SAME OLD, SAME OLD... OR ENSUING MAYHEM?

Patrick: This year, fellas, I believe we’re going to get an awesome NBA playoffs season. These matchups are so up-in-the-air in regard to winner/loser that I am excited about every single last one of them. Haven’t thought that in quite the while. Now, when all is said or done, it could be that the only teams standing are the favorites… but my guess is that it will not have been easy by any stretch of the imagination.

John: I’ll agree with you in terms of not feeling 100% about any of the teams this year—but I can come close when it comes to the Western Conference. I believe it’s only a two-team race in the West: the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors. Now, the Eastern Conference is a whole other animal. I can see the Milwaukee Bucks or the Brooklyn Nets or the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics pulling this one out.

Russ: I believe the champ is going to come from the Eastern Conference. Speaking on April 25, as we go to press, as hard as I’m rooting for the Bulls to make it out of there, they have a very tough draw against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are now 3-1 against the Bulls in Round 1 of the semifinals, with Game 4 on Wednesday, April 27, while we are at press. It's a best-of-seven series, so if the Bulls don't come back Wednesday, it's all over. The second, final, round of games before the championship will get even tougher, especially if the teams who’re supposed to make it out of the first round make it out. The first through fourth seeds feel so interchangeable and, until the last game of the season, there was no telling who was going to play whom.

Donald: Yeah, it’s a bit tougher this year in calling it.

Patrick: It is, but I gotsta go with Milwaukee to pull it out for the back-to-back. Giannis Antetokounmpo is The Man. And as much as Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets are talked about or, even, Joel Embiid and James Harden and the 76’ers, the Milwaukee Bucks have been to the mountaintop, and are still on it until someone knocks them from it…so they know what it takes. The Brooklyn Nets are 3-0 right now against the Boston Celtics, but they are the seventh seed in the East and many called them the favorite to win it all.

John: Now, the Bucks may have to go through the Suns to claim that mountaintop. A team, I might add, that might not take lightly to losing twice in a row to the same team in the championship series. That said, however, I believe the Miami Heat—not the Milwaukee Bucks—will emerge from the East and take on last year’s Western Conference finalist: the Phoenix Suns… and Phoenix will win it all this year.

Donald: Wow. I hadn’t really given the Heat a chance… and, I guess, I’m still not—at least not against my man Giannis and the Bucks. I believe them getting the championship last year definitely helped them get and keep a certain swagger that’ll get them the trophy again this year. Some bad boys on that squad. Shoot, Giannis, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday…man….

John: I agree, Donald; but I think you may want to keep an eye on the Miami Heat. They’re very well-coached, physical, and it could help that they’re still very much underrated. I believe for Milwaukee to make it, Giannis needs to shoot less 3-pointers, and Jrue and Khris Middleton will have to up their games a bit. If they can do that, it’s very possible they could repeat as champions.

Russ: As much as I like to pick teams—I am Street- Wise’s March Madness king for the year!—this NBA season, I might just sit back and enjoy the games.

Donald: Russell, that don’t sound bad at all.

Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org

Vendor Russell Adams

Vendor John Hagan

Vendor Donald Morris

Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards