Second Round NBA Series Picks

Hawks over Wizards in 7

Bulls over Cavaliers in 6

Warriors over Grizzlies in 4

Rockets over Clippers in 6

2015 NBA First Round Playoff Picks

Eastern Conference

#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets

            Atlanta outscored the Nets by 69 points in their four victories against them this season, and there is little reason to expect Brooklyn to turn it around. Atlanta’s issues won’t pop up until the Eastern Conference Finals.

Hawks in 4

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #7 Boston Celtics

            Brad Stevens is the best coach in the NBA not named Gregg Popovich. In a year where Boston actively tanked by shipping Jeff Greene and Rajon Rondo out of town, Stevens led the Celtics’ plucky group of castoffs and youngsters to a shocking playoff appearance (big ups to all 15 people who had the Celtics making the playoffs this year instead of the Bruins). It’s also fitting that Lebron plays his first playoff series against the team he lost his last playoff series as a member of the Cavs in 2010. We’re predicting Boston’s home crowd will propel the Celtics to one home win, but that’s about it.

Cavaliers in 5

#3 Chicago Bulls vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks

            There’s a lot to like with Milwaukee long term, but they don’t have nearly enough offense to deal with a Bulls team that is finally healthy.

Bulls in 4

#4 Toronto Raptors vs. #5 Washington Wizards

            The only series in the entire first round featuring two teams that both have 0% chance of making it to the NBA Finals, we’re guessing Washington’s awful coaching will prevent them from matching last year’s feat of winning a series.

Raptors in 6

Western Conference

#1 Golden State Warriors vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans

            Golden State had to be a little bummed out that Oklahoma City’s one man band didn’t make it in instead of New Orleans (we love Russell Westbrook here at No Credentials, but there was no way he could single-handedly win a game against the Warriors in the playoffs), but they should make quick work of the Pelicans. Kudos to The Brow though for making the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference.

Warriors in 4

#2 Houston Rockets vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks

            If 2012 playoffs Rajon Rondo comes out for this series, Dallas can win. That’s probably not happening though.

Rockets in 5

#3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs

            Here’s your winner for most compelling first round series of the 2015 NBA Playoffs. We’re expecting the Spurs to make it difficult for both Blake Griffin and DeAndre “SECOND COMING OF BILL FUCKING RUSSELL ACCORDING TO DOC RIVERS” Jordan to share the court together, and the Clippers extreme lack of talent off the bench will bite them in the end.

Spurs in 6

#4 Portland Trail Blazers vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies

            Both of these teams have had a tough go of it injury-wise since the All-Star break, so it’s fitting they catch each other in Round 1. Mike Conley’s availability is a huge variable, but ultimately we expect the Grizzlies to find a way.

Grizzlies in 7

NBA All-Star Break Rankings

            Now that Marv Albert is done complaining about the lack of defensive effort in the All-Star Game, we are here to rank all 30 teams. In reverse order, we are listing the teams we feel have the best chance to win the title in June. Spoiler alert…it won’t be the 76ers.

Atrocious

30. Philadelphia 76ers

            Someone needs to tell Joel Embiid to take it easy on the junk food while he’s rehabbing.

29. New York Knicks

            We’re still trying to figure out which hallucinogenic drug Phil Jackson was on before the season when he thought the Knicks were a playoff team. At least they actually have the rights to their first round pick this year.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves

            Minnesota earns karma points for actually trying to win games in the brutal Western Conference this year, and after a slow start Andrew Wiggins is beginning to look like a future superstar.

27. Los Angeles Lakers

            Considering how atrocious Kobe Bryant was shooting from the field, it might hurt their lottery chances that he is on the shelf for the rest of the year.

Occasionally Frisky

26. Orlando Magic

            If they can keep the core of young guys they have together, Orlando might have the makings of a playoff team within two years.

25. Utah Jazz

            Quietly, Utah is giving up the fourth fewest points per game among Western Conference teams. No one knows that because they are scoring the fewest points per game among Western Conference teams.

24. Indiana Pacers

            They are a pain in the ass to play every night, but points have been incredibly hard to come by without Paul George. As far as lottery teams, they could have the greatest impact on the playoff picture depending on whether or not they decide to move some of their veteran players.

23. Sacramento Kings

            Here’s a short synopsis of the Kings’ season so far for those of you on the East Coast.

1. Got off to a promising start with Boogie Cousins playing like a MVP candidate.
2. Boogie contracted meningitis (which is bonkers), and the Kings went into a total freefall.
3. The Kings fired Mike Malone while Cousins was out sick.
4. Sacramento is now a team in utter turmoil, but at least Boogie is back healthy.

          We here at No Credentials love Boogie Cousins, and we fully support the Boston Celtics sending 8 future first round picks to acquire him.

22. Boston Celtics

            Boston has enough draft picks over the next few years to build a 53-man roster, which would be cool if they were an NFL franchise.

In Need of a Rebuild

21. Brooklyn Nets

            Fortunately for the Celtics, three of the picks they are owed will be coming from the dumpster fire that is the Brooklyn Nets.

20. Denver Nuggets

            Denver is living proof of what happens when you end up picking between tenth and twentieth every year in the draft.

Fatally Flawed, But in the Eastern Conference

19. Detroit Pistons

            The Pistons keep dropping inefficient shooters (Josh Smith was waived, and Brandon Jennings ruptured his Achilles), which probably means D.J. Augustin should be looking into how much his deductible is on his health insurance.

