All rights reserved. Weitzman: Warriors in 6. This starts with Smart, who will be matched up with both Harden and Maxey at times, forcing the star guards into contested jumpers and keeping them out of the paint. The BPI is the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season. Man, oh man, did the Clippers get unlucky with this one. Bucher: Bucks in 4. Bucher: Cavs in 6. Is Denver ready to break through - can Nikola Jokic dominate, can Jamal Murray be a star, can Michael Porter Jr deliver an overwhelmingly offensive barrage for one or two games? At DraftKings, they've slipped to the second betting choice behind the Clippers at +550. Statistical models by Nate Silver, Jay Boice, Neil Paine, Ryan Best and Holly Fuong. Their second round series will begin Monday. Do the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State Warriors move on in LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry Round 5? If Joki can play even average defense in this series, Denver stands a great chance to win. 1 seed Denver Nuggets and No. The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, No. The Sixers have gone an impressive 13-5 without Embiid this season, including a Game 4 closeout win over the Brooklyn Nets in Round 1and now a Game 1 victory in Round 2 over Boston. While Tatum and Murray won't see a lot of time matched up on each other, both could easily be the most important players in this series. 1 Milwaukee Bucks. Weitzman: Bucks in 4. The second round is set in the 2023 NBA playoffs. 6 Brooklyn Nets, No. This series will start on Saturday, April 15. (1) MILWAUKEE BUCKS vs. (8) MIAMI HEAT Rohlin: Bucks in 5. I could come to regret this pick, but I'm going with Philly in this series thanks mainly to the presence of Joel Embiid. As long as Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen can stay out of foul trouble, I would expect them to keep Julius Randle subdued. Denvers offense is just too explosive. Here are the first-round matchups in each conference: Eastern Conference (1) Heat vs. (8) Hawks (2) Celtics vs. (7) Nets (3) Bucks vs. (6) Bulls (4) 76ers vs. (5) Elo ratings which power the pure Elo forecast are a measure of team strength based on head-to-head results, margin of victory and quality of opponent. The Bucks finished with the best record in the NBA this season (58-24) and are favored to win the championship. EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND PREDICTIONS. Im excited for Donovan Mitchell vs. Jalen Brunson. The 2022-23 NBA season tips off Tuesday, October 18. Weitzman: Grizzlies in 7. The other is the way Kawhi Leonard is playing right now, which is as well as he has in years. 5 Los Angeles Clippers, No. The mark of Tom Thibodeau teams is that they overachieve in the regular season, leaving little room to elevate their games in the playoffs. Rohlin: Lakers in 6. The interesting question for the Knicks: Would Randle returning from his ankle injury help or hurt them? Ward-Henninger's pick:Celtics in 5. The No. 7 and 8 seed are in the conference finals.You might be tempted to call these developments a fluke. The Nuggets rank as the better team, according to BPI, and they also have home-court advantage. His offense will be needed, especially if Jayson Tatum (41.8 percent overall, 32.6 percent from deep against New York in the regular season) continues to struggle vs. the Knicks. I think they lose the math game against Denver, which is loaded with 3-point shooters and a fully-back Jamal Murray. Elsewhere in the West, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Suns are trying to topple the top-seeded Nuggets and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The 76ers' odds to win will obviously hinge on the health of Embiid (knee). This series will go the distance, with James and company eventually coming out on top. 8-seeded Miami Heat upsetting the No. The Lakers have been so dominant on their home floor this postseason that, if they can manage to steal a single road game, they'll be in good shape to take care of business against the Warriors, who had an 11-30 road record this season. All rights reserved. Reiter's pick:Warriors in 6. Will Austin Reaves take over in the fourth quarter like he did in Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies? Yes, star power reigns supreme here, but a lot of these games may be decided by some of the role players. I think they can catch fire from deep one night. With 2022 in the books and 2023 underway, here are 13 NBA predictions about what will happen in the new year. One of the model's top 2023 NBA futures picks: The Denver Nuggets are a great value at 9-1 to win the NBA Finals. Joki, his first. With Embiid likely to miss time, more of the offensive burden falls on the guard combo of Harden and Tyrese Maxey. And if KD is, can he also carry a heavy offensive load? With three rounds to go and a lot of questions left to be answered in what's become a wide-open race to the 2023 title, here's how the rest of the NBA playoffs should play out. In the end, this pick comes down to two things: not wanting to bet against Steph Curry when he's playing at this level and the Warriors having home-court advantage. Design and development by Ryan Best and Jay Boice. Check back throughout the playoffs for updates! Mitchell Robinson's offensive rebounding could be a huge swing factor in a tight matchup. Butler on Heat loss: Must be 'exact opposite' Fri. