NBA Playoffs 2019 - Our 2nd Round Predictions

Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs is officially over, in the East the upstart Brooklyn Nets raised a few questions about Philadelphia's offensive creativity but ultimately bit the dust in five games, Milwaukee hammered a Blake-less Detroit for two games and then proceeded to hammer a Blake-led Detroit for another two games, Toronto dropped Game 1 in typical Raptor's fashion but then proceeded to render Nikola Vucevic useless for the next four games and Boston surprised everybody by bringing their brooms on the road and sweeping a surprisingly unsuccessful Indiana team. In the West the LA Clippers managed to scare some sense into the coasting Warriors but lost in six games, Houston overcame a very strange Utah defense to kill off the Jazz in five, Damian Lillard hit one of the greatest Playoff game winners of all time and helped Portland destroy a blundering OKC team and Denver managed to stave off some GOAT coaching by Popovich to beat the Spurs in a crucial game seven.

The first round was a bit disappointing from a competitive standpoint, with teams we thought would be stronger seemingly rolling over - that there were only two series that went to at least 6 games (GSW vs LAC & DEN vs SAN) was a bit... well... boring. However, this next round is going to be ridiculously entertaining as we see the the four giants of the East in Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto go head to head in the second round, while we get an earlier repeat of last year's Western Conference Finals with Houston vs Golden State battling it out for supremacy. So without further ado, let's get into the questions that we have for each remaining playoff team and our predictions for their immediate future - by now we've seen every matchup's Game 1 which makes our predictions all that much more juicier.

Toronto vs Philadelphia

It's going down folks... Philadelphia played Toronto in Game 2 this morning and shocked them to steal home court advantage, not to worry though - it won't make much difference. I've got Toronto going through in this series, they take care of the ball too well compared to the Sixers and have the offensive system built perfectly to their strengths, while also being able to add a dash of Kawhi-iso magic whenever he feels up to it. He looked like he was genuinely toying with them in Game 1, hitting mid range pull ups all over the court and getting to the rim relatively easily.

The biggest factor that is going to prevent the Sixers from advancing in my opinion is their absolute lack of creativity. I love Brett Brown and the way he's developed their players throughout "The Process", but right now this is meaningful basketball and running J.J. Redick through a million off ball screens to get a contested pull up three is not going to win you games against Toronto. The Sixers frustrate me to no end - of course even more considering my earlier prediction for them to make it to The Finals - but on paper their starting five beats Toronto's in sheer talent, despite the Raptor's incredible season. The issue is that they just don't know how to use Ben Simmons effectively, actually the more frustrating part is that THEY DO. In Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets while Joel Embiid was out they used Ben Simmons as the roll man with Jimmy or Tobias handling the ball, the result? Simmons catching the ball with space, on the fly and either taking it to the rim hard or dishing it to the open man on the short roll - Draymond Green style. It was so much more effective than having your only real three point threat (Redick) running around a screens in a crowded court because no team respects the Sixers' three point shooting so they just pack the paint. Even though they won Game 2, their 19 turnovers to Toronto's 9 is a sign that they're still relying on bail out passes to get buckets.

If the Sixers are going to pull anything out of the series then they need to get more creative with their use of Simmons and getting him into mismatches with Toronto's smaller guards (VanVleet, Lowry, Powell) or how about using one of the best big men in the damn league more by dumping the ball down low to him and letting him go to work?! Right now Brett Brown isn't making a convincing case to be re-signed this summer and even though Philadelphia have tied up the series I can't see them winning more than maybe one game playing this way.

Prediction: Toronto in 6.

Boston vs Milwaukee

Tell 'em how you really feel Boston!!! I've had Boston as my team to advance in this series for at least a week now after watching them just straight up dismantle Indiana in the First Round. That Indiana team were supposed to be at least competitive. Sure the games were close and low scoring, but if you watched them you'd see that Boston was controlling the tempo and flow of those games the entire time - encouraging stuff for a team that struggled with chemistry issues all season, but if they're finally going to click then this is right time to do it.

We're seeing a revitalised version of Gordon Hayward in the Playoffs, he's shooting 51% from the floor and 41% from the three point line, Al Horford is proving to be one of the Celtics' most important pieces by spreading the floor and picking out cutting Boston players, Kyrie is doing Kyrie-things and leading from the front with his herky-jerky play and dagger shots and FINALLY Jayson Tatum is ditching his Mamba Mentality to stop hunting for mid-range contested pull ups. Combine all this with Boston's star role players like Jaylen Brown - who by the way would be starting on any other playoff team not named Golden State - lighting up the scoreboard with smart, efficient plays and you've got a recipe for success against a "1 Star without a jump shot and 4 guys who're pretty good shooters" team. It's a shame because I really loved how Milwaukee played in the Regular Season and I'm a shameless Giannis-MVP advocate, but we're talking 'bout Playoffs man (Iverson voice)... The more talented team often wins these drawn out series and Boston were a dumpster of talent on fire all season, now managed to stick all the pieces together and string together five straight wins throughout the Playoffs and I can't see them being stopped easily.

