2024 NBA Playoff Predictions

The NBA playoffs are finally here, and it’s going to be an exciting post-season. This year, there is a mix of experienced, veteran teams and talented young teams. Be prepared for some upsets, some dominant performances, and some teams folding under pressure. I go over every matchup and make my predictions for each round. Let’s get into it.

 

 

 

The Thunder have been top 5 in both offense and defense this season, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As one of the youngest teams in the league, you can question their readiness to win in the playoffs from the lack of playoff experience this team has had. However, they have been consistent all season and play very smart basketball utilizing their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses. The Pelicans have also been a very consistent team with Zion taking that next step of development. Unfortunately, Zion was injured in the play-in tournament and is set to miss most of this series which is a crucial loss for them. The Pelicans will still put up a fight, but without Zion the Thunder should take care of business.

 

 

 

 

A rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Finals where the Nuggets swept the Lakers on their way to win the title. For the most part, these teams are the same from last season which is indicates how this series will turn out. Jokic and the Nuggets are still dominant in the West and the Lakers don’t have enough defensive prowess to stop them. 

 

 

 

 

The Timberwolves are a defensive juggernaut, led by Rudy Gobert, and were number 1 in the West for the majority of the season. Anthony Edwards has taken a major leap on both sides of the ball and has looked like a superstar at times. The Suns, however, boast incredible offensive firepower. They have struggled to stay consistent throughout the season, but Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are two of the best players in the league and have plenty of playoff experience in their careers. The Timberwolves will put up a fight, but at the end of the day the better offense will win this series.

 

 

 

 

The Clippers had a roller-coaster season, looking unstoppable to looking like a team struggling to find their chemistry. If they fully put it together and reach their ceiling, they could be true title contenders. The Mavericks have won 16 of their last 20 games and are heading into the playoffs full steam ahead. Their defense has improved immensely in the second half of the season, and Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving carry them offensively. This series is primed to be the best series in the first round and could go either way.

 

 

 

 

 

A rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, where the Heat won in 7 games to advance to the Finals. This year, the Celtics are a much better team ranking top 5 in both offense and defense and are the heavy favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. Losing Jimmy Butler to injury in their first play-in game is devastating for the Heat. He’s their best player and has played a pivotal role in the Heat’s playoff success the past couple of seasons. Without Butler, the Heat’s chances are slim to none at beating the best team in basketball in a series.

 

 

 

 

The 76ers have won 9 straight games, but Embiid doesn’t look one hundred percent healthy just yet. The Knicks match up well with the 76ers, and their defense and physicality will be a huge factor in this series. Both teams have star point guards, but don’t really have secondary playmakers and aren’t very deep teams. However, Maxey struggles with bigger defenders, and Anunoby is primed to guard him the whole series. The Knicks defense and Embiid’s health creates an advantage for the Knicks.

 

 

 

 

The injury to Giannis is a big blow for the Bucks and there is no guarantee he will come back during this series. He has kept them from spiraling even through the team’s turmoil this season. The Bucks are 17-19 with Doc Rivers as head coach, and while they have improved defensively, they haven’t been able to put it together on the offensive end. The Pacers are a high-powered offense, and their strengths will exploit the Bucks’ weaknesses. The Bucks’ success hinges on Giannis’ health, and with that in question, the Pacers’ offense will be too much for them to handle.

 

 

 

 

Recency bias and last year’s playoff woes have people low on the Cavaliers. For a portion of the season, the Cavs were one of the best teams in the league, but they have dwindled down the final stretch leading up to the playoffs. The Magic have one of the best young teams and are heading to the playoffs with extreme confidence. They boast the 3rd best defense in the league and play with intensity and aggressiveness to give any team problems. However, the Cavs also have a very good defense, and while their offense has been inconsistent, they have more talent and shooting than the Magic. The Cavs have experience in the playoffs and the lights won’t be too bright for them this year in the first round.

 

 

 

 

 

This will be a competitive matchup in the second round. The Thunder have played well on both sides of the ball all season, while the Mavs seem to have put it all together heading into the playoffs. This series will feature 2 MVP candidates in Shai and Luka, each surrounded by a lot of talent. The Thunder have a more well-rounded offense and a deeper bench, but the Mavs have more playoff experience, which could be the X-factor in this series. It should be a close series, but either team could win and advance.

 

 

 

 

The Suns could end up being the toughest matchup for the Nuggets in the last two playoffs. In the last two months, the Suns have beaten the Nuggets twice shooting efficiently from 3 and their ability to move the ball and find the open man. The problem with the Suns is they haven’t been able to be consistent on offense for a long stretch of games. The Nuggets are the better overall team and more consistent on both ends of the court. If the Suns are consistent offensively, they will give the Nuggets some trouble, but it won’t be enough to beat the reigning champs.

 

 

 

 

 

The Celtics are easily the better team here in just about every aspect of the game. They have more talent, depth, playoff experience and confidence. The Cavs’ play has dropped off down the stretch from their mid-season dominance, and they just aren’t ready to be in contention for the title this year. The Celtics may give up a game, but they should handle this series with ease.

 

 

Jalen Brunson has been on a tear this season putting up career high numbers leading the Knicks to their best season in 11 years. The Knicks are also 20-3 when OG Anunoby plays, dominating on defense and being the perfect fit for this team. The Pacers are a one-sided team, one of the best offenses in the league but one of the worst defenses in the league. They will try to throw everything at Brunson, but it won’t be enough to stop their offense. 

 

 

 

 

 

With Dallas turning the corner as of late, this should be another big test for the Nuggets. The Mavs have good defensive big men to put on Jokic, while Luka and Kyrie will test Murray’s defensive abilities. However, their defense is what is concerning with the Mavs role players covering up Luka and Kyrie’s less than stellar defense. The Nuggets will create favorable matchups that will cause the Mavericks trouble defensively, giving the Nuggets an advantage in this round.

 

 

 

 

 

The biggest test for the Celtics will be the Knicks. The Knicks are scrappy, aggressive and play with intensity that have caused problems for the Celtics in recent years. However, without a secondary playmaker behind Brunson, and Randle out due to injury, there isn’t enough star power for them to beat the Celtics in a series. This will be an exciting series to watch, and the Knicks should be able to win a couple games, but the Celtics have the edge here.

 

 

 

 

The battle of the decade, two incredible teams will face off in an epic finals series. Jayson Tatum and Co. will look to get over the hump and win their first championship together, as the Nuggets look to become back-to-back champs. These two teams have the best starting lineups in the league, and this series will be full of exciting matchups. Jokic vs Porzingis, Murray vs Holiday, and Tatum vs MPJ. The Celtics have a deeper bench and the Nuggets’ defense may struggle to guard the Celtics top 4 guys. However, the Nuggets have the best player in the world along with the championship pedigree and mindset needed to win. This will end up being the best finals series since 2016, with either team able to take home the trophy.