Entering the NBA season, the consensus was that the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers would meet in the NBA Finals for the third year in a row. But with Kevin Durant missing time due to a knee injury and the Cavaliers losing their last four games of the regular season, a bit of doubt has crept in on the two title favorites. Things are more open than anyone would have expected back in the preseason.
The first round starts Saturday with the Cavaliers opening their title defense against the Pacers at 2 p.m. Central on ABC, but the excitement of the opening weekend of the NBA playoffs does not end there. Here’s a preview of all eight opening-round matchups for your viewing pleasure.
####WESTERN CONFERENCE
####(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
**First game: Sunday (2:30 p.m. Central on ABC)**
**Regular season series:** Warriors won the season series 4-0
**Must-see matchup:** Steph Curry (Warriors) vs. Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
In last year’s Western Conference semifinals, which saw the Warriors take on the Portland Trail Blazers, Curry didn’t play for most of the series due to a knee injury. However, he did score 40 and 29 points respectively in games four and five to help close out the series.
This year, we will get to see a healthy Curry take on Lillard, who has been on a tear as of late, including a 59-point performance last week against the Jazz. If the Trail Blazers want to extend this series to five or six games, Lillard will need to play at the top of his game.
**Overview**
The Warriors finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA for the third consecutive year, and they will have home court advantage for as long as they remain in the playoffs. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, had to ride a hot surge at the end of the season to reach this year’s playoffs. While the Curry-Lillard matchup should excite, this series won’t last long.
**Prediction**: Golden State defeats Portland in four games.
####(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Memphis Grizzlies
**First game: Saturday (7 p.m. CT on ESPN)**
**Regular season series:** Series tied at 2-2
**Must-see matchup:** Kawhi Leonard (Spurs) vs. the Grizzlies’ defense
In a matchup of two of the top defensive teams in the league, it makes sense that this series will come down to whether or not the Grizzlies can contain Leonard. With Tony Allen out indefinitely with a calf sprain, it will important for the Grizzlies to find someone to take on Leonard. When Leonard is struggling to produce, the rest of the Spurs usually follow his lead and become a lot less effective on the offensive end. The Grizzlies have been able to limit Leonard’s shooting in the regular season, and it will be important for them to duplicate this in the playoffs if they want to make this a competitive series.
**Overview**
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and the Spurs being really good at basketball. The Spurs finished with the second-best record in the NBA this year. This isn’t a normal 2-7 matchup, though. The Grizzlies are always a tough out in the playoffs, especially when they are healthy; with both teams ranking in the top 10 in defense, it’s going to be a grind-it-out type of series. It’s ridiculous to doubt the Spurs, but the Grizzlies will make this series more interesting than the seeding would indicate.
**Prediction**: San Antonio defeats Memphis in six games.
####(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Oklahoma City Thunder
**First game: Sunday (8 p.m. Central on TNT)**
**Regular season series**: Rockets won the season series 3-1
**Must-see matchup**: James Harden (Rockets) vs. Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Apparently the Most Valuable Player race was so close we needed a playoff series to determine who should be this year’s real MVP. While this playoff series won’t affect the results of that award, this will give each player a chance to prove they are the deserving winner. NBA fans must have been extra good this year to deserve a matchup like this, because when these two are playing against one another, it’s must-watch TV.
**Overview**
The Rockets were the better team in the regular season, but the playoffs can be a different animal sometimes. The Thunder will have a shot at topping the Rockets if they can slow them down and make them play their style of basketball: slow and physical.
**Prediction**: Houston defeats Oklahoma City in seven games.
####(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Utah Jazz
**First game – Saturday (9:30 p.m. Central on ESPN)**
**Regular season series**: Clippers won the season series 3-1
**Must-see matchup**: DeAndre Jordan (Clippers) vs. Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
If you want to see two of the best big men in the league battle on both ends of the court, this is the matchup for you. Gobert has been the best interior defender in the league this year, while Jordan was selected to the All-NBA First Team in 2016, and led the league this year in field goal percentage. This matchup should be fun.
