NBA Playoff predictions, Warriors fall in semis

PATRICK HANSEN

It has been two weeks and here we are, finally through with the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Round one started out with two milestones with the Brooklyn Nets notching their first playoff win since game four of round one in the 2015 playoffs, and the Orlando Magic marking their first playoff win since the first round of the 2012 playoffs.

Both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors snapped back into their regular selves as they went on a four-game win streak to win their series.

The Portland Trailblazers were able to send Russell Westbrook, Paul George and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder storming back home. The Blazers took the Thunder down twice at home before traveling south where they pulled off one win in Oklahoma City.

Coming back to Portland, the Blazers knew they needed just one win to advance, but the Thunder refused to go down without a fight as they brought game five down to the wire.

Damian Lillard proved to be lethal in game five, scoring a playoff-high 50 points and hitting a ridiculous 37-foot fadeaway three from the logo to send the Blazers to the second round set to face the number two seed Denver Nuggets who took down the Spurs in 7.

In other news, did someone say grab the broom? That’s what Milwaukee and Boston were saying going into game four against their respective opponents, the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.

These wins will create an exciting series as the Bucks and Celtics are set to take on each other in round two where one of these contenders will have to go down. Will the one-seed Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo come out on top or the fourth-seeded Celtics and Kyrie Irving?

I think that this will be the series to keep your eyes on the most. My guess is it will be a back-and-forth matchup, but the Bucks will pull out ahead, taking down the Celtics in Boston in six games, 4-2 (the Celtics currently lead 1-0).

Out in California, it was a crazy six-game series between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors did not seem up to par as they were struggling to take care of the eighth-seed to start their playoff run.

. The Warriors move onto face the fourth-seeded Rockets who had the chance to rest following their 4-1 series win over Utah.

This is another series that should be fun to watch, although the Warriors do not seem strong enough to take down Harden and the Rockets. My guess is Harden stuns Golden State and wins the series in game five on the road, 4-1.