NBA Playoff Predictions: Ranking the 15 Most Anticipated Postseason Matchups
The craziest NBA trade deadline in recent memory has come and gone, and teams are now shifting focus towards the playoff stretch run.
Be prepared to witness some serious jockeying for position.
Four teams are gunning for the East's top seed—yes, I'm including the inconsistent Orlando Magic—and seven squads fighting for the last five spots in the West.
Not only that, but several contenders, most notably the Boston Celtics, need to incorporate new teammates into the fold. We may not even be able to judge certain maneuvers until the playoffs begin.
Due to the riveting All-Star weekend and subsequent blockbuster trades, the NBA is buzzing with excitement, and this postseason is shaping up to be a classic.
The league is replete with more individual stars and team contenders than it has had in a long time, so it will be fascinating to see where the chips fall.
For example, no franchise with title aspirations wants to deal with the rejuvenated New York Knicks in Round 1.
Although the entire postseason should be thrilling, fans are licking their chops at particular potential playoff matchups.
Here are the 15 most highly anticipated pairings.
15. Hornets vs. Thunder
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Guess which team ranks first in defensive efficiency in the Western Conference?
That’s right, New Orleans.
Even with stalwart Emeka Okafor missing 10 games in February, a stretch that saw the Hornets go 3-7, Monty Williams’ squad is third in the NBA in points allowed.
We would be privileged to watch Kevin Durant try to crack that D.
The leading scorer in the league, at 28.5 points per, gets buckets in so many ways. He would have to be at his best against a cohesive Hornets unit.
Maybe more exciting would be the point-guard matchup between Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook.
CP3 somehow continues to be overlooked—these days everyone would rather have Derrick Rose or Deron Williams—yet he runs a team like nobody else.
He would definitely want to show who’s boss against the uber-explosive, super-popular Russell Westbrook.
14. Grizzlies vs. Spurs
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The main attraction here would be watching Zach Randolph throw his weight around. Z-Bo is a terror in the post, especially now that he’s playing for a contract, and I don’t know if aging Tim Duncan can hang.
Then again, we’ve learned that doubting Tim Duncan is not the smartest decision.
The Grizzlies have been problematic for the Spurs all season. Memphis blew out San Antonio (109-93) a couple of days ago and hung tough in two road losses earlier this year.
Would I really forecast a Grizz upset? No, but the likely first-round series would not be as one-sided as most people would anticipate.
13. Knicks vs. Celtics
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New York versus Boston hasn't quite played out on the hardwood like it has in Major League Baseball.
The Knicks have generally been up when the Celtics have been down, and vice versa.
Believe me, though—both cities would get behind this one. New Yorkers believe Bostonians are foul-mouthed, low-class, drunken hooligans. Bostonians believe New Yorkers are foul-mouthed, snobby, drunken hooligans.
Both Gardens would be rocking throughout the series, and though the Celtics would emerge victorious, the Knicks would put up a fight.
Unfortunately, there are no imminent possibilities for the two teams meeting. Boston would need to slip up late in the season, or New York would need to escape at least the first round.
12. Lakers vs. Trail Blazers
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At first glance, Portland versus LA doesn’t sound exceptionally interesting. But dig deeper and you unveil a very intriguing matchup.
First, the Lakers can’t win in the Rose Garden. It has been one of the toughest places for them to play over the past decade. LA has only been able to capture two wins in its last 11 visits up north.
Second—and I haven’t heard this mentioned yet—before being traded to the Blazers, Gerald Wallace was a part of those Charlotte Bobcats teams that always inexplicably had the Lakers’ number.
Perhaps Crash can give Portland some inside information.
Additionally, Wallace is the type of long, strong, athletic defender that bothers Kobe Bryant. In Wesley Matthews, Nic Batum and now Wallace, Portland has three solid guys it can throw at Black Mamba.
Even though the Lakers are deep and talented, Bryant is still the key to their success.
Finally, LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing out of his mind since the All-Star snub. An Aldridge-Pau Gasol struggle would be fantastic to watch.
11. Magic vs. Heat
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When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, the Magic were suddenly considered the second-best team in the Sunshine State.