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers still have a chance. June 18, 2023. off-court issues, the Grizz have been a machine all season. 3 defense and No. So, being able to get them at plus-money makes them value to win this series. The Knicks end their season with a surprising run to the East finals while the Celtics are back in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season. In other words, this might feel like less of a postseason than it does a thrill ride. I dont see the Nets having much of an answer for him. Is Devin Booker going to continue his playoff excellence? This has the makings of a really entertaining series, but I'm favoring the Suns. Herbert's pick:Celtics in 6. Hes playing the best basketball of his life. The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers in five games with Julius Randle still hobbled by a sprained ankle. They also had the best defense in the Western Conference despite playing at one of the leagues fastest paces. Weitzman: 76ers in 5. (Note: All picks were made before the series started.). The Celtics and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been knocking at the door, and the 76ers are desperate to get out of the second round with Joel Embiid. More NBA:Our RAPTOR player ratingsBuild your own teamPreseason player projections, How this works: These forecasts are based on 50,000 simulations of the rest of the season. Tom Thibodeau will get far more aggressive. 1 seed to face the no. To access crisis counseling and referral services, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MI, NJ, PA, IL, TN, VA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). The Kings are back in the playoffs for the first time in 16 years and get a tough matchup against the postseason-experienced Warriors. As a result, they have the advantage. No. Get in the game, create a league, and start fresh with a 0-0 record. The site gives Miami a 15% chance to win the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston. Final tally: Warriors 12, Lakers 2. Even without the bouncy big fella, though, New Orleans should have enough to handle the ahead-of-schedule squad from Oklahoma City. 10 Chicago Bulls, No. Milwaukee is just too big, too tough, too talented and too relentless. Reiter's pick: Knicks in 6. This team has been waiting for this moment all season. The seventh-seeded Lakers bring momentum and a season-high confidence into another California-based series against Golden State. Joel Embiid went for 52 points in the Sixers' only win over Boston during the regular season, and I'm betting that he won't be able to do that in four games this series on a bum leg. The first round in the Western Conference Playoffs will see the Sacramento Kings taking on the Golden State Warriors. There are six total MVPs between LeBron James and Nikola Joki here, superstars with very different levels of playoff success. For the first time in NBA history, a No. Raiders look-ahead to 2023. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. If Steve Kerr puts the ball in Stephen Curry's hands for enough pick and rolls, Anthony Davis is going to have to spend a good chunk of this series defending outside the paint. Kaskey-Blomain's pick: Warriors in 7. With all Harden opened Game 1 in grand fashion scoring 45 points, which could keep the Sixers alive long enough for a potential return of Embiid. I had the Bucks as the favorite to win the championship, but I've long had the Bucks, Celtics and 76ers as the three best teams in the NBA overall. I think this series is going to be a blast, and Im not sure the Cavs have someone to slot onto Brunson. The playoff rounds begin on Sat. The Ringer: Celtics have an 85% chance to win series vs. Heat. But the Suns are the betting favorites. But it looks like the Clippers are going to have to take their shot at the Suns without George. 26, 2023 9:30 p.m. Weitzman: Cavs in 7. Anyone following it has seen huge returns. In a battle of offensive powerhouses, Im not about to bet against the team that has lost a TOTAL of five games in its last six first-round series. Botkin's pick:Knicks in 6. The Lakers, meanwhile, were my preseason pick to make the Western Conference Finals and I picked them to come out of the West in several late-season futures predictions, and with the way their team has come together since getting healthy they are still my favorite to represent the West in the Finals. In the lone Sixers win, Embiid went for 52 of the team's 103 total points and Philly still only won by two. He'll be desperate to prove that his off shooting was a fluke, especially with a title and Finals MVP trophy within reach. Odds. The winner could very well win the title. Crazy stakes for both teams. The Wolves, meanwhile, just lost Jaden McDaniels to a fractured hand after he punched a wall, and who knows how they'll handle Rudy Gobert, who punched teammate Kyle Anderson earlier in that same game. I think both teams have the combination of strong interior play (Lakers), strong defense (both teams), dynamic offensive playmakers (both teams) and depth that would make them extremely challenging to any of the remaining teams in the Western Conference and strong matchups against the eventual East representative. Botkin's pick: Celtics in 5. The Grizzlies and Lakers