CGTN Sports Talk: What's likely, unlikely to happen in NBA playoffs?
CGTN
Share
Copied
CGTN Sports Talk EP243 NBA playoffs preview.mp3
00:00
The 2023 NBA playoffs will begin on Friday for 16 teams to compete for the championship. Five of the eight matchups seem to be in great strength disparity and our predictions are (teams with home court advantage come first):
Milwaukee Bucks 4-0 Miami Heat
Boston Celtics 4-0 Atlanta Hawks
Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 Brooklyn Nets
Denver Nuggets 4-1 Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns 4-1 Los Angeles Clippers
Fortunately, not all lower-ranking teams during the regular season are easy opponents. The following three series are unlikely to be one-sided. In fact, the higher-ranking teams should watch out if they don't want to be upset in the first round. Our predictions are (teams with home court advantage come first):
Cleveland Cavaliers 4-3 New York Knicks
Memphis Grizzlies 2-4 Los Angeles Lakers
Sacramento Kings 2-4 Golden State Warriors
Giannis Antetokounmpo (R) of the Milwaukee Bucks penetrates in the game against the Miami Heat at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 4, 2023. /CFP
Giannis Antetokounmpo (R) of the Milwaukee Bucks penetrates in the game against the Miami Heat at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 4, 2023. /CFP
Trae Young (C) of the Atlanta Hawks is surrounded by defenders of the Boston Celtics in the game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Gerogia, March 11, 2023. /CFP
Trae Young (C) of the Atlanta Hawks is surrounded by defenders of the Boston Celtics in the game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Gerogia, March 11, 2023. /CFP
Joel Embiid (#21) of the Philadelphia 76ers drives toward the rim in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, February 11, 2023. /CFP
Joel Embiid (#21) of the Philadelphia 76ers drives toward the rim in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, February 11, 2023. /CFP
Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets drives in the game against the Minensota Timberwolves at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, February 7, 2023. /CFP
Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets drives in the game against the Minensota Timberwolves at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, February 7, 2023. /CFP
Kawhi Leonard (#2) of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles in the game against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 16, 2023. /CFP
Kawhi Leonard (#2) of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles in the game against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, February 16, 2023. /CFP
Donovan Mitchell (#45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives toward the rim in the game against the New York Knicks at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, March 31, 2023. /CFP
Donovan Mitchell (#45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives toward the rim in the game against the New York Knicks at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, March 31, 2023. /CFP
Anthony Davis (#3) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, March 7, 2023. /CFP
Anthony Davis (#3) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, March 7, 2023. /CFP
Stephen Curry (C) of the Golden State Warriors penetrates in the game against the Sacramento Kings at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, November 7, 2022. /CFP
Stephen Curry (C) of the Golden State Warriors penetrates in the game against the Sacramento Kings at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, November 7, 2022. /CFP