NBA Playoffs: Predicting the Western Conference First Round

No. 5 Dallas Mavericks OVER No. 4 LA Clippers in Five Games (+600)

I’m all in on the Dallas Mavericks. I genuinely believe they can represent the West in the NBA Finals. They are playing elite basketball, winning 14 of their last 15 games with Luka Doncic on the floor. The LA Clippers are hard to read, but with Kawhi Leonard hurt and James Harden on the floor, I don’t think they have enough to combat how well the Mavs are playing. I expect these two teams to split in LA, Dallas to take both of its home games, and then ride the momentum into Game 5 to send them to their new stadium early.

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder OVER No. 8 Seed in Five Games

After having a tough draw at the end of the season with some untimely injuries, the Oklahoma City Thunder received some help to claim the No. 1 seed. What an achievement for this young group. However, given the depth of the Western Conference, they’ll have their work cut out this postseason run, but I don’t expect them to run into any trouble in the first round. Whether the Sacramento Kings or the New Orleans Pelicans claim the No. 8 seed, neither team has enough to take more than a single game from the Thunder.

No. 2 Denver Nuggets OVER No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers in Five Games (+230)

Let's keep this one short: everyone knows the Denver Nuggets have the Los Angeles Lakers' number. The Nuggets swept the Lakers in last season’s Western Conference Finals and then swept the regular-season series this year. The Lakers are playing good basketball right now, which I think will be enough to win either Game 3 or 4 in LA, but nothing more.

No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves OVER No. 6 Phoenix Suns in Seven Games (+490)

Man, this will be a heck of a series. I think this series will be determined by momentum, as the Minnesota Timberwolves ride confidence while the Phoenix Suns crumble if things don’t go their way. I can see the Wolves winning both games on their home floor, Phoenix responding in the desert, followed by a split of Games 5 & 6, leading to a Game 7 in Minnesota. I trust the collective body of work of the Wolves more this season. Regardless of the outcome, this will be fun.

No. 5 Dallas Mavericks OVER No. 4 LA Clippers in Five Games (+600)

I’m all in on the Dallas Mavericks. I genuinely believe they can represent the West in the NBA Finals. They are playing elite basketball, winning 14 of their last 15 games with Luka Doncic on the floor. The LA Clippers are hard to read, but with Kawhi Leonard hurt and James Harden on the floor, I don’t think they have enough to combat how well the Mavs are playing. I expect these two teams to split in LA, Dallas to take both of its home games, and then ride the momentum into Game 5 to send them to their new stadium early.