After one of the most competitive regular seasons in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference, the playoff seeds are set. The Oklahoma City Thunder finished in first with a 68-14 record, tying them for the sixth-best regular-season win percentage in NBA history. Seeds 2-8 in the West are all within four games of each other, setting us up for an utterly unpredictable playoffs. With the first round in full swing, here are some predictions.
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies (48-34):
It’s hard to imagine the Thunder not winning this series easily in four or five games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will likely win the NBA Most Valuable Player award, Jalen Williams is arguably a top-20 player, and the Thunder just know how to win. Don’t underestimate the star power of Ja Morant to make the Grizzlies competitive, but it won’t be enough. Prediction: Thunder win the series 4-0.
#2 Houston Rockets (52-30) vs. #7 Golden State Warriors (48-34):
Oh boy. The Rockets are perhaps the surprise of the Western Conference this year, with Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson taking massive leaps to make Houston competitive. With veteran leaders in Fred Van Vleet and the ever-controversial Dillon Brooks, the Rockets are legit — But don’t sleep on Golden State. The Warriors have been here before, and we know never to underestimate how much Stephen Curry can change the course of a playoff series. It’s youth versus experience, which means the series could go a variety of ways. However, it feels like the Warriors’ time has passed. Prediction: Rockets win the series in six games, 4-2.
#3 Los Angeles Lakers (52-30) vs. #6 Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33):
Look away Wolves fans: Luka is back. After pulling off the most shocking trade in NBA history by acquiring Luka Doncic for an aging Anthony Davis, the Lakers paired arguably the greatest player in NBA history, LeBron James, with a top-5 NBA player in Doncic. However, don’t let the Wolves’ record deceive you. After a slow start figuring out life without Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota has its mojo back. Anthony Edwards is a certified superstar, and the Wolves’ run to last year’s Western Conference Finals proved they have what it takes. Prediction: In this matchup of the former Minnesota basketball team versus the current Minnesota basketball team, it’s the Wolves that take this series in seven games, 4-3.
#4 Denver Nuggets (50-32) vs. #5 Los Angeles Clippers (50-32):
Toss up. Despite Nikola Jokic averaging a triple-double this season, the Nuggets have not been at their best. The Nuggets will have to rely on Jokic taking over even more than he already does, which we know he can do. As for the Clippers, this feels like the last season where the aging duo of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard can stay competitive in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference. This feels like a matchup that favors the Nuggets, but I expect the Clippers to win at least one game in their shiny new home at the Intuit Dome. Prediction: Nuggets win the series 4-1.