2022 NBA Finals Prediction
The Milwaukee Bucks crowned NBA champions with the 2020-21 season all wrapped up. Here is an updaten to our NBA playoffs and Finals predictions for next season, and project how the playoff bracket for the Eastern and Western Conferences will look next year.
Prediction for Eastern Conference
Top seeds in the East:
1. Brooklyn Nets
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Miami Heat
4. Philadelphia 76ers
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. Chicago Bulls
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. Indiana Pacers
Kyrie Irving and James Harden were both out down the stretch of the postseason for the Brooklyn Nets. If they were healthy, we’re probably not talking about a Bucks championship right now.
The Nets still got the No. 2 seed in the East even when Irving, Harden and Kevin Durant missed extensive stretches of the 2020-21 regular season. They should be all rested up and driven to chase a championship this next year, so look out for Brooklyn to bounce back in a big way and to challenge Milwaukee for East supremacy.
The Miami Heat had been a lot fresher than they were last year off a quick turnaround from their Finals run in the Orlando bubble, and are giving Jimmy Butler some help by acquiring a viable, veteran floor general in Kyle Lowry.
Predictions for Western Conference
Top seeds in the West:
1. Utah Jazz
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Dallas Mavericks
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Phoenix Suns
6. Denver Nuggets
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Lakers’ hopes a repeat of Anthony Davis derailed and to LeBron James injuries. GM Rob Pelinka is certainly did not sit on his hands once free agency opened.
Welcoming the likes of Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington and Kent Bazemore the Purpole and Gold roster has completely transform.
Murray will return months ahead of Kawhi, which will help Denver ascend higher in the West. ACL tears for Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray and Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard have their teams lower in the West playoff bracket.
Donovan Mitchell will be driven as ever to will the Utah Jazz to a Larry O’Brien Trophy after seeing Giannis win a title in Milwaukee.
The Jazz added a desperately needed wing defender in Rudy Gay, retained Mike Conley and acquired another elite rim protector in Hassan Whiteside. Don’t be surprised if Utah locks up the No. 1 seed for a second year in a row.
The Dubs are going to have a huge comeback, The Golden State Warriors pop out with James Wiseman on the rise, and Klay Thompson returning.
No matter what else they do to surround him with talent, Doncic’s trajectory alone is going to thrust Dallas into the West’s top three. Much of the Dallas Mavericks’ projection is based on Luka Doncic.
Bracket predictions of NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference bracket:
- No. 1 Nets win against No. 8 Pacers, 4-0 (Nets advance to Conference Finals, 4-1)
- No. 2 Bucks win against No. 7 Hornets, 4-2 (Bucks advance to Conference Finals, 4-1)
- No. 3 Heat win against No. 6 Bulls, 4-3
- No. 5 Hawks win against No. 4 76ers, 4-2
Prediction of Eastern Conference Finals
- No. 1 Nets defeat No. 2 Bucks, 4-2 (advance to NBA Finals)
The Milwaukee Bucks’ size and elite defense would be a lot of advantage against Brooklyn. Jrue Holiday could absolutely wear down Harden and Irving. Giannis also showed another level of greatness in the NBA Final that can’t be discounted.
If these two team meet, it will probably feel more like a Finals matchup than whoever the winner plays coming out of the West in the next round. The Nets will get the edge over the reigning champs in six games for now.
The Heat and Bull Round 1 would feature tons of premier talent and two elite coaches in Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Chicago’s Donovan. It will be a tactical chess match for the ages, but the Heat’s playoff experience edge would help them advance.
Again the Sixers, are hard to pin since Ben Simmons’ future hangs in the balance. Depending on how a trade shakes out for him, they could have a much better outlook for next year, or see their standing drop.
The Charlotte Hornets, led by reigning NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, getting into the postseason. Ball and Gordon Hayward give Charlotte a shot, and the young phenom may attract another big name to the Hornets this season.
Western Conference bracket:
- No. 1 Jazz win against No. 8 Clippers, 4-3
- No. 2 Warriors win against No. 7 Grizzlies, 4-1 (Warriors advance to Conference Finals)
- No. 6 Nuggets win against No. 3 Mavericks, 4-2 (Nuggets advance to Conference Finals)
- No. 4 Lakers win against No. 5 Suns, 4-3
Prediction of Western Conference Finals
- No. 6 Nuggets defeat No. 2 Warriors, 4-2 (advance to NBA Finals)
The Clippers barely sneak into the playoffs through the play-in tournament. It’s going to take Kawhi Leonard quite a while to get back.
Even when Leonard returns, he will be conservatively managed, and cannot be counted on to carry LA. Utah will be out for revenge after blowing a 2-0 lead to the Clippers in the 2021 NBA playoffs.
The Suns. Running into the new-look Lakers. Speaking of revenge, A healthy LeBron and AD may change the condition of a prospective rematch.
What the Mavericks intend to surround Doncic with, they cannot be counted on to advance past the first round, despite the young stud’s best efforts.
The Memphis Grizzlies are not ready to advance in the postseason just yet, especially if they face the Dubs to start. Grizzlies should continue their steady progress with a strong young core led by Ja Morant.
A Warriors vs Lakers match would be fun, but it is a bad matchup for the latter. The Splash Bros. are the most lethal combo of 3-point shooters in NBA history. While LA did acquire plenty of shooters this season.
The Warriors revenge would ultimately run out of steam in this scenario, however. With Murray back in the fold, Denver would have just enough to sneak past the Warriors and into the NBA Finals.
NBA Finals matchup and champion Prediction
- The Nets will win the victory against Nuggets, 4-1
A Nuggets vs Nets Finals would be a compelling matchup for a variety of reasons.
First, Kyrie Irving enigma wrapped in a riddle inside a mirror dimensional prism and so on. But can the man hoop when he’s locked in and healthy.
And Second, The Brooklyn Nets’ Big Three will be Michael Porter Jr. develop enough on the defensive end to help. If MPJ can do that and continue his stunning skill as a scorer, Denver might have a legitimate chance to knock off Brooklyn in a revenge series.
Third, A big man is precisely what could cause the undersized Nets to crumble which is Nikola Jokic’s one-of-one skill set.
Fourth and last is Durant and Harden might play so well to give factors one through three irrelevant.
This Nets team just has too much offensive firepower to be denied in the end.
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