NBA PLAYOFFS - Previews and Forecast

The 2016-17 NBA Playoffs are underway and the favorites without a doubt to win the NBA championship are the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors (67-15) closed the regular season on a 15-1 roll to clinch home court advantage throughout the playoffs, including the NBA Finals. Led by Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, they should cruise to the NBA title for the second time in three years.
The only team that could possibly stop them would be the San Antonio Spurs (2-1 vs. Golden State in the regular season, including a 20-plus point blowout victory when Durant was active for the game) who finished the season with a 61-21 mark, but staggered home by going just 9-7 to close the regular campaign.
The Spurs are led by Kawhi  Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge and still have two of the "Big Three" in Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, along with a deep bench with Patty Mills and David Lee among the stalwarts.
Look for these two teams to clash in the Western Conference Finals in a series that may very well go the full seven games.
In the East, it appears the Cleveland Cavaliers (defending NBA champs) will get back to the Finals once again. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love lead the way for the Cavs and only the Boston Celtics have an edge (or so it seems) against Cleveland as they are the number-one seed in the playoffs.
The dark horse team could be the Washington Wizards, who finished strong and are looking healthy as the post-season begins.

PREDICTIONS - Western Conference
Golden State over Portland in four games
San Antonio over Memphis in five games
Houston over Oklahoma City in six games
Los Angeles Clippers over Utah in seven games

Semi-Finals
Golden State over Los Angeles Clippers in four games
San Antonio over Houston in six games

Western Conference Finals
Golden State over San Antonio in seven games


PREDICTIONS - Eastern Conference
Boston over Chicago in seven games
Cleveland over Indiana in six games
Milwaukee over Toronto in six games
Washington over Atlanta in seven games

Semi-Finals
Boston over Washington in seven games
Cleveland over Milwaukee in five games

Eastern Conference Finals
Cleveland over Boston in six games


NBA FINALS -  Golden State Warriors over Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.