2023 NBA Playoffs Predictions

The 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament is happening throughout this week, with the NBA Playoffs starting this Saturday, April 15. The playoffs should be very exciting, and in this article I’ll be giving you my predictions for the first round.  

Eastern Conference: 

One-seed Milwaukee Bucks vs. eight-seed Miami Heat/Toronto Raptors/Chicago Bulls: 

This series features the number one overall seed, the Milwaukee Bucks against the last team in the playoffs from the play-in tournament, which will be the Miami Heat or the winner of the Raptors vs. Bulls game. I don’t think it will end up mattering which one of those three teams gets the eight-seed, as the Bucks have a much better team than all of them and should easily win this series. My prediction: the Bucks will win in four games. 

Two-seed Boston Celtics vs. seven-seed Atlanta Hawks: 

The Hawks beat the Heat on Tuesday night in the play-in tournament to earn the seven-seed, which gives them a first-round matchup against the Celtics, who are the defending Eastern Conference Champions. Since making the Conference Finals in 2021 the Hawks have mostly underachieved, with this being their second straight year in the Play-In Tournament. I think they have the talent to make this series somewhat interesting, but with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and a great supporting cast, the Celtics will still win this series. My prediction: Celtics win in six games. 

Three-seed Philadelphia 76ers vs. Six-seed Brooklyn Nets: 

After trading away star players Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, many assumed that the Nets would fall out of the playoffs. However, they were able to win enough games to clinch the six-seed in the East, boosted by the stellar play of Mikal Bridges, who has averaged 26.1 points in the 27 games he has played on the Nets since being traded to them in the Durant trade. The 76ers, however, are the better team, and I don’t see the Nets being able to stop the 76ers star center and likely 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, as well as star guard and 2018 MVP James Harden. My prediction: 76ers win in six games. 

Four-seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Five-seed New York Knicks. 

In what many are calling the most interesting Eastern Conference first-round series, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell, who they acquired in an offseason trade with the Utah Jazz, take on the New York Knicks, who have also been greatly boosted by an offseason acquisition, as free agent signing Jalen Brunson has become one of the top guards in the East. Not to brag, but back in January, I predicted that this series would happen in an article for The Hill, and sticking with the rest of my prediction, I think the Knicks will win this series and make the Eastern Conference semifinals, as they are 3-1 against the Cavaliers in the regular season and will be boosted by the return of All-Star power forward Julius Randle. My prediction: Knicks win in seven games. 

Western Conference: 

One-seed Denver Nuggets vs. eight-seed Minnesota Timberwolves/ New Orleans Pelicans/ Oklahoma City Thunder: 

The Nuggets, led by two-time defending MVP Nikola Jokic, had a great regular season, finishing with a 53-29 record to earn the one-seed in the West. They will play the Minnesota Timberwolves or the winner of the Pelicans vs. Thunder game. Just like in the East, I don’t think it will end up mattering which Play-In team earns the eight seed, as the Nuggets have a great roster and are one of the best shooting teams ever, leading the league in overall field goal percentage at 50.4 percent, which is the highest team field goal percentage in 28 years. My prediction: Nuggets in five. 

Two-seed Memphis Grizzlies vs. Seven-seed Los Angeles Lakers: 

The Lakers beat the Timberwolves on Tuesday night to earn the seven-seed, which gives them a first-round matchup against Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. While the Grizzlies are the higher seed, the Lakers have been playing much better than their record would suggest as of late, going 10-2 in their past 12 games. Lebron James is still one of the best players in the league and has playoff experience, while Anthony Davis has shown that he is still one of the top forwards in the league. My prediction: Lakers in six. 

Three-seed Sacramento Kings vs. Six-seed Golden State Warriors: 

The Kings had an awesome 2022-23 season, going 48-34 to get the three-seed in the best, ending a 16-year post-season drought. In the first round, they’ll match up against the defending NBA Champions in the Golden State Warriors. While the Kings were better in the regular season, the Warriors have much more playoff experience, a better overall roster, and a better best player, which is why I think they’ll win this series. My prediction: Warriors in six. 

Four-seed Phoenix Suns vs Five-seed Los Angeles Clippers: 

Just like in the East, I think the four vs. five matchup in the West might also be the most interesting playoff series of the conference. Since trading for Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns have been the favorite to win the Western Conference. This first-round matchup puts them up against the Los Angeles Clippers, who have star guard and two-time NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard, along with Paul George, who has been injured recently and will be out for the beginning of the series (but he may return during the series). This matchup has many interesting storylines, including old teammates Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook going up against each other, as well as Chris Paul playing his past team, the Clippers. I think the Suns, led by Durant and Paul, as well as Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, who are both great players, are simply a better team, even if the Clippers have Paul George back, and they will win this series. My prediction: Suns in six.