Palsgrove’s Points
Welcome back to another week of Palsgrove’s Points. This week we’re covering the first round of the NBA Playoffs and who I think will come out on top of each of the eight series, and I’ll be pairing that prediction with each team’s Achilles’ heel or what might cost them the series.
Also, if you’d like, you can turn past this page to view my full playoff bracket, complete with another disappointing exit for my Sixers and, of course, James Harden. I’ve got to keep it consistent, you know?
Thunder in 5
The Thunder are rolling, and without Zion Williamson, the Pels don’t have enough to give them any sort of resistance. The only reason I’m not predicting a sweep here is because I’m expecting to see some sort of moment where the Thunder’s youth shows through, but it won’t be enough for the No. 1 seed. They took game one easily, and I expect the rest of the series to follow suit.
Clippers in 7
After a nice game-one win against the Mavs Sunday night, the Clippers are off to a good start, but there’s an old saying around the NBA that “the series doesn’t begin until the road team wins.” It rhymes and it’s true, so it’s doubly true. If both teams win all of their home games, the series goes to seven, which is what I expect to happen. These two teams feel about even in overall strength, and in all honesty, we’re not going to see the kind of performance that we saw from James Harden every game.
Timberwolves in 6
Welcome to the reign of the Ant-Man. This is going to be Anthony Edwards’ series where he announces his arrival to NBA super-duper stardom with a bang, and the Timberwolves are going to roll through the underperforming Suns on their way to an easy first-series win. The biggest problem they’re going to have is if Kevin Durant chooses to go nuclear and take apart the Wolves’ defense at the seams.
Nuggets in 5
Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets are incredible, but the Lakers might actually have enough to punch back this year. Last year Denver swept LA, but the Lakers were genuinely able to keep it competitive through all four games. The Nuggets are going to win this series, plain and simple. As for their Achilles’ heel? Thanos could snap away their entire starting lineup, and that might make it a tad more difficult for the defending champs.
Celtics sweep in 4
The Celtics just killed the Heat in game one. There is no way they lose this series. They’re (sadly) my pick to win it all, and the Heat are just a casualty of Boston’s conquest.
Magic in 7
This series was one of the most fun to look into because I genuinely think it’s a 50-50 series like Clips/Mavs. The Cavs took game one on their home court, but I think the Magic (read: Paolo) are good enough to bounce back and turn up the brightness on the lights that the Cavs seem to struggle in. The biggest wild card for Orlando is Franz Wagner and whether he can turn around a cold stretch from three.
Pacers in 7
Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play in game one, and the Bucks looked absolutely brilliant. This season Milwaukee went 4-5 without Antetokounmpo, but because of that performance from Dame, they’re 1-0 in the playoffs without the “Greek Freak.” Pascal Siakam and the Pacers looked good, but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm that was Damian Lillard. I still have the Pacers winning this one, but it’s going to be a good, good series. The Pacers need to bounce back in a big way in game two to get back in the driver seat.
Sixers in 7
I know, I know, I know, this is a homer pick, but I simply cannot allow myself to bet against Joel Embiid and future MIP Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers’ Achilles’ heel? The ghost of Tobias Harris that’s been haunting this team since the Harris that Philly extended died and was buried. Harris was benched by Nick Nurse to close out the Sixers’ play-in win over the Heat, but his ghastly performance in game one against the Knicks was what weighed the team down just enough to give New York the win.
Palsgrove is the asst. sports editor for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on X
