2016 NBA Playoffs Picks & Predictions – Western Conference Playoff First-Round Series Predictions: The 2015-16 NBA regular season is over, and the playoffs begin this weekend. As has been the case in recent years, many of the top teams in the league reside in the Western Conference, but unlike past years, the depth of the conference isn’t nearly as strong. As a result, many of the first-round matchups in the conference could end up being one-sided, as they gap between the top four teams and the bottom four appears sizeable.
2016 NBA Playoffs Picks & Predictions – Western Conference Playoff First-Round Series Predictions
No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Houston Rockets
An impressive collapse by the Utah Jazz opened the door for the Rockets to claim the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, but Houston won’t get any luck breaks from the Warriors. The defending champs just set the single-season record for wins, and they won all three meetings with the Rockets. Even if James Harden gets hot and goes for 40-plus points, Houston’s defense has shown no signs of being able to hold Stephen Curry and Golden State in check. Look for the Warriors to overwhelm the Rockets with their offensive firepower in a clean sweep.
Prediction: Golden State Warriors Win in 4 Games
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies
It was only a few years ago that the defensive-minded Memphis Grizzlies were an Achilles’ heel for the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs aren’t going to have any trouble dispatching the Grizzlies this time around. Memphis was already struggling to find a new identity, and injuries have decimated the Grizzlies, leaving them a shell of their former selves. Missing Marc Gasol is going to be especially brutal in this series as LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard should be able to impose their will on the offensive end, and a banged-up Memphis team is going to struggle to mount any offense against San Antonio’s stingy defense. Expect the Spurs to cruise.
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs Win in 4 Games
No. 3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have been a tough out in the playoffs historically, but in this series, they are simply overmatched. Deron Williams has not chance of keeping Russell Westbrook in front of him, and while Dirk Nowitzki can still score, he can’t slow down Kevin Durant. Losing Chandler Parsons late in the year was a big blow to Dallas’ offense, and it will make keeping up with the high-scoring Thunder next to impossible. The Mavericks will find a way to steal a game because they don’t go down without a fight, but don’t expect an upset.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder Win in 5 Games
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Portland Trail Blazers
It is somewhat remarkable that the Trail Blazers are even in the playoffs, let alone the No. 5 seed. After all, Damian Lillard is the only starter back from last year’s squad after free agency decimated Portland’s roster. Granted, the backcourt tandem of Lillard and C.J. McCollum will do its share of damage, but the Clippers held Lillard to 32.4 percent shooting in four regular season meetings, winning three of them. Los Angeles also has the edge in both firepower and playoff experience, and DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin should be able to expose a weak Portland frontcourt.
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers Win in 5 Games
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