2020 Playoff Predictions Thread

[ArbitraryWater]

Make Your Predictions!

West

1R:

Lakers vs. Blazers: 4-2
Clippers vs. Mavericks: 4-2
Nuggets vs. Jazz: 4-1
Rockets vs. Thunder: 4-2

East

1R:

Bucks vs. Magic: 4-0
Raptors vs. Nets: 4-1
Celtics vs. Sixers: 4-1
Heat vs. Pacers: 4-2

One full playoff prediction + pre-round predictions round-for-round (1 point for correct winner, 2 points for correct score).

Full Bracket:

WCSF:

Lakers vs. Rockets: 4-2
Clippers vs. Nuggets: 4-2

ECSF:

Bucks vs. Heat: 4-1
Raptors vs. Celtics: 2-4

WCF:

Lakers vs. Clippers: 2-4

ECF:

Bucks vs. Celtics: 4-3

Finals:

Bucks vs. Clippers: 4-3

[oldtimer28]

West

1R:

Lakers vs. Blazers: 4-1
Clippers vs. Mavericks: 4-1
Nuggets vs. Jazz: 4-1
Rockets vs. Thunder: 4-3

East

1R:

Bucks vs. Magic: 4-0
Raptors vs. Nets: 4-0
Celtics vs. Sixers: 4-2
Heat vs. Pacers: 4-3

One full playoff prediction + pre-round predictions round-for-round (1 point for correct winner, 2 points for correct score).

Full Bracket:

WCSF:

Lakers vs. Rockets: 4-3
Clippers vs. Nuggets: 4-1

ECSF:

Bucks vs. Heat: 4-0
Raptors vs. Celtics: 4-3

WCF:

Lakers vs. Clippers: 4-3

ECF:

Bucks vs. Celtics: 4-1

Finals:

Bucks vs. Lakers: 4-2

[NBAGOAT]

West:

First Round:

Lakers in 5 over Blazers
Clippers in 5 over Mavs
Nuggets in 7 over Jazz
Thunder in 6 over Rockets

Semis:

Lakers in 6 over Thunder
Clippers in 6 over Nuggets

CF:

Clippers in 6 over Lakers

East:

First Round:

Bucks in 4 over Magic
Raptors in 4 over Nets
Celtics in 6 over Sixers
Heat in 6 over Pacers

Semis:

Bucks in 6 over Heat
Raptors in 7 over Celtics

CF:

Bucks in 6 over Raptors

Finals:

Clippers in 6 over Bucks

[Tobio-Star]

1R

WEST
Lakers vs Blazers: 4-0
Clippers vs Mavs: 4-1
Nuggets vs Jazz: 4-1
Rockets vs Thunder : 4-3

EAST
Bucks vs. Magic: 4-0
Raptors vs. Nets: 4-2
Celtics vs. Sixers: 4-0
Heat vs. Pacers: 4-2

2R

WEST
Lakers vs. Rockets: 4-2
Clippers vs. Nuggets: 4-2

EAST
Bucks vs. Heat: 4-2
Celtics vs. Raptors: 4-2

CF

WEST
Lakers vs. Clippers: 4-3

EAST
Celtics vs. Bucks: 4-3

Finals:

Lakers vs. Celtics: 4-2

:pimp:

[ArbitraryWater]

West

1R:

Lakers vs. Blazers: 4-1
Clippers vs. Mavericks: 4-1
Nuggets vs. Jazz: 4-1
Rockets vs. Thunder: 4-3

East

1R:

Bucks vs. Magic: 4-0
Raptors vs. Nets: 4-0
Celtics vs. Sixers: 4-2
Heat vs. Pacers: 4-3

One full playoff prediction + pre-round predictions round-for-round (1 point for correct winner, 2 points for correct score).

