NBA Playoff Bracket 2018: Final Standings, Postseason Picture and Predictions
Sixteen teams will kick into high gear as the 2017-18 NBA playoffs get underway Saturday. The brackets feature intriguing matchups in both conferences. Will we see first-round upsets, or do the favorites prevail in all the opening series?
When the Indiana Pacers traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks sent Carmelo Anthony to the same destination, after waiving his no-trade clause, many expected this team to push the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference. They split the season series with the defending champions but finished as a No. 4 seed.
The Thunder will match up against the Utah Jazz who came within a game of claiming the No. 3 seed. In a contest between a popular preseason favorite and a late bloomer, which squad comes out on top?
The Philadelphia 76ers have the league's attention with sensational rookie Ben Simmons and a charismatic All-Star in Joel Embiid leading the way. The No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz has also found his way late in the season. How will this young group fare in their opening-round series against an opponent with a title-winning head coach and a tremendous closer coming off the bench?
Finally, who's the under-the-radar team to watch in the first round? Which club isn't getting enough attention as a sleeper with a pathway to the conference finals?
Let's take a look at the final standings for the 2017-18 season and predictions for first-round matchups.
Final 2017-18 NBA Standings
Eastern Conference Standings
1. Toronto Raptors (59-23)
2. Boston Celtics (55-27)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (52-30)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)
5. Indiana Pacers (48-34)
6. Miami Heat (44-38)
7. Milwaukee Bucks (44-38)
8. Washington Wizards (43-39)
9. Detroit Pistons (39-43)
10. Charlotte Hornets (36-46)
11. New York Knicks (29-53)
12. Brooklyn Nets (28-54)
13. Chicago Bulls (27-55)
14. Orlando Magic (25-57)
15. Atlanta Hawks (24-58)
Western Conference Standings
1. Houston Rockets (65-17)
2. Golden State Warriors (58-24)
3. Portland Trail Blazers (49-33)
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34)
5. Utah Jazz (48-34)
6. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34)
7. San Antonio Spurs (47-35)
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)
9. Denver Nuggets (46-36)
10. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
11. Los Angeles Lakers (35-47)
12. Sacramento Kings (27-55)
13. Dallas Mavericks (24-58)
14. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60)
15. Phoenix Suns (21-61)
1st-Round Playoff Predictions
East Matchups
No. 1 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 8 Washington Wizards: Raptors in five games
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks: Bucks in six games
No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Miami Heat: Heat in seven games
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers: Cavaliers in five games
West Matchups
No. 1 Houston Rockets vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves: Rockets in five games
No. 2 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs: Warriors in six games
No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans: Blazers in five games
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz: Thunder in seven games
Most Intriguing Series: No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
In the first round, all eyes should shift toward the 4-5 matchup between the Thunder and Jazz.
On one side, Russell Westbrook, George and Anthony band together for their first playoff run as a unit. Outsiders placed high expectations on the trio coming into the 2017-18 campaign.
There's also speculation on how the Thunder's postseason results will affect George's offseason player-option decision. Most assume a deep push would suffice in keeping him alongside Westbrook. Anthony also has an early-termination clause in his deal.
Oklahoma City faces a scrappy Utah team that's overachieved considering the blow to the organization's future when Gordon Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics during the previous offseason. Typically, losing a star player prompts a rebuilding period, but the Jazz quickly landed on their feet and finished with only three more losses than last year.
Donovan Mitchell, Utah's leading scorer, who averaged 20.5 points per game as a rookie, accomplished something that hasn't been done since Anthony's first season in Denver:
It's a great start for the Louisville product. However, Oklahoma City's experience should tip the advantage in its favor.
The Jazz's balanced squad won't fall easily. Head coach Quin Snyder's group ranks No. 2 in points allowed, but the Thunder can also lock down opponents. They rank 10th in points surrendered despite losing their defensive specialist in Andre Roberson halfway through the season due to a ruptured patellar tendon.
At times, both offenses will struggle to score points. Expect the Jazz to bring the best out of the Thunder's experienced trio. In the end, Westbrook will lead his team to victory in some tight games.
Upset Pick: No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Miami Heat
There's no room left on the Sixers' bandwagon. Most people trust the process and for good reason. It's a team riding a 16-game win streak into the postseason.
Philadelphia deserves credit for a campaign that exceeded outside expectations. Simmons should walk away with the Rookie of the Year Award. He's averaging 15.2 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per outing in 81 appearances during his first year playing with the team. The 21-year-old's contributions alongside Joel Embiid have propelled the Sixers back into the national spotlight.
However, Philadelphia only beat four teams with a .500 record or better during its 16-game win streak. There's no fault to the Sixers for beating who's on the schedule. Though, it's fair to place the team's late roll in context.
Furthermore, Embiid isn't expected to play Game 1 of the series, per The Athletic's Derek Bodner:
The Sixers have quality role players around Simmons. Fultz logged a triple-double in the season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks, but it's a significantly less dangerous team against a familiar opponent in Miami.
There's justifiable hype around Simmons and the Sixers, but don't overlook the Heat, who play with a deep rotation. Eight active players on their roster average 10 or more points per game, and Dwyane Wade still has gas left in the tank.
Team to Watch: No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks
When browsing the Bucks roster, it looks like a team that should've finished with a higher seed in the Eastern Conference. Nonetheless, injuries limited Milwaukee's depth during the season, and the front office gave former head coach Jason Kidd the boot in January, which forced some adjustments on the fly.
A matchup against the shorthanded Celtics could revive some excitement in an underachieving Bucks team. Head coach Brad Stevens will have his players ready to compete without Hayward, Irving and Marcus Smart. However, the cumulative talent won't match up against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton.
Antetokounmpo earns his respect as a versatile big with two All-Star appearances, but Bledsoe and Middleton fly under the radar as impact players in Milwaukee. Both shoot 46 percent or better from the field with a decent stroke behind the three-point line. They also average four or more assists per game as willing ball distributors and apply themselves on the defensive end.
Stevens' coaching will keep this series entertaining, but the Bucks will win the seven-game set due to the talent on the floor. It's Antetokounmpo's chance to add postseason success to his resume, and Milwaukee's opportunity to show its true potential.
Stats provided by NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
