Disclaimer: First Round is already done in writing this. Game 2’s had been played in the Second Round. But I will explain my mindset in predicting this First Round.

Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans: Suns in 4

Suns in 4. The legendary battle cry of a Suns fan on last year Western Conference Semi-Finals against the MVP Nickola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Same battle cry when the Suns were up 2-0 in the series going to the Fiserv Forum, home of the eventual 2021 NBA Champions the Milwaukee Bucks, led by the eventual Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Now why I think its Suns in 4 because they are going up against a play-in team that is 10 games below .500 (36-46) in New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans gained their eight seed by beating #10 San Antonio Spurs (34-48) and then #8 Los Angeles Clippers (42-40). They are a young team that just acquired an all-star CJ McCollum and role player Larry Nance Jr that had a good run after the trade with Brandon Ingram to secure the #9 seed. Pitting the defending Western Conference against even this new looking Pelicans team would be a mismatch. In my opinion the most balanced team in the playoffs the Phoenix Suns will be too much for the Pelicans as they are more focused and experienced the NBA Finals environment a year ago. Fourth in team offensive rating and Third in team Defensive rating, a sweep is coming.

Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz: Jazz in 6

These two teams have been a little iffy during their playoff runs in the past few years. The Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks have given the Leonard-George Los Angeles Clippers a competitive series in their last 2 first round match up. While the Utah Jazz have been solid in the last several season, a perennial playoff team, they just can’t get pass the second round. The Jazz have the personnel to go by in this year’s first round as they kept their core of All-Star Donovan Mitchell, former Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, and the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson. Alongside them are the solid role players Royce O’neal, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley and in the first half of the season Joe Ingles.

As for Dallas Mavericks, they also kept their core led by Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Tim Hardaway Jr. Traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards for David Bertans and Spencer Dinwiddie in which they actually made a run after the trade (#2 in Offensive and Defensive rating) and capturing the #4 seed in the Western Conference. At one point they were gunning for the #3 seed. This time they got a homecourt advantage, but they don’t have the service of Tim Hardaway Jr, who was one of the offensive options during last year’s playoff games, due to injuries. I really think the Doncic-Porzingis duo can work and the Mavs is just an all-star or a Clarkson-type Sixth Man away from giving any playoff teams a series. But with the trade, now the Mavericks is again one all-star caliber player away from becoming a dangerous team to go against in a seven-game series. Bertans and Dinwiddie are a great addition for Dallas, but with the core still intact from last year, the Utah Jazz will take it in six games.

Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets: Warriors in 6.

The Dub Nation is back in the playoff scene. What I think the most exciting team to watch in the NBA because of their team synergy and ball movement. Well-liked superstar in Steph Curry, another well-liked, had his own world, only good vibes, in Klay Thompson, and an energetic, enigmatic, defensive master in Draymond Green, the Big 3 of the Warriors that made 5-straight NBA Finals run capturing 3 championship and had the best NBA record of all time in 73-9 season is back in their familiar environment. As a kid I am a fan of the Harlem Globetrotters and Jason Kidd’s game because of their passes, that is why I love to watch this team. Add in the Globetrotters’ unbelievable shots that Klay and Steph do with their long range 3’s. Strength in Numbers is back and with the emergence of Jordan Poole to an all-star like season, in which I think should be the Most Improve Player or if not the Sixth Man of the Year when Klay came back. The Splash Bros, became a trio. Along with Andrew Wiggins finally became an all-star let alone became a starter, a new death lineup have been reborn. They kept their core bench from last year adding in two rookies (Kuminga, Moody) and three veterans in Nemanja Bjelica, Otto Porter Jr, and Gary Payton II. The Warriors probably have the smallest line-up in the playoffs missing the service of 7’1” lottery pick in James Wiseman. Imagine if the whole Warriors lineup is healthy.

Also affected by injuries and not being fully healthy, I think the reigning and nominated NBA MVP Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets will put up a fight. At 6’10 with an array of inside moves with an outside shooting, with a point-guard like passing and vision, and rebounding, the undersized Warriors will have problems stopping him. Even with the best defensive rating in the NBA, the height advantage is a problem. Like what coaches said, you can’t teach height. But with not having the helps of an all-star caliber player in Jamal Murray and a solid starter in Michael Porter Jr, the Warriors will wear down Jokic and will take the series in 6 games.

Memphis Gizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves: Memphis in 6

The series that I think will be a close one in this conference. Both are fairly inexperienced in playoff basketball with a slight advantage going to the Memphis Grizzlies who made the playoffs by eliminating the Warriors in the play-in game last year. That experience against the Utah Jazz event though the result is 4-1, is better than a win in a play-in game that a championship-esque emotion was poured. Both are young and energetic that would make a great contrast in terms of match-up. Memphis securing the #2 seed and have the overall #2 record in the whole NBA, they have the homecourt advantage and that is one plus point for them.

I have always though the Minnesota Timberwolves have a legit playoff perennial roster in the last few years with the strongest on when Jimmy Butler was on the roster. I just don’t know why they just can’t do it every season. Finally, they made it this time with a win in the play-in game against the Los Angeles Clippers with what seems an emotional win for the team. Not discrediting the emotion, the Wolves players felt after accomplishing the task of finally in a playoff picture after many years of disappointing seasons, but the task is not done. The Wolves have a solid lineup that can make a playoff run in the coming years as long as they keep improving and building up their competitive experiences. The one that had a great season with a recent playoff experience, the Memphis Grizzlies can take one game in Minnesota and finish the Wolves in 6.

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