Full Bracket:

WCSF:

Lakers vs. Rockets: 4-3
Clippers vs. Nuggets: 4-1

ECSF:

Bucks vs. Heat: 4-0
Raptors vs. Celtics: 4-3

WCF:

Lakers vs. Clippers: 4-3

ECF:

Bucks vs. Celtics: 4-1

Finals:

Bucks vs. Lakers: 4-2

You had Raps beating Celtics but then Celtics in ECF?

[NBAGOAT]

changing my nuggets pick to nuggets in 5 over jazz since conley's leaving the bubble for the birth of his son. going miss like 3 games

[Tobio-Star]

changing my nuggets pick to nuggets in 5 over jazz since conley's leaving the bubble for the birth of his son. going miss like 3 games

Oh sh*t, if that's true I got the Nuggets sweeping them

[Xiao Yao You]

Ya'll know that the Nuggets are the worst defensive team in the bubble right?

[Manny98]

West:

First Round:

Lakers in 5 over Blazers
Clippers in 5 over Mavs
Nuggets in 7 over Jazz
Thunder in 6 over Rockets

Semis:

Lakers in 6 over Thunder
Clippers in 6 over Nuggets

CF:

Clippers in 6 over Lakers

East:

First Round:

Bucks in 4 over Magic
Raptors in 4 over Nets
Celtics in 6 over Sixers
Heat in 6 over Pacers

No way in a billion years are we getting swept by the Craptors :lol:facepalm

[Manny98]

West

Lakers in 4
Clippers in 6
Denver in 5
OKC in 6

East

Bucks in 4
Nets in 6
Boston in 4
Heat in 6

SF

Lakers in 4
Clippers in 6

East SF

Buck in 7
Celtics in 6

CF

Lakers in 6
Bucks in 6

Finals

Lakers in 5

[Gotterdammerung]

Eastern Conference

Magic vs Bucks


The Bucks were clearly the best team in the league up until before the shutdown, and not as much during the seeding games. But since they already clinched the first seed they had more incentive to stay healthy than to go all-out and win every remaining game. That said, the Magic do not have enough firepower to stay in the game with the Bucks, even if they continue to play it safe or lethargic.
Bucks sweep


Nets vs Raptors

The Raptors easily exceeded the sum of their parts this past season, due to being a well-coached, tough and intelligent team. They play excellent defense and share the ball on offense. The only thing they may have problems with is playing halfcourt offense in the clutch versus an elite defense. Fortunately, the Nets are hardly an elite team, since their roster is heavily decimated (injuries and COVID-19).
Raptors in 5

Sixers vs Celtics
The Celtics are a balanced team with veterans and youth, elite on defense and solid on offense. Perhaps not quite a championship contender, but they're much more legitimate than the Sixers, who generally underachieved this past season. Now that Ben Simmons is injured again, Embiid will have to be the best player in the game. When he is completely healthy and properly self-motivated he can perform at top 5 player in the league and carry any undermanned team to victory. But he has a track record of underachieving, so I don't expect that this time.
Celtics in 5


Heat vs Pacers
Despite being decimated by injuries, the Pacers actually played well in the seeding games. However, the Heat beat them 3 times this past season, not including the gimmie loss on August 14th, and they're at full strength. Butler, Bam Adebayo and a bunch of young and high energy players will be enough.
Heat in 5

[Gotterdammerung]

Western Conference

Blazers vs Lakers

Despite stumbling down the stretch in the seeding games, the Lakers only had to clinch the first seed by beating the Clippers in that opening game of the bubble. And they have two MVP caliber players in the 35 year old LBJ and Anthony Davis. That should spell a ticket to the NBA Finals, at least.

