2022 NBA Playoffs Predictions

Graphic made using Canva.com

After an exciting regular season, the NBA playoffs have finally arrived. Just two games into the majority of the first round series, there are several teams playing at a high level. The real question is, which two teams will be playing in the NBA Finals?

Finals prediction

There are several teams that have the potential to go all the way, but the two that stand out the most are the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. These are two well-rounded teams with superstars who will push them to the finals. In a seven-game series, the Bucks would beat the Suns similarly to last year’s finals’ series.

Why Bucks and Suns Final?

The Bucks are the defending NBA champions and overall are the best team in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks won’t have an easy run to the finals due to the fact that they’ll have to beat either the Celtics, Nets, 76ers, or Heat to make it out of the East. Despite the tough competition in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks have one of the best trios in the NBA with Giannis Antentokoumpo, two-time MVP and former defensive player of the year, Khris Middleton, a perennial all-star, and Jrue Holiday who is one of the league’s best two-way players. The Bucks have the firepower, skilled role players, and great team defense to beat any of their playoff opponents.

The Suns have all the qualities of a championship team. They have the experience from losing in the finals last year, great team defense, star power, versatility, and solid role players. Similarly to the Bucks, the Suns have tough competition out in the Western Conference they’ll have to deal with, but given the many advantages the Suns have, they are built to beat any team in the West. Their biggest challenge would most likely be the Warriors, a team with championship pedigree who they split the season series with during the regular season. Despite how great of a team the Warriors are, the Suns are fully equipped to beat them in a seven-game series.

Cypress Creek NBA playoff predictions

Eleventh grader Vinh Nguyen believes the Bucks and the Warriors will be in the finals, and the Bucks will win in six games.

“Bucks win in six because as much as the Warriors have the death lineup and Draymond Green is a DPOY [defensive player of the year] candidate when healthy, Giannis is a little too athletic,” Nguyen said. “I feel like the Bucks are built to stop the Warriors.”

Eleventh grader Christopher Martin predicts the Warriors will make the finals but is unsure on whether the Celtics or Bucks would make it out of the East.

“I don’t know if I have the Bucks or Celtics, but in the West, I have the Warriors making it out,” Martin said. “Their pass-first system has been working for years now, and with the resurgence of Jordan Poole adding another star to a team that was already deep will propel them to the top of the West.”

The Warriors have led the league in assists on many occasions and were in the top five this season.

Martin believes if the Bucks are in the finals playing the Warriors, they would win, and if the Celtics are playing the Warriors in the finals, the Warriors would win.

“If the Celtics make it out of the East, then I have the Warriors in six games, and if it’s the Bucks that make it then I have the Bucks in seven games,” Martin said.

Eleventh grader Jacob Garza expects the Celtics and Warriors to make the finals. He also believes the Celtics would win in six games.

“The Celtics and Warriors are the best in their conferences, and if they meet up in the finals the Celtics defense and star power would be enough to win in six games,” said Garza.

Final thoughts

The 2022 NBA playoffs is set to be a classic year that fans will never forget. Fans have made their predictions, and all that’s left is to see which will be correct.