The NBA Playoffs was boring, not less than in keeping with the skeptics. Upsets have been few and much between, the very best workforce was decided by who had the very best particular person participant, and the very best workforce nearly all the time received. NBA followers endured 4 years of the Golden State Warriors vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers within the NBA Finals. With Kevin Durant within the Bay, the dream of NBA parity felt additional out of attain than ever earlier than.
NBA historical past has been outlined by dynasties, from Russell and Hen’s Celtics to Magic and Kobe’s Lakers to Jordan’s Bulls to Duncan’s Spurs to Curry’s Warriors. That period of the league is probably not gone endlessly, but when nothing else it’s been placed on indefinite hiatus.
NBA parity is right here, and it’s wonderful. The league has topped a special champion in every of the final six seasons, with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, and Boston Celtics every claiming the title. The final time that occurred in league historical past was 1975-1980.
The Celtics enter the 2025 NBA Playoffs hoping to be the primary workforce to win back-to-back championships since Durant and Curry’s Warriors. Boston is among the favorites, however its path to a title ought to be rather more troublesome than the cakewalk it had final yr.
The primary spherical of the 2025 NBA Playoffs start on Saturday. Let’s make picks for each first spherical sequence, and predict the remainder of the bracket.
NBA Playoffs 2025: First spherical picks and predictions
The No. 8 seed within the East and West have but to be decided at time of publishing.
Western Convention
Prediction: No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder advance in a sweep.
No. 2 seed Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors: That is going to be an incredible sequence. The Rockets have youth, measurement, and athleticism on their aspect. The Warriors have the 2 finest gamers within the sequence in Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, however there’s little doubt that Golden State is smaller, slower, and creakier bodily. I’ve modified my thoughts on this 10 occasions already. Can Amen Thompson lock down Curry for an entire sequence like he did within the common season? Can the Rockets rating sufficient within the halfcourt with no true star? Will Alperen Şengün abuse the Warriors’ small ball lineup? I’m anticipating an on the spot basic. Prediction: Warriors in 7.
No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves: It nonetheless doesn’t make any sense that the Lakers have Luka Doncic, and it by no means will. This roster nonetheless felt too flawed to me after the commerce due to the dearth of a starting-caliber large man, however head coach JJ Redick has achieved an amazing job developing with artistic defensive options. Rudy Gobert isn’t going to punish the Lakers protection, and I feel LA’s traps might give Anthony Edwards some bother. We already know Jaden McDaniels can’t guard Luka within the playoffs after final yr’s Western Convention Finals. This additionally feels prefer it could possibly be an enormous Austin Reaves sequence. Prediction: Lakers in 6.
No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers: One other wonderful sequence. Nikola Jokic is popping in an all-time season, ending top-3 in factors, rebounds, assists, and steals whereas taking pictures practically 42 % from three. The remainder of the Nuggets are fairly uninspiring, and the truth that they’ve had a brand new head coach for the final three video games doesn’t precisely carry confidence. The Clippers are rolling. The James Harden-Ivica Zubac pick-and-roll has been devastating all season. Kawhi Leonard is again and taking part in large minutes at a excessive stage. The perimeter defenders get after it, and Norm Powell can catch hearth in a rush. The Clippers have the higher workforce, however believing in them to win this sequence means believing Leonard can keep wholesome your entire manner via (which hasn’t occurred within the playoffs since 2020) and that Harden can overcome his long-standing playoff demons. The chips are stacked in opposition to Jokic right here, but when Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordan can step up, I nonetheless like their probabilities. Prediction: Nuggets in 7.
Japanese Convention
No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers advance in a sweep.
No. 2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 seed Orlando Magic: The Magic could possibly be so a lot better, however their historic lack of taking pictures and failure to optimize Paolo Banchero’s touches have made this a forgettable season. Please Orlando, comply with the Pistons’ path of including veteran shooters this summer time! The Celtics are a juggernaut even with Jaylen Brown’s knee a little bit cumbersome proper now. Prediction: Celtics in 5.
No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons: The Pistons are only a nice story, going from a 14-win workforce final yr to a 44-win workforce this yr. Cade Cunningham is prepared for his playoff popping out occasion to cement himself as one of many NBA’s finest guards of the following technology. The Knicks went 0-10 in opposition to the top-3 groups within the NBA this yr, however the Pistons aren’t at that stage. New York has 4 of the 5 finest gamers within the sequence at minimal. This can be a nice season for Detroit no matter the way it ends. Prediction: Knicks in 6.
No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks and Pacers have a beautiful little rivalry rising, from game-ball gate to the Pacers utilizing a soccer play to win an everyday season matchup that gave them homecourt benefit on this sequence. Damian Lillard is at present out with a blood clot, nevertheless it’s doable he might play in some unspecified time in the future on this sequence. With Dame, this appears like a toss up. With out him, the Pacers simply really feel just like the extra full workforce with a extra explosive offense. Indiana’s protection is far improved since final yr, they usually have sufficient our bodies to attempt to decelerate Giannis Antetokounmpo not less than a little bit bit. Can Giannis win this sequence by himself? Like Jokic vs. the Clippers, I wouldn’t put it previous him, however with out Dame the duty is simply an excessive amount of. Prediction: Pacers in 6.
NBA Playoffs 2025: Champion and convention finals predictions
There’s my full bracket. Let’s go over among the large themes.
I just like the Warriors in sequence in opposition to the Lakers, however I’d take the Lakers over the Rockets. The Houston-Golden State first-round sequence is such a toss up that it feels further daring to choose the Warriors to the Western Convention Finals, however that’s the best way I’m leaning.
Cavs-Pacers could possibly be an amazing second spherical sequence within the East. Don’t neglect that the Pacers made the Japanese Convention Finals final yr, and this workforce is a lot better defensively, and has Tyrese Haliburton taking part in his finest ball on the proper time. I see Cavs-Pacers being extra aggressive than Celtics-Knicks. Nonetheless, I’m going Cleveland.
It’s going to be an enormous upset if the Japanese Convention Finals is something apart from Cavs-Celtics. I’m choosing Celtics in 7 instantly basic. Boston has the personnel to frustrate Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland on offense whereas concentrating on them defensively. This could possibly be an enormous Kristaps Porzingis sequence to tug Cleveland’s twin towers out of the paint. If Porzingis goes down with an damage, this sequence swings to the Cavs in my view.
NBA Finals 2025 predictions and picks
I’m going with Thunder over Celtics in six.
The Thunder have two large inquiries to me getting into the playoffs:
Can they preserve forcing turnovers on protection at a historic fee?
Can Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren step up as a secondary creator within the halfcourt?
These are large points. A workforce just like the Lakers with two nice ball handlers in Luka Doncic and LeBron James might give OKC some bother. I feel J-Dub and Chet are able to step up, however the spacing can get a little bit cramped when the Thunder play their two large lineup (Holmgren + Isaiah Hartenstein) that they’ve been utilizing continuously to finish the season.
Nonetheless, I’m optimistic on the Thunder as a result of I consider in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s greatness, they really feel much less reliant on the three-point shot than final yr (when OKC noticed it’s three-point proportion drop from 38.9 % within the season to 34 % within the playoffs), and the addition of Hartenstein can alleviate the defensive rebounding considerations. Protecting Alex Caruso recent for the playoffs ought to pay main dividends. There’s simply no weak hyperlink on this protection to assault. If protection wins championships (phrase to Nico Harrison) and superstars carry you throughout the end line, OKC has the precise combo with Shai (my Finals MVP choose) main the best way.