are two of the three highest-ranked teams in the West, according to BPI, and rank fourth and sixth overall among remaining teams. Call him "Playoffs Jimmy" if you like. shares Adam Silver marijuana meeting story, NBA playoff predictions: Second-round expert picks, NBA sends memo to teams regarding Lillard's request, Bronny James out of hospital after cardiac arrest, Celtics' Brown sets record with $304M contract. Bucher: Celtics in 4. If the majority of these Lakers-Warriors games didn't begin at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, this series may be the most watched second-round matchup ever. The shiny sixth-seed vs the resurgent seven-seed. Prediction: Celtics in 6. Interesting side note, the top three teams according to BPI currently all come from the Atlantic Division. But mostly, this prediction is a bet that Denver's defense won't be able to stop Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul in 4 out of 6 games. Anyone following it has seen huge returns. By Mark Schofield, James Dator, Joseph Acosta, and Ricky O'Donnell Jun 1, 2023, 10:58am EDT. Follow her on Twitter @melissarohlin. Kendra Andrews: 76ers in 5 Jerry Bembry: 76ers in 5 Jamal Collier: 76ers in 5 Nick Game 1 provides just such an opportunity. Giannis returned with two big statistical games and the Bucks held double-digit leads in the fourth quarters of Games 4 and 5, but Jimmy Butler exploded for 98 total points in those two games, including 37 across the two fourth quarters and Game 5 overtime to lead the Heat to the improbable victory. I know the Warriors cant win on the road, and I know Sacramentos Golden 1 Center is going to be LOUD. The Eastern and Western Conference Play-In Tournaments will begin on Tuesday, April 11, followed by the 2023 NBA Playoffs beginning on Saturday, April 15. The Knicks were clearly the more physical team, controlling the paint and pushing the Cavaliers out of their comfort zone. This page will also serve as TheLines hub for NBA playoff game lines during the spring months. The model entered the conference semifinals of the 2023 NBA playoffs a stunning 71-38 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Prediction: Celtics in 6. Toronto is a better balanced team than Chicago, but our crystal ball likes the Bulls' offensive firepower, particularly in a revenge game for DeMar DeRozan. 15th April and approximately end on Thurs. Durant has averaged 43.8 MPG, Booker 43.2 MPG and Paul 38.6 MPG thus far. I like Denver's offensive system much more than Phoenix's at the moment, but I am ever so slightly leaning toward the Suns finding a more reliable two-way formula as the series goes on. A teams full-strength rating assumes all of its key players are in the lineup. But they also have zero answer for Embiid. Following a busy trade deadline and buyout market, here's how the 2023 NBA playoff brackets predict to shake out. UFC 291 expert picks and best bets: Who will be the UFC's next BMF? Boston would be the favorites here even with a healthy Embiid. Prediction: Hawks vs. Raptors. NBA Finals 2023 predictions featuring Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets. The shocking first-round exit of the Milwaukee Bucks at the hands of the Miami Heat means either the eighth-seeded boys from South Beach or the fifth-seeded New York Knicks will reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but which one? The best team in the East NBA thus far, the return of Williams and a cushy schedule will lead Boston to the No. No. I feel a bit queasy having watched Boston's defense collapse against Trae Young, but James Harden, in his current state, is no Trae Young. Let's predict the five-game slate, including multiple postseason rematches. While Julius Randle was the Knicks' only All-Star this season, no player is more important to the team's success than Brunson. Follow him on Twitter @RicBucher. 6 Golden State Warriors, No. With all due respect to the Heat, this team nearly missed the postseason altogether. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. The fifth-seeded Knicks advancing to the second round isn't surprising, but their opponent, the eighth-seeded Miami Heat, pulled off a huge upset over top-seeded Milwaukee. Kawhi Leonard will tussle with Kevin Durant in the first round. While the Knicks might find some success matchup-hunting, it's difficult to imagine them owning the boards the way they did against Cleveland. Winner: Hawks. Key Matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Jaylen Brown. If Ivica Zubac can limit Ayton, and Terance Mann and Norm Powell can make Booker earn his points and keep him off the free-throw line, the Clippers have a chance to pull the upset, even if KD goes off. Action Network Staff September 27, 2022 1:23 AM Theyarent just Morant acrobatics and Desmond Bane 3s and Dillon Brooks sneers. Who will reach the NBA Finals? They have depth. The NBA playoffs are down to eight teams, each with a realistic path to the Finals. The Lakers took down the defending champion Golden State Warriors behind elite play from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while the Heat rode the playoff heroics of Jimmy Butler against the New York Knicks. All Rights Reserved. The Hawks, despite a messy year, are still pretty talented. If KD isnt guarding Kawhi, who is? NBA Playoffs odds in the form of odds to make the postseason for every team will soon be made available. It's time to buckle up and get ready for the playoffs with a look at the official bracket, the latest championship odds from FanDuel Sportsbook and our play-in tournament predictions. One of these teams will make a surprising pivot, pivot, pivot into the Eastern Conference Finals. With a 34-7 record at home this season, Denver doesn't even need to win on the road to take this series. Game 7: Monday May 29, 8:30 p.m. Tons of shot creation and big, rangy defenders. Each team has their own unique story along the way, and each is looking to cap it with a perfect ending. (4) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs. (5) NEW YORK KNICKS. Marc Finn and Andres Waters contributed research. NBA. But the Warriors are still, well, the Warriors. 