Damian Lillard carried the Blazers back to the playoffs with 37.6 ppg and 9.6 apg in the seeding games. While he is a great player who scores and passes at an elite level, he's an undersized guard and his team lacks the necessary defensive chops to slow down the Lakers. The only problem in this series is the Lakers' general lack of urgency or focus and discipline, and that means they won't sweep the Blazers.
Lakers in 5

Mavericks vs Clippers

Neither team were great in the seeding games, but the Clippers were the superior team all year long. They won the season series 3-0, both in the regular season and in the restart. Leonard will continue to play both ends of the floor at an elite level, and especially in the clutch. The Clippers are the tougher and deeper team by any measure. While Doncic is already all-world in his second season, he won't have enough to outplay the 2019 Finals MVP.
Clippers in 6

Jazz vs Nuggets

The Nuggets are on the verge of breaking through with a talented well-coached team. All they lack is playoff experience and another good player in their 7-8 man rotation to truly be considered as a championship contender. The Jazz is a solid playoff team, but they miss their wingman in Bogdanovic, and are 0-3 against the Nuggets so far.
Nuggets in 6

Thunder vs Rockets

The Rockets are no longer the fourth best team in the West, now that Westbrook is out a few games, or more. It was Westbrook's MVP quality play that unlocked the Rockets' super-small ball lineup. His speed, rebounding, and key scoring and playmaking was essential. Without him, the Rockets will have to rely on the Beard to score in the 40s to even remain in striking distance.
The Thunder surprised everyone when they kept Paul instead of dealing him for more players or picks, so turned the team around with clutch playmaking and inspiring the younger players to excel.
Thunder in 6

[Gotterdammerung]

The rest of the playoffs:

The Heat will test the Bucks, push them to 6 games.

The Raptors should beat the Celtics in a tough 7 game death-match.

The Lakers will survive the Thunder in 6.

The Nuggets won't be able to upset the Clippers, losing in 6.

The Bucks should revenge last year's loss and beat the Raptors in 6.

The Clippers should outlast the Lakers in 7 games.

The Clippers will stop Giannis with their superior wing defenders and win the 2020 title in 6.

[Gray GOAT]

R1:
Lakers over Blazers in 5
Thunder over Rockets in 7
Nuggets over Jazz in 6
Clippers over Mavericks in 6

Bucks over Magic in 4
Heat over Pacers in 7
Celtics over Sixers in 5
Raptors over Nets in 4

R2:
Lakers over Thunder in 5
Clippers over Nuggets in 6

Bucks over Heat in 5
Raptors over Celtics 6

R3:
Lakers over Clippers in 6

Raptors over Bucks in 7

F:
Lakers over Raptors in 6

[kkb_12]

West

1R:

Lakers vs. Blazers: 4-1
Clippers vs. Mavericks: 4-2
Nuggets vs. Jazz: 4-2
Rockets vs. Thunder: 4-1

East

1R:

Bucks vs. Magic: 4-0
Raptors vs. Nets: 4-1
Celtics vs. Sixers: 4-2
Heat vs. Pacers: 4-2

2R
Lakers - Rockets 3:4
Clippers - Nuggets 4:2

Bucks - Heat 3:4
Raptors-Celtics 4:2

West final
Clippers-Rockets 4:2

East Final
Raptors-Heat 4:2

Final
Clippers - Raptors 4:3

[RRR3]

I predict many meltdowns from OP regardless of what happens.

[ArbitraryWater]

Last day to make your picks!

[NBAGOAT]

Changing nuggets to 6 as final prediction

[Proctor]

West:

First Round:

Lakers in 6 over Blazers
Clippers in 4 over Mavs
Nuggets in 7 over Jazz
Thunder in 6 over Rockets

Semis:

Lakers in 7 over Thunder
Clippers in 5 over Nuggets

CF:

Clippers in 6 over Lakers

East:

First Round:

Bucks in 4 over Magic
Raptors in 5 over Nets
Celtics in 5 over Sixers
Heat in 6 over Pacers

Semis:

Bucks in 6 over Heat
Raptors in 7 over Celtics

CF:

Raptors in 6 over Bucks

Finals:

Clippers in 6 over Raptors

[ArbitraryWater]

LAST CALL GUYs

[Tobio-Star]

LAST CALL GUYs

Well others can still make predictions about the 2nd round, WCF and Finals cant they?

[ArbitraryWater]

Well others can still make predictions about the 2nd round, WCF and Finals cant they?

yea

hopefully more participation then