Ok with the NBA finals about to start this week I thought I'd give my thoughts on this NBA playoffs so far....
First Round
1)Cavs vs. 8)Heat: This series was truly wash. The Cavs dominated the Heat which actually ended the season as the 10th seed, but they won the play in games. It just looked like the Heat didn't have enough firepower and the Cavs blew them out 3 of the four games.
4)Pacers vs. 5)Bucks: This series was interesting and a rematch of the first round matchup last year. Unlike last year tho....this one was only 5 games. The pacers won the first two then lost game 3. They ended up beating an injured Bucks squad.....No one really knew just how good the Pacers were this year yet.
3)Knicks vs. 6)Pistons: This was a great and very physical series. I honestly thought the Pistons had a good chance. They lost one game controversially. Ultimately it was a really close series that should of went 7 but Knicks got it done.
2)Celtics vs. 7)Magic: The Celtics the defending champs looked great in this series.....but they weren't to be tested yet. The Magic weren't at full strength but I think even if they had all their players they would of lost in 6. Anyways it was an easy gentleman's sweep for the Celtics.
1)Thunder vs. 8)Grizzlies: I honestly thought this would have been a pretty competitive series but Grizzlies star player Ja Morant got injured in game 3 ;and that was their best chance to win a game. The Thunder easily put away the Grizz. Did I mention this Thunder team won an insane 68 games this year!?
3)Lakers vs. 6)Timberwolves: This series was disappointing. I'm a Laker fan and my boys were favorites. The games were competitive but the Wolves were too big for the Lakers down low. Doncic and James were not enough to beat this tough Wolves team. Gentleman sweep!
2)Rockets vs. 7)Warriors: The Warriors won their play in game against the Grizzlies to avoid the mighty Thunder. Their opponent....a tough but young Rockets team. Rockets played well but played an egg in game 7. I really wanted them to win. A 7 game slugfest.
4)Nuggets vs. 5)Clippers: This was predicted to be the best of the first round series and for most of it it was. Ultimately it was a really close series that the Clippers had a good chance of winning. Ultimately tho in a game 7 the Nuggets were too much. James Harden choked hard as he often does in the big playoff games lol.
2nd Round
1)Cavs vs. 4)Pacers: This wasn't a very competitive series like expected. The Cavs were injured but they just seemed completely unprepared for this Pacers offense. Haliburton was amazing and stole a game with his heroics. Ultimately this 64 win Cavs squad played poorly and Pacers won in 5.
2)Celtics vs. 3)Knicks: An interesting series. I thought the Celtics would win in 6....but they lost the first 2 home games....they did win game 3....but lost game 4. Also in game 4 their best player Tatum....got injured badly. Even with him tho I bet the Celtics would of lost. They took a lot of bad shots. Namely 3s that were bricks. Knicks handled business at home in game 6 and went to the conference finals.
6)Timberwolves vs. 7) Warriors: This should have been a classic series....but after winning game 1, Warriors star player Stephen Curry got injured. After that the Wolves proceeded to win every game in the series. Randle and Edwards were just too much for an old Butler lol.
1)Thunder vs. 4)Nuggets: This was a thrilling series. Nuggets stole game 1....and eventually were up 2-1. However it came down to a game 7...and the Thunder's historic defense shut them down. Alexander proved to be the MVP over Jokic...
Conference Finals
3)Knicks vs. 4)Pacers: Ok so both 60 win eastern conference teams got bounced and these were the giant killers that did it. I predicted the Pacers would win. Somehow they stole game 1 when they clearly should of lost. They took game 2 as well. Knicks did win games 3 and 5...but the Pacer offense was too much in game 6. 4-2 win for the Pacers
1)Thunder vs. 6)Timberwolves: Honestly this series was disappointing. The Thunder murdered the Wolves in all but game 3.....where the Wolves destroyed the Thunder. As a matchup of 2 great stars in Edwards and Alexander.....Alexander clearly got the better of the matchup.
when the finals are done they'll get their own post. Look out for it y'all. Thanks for reading.