7 and No. Both are elite rebounders and scoring options who can take over on any given night. All odds are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook and will be updated at the end of each night's games. The first round of the playoffs had one of the biggest upsets in NBA history, with the No. Green will likely split time between James and Anthony Davis in this series, forcing both into jumpers as much as possible. Wimbish's pick:Warriors in 6. Our NBA reporters Melissa Rohlin, Ric Bucher and Yaron Weitzman are here to deliver their picks for the first round of the playoffs. The Clippers need to go 1-1 and the Warriors must win out to avoid the play-in round. He previously wrote for Bleacher Report, ESPN The Magazine and The Washington Post and has written two books, "Rebound," on NBA forward Brian Grants battle with young onset Parkinsons, and "Yao: A Life In Two Worlds." It has more lineup flexibility, more scheme versatility and more playmaking options. Our betting experts break down how to approach Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Nuggets and Heat on Monday night. Weitzman: Suns in 7. With the Milwaukee Bucks out of the picture, Boston advances all the way to the championship and finally wins its first title in the Tatum-Brown era. Expect the Knicks to outlast Miami and move on. He outdueled Donovan Mitchell over the last three games of the opening round (22.0 points on 55.8 percent shooting) and needs to continue that hot play against Miami. Jimmy Butler, Jimmy Butler, Jimmy Butler. Unsurprisingly, the Warriors are among the favorites to repeat next season after a stellar regular season and playoff run. Will Kevon Looney keep grabbing every single rebound like he did against the Sacramento Kings? Denver's chemistry, depth and talent win out here. 8 seed No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. Kaskey-Blomain's pick:76ers in 7. What Jimmy Butler did in the first round was remarkable, but the Heat needed a Giannis injury, some unsustainable shooting, and two massive fourth-quarter collapses to win that series. Jan 5, 2023. 1 offense in the NBA after the trade deadline, but it isn't a title contender just yet with so many young, inexperienced pieces. I picked Suns in six in the ESPN writers' prediction, but that's because the Nuggets have home-court advantage so it made sense to either pick Nuggets in seven or Suns in six (closing out the series on their home courts). Neither team was all that impressive in the regular season, but both seemed to have figured things out to an extent in recent weeks. The battle of two of the NBA's best bigs will be on full display here, as both can control a game on opposite ends of the floor. I'm going back on that. There's the obvious LeBron James vs. Steph Curry narrative, but also a distinct style showdown featuring the Lakers' interior approach against the Warriors' 3-point attack. Did Miami just pull off the biggest upset in NBA playoff history? There's nothing meaningful to take from the regular-season series, and the only thing I feel comfortable predicting here is that tons of points will be scored. Not having home-court advantage for a team that was 11-30 on the road is a concern, but they did win four of their last five. I'll take Steph and his more impressive band of teammates. Cleveland vs. Houston, 9 p.m. (ESPN), NBA playoffs 2023: Experts' picks for the play-in and every first-round series, NBA sends memo addressing Lillard trade request, Bronny playing piano, dining out after release, T. Antetokounmpo returns to Bucks with new deal, Pels' Alvarado to miss World Cup for Puerto Rico, $304M promise: Brown vows to invest in Boston, Zion, family sued by tech company over loan, Steph Curry makes it through an episode of 'Hot Ones', How the new CBA rule could bring parity to the NBA. No. The Sixers are soft. After finishing first in net rating during the regular season (plus-6.7), the Celtics look destined for a return to the East finals and beyond. Sixteen teams still have a chance -- some, uh, smaller than others -- to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June. 2022-23 NBA Finals odds over time. 9:31 am ET, Can NBA veto Lillard-Heat trade? With Julius Randle battling more ankle issues, Barrett will need to step up his own scoring and playmaking. Lakers vs. Warriors -- the last series to get started -- has the biggest names with Stephen Curry leading the defending champions to the second round to face LeBron James, Anthony Davis and L.A.
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