With only two weeks until the NBA playoffs begin, we take a look at potential matchups, and who I believe will win the NBA championship this year.  This year was filled with emphatic dunks, clutch shots, and some of the best point guard play I’ve ever seen.  However, the craziest thing that happened this year is the Atlanta Hawks season.  I love watching this team play.  There is no selfish play here and they, in my opinion, are the second most well rounded team (behind only the Cavaliers) in the league.

The Hawks have the second best overall record, behind the Warriors, at 56-18.  Atlanta plays inside out basketball.  They look for their best players in the paint (usually Paul Millsap and Al Horford) and if they don’t have the shot they’ll dish it beyond the arc where Kyle Korver will most likely hit a three.  Millsap and Korver are the offensive leaders of this team. Millsap leads the team in points per game and rebounds per game while Kyle Korver is shooting an incredible 50% from behind the three point line and 90% from the free throw line.  I like the hustle and tenacity of this team however, do not  believe that they will win it all this year.  If the standings stay the same for the next two weeks they will face off against the Boston Celtics in the first round.  Though I admire that the Celtics have fought hard this year despite lack of talent, the Hawks are going to wipe the floor with them.  Boston is a young and inexperienced team who won’t be able to hold their own against this number one seed. Despite any success they have in the playoffs, they won’t beat the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are last year’s Miami Heat.  Everybody knew they were going to be good but they struggled in their path to the championship.  The Cavaliers did not start the season off strong but that was to be expected.  Three all-stars and a new coach in the same year is going to cause turmoil.  They’ve pulled their act together in the latter portion of the year, and have by far the most talent on a single team.  The only concern I have for this team in the playoffs, is LeBron James.  LeBron obviously loves to be in control of games but especially in the playoffs.  He needs to understand that every single member of the team is more than capable of taking over a game.  I see them going to the championship but do not feel that they will win it.  They will fall to the Warriors in the championship.

Usually I try to stay away from cheering for a number one seed, but the Golden State Warriors are too fun to watch to not root for them.  The warriors have had the same postseason story for the past couple years; to make the playoffs and lose early to a higher seeded team.  That’s not going to happen because they’ve secured the number one seed in the Western Conference.  Yet, that first series may be the most entertaining to watch in the entire playoffs.  If standings stay as they are now, the Warriors will play an Oklahoma City Thunder team without the reigning MVP Kevin Durant.  Despite the loss of their best player, Russell Westbrook has been lighting the court up as of late.  Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook are the two best point guards in the NBA and they are going to come at each other with full force.  Westbrook has the size advantage but Curry is more agile and has a better long range jump shot.  Westbrook can’t beat this team alone and there aren’t any other contributors.  Curry and shooting guard Klay Thompson will shoot their way past the Thunder and whatever other team stands in their way.  I am crossing my fingers for a Cavs and Warriors championship.  These two teams have very different playing styles that will make it a defensive battle.  The series will go to seven games and I have to imagine some of these games are going to come down to a last second shot.  There’s no other player I would want to take the last shot for my team than Curry.