ways to filter through points through the paint. I have the Bucks to advance through the battle of the paint. Not because they have a better C but because their dribble drive is more dangerous than the Bulls. Kidd will know how to coach these kids to a very big upset in the East finals.

In saying that, the Cavs will promptly run over the Bucks in what will give the Cavs an absolute dream run into the East Conf finals against the Hawks. I see King James lighting up in this game as he has before and really dominate this series. The Cavs for this will enter the championship game as heavy absolute heavy favourites.

The championship game will be a classic i predict. The Warriors are the complete offensive package. Everything they do going up the floor is impeccable and its safe to say the MVP of the league will be playing in this series. In saying that, the more complete TEAM in the Cavs will find ways to break down the Warriors and will hold home court easy enough. The question for the Cavs will be if they can beat the Warriors away from home. I have the Warriors winning this in 7 BUT if the Cavs can steal game 1 or 3, the Cavs will take this. Otherwise, if the Warriors can defend their home court, expect no upset in single games, but the Warriors to run the course of playoff scheduling and take the title in 7.

Let me know what you all think???

[Seto]

I completely agree with the Rockets being a team that will step up this year and win at least one round if not more.

Not sure I'd have the Warriors advancing this easily but you certainly bring up a very important point that it's hard to win on their court.

In the East I agree the Raptors will beat the Wizards because of homecourt. You're seeing something I don't in Milwaukee though. Still not sold on the Cavs. I would be shocked to see them sweep the Nets. That will go at least 6 for me. I'd be more surprised by a Cleveland sweep than I would be by the Nets winning the series.

To include a bracket, which is obviously tough not knowing the matchups but I'll go with the current standings as you did:

Warriors 4-1 Thunder
Rockets 4-2 Mavs
Memphis 4-3 Spurs
Blazers 4-3 Clippers

Warriors 4-2 Blazers
Rockets 3-4 Grizzlies

Warriors 2-4 Grizzlies



Hawks 4-2 Celtics
Cavs 4-3 Nets
Raptors 4-3 Wizards
Bulls 4-1 Bucks

Hawks 4-2 Raptors
Cavs 2-4 Bulls

Hawks 1-4 Bulls




Grizzlies 4-2 Bulls


The toughest series to pick were Grizzlies over Spurs (it's a bad matchup for Memphis and Conley doesn't look healthy but I've said I liked that team in the playoffs all year so I'm staying consistent with that), Blazers over Clippers (I just think the Clippers are frauds in general, playing that series with Portland missing Matthews, having Aldridge banged up and with homecourt, they should win "in theory" but they're the Clippers....), and Grizzlies over Rockets (that would be a GREAT series and I honestly have no clue who would win, just had to pick someone).

I think the Hawks will choke in one series. I could have picked Toronto to beat them tbh. They are very good but they're not ready yet and someone will expose that.

[Seto]

I'd advise most people to bet those series game by game though. So much can change over the course of a series. A lot of series will be very close.

[ace_202]

That's so far off where i see the Grizzles going this year. Interesting read though. Haven't, and won't be for a while, a fan of the Bulls. Just fall down when they need to stand and just don't do it for me.

I'm hoping for at least one upset from either conference to really shake things up though. Thanks for your post Seto.

[freeeze]

Guys, shouldn't we wait until we know the actual match ups until we do these brackets and stuff ? I'll add mine when we get the seeding.

IMO, the Cavs will come out of the East this season. They have been playing great basketball for the last 3-4 months and I don't think the Bulls have the defense to challenge them in a best of 7 series. Atlanta will have a relatively easy path to the conference finals, unless the Millsap injury proves to be more serious than they say, but none of their key players have performed on such a big stage and the pressure will get to them. I think they lose to whoever makes the ECF.

The West is really tough. I don't see how Golden State are the favorites considering what a great achievement their regular season has been and how consistent they've been throughout. Still, I think if they meet the Spurs the series is a complete toss-up. Slightly leaning towards the Spurs right now as they've found their form in the right moment and matchup pretty well with what GState does defensively, however I think it's really close and we'll get a better feeling for what will happen right before the potential series start.

I also give Spurs the advantage over Memphis. As Seto said Spurs matchup pretty well with the Memphis, too and the Grizzlies have been struggling for quite a while now. I think San Antonio can handle Houston as well, they'll have the best perimeter defender in the NBA ready to D up on Harden and we don't know how good will Howard be with all those injuries and time missed this season. I don't see Portland as a threat to anyone with Matthews out and Aldridge hurt and Clippers' D is too bad to consider them seriously.

With all that being said, things are so close this year, I wouldn't be surprised if none of my big predictions came through. I'm feeling for sure, though, that we'll get some of the best playoff basketball in years and hopefully we'll make some nice betting profits along the way.

[ace_202]

I was going to wait until the end of the season to whip this up, but what changes do you think will happen from what i've put up?

Could the Raptors pinch a spot from the Bulls? I took that into consideration and concluded the Bulls would hold on.

[freeeze]

Well, last 2 spots in the East are still wide open with Miami 0.5 and Indiana 1 loss away from the Celtics. And teams in the 3, 5, 6 spots in the West are basically tied, so we can't say for sure what will happen there and the race for the 8th spot is yet to be decided as New Orleans are starting to look like the team more likely to make it right now. Also, Blazers won't get homecourt over the 5th seed if their record is worse than the 5th seed's and that will be a pretty big factor in the series.

It's not that big of a deal and especially the last seeds in both conferences probably won't matter at all in the big picture, but still every matchup difference counts in the NBA.

[Seto]

That's so far off where i see the Grizzles going this year. Interesting read though. Haven't, and won't be for a while, a fan of the Bulls. Just fall down when they need to stand and just don't do it for me.

I'm hoping for at least one upset from either conference to really shake things up though. Thanks for your post Seto.

The key for Memphis is the first round. San Antonio will be an extremely tough out obviously should they face them, and I think Dallas could give them a series too. But if they get out of that (which will mean they're healthy too), they're dangerous.

[ace_202]

The Hawks team i've got to go through right to the final, is losing to the Knicks. Go figure.

[ace_202]

Those Bucks i backed at +770 to win series are keeping me alive. Bucks win tonight and win back in Milwaukee to force 7 games. Will be a good series, which also adds more time to Loves recovery time.

[ace_202]

After todays game, i'm happy to know the 4 teams i picked for conference finals are still around it. Rockets didn't do it the easy way, but here they stand. Warriors thump them easy on their way to the the NBA finals against a resilient Cavs. Time to buckle in.