NBA Playoffs 2021: First-round series predictions
The field is set for the 2021 NBA Playoffs, so NBC Sports Chicago's K.C. Johnson and Rob Schaefer are here to make predictions.
Nobody stops Joel Embiid one-on-one. But in Alex Len, Robin Lopez and Daniel Gafford, the Wizards at least have different defensive looks of physicality and athleticism, not to mention 18 fouls, to try to at least slow him down.
Throw in the firepower of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal and the Wizards can hang with the top-seeded 76ers. For a while.
Prediction: 76ers in 6 — K.C. Johnson
Ja Morant fully arrived in the Grizzlies shocking play-in tournament win over the Golden State Warriors, notching 35 points, five 3-pointers and clutch bucket after clutch bucket. The battles between Rudy Gobert and Jonas Valančiūnas in the paint and Donovan Mitchell and Dillon Brooks on the perimeter will be great theater. Mike Conley facing his former team adds another tasty storyline.
But the gap between these two is too wide to bridge, especially at the 3-point line. The Jazz finished the regular season first in the NBA in 3-point attempts per game and fourth in percentage. The Grizzlies were bottom 10 in both categories. Memphis will hunt transition opportunities and make the Jazz work in the paint, but expect a lopsided series result.
Prediction: Jazz in 5 — Rob Schaefer
The Nets’ Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving only logged 202 minutes together over eight games. They produced an offensive rating of 119.6 and a net rating of plus-7.2.
These are the playoffs. Assuming health, they’re going to play together. A lot. And the underachieving Celtics — sans Jaylen Brown — will be their first victim.
Prediction: Nets in 5 — K.C. Johnson
The first postseason meeting between LeBron James and Chris Paul is sure to be a doozy. The Suns were perhaps the story of the regular season, riding the addition of Paul and growth from Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges and others to a 51-21 record. The Lakers, meanwhile, struggled badly with injuries — crucially, to both James and Anthony Davis — and needed a nail-biting win over the Warriors in the play-in round to clinch their playoff bid.
Now, assuming close to full health, the Lakers' size figures to cause matchup problems galore for Phoenix. This series will go down to the wire, but ultimately, expect gaudy stat lines from Anthony Davis (who posted 42 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three blocks and steals apiece the last time these two met) and a victory for the defending champs.
Prediction: Lakers in 6 — Rob Schaefer
The Heat are a potent defensive team who have endured as disjointed a season as anybody. Their size disadvantage and inability to score in stretches are issues, and Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, who have been inconsistent, must play well for the (mild) upset.
This will be close, but ultimately, the addition of Jrue Holiday gives the Bucks enough star power and offensive firepower to prevail after falling resoundingly to Miami in last season's Eastern Conference semis.
Prediction: Bucks in 7 — K.C. Johnson
This is perhaps the most evenly-matched of the first-round series. The Trail Blazers enter having won 10 of their last 12 and confident in their fully-staffed starting lineup of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, Robert Covington and Jusuf Nurkić, which has a +13.4 net rating in 370 minutes on the floor. The Nuggets, meanwhile, employ the league MVP favorite in Nikola Jokić, a star in the making in Michael Porter Jr. and are 13-5 since losing Jamal Murray for the season.
Add to all of the above that Lillard and Jokić are two of the NBA's best clutch performers, and this one is sure to excite. It profiles as a coin-flip seven-gamer, but on paper, the Trail Blazers' shooting gives them an edge, as does the Nuggets playing without Murray.
Prediction: Trail Blazers in 7 — Rob Schaefer
This is the classic offense vs. defense series. In the modern NBA, that nod might go to offense. But this is a Knicks team coached by a throwback in Tom Thibodeau, who is a bear at exploiting matchups and taking plusses away, particularly with adjustments and days to prepare.
If the Knicks get consistent scoring from unproven RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Derrick Rose will supply enough otherwise. Randle, for what it's worth, averaged 37.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists in three games against the Hawks this regular season.
Prediction: Knicks in 7 — K.C. Johnson
A rematch from last season's thrilling first-round series, which the Mavericks pushed to six games even without Kristaps Porziņģis for the last three (and the second half of Game 1 following an ejection).
Luka Dončić is worth a playoff win on his own, maybe two. And the Mavericks surged to close the season. But the Clippers have a wealth of defensive-minded wings to make his life difficult, and past postseason demons to kick. They're better than they were last season and should handle this first test.
Predictions: Clippers in 6 — Rob Schaefer
