There are some intriguing playoff predictions regarding the Clippers and Warriors.
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Periodically, NBA.com editors will offer their thoughts on key storylines or hot topics around the league.
What’s your one bold prediction for the second half of the season?
Steve Aschburner
The Lakers and Clippers will meet for the first time in the playoffs.
Hard to believe, but this is a playoff face-off we’ve never seen. Most of the blame falls on the Clippers, who have only made the playoffs 14 times in 39 years in Los Angeles, playing in a total of 21 series. (The Lakers during this period: 30 appearances, 82 series, nine rings.)
It will take time, but the Clippers climbing to, say, No. 2 in the West while the Lakers clinch the No. 7 spot via Tournament Play-In would get there. A best-of-seven series where the losers go home would be a good way for the longtime housemates to head into 2024-25 when they have their own arenas.
Brian Martin
The LA Clippers advance to the NBA Finals.
This prediction was made by knocking on every wood possible to keep Kawhi Leonard and Paul George healthy for the rest of the season and playoffs, something they haven’t been able to do over the past three seasons.
The Clippers went all-in in trade for James Harden one week in the season. After losing their first five games with their new team, no team has been better than the Clippers over the past two months – Los Angeles and Boston are tied 22-7 since November 17. The sample size is large enough to show that it’s sustainable…if they stay healthy.
Shaun Powell
The Warriors miss the playoffs.
Yes, they missed the playoffs a few years ago, although they had more injury excuses then than they do now. Maybe it’s not such a bold prediction – the shocker is seeing the Warriors working so hard just to make the Play-In tournament at this point. So here’s what’s in bold: LeBron James will join Curry on the couchwhile two of the greatest of all time are absent.
John Schumann
The Bucks will finish outside the top four in the Eastern Conference.
Last season’s No. 1 seed seemingly sits in the top tier of the East with the Celtics and Sixers, sitting three games in the loss column ahead of the fourth-place Cavs. But the Bucks’ schedule was the easiest in the East (based on the opponent’s cumulative winning percentage) and the busiest home schedule (23/40) in the league.
They have also had some luck, currently 16-6 (third best) in games with less than five points in the last five minutes. Their defense hasn’t been very good, and several teams (Cleveland, Indiana, Miami, New York) could topple them and force them to open the playoffs on the road.
Michael C. Wright
The Warriors sneak into the playoffs.
They have the championship DNA and veteran leadership to right the ship. Vocal leader Draymond Green is back, and soon Chris Paul and Gary Payton II will also return. Don’t expect Stephen Curry to stay in his bad shape much longer, either.
You can also count on the complementary pieces eventually adjusting and gaining the cohesion needed with the veterans to thrive in time for a return to the Warriors brand of basketball.
Golden State’s defensive issues are easily correctable.
There’s a reason why Steve Kerr and crew kept their cool in this doldrums.
