2024 NBA Playoff Update For May 17th

    

2024 NBA Playoff Update

2024 NBA Playoff Update

First of all, all due credit to the Boston Celtics, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers aside, 4 games to 1. They moved onto the Eastern Conference Finals. Since the Celtics were my pick to represent the East in the NBA Finals - are, in fact, my pick to win it all this year - this was hardly surprising. Looked like they were struggling a bit more than expected early in the playoffs. But they should be well rested for the next round, when they take on the winner of the Kicks-Pacers series.

Which of course brings me to the Pacers and the Knicks. As I write this, on Friday evening, May 17th, the Pacers and Knicks are playing Game 6, in Indiana. As of right now, it is late in the third quarter, and the Pacers are leading the game, 81-66. They are trying to earn this win to force a Game 7, which would be played in New York's Madison Square Garden. Feels like this is how a series between the Pacers and Knicks should go.

One series that feels like it has been strange has been the Nuggets and T-Wolves. Through the first two games, Minnesota looked unstoppable, and the Nuggets looked like an old and beaten former champion. Then the Nuggets got red hot, and crushed the Wolves in Minnesota in both games, then beat them soundly in Denver to take a 3-2 series lead. But yesterday, the Timberwolves embarrassed Denver, beating them in humiliating fashion. That forces a deciding Game 7, which will be played in Denver, which will be played on Sunday. Denver were my original pick to repeat as Western Conference Champions, and to get back to the NBA Finals. Yet, I have to admit that I am not sure what will happen in Game 7. Either team could get hot and blow out the other team, or it could be close. Frankly, it would not surprise me no matter who comes out of this series, and what a series this has been!

Finally, Dallas owns a 3-2 series lead over Oklahoma City right now. The Mavericks will host Game 6 tomorrow, with a chance to take OKC out and win the series, if they can manage to close them out. Should be interesting. I am going to predict that Dallas indeed comes out of this series and advances to the Western Conference Finals.