2016 NBA Playoffs: Predictions From Basketball’s Talking Heads

The 2016 NBA Playoffs are upon us, so here are the annual playoff predictions!

After a 60-point spectacle, 400 triples, and maybe the best regular season finale in recent memory, we’ve made it. The 2016 NBA Playoffs are here. This is what everyone’s been waiting for. Exactly 2,460 games later, the field has divided; the real sweet 16 starts now. Soon will separate the men from the boys. Will the Golden State Warriors reign supreme? People sure seem to think so.

An MVP, a championship and 73 regular season wins later, the Warriors are poised once again as the favourites to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy this June. In fact, on a panel with 22 selected experts making their playoff picks, only one person doesn’t have them winning the title.

The hypothetical conversations have run wild, whether they are or aren’t better than the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls will never be determined. Regardless, this team is superior to its competitors and clearly stands out above the rest.

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NBA playoff predictions aren’t fun unless the spectrum has some grit, some girth if you will; so to add some favour this year I’ve collected a panel of your favourite NBA talking heads. They are all writers or media members for heralded sites and brands — respected figures of the basketball community and Twitter enthusiasts. Make sure to give these guys a follow if you haven’t already!

You’ve probably heard them on the radio or read their stuff some where on the wide, wide web. They’ve graciously agreed to help @HoopsHabit with this year’s playoff predictions. I can’t thank them enough, since they’re risking their very reputations here today! Well, maybe not, but still. They’re risking a screen shot and a snarky comment on social media, so please feel free to haggle or commend them on their picks accordingly.

Contributors of the panel were asked to pick their round one winners, give a finals prediction, and ultimately select their champion. The spreadsheet of who exactly picked who can be found on the final page, along with the projected champion.

The Contributors:

@NickAshooh, Host ESPN980.

@HowardBeck, Senior NBA writer for Bleacher Report & BR Radio.

@GeraldBourguet, Assistant Editor for HoopsHabit.

@Peter_Bukowski, Writer SInow and Golf.com.

@TheDoctorCarson, (Dan Carson), Senior Writer Fox Sports.

@JosephCasciaro, NBA content lead for TheScore.

@MrCraw4D, (Bryan Crawford), Contributor HoopMag.

@JabariDavisNBA, Contributor Bballinsiders.

@AndyGlockner, Editor & co-founder at the Cauldron, author Chasing Perfection.

@JordanHeckFF, Contributor SportingNews.

@DerekJamesNBA, Editor AtTheHive.com, Timberwolves analyst 1500ESPN.

@Tjonessltrib, (Tony Jones), Jazz writer Salt Lake Tribune.

@Michael_Lark, Writer & photographer for mavsfanatic.com.

@BlakeMurphyODC, Contributor Vice Sports, editor RaptorsRepublic.

@Bballbreakdown, (Coach Nick), Owner Bballbreakdown.

@quixem, (Quixem Ramirez), Writer Pounding The Rock.

@The_Raheel, (Raheel Ramzanali), Host ESPN975.

@Schultz_Report, (Jordan Schultz), Huffington Sports columnist & BR Radio.

@TermineRadio, (Justin Termine), Host SiriusXMNBA.

@Bballinsider, (Dwight Walton), NBA Insider TSN 690, 1050, & 1290.

@Jeremy_Woo, NBA Contributor for Sports Illustrated.

Next: East Predictions