What is better? The first round of the NBA playoffs or Weekend at Bernie’s part two? NBA is playing this year playoffs without Lebron James as we are so saddened. Weekend at Bernie’s without Bernie is probably a bigger deal.

We know Bernie’s crew still has some magic left in their weekend. Meanwhile Lebron James’ Magic resigned.

That leaves us with the first round of the playoffs. Who should we predict will play the Warriors in this season’s NBA Championship? Maybe the battle for second and third should be a bigger deal. Perhaps they should get participation ribbons for their efforts.  As usual, the first round of the playoffs looks pretty easy to predict. Each series looks to have a defined winner. We throw an upset into the ring just for shits and giggles to make things spicy. Hope it’s not your team.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (57-25) VERSUS LA CLIPPERS (48-34)

I guess the Clippers get the shortest straw and now face the Warriors in the first round. The NBA needed one California team in that last spot. It came down to the Kings, Lakers and Clippers. I guess you can say the Clippers are the best team in LA this year. For whatever that’s worth.

This first round match up has the feeling of the Clippers bringing a knife to a gun fight.

Clippers will have to bring their own shovel to their own massacre in round one.

Boogie Cousins big series.

WARRIORS SWEEP

HOUSTON ROCKETS (53-29) VERSUS UTAH JAZZ (50-32)

It seems like James Harden is like the wolf from Teen wolf when comes to the Rockets basketball.

The way Harden is like a one man army. Not passing it to anybody. Dribbling for a half hour and then shooting. While the others just stand around. In the movie Teen Wolf, the guy named Chubby ate an apple while just handing the ball to the Wolf. Rockets welcome Clint Capela back from injury. Then Chris Paul who missed some games. This gives the Wolf Harden a chance to travel in a pack for a change which will be needed in the playoffs. Both teams come in red hot. I think the Rockets are just too talented to lose to the Jazz. I think the Jazz will make this into a series.

ROCKETS IN SIX

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (53-29) VERSUS OKLAHOMA THUNDER

The Blazers swept the Thunder in regular season.However the tables will turn in the playoffs. The big reason the Blazers are without Jusuf Nurkic, which is a big blow to the team’s chances in the playoffs. I think Paul George and Russell Westbrook for the Thunder will take control of the series. Russell Westbrook has still a lot to prove as he keeps seeing former Thunder teammates getting their teams further in the playoffs every year. Last season the Thunder were out very early, but this will not happen again.

THUNDER IN SIX

DENVER NUGGETS (54-28) VERSUS SAN ANTONIO SPURS (48-34)

The Spurs amaze me with their 22nd straight year in the post season. They have their work cut out for them against a young, scrappy, and hungry team the Denver Nuggets. Denver has not been in the playoffs since 2013. The Nuggets have a very deep roster and will win this series. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, one of the best in the business. His teams always play strong and I can see them taking two games in this series.

NUGGETS IN SIX

EASTERN CONFERENCE

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (60-22) VERSUS DETROIT PISTONS (41-41)

I love the Milwaukee Bucks, this is my kind of team. It’s a team that has been building for years and now are coming together to become a true force in the league. It’s a team not built on the three superstar buddy system. MVP Gionnis Antetokounmpo wants to beat you, not join you.

The Bucks are my pick for the Eastern conference. Bucks will handle the Pistons with ease in the first round. Pistons’ Blake Griffen, I will give him having a few good dunks in the series. That’s like getting a participation ribbon and pat on the bum for effort.

BUCKS SWEEP

BOSTON CELTICS (49-33) VERSUS INDIANA PACERS (48-34)

The Celtics had a very disappointed season this regular season. The Celtics are a very streaky team. They are playing a Pacer team without their allstar Victor Oladipo. The Pacers have the third best defense in the league. This will be a grind out type of series I believe. I give the Celtics the edge as Brad Stevens is their coach. He makes the right move in a key situation. I think his game plan will get the Celtics to the second round. Perhaps they might gain more confidence as the playoffs go on and become trouble with their second opponent in the next round.

CELTICS IN SEVEN

TORONTO RAPTORS (59-24) VERSUS ORLANDO MAGIC (42-40)

Orlando Magic had to make a late run late in the season just to make it in the playoffs. The Magic won 11-13 games and they got in. Now to play one of the elite teams in the Eastern conference. Before the season with Lebron James going to LA, people thought Toronto has a good shot at being the number one dog in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors were going deep in the playoffs. Guys like Kyle Lowery and Pascal Siakam now have gotten help from the front office. Adding Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol gives this team a fair shot at the Eastern conference championship and a meeting with the Warriors. I’d like also for Jeremy Lin to make some kind of play for the Raptors as I’m making a bold statement.

RAPTORS SWEEP

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (51-31) VERSUS BROOKLYN NETS (42-40)

The 76ers might be without Joel Embid in this series. The Nets are an up and coming young team that might put a scare into the 76ers. Led by D’Angelo Russell and a well balanced roster up and down, this series could be the one with the upset. The 76ers with all their moves they made in regular season did not improve their chances where you can say they are the top team in the Eastern conference. Jimmy Butler will infect his cancer all over this team in the post season. Things will unravel and like a blink of the eye the 76ers will be knocked out in round one in a tough series that many would think should have never went the distance.

NETS IN SEVEN