Big Lead Staff 2016 NBA Playoff Predictions
By The Big Lead
The NBA Playoffs begin tomorrow. Can the Warriors repeat as champions and complete the 73-9 season with a title? Our writers weigh in with predictions over who can beat the Warriors.
JASON MCINTYRE
1st round
Cavs in 5, Celtics in 6, Heat in 5, Pacers in 6; Warriors in 4, Clippers in 7, Thunder in 5, Spurs in 4
2nd round
Cavs over Celtics in 6, Heat over Pacers in 6; Warriors over Clippers in 4; Thunder over Spurs in 6
Conference Finals
Cavs over Heat in 7; Warriors over Thunder in 6
NBA Finals
Warriors over Cavs in 7
NBA Finals MVP: Stephen Curry
STEPHEN DOUGLAS
1st round
Cavs in 4, Celtics in 6, Heat in 6, Raptors in 6; Warriors in 4, Clippers in 6, Thunder in 7, Spurs in 6
2nd round
Cavs over Celtics in 6, Raptors over Heat in 7 ; Warriors over Clippers in 6; Spurs over Thunder in 6
Conference Finals
Cavs over Raptors in 5; Warriors over Spurs in 6
NBA Finals
Cavs over Warriors in 7
NBA Finals MVP: LeBron James
KYLE KOSTER
1st round
Cavs in 7, Celtics in 6, Heat in 6, Raptors in 4; Warriors in 4, Clippers in 5, Thunder in 7, Spurs in 5
2nd round
Cavs over Celtics in 5, Raptors over Heat in 5; Warriors over Clippers in 5; Spurs over Thunder in 6
Conference Finals
Cavs over Raptors in 5; Spurs over Warriors in 6
NBA Finals
Spurs over Cavs in 6
NBA Finals MVP: LaMarcus Aldridge
RYAN GLASSPIEGEL
1st round
Cavs in 6, Celtics in 6, Heat in 6, Raptors in 5, Warriors in 5, Clippers in 7, Thunder in 6, Spurs in 5
2nd round
Cavs over Celtics in 6, Heat over Raptors in 7, Warriors over Clippers in 5, Spurs over Thunder in 7
Conference finals
Heat over Cavs in 7, Spurs over Warriors in 7
NBA Finals
Spurs over Heat in 5
NBA Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard
MICHAEL SHAMBURGER
1st Round
Cavs in 4, Celtics in 6, Raptors in 5, Heat in 6; Warriors in 4, Clippers in 6, Spurs in 5, Thunder in 7
2nd Round
Cavs in 5, Raptors in 6; Warriors in 5, Spurs in 6
Conference Finals
Cavs in 6; Warriors in 6
Finals
Cavs over Warriors in 7
NBA Finals MVP: LeBron James
JASON LISK
1st round
Cavs in 4, Celtics in 6, Heat in 7, Raptors in 6; Warriors in 4, Clippers in 6, Thunder in 5, Spurs in 5
2nd round
Cavs over Celtics in 6, Raptors over Heat in 7; Warriors over Clippers in 5; Spurs over Thunder in 7
Conference Finals
Raptors over Cavs in 6; Warriors over Spurs in 7
NBA Finals
Warriors over Raptors in 5
NBA Finals MVP: Stephen Curry
RYAN PHILLIPS
1st round
Cavs in 4, Celtics in 7, Heat in 6, Raptors in 5; Warriors in 4, Clippers in 7, Thunder in 5, Spurs in 4
2nd round
Cavs over Celtics in 7, Raptors over Heat in 6; Warriors over Clippers in 4; Spurs over Thunder in 6
Conference Finals
Cavs over Raptors in 7; Spurs over Warriors in 7
NBA Finals
Spurs over Cavs in 6
NBA Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard