2017 NBA Playoffs predictions: SB Nation’s writers pick every series
Who will win each playoff series, and who will be the best player? SB Nation’s writers lay out their picks and evaluate them as we go.
The second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs begins on Sunday when the Boston Celtics take on the Washington Wizards in Game 1 at 1 p.m. That kicks off the second round, which will feature four series spread over two weeks. The entire playoffs will last until mid June until a champion is crowned.
All four series offer some intriguing matchups. Cleveland is a favorite to top Toronto, but will the Raptors have any pride to do better in this rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals? On the other side, the Wizards and Celtics are both fighting for legitimacy. Can they keep their tempers in check and take the next step?
Out West, the Warriors will be favored, but the Clippers and Jazz could both give them a run. Meanwhile, the Rockets and Spurs offer the most even series of the playoffs, with San Antonio’s pedigree trying to slow down James Harden’s high-powered offense.
Our panel had a hard time picking winners in this round. Scroll down to see our second-round predictions, as well as how we did in the first round.
Our pickers:
- Paul Flannery, SB Nation senior writer
- Mike Prada, SB Nation NBA editor
- Tom Ziller, SB Nation NBA columnist
- Whitney Medworth, SB Nation assistant NBA editor
- Kristian Winfield, SB Nation staff writer
- Tim Cato, SB Nation staff writer
- Zito Madu, SB Nation staff writer
- Representatives from the relevant SB Nation NBA team blogs
HERE ARE SB NATION’S SECOND-ROUND PICKS
HERE WERE SB NATION’S FIRST-ROUND PICKS
CELTICS-BULLS
- ACTUAL WINNER: Celtics in 6
- ACTUAL SERIES MVP: Al Horford
- CORRECT EVERYTHING: Tim Cato
- CORRECT WINNER: Everyone
- CORRECT NUMBER OF GAMES: Paul Flannery, Tim Cato, Whitney Medworth, Kristian Winfield, Blog a Bull.
CAVALIERS-PACERS
- ACTUAL WINNER: Cavaliers in 4
- ACTUAL SERIES MVP: LeBron James
- CORRECT EVERYTHING: Nobody
- CORRECT WINNER: Everyone
- CORRECT NUMBER OF GAMES: Nobody.
- CORRECT SERIES MVP: Paul Flannery, Tom Ziller, Whitney Medworth, Fear the Sword, Indy Cornrows.
RAPTORS-BUCKS
- ACTUAL WINNER: Raptors in 6
- ACTUAL SERIES MVP: DeMar DeRozan
- CORRECT EVERYTHING: Mike Prada, Whitney Medworth
- CORRECT WINNER: Everyone
- CORRECT NUMBER OF GAMES: Mike Prada, Whitney Medworth, Raptors HQ
- CORRECT SERIES MVP: Mike Prada, Tom Ziller, Whitney Medworth, Zito Madu
WIZARDS-HAWKS
- ACTUAL WINNER: Wizards in 6
- ACTUAL SERIES MVP: John Wall
- CORRECT EVERYTHING: Whitney Medworth, Kristian Winfield, Zito Madu
- CORRECT WINNER: Everyone
- CORRECT NUMBER OF GAMES: Whitney Medworth, Kristian Winfield, Zito Madu
- CORRECT SERIES MVP: Paul Flannery, Whitney Medworth, Kristian Winfield, Zito Madu, Peachtree Hoops
WARRIORS-BLAZERS
- ACTUAL WINNER: Warriors in 4
- ACTUAL SERIES MVP: Draymond Green
- CORRECT EVERYTHING: Kristian Winfield
- CORRECT WINNER: Everyone
- CORRECT NUMBER OF GAMES: Tom Ziller, Whitney Medworth, Kristian Winfield, Tim Cato, Zito Madu
- CORRECT SERIES MVP: Kristian Winfield
SPURS-GRIZZLIES
- ACTUAL WINNER: Spurs in 6
- ACTUAL SERIES MVP: Kawhi Leonard
- CORRECT EVERYTHING: Tim Cato, Grizzly Bear Blues
- CORRECT WINNER: Everyone
- CORRECT NUMBER OF GAMES: Mike Prada, Tim Cato, Grizzly Bear Blues
- CORRECT SERIES MVP: Whitney Medworth, Tim Cato, Kristian Winfield, Zito Madu, Pounding the Rock, Grizzly Bear Blues
ROCKETS-THUNDER
- ACTUAL WINNER: Rockets in 5
- ACTUAL SERIES MVP: James Harden
- CORRECT EVERYTHING: Paul Flannery
- CORRECT WINNER: Everyone
- CORRECT NUMBER OF GAMES: Paul Flannery, Tim Cato
- CORRECT SERIES MVP: Paul Flannery, Tom Ziller, Whitney Medworth, Zito Madu, The Dream Shake