2016 NBA Playoffs: Predictions From Basketball’s Talking Heads

The East

The East is the King’s to lose. Will LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers hold strong and can James defiantly make a sixth straight NBA Finals appearance? Those have to be the questions on everyone’s mind, especially following a season where a banged up Cavaliers squad hung in with those pesky Dubs. Clearly they’re the favorite out in #TheLand, but they’ll get a tough test early on with the Pistons.

Alternatives to represent the East may include the second place Toronto Raptors, or third place Miami Heat. Even in a year where both James and the Cavaliers were heavily criticized, they stand alone at the top as the clearfront runner to get smashed in this years NBA Finals.

1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8) Detroit Pistons

Season series: Detroit 3-1.

First game: Sunday, Apr. 17 at 3 p.m. EST.

Cavaliers leader in win shares (WS): LeBron James (13.6).

Pistons leader in WS: Andre Drummond (7.4).

Twitter has it:

The experts have unanimously selected Cleveland.

Not surprisingly, the No. 1 seed, headed up by the King himself, isn’t being doubted here.

2) Toronto Raptors vs. 7) Indiana Pacers

Season series: Raptors 3-1.

First game: Saturday, Apr. 16 at 12:30 p.m. EST.

Raptors leader in WS: Kyle Lowry (11.6).

Pacers leader in WS: Paul George (9.2).

Twitter has it:

 The experts have Toronto unanimously. 

While the Raptors have home court advantage and are coming off a franchise best season, the same could be said for each of the last two years where Toronto failed to advance. Clearly the majority don’t see that happening this time around.

3) Miami Heat vs. 6) Charlotte Hornets

Season series: tied 2-2.

First game: Sunday, Apr. 17 at 5:30 p.m. EST.

Heat leader in WS: Hassan Whiteside (10.3).

Hornets leader in WS: Kemba Walker (9.9).

Twitter has it:

The experts are split, 23 percent have the Hornets and the upset, the remaining 77 percent have the Heat.

The Hornets are an underdog, but unlike many of the lower seeds they aren’t believed to be a significant lesser. The Celtics, Hawks, Hornets and Heat all finished the season with the same record (48-34). Point being, the middle two series may actually be the East’s most competitive.

4) Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics

Season series: Hawks 3-1.

First game Saturday, Apr. 16 at 7 p.m. EST.

Hawks leader in WS: Paul Millsap (10.1).

Celtics leader in WS: Isaiah Thomas (9.7).

Twitter has it:

The Experts are again split. The majority actually have the Celtics “upsetting” the Hawks, with 64 percent picking Boston and the remaining 34 percent choosing Atlanta.

Both teams are incredibly strong defensively. The Atlanta Hawks’ 101.4 defensive rating is the league’s second best mark. However, since the Celtics’ 103.4 defensive rating is fourth best amongst all 30 teams, we could be in for a seven-game grinder.

Next: West Predictions