Predicting The 2020 NBA Playoff If The Season Resumes

Ever since last summer, the 2019-20 NBA season has been hyped up to be one of the greatest of all time. With Warriors “core four” breaking up and superstars like Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and Paul George getting traded to form superstar duos with other star talent across the league. Finally it seemed like the NBA had parity and we had no clue who would be crowned the 2020 NBA champions. So once Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz became the first player to test positive for the corona-virus on March 11th, the NBA had to bite the bullet and put an indefinite pause on its season and several reports have suggested that this highly-anticipated campaign never resumes. If and when the NBA does find a way to wrap up this season it seems likely the teams currently in the postseason picture will be the sixteen teams that will enter the tournament. Due to this, I will predict round-by-round with the NBA's usual best of seven format to crown the NBA’s next champion.

Round 1: Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals

1. Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) Vs 8. Orlando Magic (30-35):

Although the Magic are technically a playoff team, they stand no chance against the team with the best record in the association. The Bucks and Magic met teams four times during the regular season and Milwaukee annihilated Orlando winning each matchup by an average of 17 points. Even if the forced layoff causes a bit of rust for Milwaukee, I don't see a way the Magic can even win a game in this series, let alone compete.

Prediction: Bucks win series 4-0

2. Toronto Raptors (46-18) Vs 7. Brooklyn Nets (30-34):

Even if the Nets have at least one of their stars in Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, I do not think it will matter at all. The defending champion Raptors are the deeper, most experienced, and all-around better team. The Raptors' depth will get them to the second round.

Prediction: Raptors win series 4-1

3. Boston Celtics (43-21) Vs 6. Philadelphia 76ers (39-26):

The 76ers have been one of the most frustrating and dysfunctional teams in the league this season while the Celtics, unlike last season, have been completely drama-free. Right before the pause, Jayson Tatum was turning into a star right before our very eyes and if he can keep that up the Celtics will beat one of their biggest rivals and put the Sixers into an off-season where there could be major changes on and off the floor.

Prediction: Celtics win series 4-3

4. Miami Heat (41-24) Vs 5. Indiana Pacers (39-26):

The Heat have been one the more surprising teams this season being led by Jimmy Butler and a group of youngsters. This pause could be great for a player like Jimmy Butler who plays his heart out every night has been carrying the Heat's offense for most of the season. While this pause is terrible for the Pacers who have lost even more game reps for their star Victor Oladipo who just returned in late January from a devastating knee injury that he suffered the middle of last season. The Heat are the deeper team and they will take care of the Pacers quickly.

Prediction: Heat win series 4-1

Round 1: Western Conference Quarter-Finals

1. Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) Vs 8. Memphis Grizzlies (32-33):

LeBron James and Anthony Davis make their returns to the postseason after both missing out on the tournament in 2019. They lead the Lakers up against a young Grizzlies squad led by the likely rookie of the year in Ja Morant. The Grizzlies at the start of the season were not expected to be here and major props to them for defying the odds and critics but they will be running into a refreshed and rested veteran Lakers team who will make quick work of the Grizzlies.

Prediction: Lakers win series 4-0

2. Los Angeles Clippers (44-20) Vs 7. Dallas Mavericks (40-27):

This would be a very intriguing series to watch as we get to see the sophomore sensation in Luka Doncic make his playoff debut going up against the best defensive team in the league in the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will both take their turns guarding Doncic which will wear the young star out, and although the Mavs still have Kristaps Porzingis they do not have enough playmakers to keep up with the Clippers. Prediction: Clippers win series 4-2

3. Denver Nuggets (43-22) Vs 6. Houston Rockets (40-24):

Before the pause, I likely would have gone with the Nuggets in this series due to the Rockets' fast pace wearing out their two superstars in Russell Westbrook and James Harden. As well, with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic starting to get into great shape. This pause works out great for the Rockets as it gives Westbrook and Harden rest, and with no facilities open right now I'm not confident in Jokic getting into playoff basketball shape. Prediction: Rockets win series 4-3

4. Utah Jazz (41-23) Vs 5. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24):

Like the Nuggets before the suspension I would have likely taken the Jazz due to them having more raw talent, but due to the reports of “messy” team chemistry with their COVID-19 situation that ultimately caused the season to be put on hold. I will go with the Thunder as this rest could help their aging star Chris Paul get ready for a postseason run.

