Western Conference Headline: Oklahoma City rolled the Memphis Grizzlies. Granted they were a much better team, but this was the first time OKC felt real pressure and they proved more than capable of handling it. Beware!
Eastern Conference Headline: Boston has always been the assumed Eastern Conference representative. With the manner that Cleveland blew out Miami and Orlando potentially exposing a durability and softness trait of Boston, maybe they should not be so assumed.

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (4) Indiana Pacers
Both teams in this Conference Semifinals matchup were impressive in the first-round. The caveat is grading them against the level of opponent they faced. Cleveland made it known they are not a fluke 1-seed, however to be clear, the Miami Heat should not have been a playoff team. The Play-In Tournament produces some undeserving lower seeds and we saw that here. Indiana, on the backs of the “most overrated player in the league”, were clearly the better team against Milwaukee. Obviously Dame never looked himself and Giannis, even playing otherworldly, was not enough. Cleveland versus Indiana will likely be an offensive showcase and the team that plays the best defense will win. I’m riding with Mobley and Allen anchoring the Cavs back line.
Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2

(2) Boston Celtics vs (3) New York Knicks
Boston versus New York, just how the NBA wanted it. If Detroit didn’t get hosed in Game 4 with the no call, I think the Pistons might actually have won the series. New York seemed to only be the better team in the fourth quarter, which to be fair is when it matters most. Detroit had a remarkable turnaround for a 14-win team last season so they should hold their heads high. Looking ahead, Boston is a notably better team than New York, but as noted above, Boston struggled with physicality and health in the first-round. The Knicks depth has been a concern most of the year and after a hard-fought 6 games, they may show a little fatigue in the early games.
Prediction: Boston Celtics 4-1


Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (4) Denver Nuggets
The Thunder will play for the first time in nine days on Monday which will inevitably bring up the conversation of rest versus rust. Denver on the other hand played a home game less than 48 hours before and had to travel immediately. The Nuggets are already one of the thinnest bench teams in the NBA and having to go seven games in Round 1 was a worst case scenario. This is likely the most anticipated second-round series and for good reason. OKC and Denver match up well with each other and Jokic will likely force Hartenstein to play alongside Chet for more minutes than usual. Youth versus experience. Former MVP versus future MVP. This is where legacies are made.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2

(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs (7) Golden State Warriors
There were two seeding upsets in the first-round of the NBA playoffs and the winning teams were the 6-seed Timberwolves and 7-seed Warriors. Golden State, at least, may not seem like much of an upset as they were the betting favorite over the Houston Rockets at the start of their series. Plus, that middle pack in the Western Conference was all hovering around the same regular season record. It took seven games for Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green to oust the upstart Rockets and it definitely took a toll on the aging stars. Now they face the league’s new giant-killer, Anthony Edwards. At just 23 years old, AE in back-to-back years, has already knocked Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James and Luka Doncic out of the playoffs. Can he continue that streak with this Warriors team?
Prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2