Also... massive shoutout to Boston's defense against Giannis, they're walling the rim off with three defenders on Milwaukee fast breaks and banking on Giannis to attempt to go into "Freak Mode" and drive against help defenders... Only thing is, that worked in the regular season when the teams saw him on two nights a year, right now Boston are daring him to try and do the same against them for a seven game series and I can't see him being able to pull Milwaukee over the hump with clutch, proven players like Kyrie who're built for this time of the year.

Prediction: Boston in 7.

Denver vs Portland

It's Dame Time. The Portland Trailblazers have been counted out for years, with first round exits, terrible Playoff match-ups and embarrassing sweeps. This time the Basketball Gods have shined upon them and granted them an "easier" route the The Finals. Damian "Shot Clock God" Lillard and the Nurkic-less Blazers easily dispatched a self-destructive Russell Westbrook and the "Human-shaped bundle of sports tape" that is Paul George in only five games to my despair (I had picked OKC). Now that they've captured the attention of us NBA Fans it's only right that we give them their due credit and look at their chances against a relatively weak 2 seed in the Denver Nuggets.

Honestly, I watched Game 1 this morning and the Nuggets, despite winning, looked like they were only in the game due to Jamal Murray's brilliance at hitting timely shots after every one of the Trailblazer's big buckets. Considering Jamal Murray's proven reputation as a spark plug but an inconsistent one at that, I'm picking Portland to figure it out and steal home court advantage in Game 2 on Wednesday. CJ McCollum was 7-19 from the field, Lillard was 8-21. Despite the Denver Nuggets having some excellent backcourt defenders like Gary Harris and Malik Beasley, I'm not entirely sure they'll be able to contain Portland's backcourt duo for long - and with their run of proving people wrong so far and the way Damian Lillard has rounded his guys up time and time again, I'm expecting the Trailblazers to be out for blood by the time Game 2 comes around.

Prediction: Portland in 7

Golden State vs Houston

Okay before I start, let me point out that KD has been a killer. The guy is probably the most talented player in the NBA right now in terms of being able to score and defend all across the court in a way that is more efficient than LeBron James and more versatile than Giannis Antetekounmpo.

HOWEVER.

Other than Draymond Green - who's playing his best basketball of his past two seasons - nobody looks right. Steph Curry was questionable for Game 1, Klay Thompson was severely questionably - both with ankle injuries. Yet they needed to play him 41 minutes?! Neither player has looked 100% so far in the Playoffs, they've each had one stand out game (Klay dropped 32 in Game 2 vs LAC and Steph scored 38 in Game 1 vs LAC). Except those two games they've been average across the board, which is okay when you consider the sheer volume of buckets KD has been dropping these entire Playoffs - but a bit out of character and certainly dangerous for a team that lacks any depth and already lost it's trump card (DeMarcus Cousins) for switching up it's style.

I don't think it's enough.

I'll say it again, I really don't think it's enough. Houston are HUNGRY. They're certainly not carrying around the pressure they put on themselves last year after openly building a team to beat the Warriors, they're playing freely, happily but don't get them twisted... hungrier. James Harden, despite all the trash I talk about him and his loss to D-Wade in my legendary hypothetical 1v1, he's a bad man. The system that Houston has built is made specifically to beat the Warriors UNLESS the Warriors are playing their best game. Golden State aren't as switchable or defensively versatile as they used to be, add in the mediocre performances from their stars not named KD and presume that the referees are going to be keeping a much closer eye on closeout fouls after Game 1's embarrassing officiating and you've got a series here. All it's going to take is Houston to get Golden State panicking more on their pick and rolls (after a few James Harden stepbacks and fouls on drives) to open up Clint Capela (only 4 points in Game 1) for those weak side lobs and PJ Tucker for those corner threes - not to mention adding some CP3 pick and roll maestro with Capela in the mix.

Count me in as a believer (either through boredom or sheer hope) that this is the end of the Warriors Dynasty, Houston were 27 missed threes away from knocking off Golden State from their pedestal last year - The Splash Bros are battered, the depth is thin, this is the time for Houston to finally finish what they started.

Prediction: Houston in 7.

Got your own predictions? Got something to say about our predictions or have some inspiration for a post you'd like to see? Give us a message in the comments!