Words were exchanged, with Orlando GM Otis Smith publicly questioning LeBron’s competitive spirit.
Almost overnight, a rivalry was born.
Miami’s main weakness lies in the middle, and Dwight Howard has recently been unstoppable. Howard would probably destroy the Heat in a playoff series, but would it be enough to overcome Miami’s perimeter advantage?
There have also been questions about Dwight Howard's future in Orlando. A victory in this series might ease Magic fans' fears.
10. Heat vs. Bulls
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It’s been well documented this season, but LeBron James and Derrick Rose are the two players in the league who have this “Screw you, I don’t care what you do defensively, I’m going to get to the rim, just try and stop me” mode, when they go through, over and around players without any concern for human life.
Their game-takeover capabilities are unparalleled.
The difference between the Bulls and the Heat? The Bulls have rim protection in Joakim Noah, whereas the Heat are lacking in that department.
By the end of just one Bulls-Heat playoff tilt, foreseeable in the second round, Noah will probably be despised by both James and Dwyane Wade.
But will Chicago’s supporting cast be able to stay consistent offensively against Miami’s stifling D?
9. Thunder vs. Lakers
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You couldn’t really call this a rivalry yet, but the Thunder pushed the Lakers in the playoffs last year, coming within one Gasol tip of a Game 7.
This series would be easily marketed as veterans versus young guns, and an Oklahoma City victory might signal a changing of the guard.
The Lakers’ huge advantage had been their size in the post, but the addition of Kendrick Perkins and the emergence of Serge Ibaka levels the playing field.
If OKC and LA meet, the play of Kobe and Durant, guarded respectively by Thabo Sefolosha and Ron Artest, would most likely decide the outcome.
8. Celtics vs. Bulls
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After the show Boston and Chicago gave us in the 2009 playoffs, a rematch would be fascinating.
That epic first-round series featured a record four overtime games, seven total overtime periods, and several unforgettable performances. It also instilled mutual hostility yet respect in the two squads.
There is also a brewing rivalry between Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo for the title of top young point guard in the East, which was made even more heated by Rondo’s exclusion from the 2010 FIBA World Championship team.
Rose has been transcendent this season, and many pundits view him as the prohibitive MVP favorite.
Meanwhile, Rondo is averaging the most assists (12.2) since John Stockton in 1994-95. Suffice it to say that each will do all in his power to outplay the other.
The Celtics and Bulls are the best teams in the league in terms of defensive efficiency, so if they face off in the Eastern Conference Finals, expect a grind-it-out series in which points are at a premium.
7. Heat vs. Mavericks
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Let’s go back to the 2006 Finals.
Dallas is up two games to none, leading by 13 with six minutes to go in Game 3. Then Wade (with some questionable help from the referees) goes crazy, leading his team to a comeback victory.
The Heat win four games straight, pulling the rug from under the Mavericks and snatching the championship.
Wade finishes with a statistically monstrous series— 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals, and a record 33.8 PER—perhaps the finest Finals performance in NBA history.
Fair or unfair, that devastating loss still haunts Dirk Nowitzki and Mark Cuban, and they would love to get revenge against Miami.
This is the most competitive Dallas team since 2006, and it might be Dirk’s last shot to wear the crown.
This matchup would be particularly entertaining if Caron Butler does in fact return for the playoffs, giving the Mavs a decent option against LeBron.
And Tyson Chandler patrolling the paint provides Dallas a toughness they haven’t had before.
6. Spurs vs. Lakers
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Los Angeles and San Antonio boast the two NBA dynasties of the 2000s, with the franchises combining for nine titles since 1999.
They’ve had to go through each other many times on the road to the title, with memorable moments such as Derek Fisher’s 0.4-second shot and one of Robert Horry’s patented daggers.
Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich are considered the two best coaches in the league, Duncan and Kobe two of the best winners.
Going into this season, the Lakers were the clear-cut favorites to win the West, but San Antonio’s torrid start has raised doubts.
A Lakers-Spurs Western Conference Finals would be an amazing series, with the two aforementioned stars potentially vying for their last chance at a ring.
5. Knicks vs. Heat
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So many storylines would be in play if these teams meet.
