Section 400’s NBA Playoffs Roundtable

Just like that, roundtables are back!!! If you’ve been with us for a while you probably remember our staff roundtables during the fall football season, but for the new readers here – first of all thank you for the support – and secondly let me explain what our roundtables are all about.

I sat down with the guys ahead of the NBA postseason with some burning questions I needed answered. Below, you’ll find predictions, hot takes, and sports betting picks from Matt, Jack, Zach, and myself.

Bodegas & Cheesesteaks

Alright, boys, the first round starts today. I know most of the series turn out to be “snoozefests”, but give me the one you think is going to be most interesting.

BH: It’s the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks and it’s not very close. The Sixers have been the best team in the league when both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are on the floor, while Jalen Brunson has been doing his best “Kemba Walker at UConn” impression since fellow star Julius Randle went down for the season. Then you have the intrigue of a regional rivalry and the fact the books have this series set at almost even odds. This one should go seven.

MK: I’m offended you asked me this question. Sixers v Knicks, obviously. It’s time for my Sixers to shock the world behind the MVP-caliber play of Joel Embiid.

JA: My pick is going to be Luka and the Mavericks against the Clippers. Doncic already has so much history, and tension, with Los Angeles and I cannot wait for him to go psycho in this first-round matchup. Don’t be surprised if he puts up 40 points per game in this series.

I’ll also hand out an honorable mention to the 4-5 matchup between Cleveland vs Orlando in the East. This series is full of young players looking to make their mark in the postseason on a national stage that should make for great basketball.

ZM: I think that the Lakers vs Nuggets is the most intriguing first-round matchup. The reigning champs vs “The King”. I have Lebron and the Lakers winning in a huge upset.

Cinderella no Wolf Pack.

It wasn’t that long ago we saw NC State take the NCAA Tournament by storm. Do we see a low-seeded squad in the professional ranks pull off a first-round stunner and make a “Cinderella-type” run?

BH: I like the Orlando Magic in the first round purely off the vibes of a fantastic TikTok song. There is little-to-no chance they make a run beyond the first round though. Lebron is always a good bet to make a run as a low seed, but I just don’t see the Lakers out-playing Jokic and the Nuggets over a long series. I guess if I had to pick a team, I’ll go with Luka and the Mavericks. I love how Dallas has played since the acquisition of P.J. Washington.

MK: This doesn’t even feel like an upset considering the talent in Phoenix, but the Suns are going to beat the T-Wolves. If Kevin Durant can stay healthy anything is possible from there.

JA: I’m 1000% going to regret this but give me the Lakers to beat the defending champ, the Denver Nuggets. I’m pretty sure I’m in “la-la land”, or in this case, “le-le Lebronland”, but give me the “Lake Show” to bounce Jokic and send him home to his horses. No parade this year.

ZM: Jack you won’t regret that pick at all. The Lakers will be this year’s Cinderella team after beating the Nuggets!!

Beast of the East

We’ve been talking all year about how boring the East is. Do the playoffs stay chalky or do you have a crazy ECF matchup?

BH: I’m usually not one for boring sports takes, but I don’t see a world where the Celtics and Bucks aren’t the two final teams standing in the inferior conference. I will give you a fun metaphor for the series though- while Milwaukee’s Bud Light is great, Boston’s Sam Adams is a more complete brew – Boston is just too loaded for Milwaukee. Celtics move on in five games.

MK: Fine Brian I’ll once again be the “hot take” guy. Joel Embiid is finally getting to the Finals (and finally beating the Celtics) in a Game 7 for the ages.

JA: I’m sorry to keep piling on you Brian but you are just wrong. Giannis and the Bucks head to Chick-fil-A and order 250 nuggets after beating the Celtics and moving on to the Finals.

ZM: Alright, Alright, let’s calm down here. I think the Knicks and the Celtics play in the Eastern Conference Finals and The Celtics will win in 6. However, Jalen Brunson is going to go bazerk and become respected as a top 15 NBA player.

They waitin’ on my arrival

For as boring as the East may be, the West is more intriguing than Ippei Mizuhara’s bet slip history. What team is coming out of this mess?

BH: Our last roundtable was our NBA Season Preview back in September. In that, I gave out the Oklahoma City Thunder as my sleeper pick to win it all. All they’ve done since then is capture the 1-seed in a competitive conference. SGA and company take down the Nuggets in a 7-game, instant classic of a semi-final round.

MK: Denver is just so good man. I’ll take Jokic and Jamal Murray to get back to the biggest stage. Nuggets over the Suns in seven.

JA: This is the year Luka Doncic gets it done. He and non-Ramadan Kyrie lead Dallas to the finals by taking down the Suns.

ZM: I love the Mavericks pick Jack. I have Dallas taking on the Lakers in a star-studded series featuring Lebron, Luka, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie. Unfortunately for you, Lebron gets the best of his former “Robin” Kyrie, and the Lakers move on in an exciting 7-game series.

Last Man Standing.

You guys probably saw this question coming. I need you to pick your Finals Champion and Finals MVP.

BH: One of my hottest takes I’ve stuck to is the fact Jayson Tatum will never win a ring. Naturally, I have to pick the Thunder to take him and the Celtics down. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves the league MVP this season. He may not get it, but he will receive Finals MVP honors.

MK: CLAP YOUR HANNNDSSS, EVERYBODY. FOR THE PHILADELPHIA… 76ERS. Sixers get it done with Joel Embiid hoisting Finals MVP.

JA: I said it earlier, “Luka Magic” is going to take over the NBA Playoffs. Luka Doncic becomes the fifth Slovenian-born player to win a ring, and the first to win Finals MVP.

ZM: Lebron James wins his fifth ring and wins his Final NBA Finals MVP by putting up a 27-8-7 stat line!