CGTN Sports Talk: What's likely, unlikely to happen in NBA playoffs?

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2023.04.15 20:05 GMT+8

CGTN Sports Talk: What's likely, unlikely to happen in NBA playoffs?

Updated 2023.04.15 20:05 GMT+8

CGTN

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

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

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

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

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

Host: Li Xiang

Cover designer: Feng Yuan

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