This Saturday, the basketball God’s have blessed all NBA fans with 3 game 7’s. We have Hawks at Pacers, Grizzles at Thunder, and the Warriors at the Clippers. Each game should be a nail bitter and come down to final minutes in the 4th quarter. The Hawks and Grizzles have surprised everyone by taking the series to 7 games while all playoff lovers knew the Clippers and Warriors were going to fight it out the entire series. Who do you believe will win each series? Here are my predictions.
Hawks vs Pacers
The Hawks have played their best basketball all year in this series. Jeff Teague has proven all the doubters that he can carry his team and play at an All-Star level. Paul Milsap has played at a consistent rate while Kyle Krover has been draining it from downtown. While Paul George has been up-and-down, and Roy Hibbert has been nonexistent. Since it is do-or-die on Saturday I expect the Pacers to show up and play their dominating defense and frustrate the Hawks forcing them to turn the ball over. Jeff Teague will have no problem scoring once again thanks to his speed but it will be up to his supporting cast this game to help him. Paul George will regain his superstar play and Roy Hibbert will be the monster in the pain scaring away any player that enters his jungle.
Prediction: Pacers over Hawks 98-92
Grizzlies vs Thunder
Memphis has played stellar defense all series and have slowed the Thunder down by making them play “grizzly” basketball. When the Grizzles are in possession of the ball they don’t rush the shot and look for a great shot, this allows them to slow the game down and take time off the clock limiting the amount of times Durant and Westbrook touch the ball. Durant and Westbrook have been playing the scoring machines they are no matter what the critics say, their game isn’t the fast paced tempo they are used to playing. The Grizzles received a death blow with Zach Randolph out for game 7 because of his actions towards Steve Adams. With the lost of Z-Bo that should be enough for the Thunder to run away with this game and head onto the next round.
Prediction: Thunder over Grizzles 105-90
Warriors vs Clippers
This is the series that all basketball lovers were tuned into. Not because of Donald Sterling (let’s not get into that conversation now), but because these two teams have fought it out all season. The main reason for those fights was Andrew Bogut and his dominate presence in the paint. Since he was out all series thanks to an injury, the Clippers have been attacking the basket at will. Steph Curry started off cold in the first couple games but has picked it up, carrying the offense like he did all season. The Clippers have been sharing the ball and finding the open man to get the ball in the basket. Blake Griffen, Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul have been the heartbeat of this offense but Matt Barnes and JJ Reddick have been picking up the slack when needed. Don’t be surprised if we see Curry come out in game 7 and shot as many times as possible but it won’t be enough to carry them into the next round. Clippers win in a nail bitter.
Prediction: Clippers over Warriors 115-112