2023 NBA Playoff Predictions: Round 1.0
Image by FFP.
By Nick M.W.
This article was originally published on Medium.com (4/11/23).Full disclosure: I started writing this on my phone while standing in line at my city’s main post office. I was there because some jackass/jackasses broke into all the mailboxes in my neighborhood, so our mail is to be picked up until further notice. To the people who steal shit, I hope you all get a rare form of herpes that always flares up and covers your entire body. I also hope you come down with a case of never-ending diarrhea. You suck.
However, you don’t suck as bad as the Dallas Mavericks, so I hope you’re also a Mavericks fan. You make poor decisions in your fandom and life, which is why you chose to steal from others.
Back on my laptop
With that said, I’m ready for some playoff basketball because my Lakers are in it! I called it back in October, right here. Read it. I listed a few things that would make this season a success for the Lakers. One was AD playing at least 55 games. He played 56. I also went as far as predicting that they would end up the 8th seed and thus in the play-in tournament. They finished 7th and play the T-Wolves tonight for a chance to square off against the Grizzlies in the real Round 1.
Western Conference
I’ll just keep the purple and gold train rolling. The Lakers are going to win tonight to advance and play the Grizzlies this weekend. I like how they matchup against the number two seed, but they’re going to have their hands full. Is Ja Morant playing? Doesn’t matter much because the Lakers are winning it in six anyway. Lakers advance
The T-Wolves will live to die another day on Friday against the Thunder, who will steal a win from the top seed Denver Nuggets, but that’s about it. Nuggets advance
The Kings are in the playoffs?
Wow. It’s been a minute for them, like since before the original iPhone came out. That was a different world. They’re the third seed and get to play the defending champs (the Warriors if you somehow found yourself reading this but don’t know a thing about the NBA).
It’s hard to imagine that Golden State could actually lose this series to the Kings, but they will. Kings advance
Finally, a first round matchup for the ages. The Clippers (5th seed) will faceoff against the Suns (4th seed), and there are several intriguing story lines. Bad blood. Old playoff rivalries. It’s the best matchup of the Round 1.
In the same article that I referenced earlier, I picked the Clippers to win it all this season. I wrote:
“Barring any catastrophic injuries, the Clippers will win the 2022–2023 NBA title 4 games to 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers.”
Without PG-13, the Clippers will give it an excellent effort, but it won’t be enough against the mighty Suns. Suns advance
Eastern Conference
I like the Heat to advance through the play-in and square off against the second seed Celtics, where their playoff run will end. Celtics advance
Chicago will advance to play Milwaukee, but the top-seeded Bucks will make easy work of the Bulls in five games. Bucks advance
The same goes for the other two Eastern Conference matchups. I picked the 76ers to win the conference, and you can pencil them in for a clean sweep of the Nets. 76ers advance
The Cavs will complete a “gentleman’s sweep” of the Knicks. Cavs advance