Prediction: Thunder win series 4-2

Round 2: Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

1. Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) Vs 4. Miami Heat (41-24):

If this matchup were to happen the Heat would feel very confident going in as they have given the Bucks a ton of trouble this season and even beat them twice. Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled in their last matchup (March 2nd, Heat won 105-89) where he only had 15 points on bad efficiency. The Heat have the personnel to bother the reigning MVP with pesky defenders like Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder, and Andre Iguodala who will get in his grill. But even with all that being said the Bucks have been the best team in the east all season long and when Antetokounmpo is being doubled he will kick the ball out to his shooters who will knock down those clutch shots. Prediction: Bucks win series 4-3

2. Toronto Raptors (46-18) Vs 3. Boston Celtics (43-21):

The matchup that has been in the making for years and this would be a very entertaining series to watch. The Raptors and Celtics are very evenly matched and this series would go the distance. This where the Raptors would finally miss the clutch gene of Kawhi Leonard.

In a game seven, the Celtics will have three reliable scorers in Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Jaylen Brown to go while the Raptors would have only one reliable option in Pascal Siakam. The Celtics take down the defending champs and move on to the conference finals. Prediction: Celtics win series 4-3

Round 2: Western Conference Semi-Finals

1. Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) Vs 5. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24):

The Lakers won all three of the regular season matchups (even one without Lebron and AD). Although the Thunder can create problems with their depth at guard, the Lakers have the two best players in the series and will move onto the conference finals and will end the OKC’s magical and resilient season.

Prediction: Lakers win series 4-1

2. Clippers (44-20) Vs 6. Rockets (40-24):

Russell Westbrook and James Harden are so talented that its hard to imagine them not even being the best duo in a series. Even though they don't have the defensive prowess as Kawhi and PG they are the better offensive duo for sure and they will for sure find a way at times to exploit the Clippers tremendous defense.

But at the end of the day, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are the calmer and more reliable duo in a seven-game playoff series while the Clippers bench is more equipped to exploit their advantages in scoring balance, depth, and size.

Prediction: Clippers win series 4-1

Eastern Conference Finals: 1. Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) Vs 3. Boston Celtics (43-21)

This would be a terrific Eastern Conference Finals matchup where two of the most talented teams in the league take each other on. Despite the Bucks having ten more wins (as of now) then the Celtics this would be a very competitive series as the Celtics shooting and talent would scare the Bucks. Even with the C’s offense keeping this close, their downfall will be the size advantage they possess. This would cause tons of issues for Boston as the Celtics do not have any reliable or capable of finding ways to stop the likely back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis has been on a mission all season long after his collapse against the Raptors last season and for the first since the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era, the Milwaukee Bucks will play for the NBA Championship.

Prediction: Bucks win series 4-3

Western Conference Finals: 1. Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) Vs 2. Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)

The matchup every NBA fan predicted at the start of the season and it's the matchup everybody wants to see. If the NBA returns the likely scenario is that it will be in one city with no fans in the arena which does sting a bit as it would have been awesome to see potentially seven highly competitive matchups taking place in front of the basketball crazy fans in Los Angeles. Everyone who watches basketball knows that the Clippers are overall the better team but something tells me in a game seven this would somewhat turn into a game of two on two with each team's superstar duo trying to out duel the other.

Despite the Clippers being the better team from top to bottom, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the better duo and they will find a way to overcome their inner-city rivals and the Lakers will move onto the NBA finals for the first time since 2010.

Prediction: Lakers win series 4-3 NBA Finals: 1. Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) Vs 1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Bucks and Lakers have been the best teams in the league all season and it feels like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been on a collision course all season long to meet on the game’s biggest stage. The Bucks have the deeper team and are the better perimeter shooting team. They are solid everywhere at every position and their role players do their job tremendously. Unfortunately, Giannis Antetkounmpo will likely be matched up with James the whole series and he does not have another “superstar” on his squad. This raises another question. Who on the Bucks will contain Anthony Davis? The answer is nobody. Anthony Davis will prove to be too much for the Bucks to answer and Giannis cannot guard two guys at once. The Lakers will cap off this weird and unordinary season with their seventeenth NBA title in franchise history which they will dedicate to the late Kobe Bean Bryant.

Prediction: Lakers win series 4-3