EAST
PHI (1) vs WAS (8 ) -- PHI in 5
BRK (2) vs BOS (7) -- BRK in 4
MIL (3) vs MIA (6) -- MIL in 7
NYK (4) vs ATL (5) -- NYK in 7
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PHI (1) vs NYK (4) -- PHI in 4
BRK (2) vs MIL (3) -- MIL in 6
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PHI (1) vs MIL (3) -- MIL in 6
WEST
UTA (1) vs GSW (8 ) -- UTA in 5
PHX (2) vs LAL (7) -- LAL in 6
DEN (3) vs POR (6) -- DEN in 7
LAC (4) vs DAL (5) -- LAC in 6
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UTA (1) vs LAC (4) -- UTA in 7
DEN (3) vs LAL (7) -- LAL in 6
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UTA (1) vs LAL (7) -- UTA in 7
FINALS
UTA (1) VS MIL (3) -- MIL in 7
Some notes
- The only teams in the playoffs that are top 10 in both offense and defense this season are the Bucks and Jazz. The Jazz are top 5 in both categories.
- The Sixers are a top defense with a borderline top 10 offense; the Nets are the top offense in the league with a bottom 10 defense. The case for the Lakers is that they have the best defense in the league despite missing their stars for long stretches, and their offense should be much better than the 24th ranking they earned during the regular season because they're going to have LeBron and AD playing. Maybe, but they weren't a great offensive team last year, either.
- The Bucks - Nets season series was 2-1 in Milwaukee's favor, and each game was very close. Lots of reasons that may not mean anything in the post-season, but we'll see.
- I will openly admit this is largely wish-casting on my part. I want to see Giannis go on a run and vindicate himself. I want to see the all-in win-now moves from a small market franchise to keep their superstar pay off in a big way. I want to see the Lakers and Nets lose before the Finals.
- I genuinely think, though, that the Nets are going to fall short due to the lack of time that their main stars have played together. I also think that at the end of the day, a team in the bottom 10 of defensive efficiency is not going to win a title. Another factor is that I am skeptical that the Nets aren't going to have an injury to at least one of their main guys before their playoff run is over. Not a major injury, necessarily, but something nagging that limits a guy. Their three stars have all shown a penchant for nagging injuries to a lesser or greater extent.
- Lord save us from a Lakers - Nets final. Please.