18. Miami Heat

            Miami runs the same plays they have for years, but they don’t as well when Lebron James isn’t in the lineup.

17. Charlotte Hornets

            Lance Stephenson has worked out so bad for the Hornets, they are actually considering flipping him for Joe Johnson and Joe Johnson’s ginormous contract.

16. Milwaukee Bucks

            Milwaukee has managed to stay afloat despite the loss of Jabari Parker (what a bummer) to injury and Larry Sanders to the love of marijuana. The Greek Freak is the real deal.

Destined to Be on the Outside Looking In

15. New Orleans Pelicans

            One year I renamed one of my fantasy football teams “Aaron Rodgers”, because he was the only reason my team was competitive. New Orleans should consider doing the same and going by “The Brow” the rest of the way.

14. Phoenix Suns

            Phoenix is losing its grip on the eighth seed, which is a problem when they still have the hardest part of their schedule ahead of them. Rumors that Goran Dragic is on the trade block smacks of desperation.

Flawed Contenders

13. Los Angeles Clippers

            In a loaded Western Conference, Blake Griffin’s staph infection is enough to drop the Clippers out of the playoffs altogether.

12. Washington Wizards

            Bradley Beal has been off all season while dealing with a variety of injuries, and that’s what will hold Washington back from being a contender in the East.

11. Oklahoma City Thunder

            Despite all of the games missed by both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and the handi-cap of having the worst coach in the league, the Thunder are only half a game behind Phoenix. Their title chances hinge largely on whether or not they can avoid Golden State in the first round of the playoffs.

10. Dallas Mavericks

            Rajon Rondo has delivered uneven results so far, but we’re guessing he will deliver value come playoff time.

9. San Antonio Spurs

            This San Antonio club remains me of the Spurs squad that was swept by the Suns in the first round of the 2010 playoffs. That’s not a good thing.

8. Houston Rockets

            James Harden has been playing out of his mind, but Houston’s title hopes hinge largely on whether or not Dwight Howard is back at full strength before the playoffs.

7. Toronto Raptors

            Remember last year when the Pacers got to the playoffs and suddenly forgot how to execute basic offensive functions? That’s our prediction for how the Raptors will look in April.

Legit Title Contenders

6. Portland Trail Blazers

            LaMarcus Aldridge deciding to play through his thumb injury was the turning point of Portland’s season.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

            We’re already looking forward to the over analysis of Kevin Love shooting 25% from the floor in Cleveland’s first round playoff series. We’d bump Cleveland as high as second if they can add one more useful big man.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

            Other than the Spurs, there isn’t another team in the league whose players understand their roles and deliver consistently on a nightly basis.

3. Atlanta Hawks

            Atlanta has played beautiful basketball all season long, but too many times we’ve seen groups like this crumble in a conference finals. We’re not sure if Al Horford or Jeff Teague are capable of delivering a bucket when it really matters come playoff time.

2. Chicago Bulls

            To say Chicago’s play has been uneven is being kind, but assuming Joakim Noah can get to at least 80% effectiveness by April 1, there isn’t a deeper team in the league.

1. Golden State Warriors

            If it were medically possible, the Warriors would be wise to freeze Andrew Bogut in carbonite so he can be healthy in the playoffs.

Quick 2nd Round NBA Picks

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Bulls vs. #5 Hawks

            The Hawks-Magic series was easily the worst first round match-up of both the NBA and NHL Playoffs so far. Going from that series to watching a game between the Bruins and Canadiens felt like going from watching “Saved By the Bell” to “Seinfeld”. Even though the Pacers were able to push Chicago, I’m willing to bet that Indiana gave much more of a crap than the Hawks and Magic combined. Chicago is going to look like world-beaters in this series.

            PREDICTION = Bulls in 4

#2 Heat vs. #3 Celtics

            From the opening night of the season, it felt like it was fate that these two teams would meet in the playoffs. Chris Bosh said so much himself on “PTI”. The breakdown of this series seems pretty simple. If Rajon Rondo shows up and plays hard the entire series, Boston will win. If not, they lose. Bosh should be made irrelevant by Garnett and the rest of Boston’s bigs (they won’t miss Kendrick Perkins until the next round). Lebron and Wade will score their points, but don’t expect a high shooting percentage.

PREDICTION = Celtics in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#2 Lakers vs. #3 Mavericks

            Barring a superhuman performance from Dirk, the Mavericks will be overpowered by the much larger Lakers in this series. Don’t be surprised to see a motivated Lakers club demolish Mark Cuban’s Mavericks.

            PREDICTION = Lakers in 5

#4 Thunder vs. #8 Grizzlies

            Oddly enough, Oklahoma City would’ve much rather seen San Antonio than Memphis. The Grizzlies are young, tough defensive team that will frustrate Durant and Westbrook. Even when there second best player (Rudy Gay) went out for the year with a torn rotator cuff, they were able to pick up Shane Battier, who provides solid defense on shooting guards and small forwards. Memphis will continue to bring 110% for all 48 minutes.

            The difference here though is Oklahoma City’s ability to potentially neutralize Zack Randolph. Serge Ibaka has been unleashed as a hellacious defensive force at power forward now that Kendrick Perkins is playing the 5. Randolph will not score his points easily, and unless Memphis gets some elite performances out of Mike Conley or O.J. Mayo, they’ll be finished.

            PREDICTION = Thunder in 6