**Overview**
While the Jazz lack playoff experience, the Clippers are the complete opposite. The Clippers will send out Chris Paul, JJ Redick and Blake Griffin along with Jordan, and all four have loads of playoff experience compared to the Jazz. This is a close matchup on paper, but the true deciding factor is if the Jazz can learn on the run and find success in the playoffs. If they can’t, the Clippers will win this series, but I’m banking on the Jazz’s youthful talent winning out in the end.
**Prediction**: Utah defeats Los Angeles in seven games.
####EASTERN CONFERENCE
####(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Chicago Bulls
**First game – Sunday (5:30 p.m. Central on TNT)**
**Regular season series**: Series tied at 2-2
**Must-see matchup**: Jimmy Butler (Bulls) vs. his future team?
There were plenty of rumors around the trade deadline about a trade sending Butler to the Celtics for draft picks and young prospects. That trade never came to fruition, but you have to wonder if Butler and the Celtics could pair up in the future.
**Overview**
The Celtics ultimately got the No. 1 seed they so desperately sought even if it took a collapse of the Cavaliers to achieve it. Now, the question will be what they can do with the homecourt advantage through the East Conference finals. Celtics fans hope a Finals appearances is in their team’s future, but the Bulls will provide a tough early challenge before falling in six.
**Prediction**: Boston defeats Chicago in six games.
####(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Indiana Pacers
**First Game – Saturday (2 p.m. Central on ABC)**
**Regular season series**: Cavaliers won the season series 3-1
**Must See Matchup**: LeBron James (Cavaliers) vs. Paul George (Pacers)
After the Harden-Westbrook matchup, this one is the next best. LeBron is LeBron, and Paul George has a history of pushing LeBron in the playoffs. These two players are going to be going at each other the entire series, but you have to like LeBron’s chances.
**Overview**
The Cavaliers struggled late and fell to the No. 2 seed, but there is no reason to panic just yet. To eliminate the Cavaliers from the playoffs, you have to beat LeBron four times in seven games, and that is way easier said than done. LeBron’s teams in the past have been known for being able to flip the switch when it comes time for the playoffs. Now is the time to flip that switch, so let’s see what happens.
**Prediction**: Cleveland defeats Indiana in five games.
####(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks
**First game – Saturday (4:30 p.m. Central on ESPN)**
**Regular season series**: Raptors won the season series 3-1
**Must-see matchup**: Kyle Lowry (Raptors) vs. his own health
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry returned from injury on April 5 against the Detroit Pistons after being out since Feb. 19 due to a wrist injury. The biggest key for the Raptors in this series will be Lowry finding his groove post-injury, because when Lowry is healthy and at full strength, the Bucks don’t have anyone who can guard him.
**Overview**
The Raptors had been known in recent years for their struggles in first round matchups before they broke through last year and made the conference finals. They probably got the toughest matchup of the top-four seeds, as they have to take on a young, athletic and up-incoming team in the Bucks led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are young, but will test the Raptors in a hard-fought series.
**Prediction**: Toronto defeats Milwaukee in six games.
####(4) Washington Wizards vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
**First game – Sunday (Noon Central on TNT)**
**Regular season series**: Wizards won the season series 3-1
**Must-see matchup**: John Wall (Wizards) vs. Dennis Schroder (Hawks)
The Wizards offense runs through point guard John Wall attacking the basket and creating for his teammates. If the Hawks hope to pull off the upset, guard Dennis Schroder will have to find a way to limit Wall’s effectiveness. That will be a tall order as Wall is in the midst of a career year and is looking to make it farther in the playoffs than he ever has before.
**Overview**
After contemplating tanking when they traded Kyle Korver to the Cavaliers, they have found an identity around Paul Millsap. Millsap will be the man leading the charge for the Hawks, and they will need him to have an exceptional series if they want to beat the Wizards, a team that surprised everyone with their outstanding regular season. The Wizards ride the momentum gained from the regular season and make easy work of the Hawks.
**Prediction**: Washington defeats Atlanta in five games.
_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_