NBA Playoffs
By Byler Henry
The NBA Playoffs have started and as always, it’s full of excitement. So many questions: will the Warriors repeat as champions, will someone knock them off, will LeBron take his team all the way to the promised land, will there be a new team on the rise in the East?
A new team has arrived in the East and they are young and
hungry. The Philadelphia 76ers have been saying “Trust the process”, for the past few years and it has been working. This team has made a quick turnaround, they haven’t been in the playoffs since 2012, having a 28-54 record last year after losing Ben Simmons to a foot injury, and now they are 3rd place in the East with a 52-30 record. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are two young future stars in the making. The Cavaliers are trying to get back to the promised land, but will have a tough time, if the role players don’t offer much help. I am predicting the 76ers to face the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals with the 76ers winning in 6.
In the wild, wild west it’s still unknown exactly how long Curry will be out for the Warriors, but they still have Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and
Draymond Green healthy. The Pelicans have swept the Blazers and are looking like a great team with Rajon Rondo, Jrue Holiday, and Anthony Davis leading the charge. DeMarcus Cousins has suffered a season ending Achilles injury during the regular season, but the Pelicans haven’t missed a beat without him. However, the team to beat in the west is the Houston Rockets. Under head coach Mike D’Antoni the Rockets have the best record in the NBA at 65-17, James Harden is a phenomenal star with many seeing him as the regular season MVP scoring 30.4 ppg (points per game) 5.4 total rebounds, 8.8 assists, shooting 44.9% from the field and 36.7% from three, and shooting 85.8% from the free throw line. Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza, Clint Capela, and Eric Gordon have contributed to the team’s success. I see the Rockets meeting the Warriors in the Western
Conference Finals and it will be a barn burner with the Rockets winning the series in 7 games.
The NBA playoffs are exciting and must-see TV. Each round gets better and better and it’s all capped off with the finals. This year for the NBA Finals the Rockets take home the Larry O’Brien trophy after beating the Sixers in 7 games. Tune into the playoffs to see the drama unfold, and see a new champion rise. Sixteen teams compete for the crown, but there can only be one winner.
