NBA 1st round playoff predictions

West

Utah Jazz vs Memphis Grizzlies- JAZZ IN 5

Jazz have the 3rd best offensive rating and 3rd best defensive rating. Utah’s strengths are: offensive rebounding (5th), defensive rebounding (2nd), limiting opponent free throws (1st), 3P% (3rd), opponent mid-range shooting % (5th), opponent 3P% (2nd). Utah’s weaknesses are: forcing turnovers (30th).

Grizzlies have the 13th best offensive rating and 19th best defensive rating. Memphis’ strengths are: lack of turnovers (5th), offensive rebounding (4th), opponent shooting % at rim (5th). Memphis’ weaknesses are free throw rate (27th), non-corner 3P% (26th), opponent short mid-range shooting % (27th), opponent corner 3P% (29th).

Coaching career playoff records:

UTA- Quin Snyder (3-4)=43%

MEM- Taylor Jenkins (1-2)=33%

Memphis has a talented young team and JA Morant will be able to steal 1 game but not the series.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers- LAKERS IN 6

Suns have the 9th best offensive rating and 7th best defensive rating. Phoenix’s strengths are: lack of turnovers (4th), mid-range shooting % (1st), corner 3 shooting % (2nd), opponent 3P% (5th). Phoenix’s weaknesses are: free throw rate (26th).

Lakers have the 23rd best offensive rating and 2nd best defensive rating. Los Angeles’ strengths are: forcing turnovers (4th)m defensive rebounding (5th), opponent mid-range shooting % (2nd), opponent 3P % (4th). Los Angeles’ weaknesses are: turnovers (28th), long mid-range shooting % (29th).

Coaching career playoff records:

PHO- Monty Williams (2-9)=18%

LAL- Frank Vogel (47-35)=57%

LeBron has never lost a round 1 in his career and it will not happen this year either.

Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers- NUGGETS IN 6

Nuggets have the 6th best offensive rating and 9th best defensive rating. Denver’s strengths are: offensive rebounding (2nd), shooting % at rim (4th), mid-range shooting % (3rd), corner 3P % (4th). Denver’s weaknesses are: free throw rate (28th), opponents shooting % at the rim (30th).

Trail Blazers have the 5th best offensive rating and 22nd best defensive rating. Portland’s strengths are: lack of turnovers (1st), 3P % (5th). Portland’s weaknesses are: short mid-range shooting % (28th), opponent corner 3P % (28th), opponent long mid-range shooting % (26th).

Coaching career playoff records:

DEN- Michael Malone (16-16)=50%

POR- Terry Stotts (21-40)=34%

The Nuggets are missing Murray, but they are 13-5 since the injury. Portland is a struggling defensive unit and the Nuggets will overpower them down low and through their exceptional ball movement.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks- CLIPPERS IN 7

Clippers have the 10th best offensive rating and 5th best defensive rating. Los Angeles’ strengths are: 3P% (1st). Los Angeles’ weaknesses are: opponent long mid-range shooting % (27th).

Mavericks have the 17th best offensive rating and 8th best defensive rating. Dallas’ strengths are: lack of turnovers (3rd), shooting % at rim (1st), mid-range shooting % (5th). Dallas’ weaknesses are: forcing turnovers (24th).

Coaching career playoff records:

LAC- Tyronn Lue (44-22)=67%

DAL- Rick Carlisle (60-66)=48%

This series will be a hard fought battle similar to last year. Both teams improved their rosters, but the Clippers star power will be too much for Dallas to handle in the end.

East

Philadelphia 76ers vs Washington Wizards- 76ERS IN 4

76ers have the 11th best offensive rating and 6th best defensive rating. Philadelphia’s strengths are: free throw rate (1st), forcing turnovers (3rd), mid-range shooting % (4th), opponent mid-range shooting % (1st), opponent corner 3P % (5th). Philadelphia’s weaknesses are: turnovers (20th).

Wizards have the 4th best offensive rating and 30th best defensive rating. Washington’s strengths are: free throw rate (3rd), short mid-range shooting % (4th). Washington’s weaknesses are: opponent free throw rate (28th), opponent shooting % at rim (27th), opponent mid-range shooting % (30th).

Coaching career playoff records:

PHI- Doc Rivers (91-89)=51%

WAS-Scott Brooks (48-44)=52%

The addition of Doc Rivers will enable the 76ers to get over the hump and make a deep run this postseason.

Brooklyn Nets vs Boston Celtics- NETS IN 4

Nets have the 2nd best offensive rating and 23rd best defensive rating. Brooklyn’s strengths are: free throw rate (5th), mid-range shooting % (2nd), 3P% (2nd), opponent 3P% (1st). Brooklyn’s weaknesses are: forcing turnovers (27th).

Celtics have the 16th best offensive rating and 11th best defensive rating. Boston’s strengths are: offensive rebounding (6th). Boston’s weaknesses are: opponent free throw rate (27th).

Coaching career playoff records:

BKN- Steve Nash (0-0)=0%

BOS- Brad Stevens (37-36)=51%

The Nets big 3 have only played 8 games this season together but that will not be a factor in their sweep over the Celtics.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat- HEAT IN 6

Bucks have the 1st best offensive rating and 21st best defensive rating. Milwaukee’s strengths are: shooting % at rim (3rd), defensive rebounding (3rd), opponent free throw rate (2nd), opponent shooting % at rim (4th), non-corner 3P% (5th). Milwaukee’s weaknesses are: opponent 3P% (29th).

Heat have the 25th best offensive rating and 4th best defensive rating. Miami’s strengths are: forcing turnovers (2nd), shooting % at rim (2nd), opponent short mid-range shooting % (5th). Miami’s weaknesses are: offensive rebounding (29th), corner 3P% (27th), opponent long mid-range shooting % (29th).

Coaching career playoff records:

MIL- Mike Budenholzer (32-32)=50%

MIA- Erik Spoelstra (85-54)=61%

The Heat lost Jae Crowder and the Bucks added Jrue Holiday and PJ Tucker. This matchup is the hardest to predict, but Miami has the answer for Giannis and will beat them again.

New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks- KNICKS IN 5

Knicks have the 26th best offensive rating and 1st best defensive rating. New York’s strengths are: 3P% (4th), opponent shooting % at rim (1st), opponent mid-range shooting % (3rd), opponent 3P % (1st). New York’s weaknesses are: shooting % at rim (29th).

Hawks have the 13th best offensive rating and 14th best defensive rating. Atlanta’s strengths are: free throw rate (2nd), long mid-range shooting % (5th), opponent 3P% (3rd). Atlanta’s weaknesses are: forcing turnovers (29th).

Coaching career playoff records:

NYK- Tom Thibodeau (24-32)=43%

ATL- Nate McMillan (20-36)=36%

Derrick Rose poised for a big series as Trae Young is one of the worst defenders in the NBA according to his defensive rating. Julius Randle also averaged 37-12-7 vs Hawks in the regular season. The Knicks also went 3-0 in the regular season vs the Hawks.