VikingsTerritory’s NBA Playoff Predictions
Once annually, we use this platform to write about the NBA — predicting the two-month-long winner-take-all tournament.
VikingsTerritory’s NBA Playoff Predictions
A few of our writers follow the NBA just as intently as the NFL, so the prediction process is rather easy to concoct.
The NBA playoffs kick off this weekend, and Janik Eckardt, Josh Frey, and Dustin Baker officially put these prognostications on record.
Last year’s predictions can be read here.
First Round
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers over (8) Miami Heat in 5 games
(4) Indiana Pacers over (5) Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games
(3) New York Knicks over (6) Detroit Pistons in 7 games
(2) Boston Celtics over (7) Orlando Magic in 5 games
Frey, Eckardt, and Baker had no disagreements on the Cavaliers, Knicks, or Celtics prevailing in Round 1 — pretty safe bets from a national viewpoint as well.
However, Frey is an intense Bucks fan and vehemently disagreed about the Pacers taking down Milwaukee. He squawked about it.
The Heat might put up a junior fight against the Cavaliers, but it won’t matter much. The Knicks represent a fascinating matchup for the Knicks, and it’s commendable how Detroit has exited the NBA’s cellar.
Boston will bruise and batter Orlando, as the Magic are still a year or two away from advancing to Round 2.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder over (8) Memphis Grizzlies in 4 games
(5) Los Angeles Clippers over (4) Denver Nuggets in 7 games
(3) Los Angeles Lakers over (6) Minnesota Timberwolves in 7 games
(7) Golden State Warriors over (2) Houston Rockets in 6 games
The group had absolutely zero faith in the Grizzlies to threaten the Thunder. The Nuggets and Clippers are on tap for the league’s best playoff matchup, while Frey and Eckardt gave the nod to Kawhi Leonard and friends. Baker picked the Nuggets.
The Timberwolves have been hot lately and play wonderful defense, but if Luka Doncic could topple Minnesota last year, he can do it again with LeBron James next to him.
And we agree with the fashionable “upset” of the Warriors over the Rockets. It’s going to happen.
Second Round
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers over (4) Indiana Pacers in 6 games
(2) Boston Celtics over (3) New York Knicks in 6 games
We have little doubt that the Pacers will utterly fluster the Cavaliers at times in the Eastern Conference’s second round — that’s what they do. But we just refuse to believe that the Cavaliers, led by their closer, Donovan Mitchell, won 64 in the regular season because of luck.
With that regular season resume — a long, long sample — they’ll take down Indiana in six.
The Knicks became healthy in the final week of the regular season, but we question whether that will last for seven games against Boston. This Celtics team isn’t about to get bounced in Round 2. Celtics in six.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder over (5) Los Angeles Clippers in 6 games
(3) Los Angeles Lakers over (7) Golden State Warriors in 7 games
Oklahoma is way too proficient on offense and defense to lose four games in a set of seven to the Clippers. You can never fully trust the Clippers’ health. Don’t do it. Even if the Clippers remain 100% healthy, they’re not equipped to beat this deep-deep Thunder team.
Los Angeles took down Golden State in the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Why would they lose time with Doncic on the roster?
Conference Championships
Eastern Conference
(2) Boston Celtics over (1) Cleveland Cavaliers in 7 games
This series should be epic. Ultimately, we trust the champs over the upstart Cavaliers. Cleveland might be a year away from taking down the Celtics if one assumes Boston will start to tail off in 2025-2026.
This seven-game series will be must-see television for purist basketball fans.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder over (3) Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games
Oklahoma City won 68 games in 2024-2025, earning a spot as one of the top 20 regular season teams in NBA history. The Lakers won 50 games.
James and Doncic need another season to jell — and probably a real center in the paint — to reach the NBA Finals. Therefore, it’s Oklahoma City in six.
NBA Finals
Boston Celtics over Oklahoma City Thunder in 6 games
Boston goes back-to-back while Jayson Tatum gets off the schneid to win a Finals MVP award. Next year, the Thunder improve even more and perhaps return to the Finals to knock off a team like the Cavaliers or Knicks.
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