The NBA playoffs used to be boring, at least according to skeptics. The discomfort were few and distant, the best team was determined by who had the best individual player, and the best team almost always won. NBA fans endured four years of Golden State Warriors against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. With Kevin Durant in the bay, the dream of the NBA parity felt more out of reach than ever.
The history of the NBA has been defined by the dynasties, from Russell and the Celtics of Bird to Magic and the Kobe Lakers to the Bulls of Jordan to the spurs of Duncan to the Curry Warriors. That era of the league may not have gone forever, but more, it is the attractive leg in indefinite parenthesis.
The parity of the NBA is here, and is glorious. The League has crowned a different champion in each of the last six seasons, with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, each claiming the title. The last time it happened in the history of the league was 1975-1980.
The Celtics enter the NBA playoffs of 2025 in the hope of being the first team to win consecutive championships from the Durant and Curry warriors. Boston is one of the favorites, but his way to a title should be much more than the walk he had last year.
The first round of the NBA playoffs of 2025 begins on Saturday. Let’s make selections for each series of the first round and predict the rest of the support.
NBA Playoffs 2025: First round selections and predictions
Seed number 8 in the east and west has not yet been determined at the time of publication.
West Conference
Prediction: No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder Advance in a sweep.
Seed No. 2 Houston rockets vs. No. 7 Seed Golden State Warriors: This is going to be an incredible series. The rockets have youth, size and athletics on their side. The warriors have the two The best players in the series in Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, but there is no doubt that Golden State is narrower, more slow and crispy physically. I have already changed my mind in this 10 times. Can Thompson Block Curry for a complete series like Hey in the regular season? Can rockets get enough on the half court without a true star? Will Alpelan şengün abuse the small ball alignment of the Warriors? I await an instant classic. Prediction: Warriors in 7.
No. 3 Seed Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Seed Minnesota Timberwolves: It still makes no sense that the Lakers have Luka Doncic, and will never do it. This list still seemed too defective after the exchange due to the lack of a large man of initial caliber, but Chief coach JJ Redick has done a great job with creative defensive solutions. Rudy Gobert is not going to punish the defense of the Lakers, and I think the Los Angeles traps could give Anthony Edwards some problems. We already know that Jaden McDaniels cannot protect Luka in the playoffs after the western conference of last year. This also seems that it could be a great series of Austin Reaves. Prediction: Legators in 6.
No. 4 Seted Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Seed Los Angeles Clippers: Another incredible series. Nikola Jokic is a turn in a season of all time, ending Top-3 at points, rebounds, assists and robbery while shooting almost 42 percent of three three. The rest of the Nuggets are quite little inspiring, and the fact that they had a new chief coach during the last three games does not bring exactly confidence. The clippers are rolling. James Harden-Ivica Zubac Pick-And-Roll has been devastating throughout the season. Kawhi Leonard is back and playing great minutes to a high level. The defenders of the perimeter chase it, and the Powell standard can set fire quickly. The clippers have the best team, but believing in them to win the series means believing that Leonard can remain healthy all the way (which has not happened in the playoffs since 2020) and that Harden can overcome the demons of playoffs. The chips are stacked against Jokic here, but if Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordan can take a step forward, I still like their possibilities. Prediction: Pepitas in 7.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers advances in a sweep.
No. 2 Seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Seed Orlando Magic: Magic could be much better, but its historic lack of shot and failure to optimize the touches of Paolo Banchero have made this a forgettable season. Please, Orlando, follow the path of the adding veteran shooters this summer! Celtics are a giant even with Jaylen Brown’s knee a bit bulky at this time. Prediction: Celtics in 5.
Seed No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons: The pistons are just a great story, which passes from a team of 14 wins last year to a team of 44 wins this year. Corc Cunningham is ready for his party at the playoffs to consolidate himself as one of the best NBA guards of the next generation. The Knicks had 0-10 against the 3 best teams in the NBA this year, but the Pistons are not at that level. New York has four of the five best players in the series at least. This is a great season for Detroit independently or how it ends. Prediction: Knicks in 6.
No. 4 Seed Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Seed Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks and the Pacers have a small wonderful rivalry emerging, from the door of the game ball to the Pacers using a football game to win a confrontation of the regular season that cools them the advantage of Homecourt in this series. Damian Lillard is currently with a blood clot, but it is possible that he can play at some point in this series. With Lady, this feels like a release. Without it, the Pacers feel like the most complete team with a more explosive offensive. Indiana’s defense has improved a lot since last year, and have enough bodies to try to reduce the speed of Giannis Antetokounmpo at least a little. Can Giannis win this series alone? Like Jokic against the clippers, I would not put him beyond him, but without giving me the task it is too much. Prediction: pacemaker in 6.
NBA Playoffs 2025: champion predictions and conferences endings
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There is my full support. Let’s look at some of the big songs.
- I like Warriors in series against the Lakers, but I would take the Lakers on the Rockets. The first round of the state of Houston-Golden is a launch that feels bold when choosing the Warriors for the finals of the West Conference, but that is the way I am leaning.
- The Cavs-Pacers could be a great series of the second round in the East. Do not forget that the Pacers arrived at the East Conference finals last year, and this team is much better, defensively, and Tyrese Haliburton has his best ball at the right time. I see that cavs-pacers are more competitive than Knicks Celtics. Still, I’m going to Cleveland.
- It will be a great discomfort if the Eaastern conference finals are more than Cavs-Cells. I am choosing Celtics in 7 in a classic snapshot. Boston has the staff to frustrate Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the offensive while attacking them defensive. This could be a huge Kristaps porzingis series to get the cleveland twin towers out of paint. If Porzingis falls with an injury, this series swings to the cavs in my opinion.
NBA ends 2025 predictions and selections
I go with Thunder about Celtics in six.
The Thunder has two big questions for me entering the playoffs:
- Can they continue forcing ball losses in defense at a historical rhythm?
- Can Williams or Chet Holmgren move forward as a secondary creator on the half court?
Those are big problems. A team like the Lakers with two great ball handlers in Luka Doncic and Lebron James could give OKC some problems. I think J-Dub and Chet are ready to intensify, but the space can get a bit narrow when the Thunder play with their two great alignments (Holmgren + Isaiah Heartstein) that they have frequently used to finish the season.
Still, i’m optimistical on the Thunder Becoause i Believe in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Greatness, They Feel Less Reliant On The Three-Point Shot Than Last Year Attent in the Adion from 38.9, and attent from 38.9, and attent from 38.9, and attent from 38.9, and attent FROM 38.9, and attentive to 38.9) and attentive to 38.9, and attentive to 38.9) and 38.9 and 38.9 and 38.9 and 38.9 and 38 and 38 and 38 and 38 and 38 Relieves defensive bounce groups. Keeping Alex Caruso fresh for playoffs should pay great dividends. There is simply no weak link in this defense to attack. If the defense wins championships (word to Nico Harrison) and the superstars take it through the finish line, OKC has the right combo with Shai (my MVP choice of the finals) leading the road.
