I’ve used this line before, but I’ll use it again because it is a good one: Predictions are like armpits; everyone has them, and most of them stink.
One exception would be our chief blogger, Jim Park (@SheridanBlog), whose preseason predictions included Stephen Curry as MVP and Steve Kerr as Coach of the Year. My own latest prediction is that Curry will receive 65 percent of the first-place votes in the MVP race, although he did not get mine. James Harden did. The man who wrote the NBA Encyclopedia believes Harden is the most worthy candidate, too.
But that debate is now behind us.
And we move on to the playoffs. The oddsmakers are calling it a three-team race between the Cavs, Warriors and Spurs.
And before they begin, one question: Why on earth would the NBA and its TV partners put San Antonio-LA Clippers as the late game on Sunday night? My best guess is they expect everyone to be out enjoying the spring weather this weekend, and the late start ensures that the sun will have already set around America by the time the fourth quarter begins. That is one heck of a series, pitting the two teams that closed the season the strongest. All of our playoff previews are published, West and East.
So here you go with the armpit column …
We have a large staff here, dinosaurs and youngins both being well represented. Whoever has the best record when the first round ends will receive an entry into one of DraftKings’ second-round fantasy contests, paid for by this particular publisher.
I’ll go first:
CHRIS SHERIDAN, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 6.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 4.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 6.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 5.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 5.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 7.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 4.
CHRIS BERNUCCA, Managing Editor/Columnist
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 4.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 5.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Wizards in 6.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 4.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 6.
Memphis-Portland: Blazers in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 7.
BOBBY GONZALEZ, Columnist/ Future NBA Coach of the Year
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 6.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 6.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 4.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 4.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 7.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 6.
JAN HUBBARD, Columnist/Author of NBA Encyclopedia
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 5.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 5.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 6.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 6.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 5.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 7.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 6.
DANNY SCHAYES, Columnist/NBA Labor Expert
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 6.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 4.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 6.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 5.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 5.
Memphis-Portland: Blazers in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Clippers in 7.
MARK HEISLER, Hall of Fame Columnist
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 5. Thabo Sefolosha personally declines Nets’ offer to have NYPD provide security
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 4. Danny Ainge laments not being allowed the opportunity to tank.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5. Derrick Rose plays in three of the victories.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 6. Paul Pierce gets even more upset.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 5. Too new at this to be pissing people off.
Houston-Dallas: Mavericks in 6. Rick Carlisle can game plan for one scorer.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6. Trail Blazers’ chances of making it out of West went down with Wes Matthews.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 6. Much as I’d like to see Clippers win, I’m not homer enough to predict THAT.
JIM PARK, Chief Blogger/Fortune Teller
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 5.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 4.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 6.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 4.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 5.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 5.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 7.
SHLOMO SPRUNG, Analytics Expert/Columnist
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 5.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 4.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 7.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 5.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 6.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 6.
MICHAEL SCOTTO, Columnist/PayPal Security Skeptic
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 5.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 4.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 4.
Washington-Toronto: Wizards in 7.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 4.
Houston-Dallas: Mavericks in 5.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 6.
JOE KOTOCH, Draft Guru
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 5.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 4.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Wizards in 7.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 5.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 6.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 7.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 7.
JON MARKS, Columnist/Mahorn Savior
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 6.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 5.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Raptors in 7.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 6.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 7.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 7.
BRIAN KAMENETZKY, Columnist
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 6.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 5.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 5.
Washington-Toronto: Wizards in 7.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 6.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 7.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Spurs in 7.
MAXWELL OGDEN, Reporter/Night Owl
Atlanta-Brooklyn: Hawks in 5.
Cleveland-Boston: Cavs in 5.
Chicago-Milwaukee: Bulls in 6.
Washington-Toronto: Wizards in 7.
Golden State-New Orleans: Warriors in 5.
Houston-Dallas: Rockets in 7.
Memphis-Portland: Grizzlies in 6.
LA Clippers-San Antonio: Clippers in 7.
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SheridanHoops.com has been publishing since September, 2011. The publisher has been covering the NBA since 1990, and he has not yet turned 50. But that day is coming soon. Follow him on Twitter.