NBA Playoff Bracket 2017: Final Standings, Postseason Picture and Predictions

Before the 2016-17 regular season started, most predicted an NBA Finals rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Soon we'll find out if the two superteams meet for part three of their postseason saga. 

On the final day of the season, the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls clinched the last two seeds in the Eastern Conference. Last Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder helped the Portland Trail Blazers clinch the No. 8 seed with a victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Now we can focus on the postseason matchups. Should we place any of the higher seeds on upset alert in the first round? What's the most intriguing playoff series? Which team may gain steam from an opening-round victory?

Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Seed	Team	W	L	Pct.
1	Boston Celtics	53	29	.646
2	Cleveland Cavaliers	51	31	.622
3	Toronto Raptors	51	31	.622
4	Washington Wizards	49	33	.598
5	Atlanta Hawks	43	39	.524
6	Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512
7	Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512
8	Chicago Bulls	41	41	.500
-	Miami Heat	41	41	.500
-	Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451
-	Charlotte Hornets	36	46	.439
-	New York Knicks	31	51	.378
-	Orlando Magic	29	53	.354
-	Philadelphia 76ers	28	54	.341
-	Brooklyn Nets	20	62	.244
Seed	Team	W	L	Pct.
1	Golden State Warriors	65	17	.817
2	San Antonio Spurs	61	21	.744
3	Houston Rockets	55	27	.671
4	Los Angeles Clippers	51	31	.622
5	Utah Jazz	51	31	.622
6	Oklahoma City Thunder	47	35	.573
7	Memphis Grizzlies	43	39	.524
8	Portland Trail Blazers	41	41	.500
-	Denver Nuggets	40	42	.488
-	New Orleans Pelicans	34	48	.415
-	Dallas Mavericks	33	49	.402
-	Sacramento Kings	32	50	.390
-	Minnesota Timberwolves	31	51	.378
-	Los Angeles Lakers	26	56	.317
-	Phoenix Suns	24	58	.293

Matchup	Prediction
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls	Celtics in 4
No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers	Cavaliers in 4
No. 3 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks	Raptors in 5
No. 4 Washington Wizards vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks	Wizards in 6
Western Conference
No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers	Warriors in 4
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies	Spurs in 4
No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder	Rockets in 5
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz	Clippers in 7

Most Intriguing Series

No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder

Bill Baptist/Getty Images

Triple-doubles, the thickest beard in the game and a fiery Russell Westbrook ready to prove he can push this team without Kevin Durant by his side. What more can you ask for? The Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series packages multiple storylines and must-watch matchups.

Rockets guard Patrick Beverley proclaimed himself as the best defensive guard in the game during the regular season, per ESPN's Calvin Watkins. During the series, he'll focus on pestering Westbrook. If he's successful in slowing down the triple-double king, Houston could have the best complementary backcourt in the West—two guards who excel on opposite ends of the court.

James Harden's three-year tenure with the Thunder seems like an afterthought storyline. Instead, many view him as the biggest challenger to Westbrook's MVP-caliber season. He racked up 22 triple-doubles, but the accomplishment pails in comparison to Westbrook's single-season record with 42. Thunder guard Andre Roberson will likely serve as the primary defender on Harden. 

From a fan perspective, you'd like to see this series extend for seven games, but the Rockets, under head coach Mike D'Antoni, will thrash the Thunder with three-point shooting and win in five outings. Houston led the league in three-pointers made with 14.4 during the regular season.

Upset Alert

No. 5 Utah Jazz over No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers

Harry How/Getty Images

When looking for upsets, it's always a good idea to focus on the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup. For the most part, the higher seeds should dispose of the lower seeds within four or five games.

The Los Angeles Clippers could be on the verge of breaking up their core if the team underwhelms in another postseason appearance. We can talk about injury excuses or the fact this team blew a 3-1 series lead over the Rockets during the 2014-15 postseason.

The Clippers have enough talent to compete with the top teams in the West during the playoffs, and they haven't answered the bell. While there is immense pressure on this group to deliver, the Utah Jazz boast the stingiest scoring defense in the league. Quin Snyder's group only allows 96.8 points per game.

This series should outlast the rest. Expect a seven-game, seesaw battle. The Jazz will likely fall on the road to a more experienced playoff team. However, if you're picking an upset, this would be the matchup.

Team to Watch

No. 3 Toronto Raptors

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

The Toronto Raptors jumped from first-round dropouts to Eastern Conference Finals contenders in the previous year. After losing a six-game series to the Cavaliers, the front office added a defensive component in P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline and a third cog to the team's nucleus in forward Serge Ibaka. 

Despite the Boston Celtics' successful season finishing as the No. 1 seed, the Raptors' scoring backcourt meshed with DeMarre Carroll and Tucker on the defensive end pose the toughest challenge to the Cavaliers. On the other hand, Toronto draws the toughest first-round matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks among contenders in the East.

The Bucks went 14-4 through March, which helped them clinch the No. 6 seed. The Raptors will need five or six games to win a tough opening series. Thereafter, they'll likely see the Cavaliers in an intriguing semifinals matchup.

Stats provided by NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.