First, what a star-studded affair this would be, with five of the 15 best players in the league, including four All-Star starters.
Second, the four members of the vaunted 2003 draft class are all friends, and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh colluded last summer to create the SuperTeam in Miami, leaving Carmelo Anthony as the odd man out.
This would be Anthony's chance to prove he's on the same level as LeBron and D-Wade. If he could lead the Knicks to a series victory, Carmelo would be viewed in a completely different light.
Furthermore, this would renew a great and physical rivalry from the 1990s. New York and Miami met each postseason from 1997-2000, and each series reached the max number of games.
Despite few important meetings since, there is still bad blood between the franchises.
Lastly, Knicks just beat the Heat in Miami, revealing the Heat's persisting struggles down the stretch of close games.
It's very feasible that the Heat drop to the 3-seed in the East, which would likely pit them against a 6-seed Knicks squad. That would be this year's best first-round series.
Although I can't see New York actually knocking off Miami, I would expect it to be a war going at least six games.
4. Mavericks vs. Spurs
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Although Dallas-San Antonio rivalry is relatively new, it has escalated quickly and now ranks as one of the league's best.
They have battled for Texas supremacy over the past decade, and while their regular-season records have been essentially even, San Antonio has achieved much more playoff success.
The Mavs and Spurs have met five times in the postseason in past decade, with Gregg Popovich's bunch taking three of the series.
During the last two years, the clashes have gotten progressively more physical and contentious.
These franchises know each other all too well, and their stud power forwards are two of the greatest to ever play the position.
Additionally, they have been arguably the two best teams in the league this season, if you discount the Mavs' slide while Dirk Nowitzki was injured.
They match up well with each other, and a series between Dallas and San Antonio could see either side triumph.
They could only meet in the Conference Finals, though, meaning one team would first have to defeat the Lakers.
3. Celtics vs. Heat
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The new Big Three against the old Big Three.
The league's most historically passionate fan base against the league's most historically fair-weather fans.
A squad defined by team basketball against a squad still fighting to disprove the perception that they are defined by one-on-one basketball.
Oh, and they're probably the two most talented teams in the Eastern Conference. If the Celtics and Heat meet in the East Finals, it will be an incredibly hard-fought, high-intensity series.
It would be Miami's chance to really establish their ascendancy, whereas Boston's veterans still feel like they have a lot to prove and would be loath to admit the end of an era.
You also get the sense that there would be a couple chippy incidents between the likes of KG, LeBron and Rondo.
2. Heat vs. Lakers
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We sadly haven’t been afforded the opportunity to see Kobe and LeBron square off in the Finals, and this would be the perfect year.
The debate about which of the two best players in the world you would rather have has raged for the past five years.
While LeBron has unarguably played better during the past couple of regular seasons—with two MVPs to show for it—he does not possess Kobe’s rings.
Although a Lakers-Heat matchup might come down to how effective the Los Angeles bigs can be, the spotlight would inevitably be focused on the two superduperstars (amazing that Dwyane Wade would be an afterthought).
If LA wins, Kobe remains the king, and his legacy would be even further cemented.
If Miami wins, LeBron can finally legitimately wear the crown.
1. Lakers vs. Celtics
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The quintessential sports rivalry. The two most successful and storied franchises in the NBA, teams that bitterly hate each other, Los Angeles and Boston have combined for 33 of the 64 championships in league history, often winning rings at the expense of the other.
After lying dormant for almost 20 years, the feud has resurfaced over the past few seasons, and now the competition is as fierce as ever.
The Celtics defeated the Lakers in the 2008 Finals, only to see the Purple and Gold win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
Last year's brutal seven-game series was epic. For the Lakers, it was vindicating; for the Celtics, heartbreaking.
It would be more than poetic for LA and Boston to meet yet again. The Lakers are aiming at another three-peat. Kobe is trying to surpass Magic's five rings and equal MJ's six.
The Celtics still maintain that the Lakers have not beaten them at full strength (last year Kendrick Perkins missed the last two games).
Led by aging superstars, this might be the last chance for both of these squads to win it all.
Lakers vs. Celtics...what more could we wish for?
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