The NBA Playoffs was once boring, not less than based on the skeptics. Upsets have been few and much between, one of the best crew was decided by who had one of the best particular person participant, and one of the best crew virtually at all times received. NBA followers endured 4 years of the Golden State Warriors vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers within the NBA Finals. With Kevin Durant within the Bay, the dream of NBA parity felt additional out of attain than ever earlier than.
NBA historical past has been outlined by dynasties, from Russell and Chook’s Celtics to Magic and Kobe’s Lakers to Jordan’s Bulls to Duncan’s Spurs to Curry’s Warriors. That period of the league might not be gone without end, but when nothing else it’s been placed on indefinite hiatus.
NBA parity is right here, and it’s superb. The league has topped a special champion in every of the final six seasons, with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, and Boston Celtics every claiming the title. The final time that occurred in league historical past was 1975-1980.
The Celtics enter the 2025 NBA Playoffs hoping to be the primary crew to win back-to-back championships since Durant and Curry’s Warriors. Boston is among the favorites, however its path to a title needs to be rather more tough than the cakewalk it had final yr.
The primary spherical of the 2025 NBA Playoffs start on Saturday. Let’s make picks for each first spherical sequence, and predict the remainder of the bracket.
NBA Playoffs 2025: First spherical picks and predictions
The No. 8 seed within the East and West have but to be decided at time of publishing.
Western Convention
Prediction: No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder advance in a sweep.
No. 2 seed Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors: That is going to be a tremendous sequence. The Rockets have youth, dimension, and athleticism on their facet. The Warriors have the two greatest gamers within the sequence in Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, however there’s little question that Golden State is smaller, slower, and creakier bodily. I’ve modified my thoughts on this 10 occasions already. Can Amen Thompson lock down Curry for an entire sequence like he did within the common season? Can the Rockets rating sufficient within the halfcourt with no true star? Will Alperen Şengün abuse the Warriors’ small ball lineup? I’m anticipating an on the spot basic. Prediction: Warriors in 7.
No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves: It nonetheless doesn’t make any sense that the Lakers have Luka Doncic, and it by no means will. This roster nonetheless felt too flawed to me after the commerce due to the shortage of a starting-caliber huge man, however head coach JJ Redick has executed an excellent job developing with inventive defensive options. Rudy Gobert isn’t going to punish the Lakers protection, and I believe LA’s traps might give Anthony Edwards some hassle. We already know Jaden McDaniels can’t guard Luka within the playoffs after final yr’s Western Convention Finals. This additionally feels prefer it may very well be an enormous Austin Reaves sequence. Prediction: Lakers in 6.
No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers: One other superb sequence. Nikola Jokic is popping in an all-time season, ending top-3 in factors, rebounds, assists, and steals whereas capturing almost 42 % from three. The remainder of the Nuggets are fairly uninspiring, and the truth that they’ve had a brand new head coach for the final three video games doesn’t precisely carry confidence. The Clippers are rolling. The James Harden-Ivica Zubac pick-and-roll has been devastating all season. Kawhi Leonard is again and enjoying huge minutes at a excessive degree. The perimeter defenders get after it, and Norm Powell can catch fireplace in a rush. The Clippers have the higher crew, however believing in them to win this sequence means believing Leonard can keep wholesome the complete method via (which hasn’t occurred within the playoffs since 2020) and that Harden can overcome his long-standing playoff demons. The chips are stacked in opposition to Jokic right here, but when Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordan can step up, I nonetheless like their possibilities. Prediction: Nuggets in 7.
Japanese Convention
No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers advance in a sweep.
No. 2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 seed Orlando Magic: The Magic may very well be so a lot better, however their historic lack of capturing and failure to optimize Paolo Banchero’s touches have made this a forgettable season. Please Orlando, observe the Pistons’ path of including veteran shooters this summer time! The Celtics are a juggernaut even with Jaylen Brown’s knee a bit of cumbersome proper now. Prediction: Celtics in 5.
No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons: The Pistons are only a nice story, going from a 14-win crew final yr to a 44-win crew this yr. Cade Cunningham is prepared for his playoff popping out social gathering to cement himself as one of many NBA’s greatest guards of the subsequent era. The Knicks went 0-10 in opposition to the top-3 groups within the NBA this yr, however the Pistons aren’t at that degree. New York has 4 of the 5 greatest gamers within the sequence at minimal. This can be a nice season for Detroit no matter the way it ends. Prediction: Knicks in 6.
No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks and Pacers have a beautiful little rivalry rising, from game-ball gate to the Pacers utilizing a soccer play to win a daily season matchup that gave them homecourt benefit on this sequence. Damian Lillard is at the moment out with a blood clot, but it surely’s potential he might play in some unspecified time in the future on this sequence. With Dame, this appears like a toss up. With out him, the Pacers simply really feel just like the extra full crew with a extra explosive offense. Indiana’s protection is way improved since final yr, and so they have sufficient our bodies to attempt to decelerate Giannis Antetokounmpo not less than a bit of bit. Can Giannis win this sequence by himself? Like Jokic vs. the Clippers, I wouldn’t put it previous him, however with out Dame the duty is simply an excessive amount of. Prediction: Pacers in 6.
NBA Playoffs 2025: Champion and convention finals predictions
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There’s my full bracket. Let’s go over among the huge themes.
- I just like the Warriors in sequence in opposition to the Lakers, however I’d take the Lakers over the Rockets. The Houston-Golden State first-round sequence is such a toss up that it feels additional daring to select the Warriors to the Western Convention Finals, however that’s the best way I’m leaning.
- Cavs-Pacers may very well be an excellent second spherical sequence within the East. Don’t neglect that the Pacers made the Japanese Convention Finals final yr, and this crew is a lot better defensively, and has Tyrese Haliburton enjoying his greatest ball on the proper time. I see Cavs-Pacers being extra aggressive than Celtics-Knicks. Nonetheless, I’m going Cleveland.
- It’s going to be an enormous upset if the Japanese Convention Finals is something aside from Cavs-Celtics. I’m selecting Celtics in 7 right away basic. Boston has the personnel to frustrate Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland on offense whereas concentrating on them defensively. This may very well be an enormous Kristaps Porzingis sequence to tug Cleveland’s twin towers out of the paint. If Porzingis goes down with an damage, this sequence swings to the Cavs in my view.
NBA Finals 2025 predictions and picks
I’m going with Thunder over Celtics in six.
The Thunder have two huge inquiries to me getting into the playoffs:
- Can they maintain forcing turnovers on protection at a historic price?
- Can Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren step up as a secondary creator within the halfcourt?
These are huge points. A crew just like the Lakers with two nice ball handlers in Luka Doncic and LeBron James might give OKC some hassle. I believe J-Dub and Chet are able to step up, however the spacing can get a bit of cramped when the Thunder play their two huge lineup (Holmgren + Isaiah Hartenstein) that they’ve been utilizing often to finish the season.
Nonetheless, I’m optimistic on the Thunder as a result of I imagine in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s greatness, they really feel much less reliant on the three-point shot than final yr (when OKC noticed it’s three-point proportion drop from 38.9 % within the season to 34 % within the playoffs), and the addition of Hartenstein can alleviate the defensive rebounding considerations. Maintaining Alex Caruso contemporary for the playoffs ought to pay main dividends. There’s simply no weak hyperlink on this protection to assault. If protection wins championships (phrase to Nico Harrison) and superstars carry you throughout the end line, OKC has the appropriate combo with Shai (my Finals MVP decide) main the best way.
