Ranking every playoff team's chances of making NBA Finals
Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team in NBA Finals history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win, beating a Golden State Warriors team that had set the regular-season victories record and had the league's first unanimous MVP. In case you needed a refresher.
So anything can happen in the NBA Finals. But what about getting there? That seems a little more predictable; for one, LeBron James has ended up in six in a row. This could end up being a third consecutive year in which the Warriors face the Cavaliers.
Here, For The Win predicts the likelihood of each playoff team to make the Finals, regardless of what happens once they get there.
The underdogs
16. Portland Trail Blazers
They got the Warriors in the first round. Welp.
15. Indiana Pacers
They got LeBron in the first round, where his teams have won 17 in a row and not lost more than one game in a series since 2008. But they did bring back Lance Stephenson …
14. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are usually an intriguing playoff team, but the Spurs seem to have their number ever since that amazing 8-1 upset in 2010. Plus they've lost their last two games with the Rockets and Spurs and last three with the Thunder.
13. Atlanta Hawks
Paul Millsap is a monster, but he's been limited lately by a left knee injury. If he's not a full strength, a team with glaring weaknesses will have no shot to steal more than a series.
The scary dark horses
12. Chicago Bulls
The idea of Playoff Rajon Rondo and Playoff Dwyane Wade joining forces is scary, but it probably also won't mean anything because it's 2017, not 2009. Still, Jimmy Butler has had an amazing season, and the Bulls don't lack for experience.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder
Between Russell Westbrook's fire, the Thunder's playoff experience from last year and their defensive versatility, size and athleticism, no one should be surprised if they make serious noise. But they've lost their last three games against the Rockets, their first-round opponent.
10. Utah Jazz
The Jazz have all the ingredients to be an excellent postseason team - except experience.
9. Milwaukee Bucks
No team in the NBA sports a more versatile 1-2 punch than the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
The serious contenders
8. Houston Rockets
The big question is whether they will defend well enough to get over Mike D'Antoni's Western Conference finals hump. Even then, let's not forget that they got dusted by the Warriors each of the past two seasons.
Dan Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports
7. Toronto Raptors
They could taste it last year, but their seeding - they'll get the Cavs in the second round - really doesn't help. And Bismack Biyombo, the center who dominated Cleveland for two games in last year's Eastern Conference finals, is gone.
6. San Antonio Spurs
Are the guards still good enough? That's ultimately what keeps the Spurs, the team with the second-best record in the regular season, lower than No. 3. They didn't appear to be good enough last postseason vs. the Thunder.
5. Los Angeles Clippers
One of these years, right? The talent is there, the momentum is there, the health is there …
4. Washington Wizards
By slipping to No. 4, they get to avoid the Cavs until the Eastern Conference finals. John Wall has the makings of a great playoff résumé and skill-set. Coach Scott Brooks has a huge role in this one.
3. Boston Celtics
They're ridiculously deep and varied, they play great defense, they have a great coach and they get home-court advantage on anyone in the East.
The favorites
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Never bet against LeBron James …
1. Golden State Warriors
… unless it's in favor of Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. The scariest part is that the Warriors actually had a better regular-season this year by some measures, including the predicative average margin. And with Durant, the Warriors now have a failsafe if Curry struggles again.
In other words, there's no good reason the Warriors should lose in the NBA Finals, either. They're the best team. They were last year, too, though. We saw what happened.