NBA: Conference Finals Predictions

No. 1 Houston Rockets (65-17, 8-2) vs. No. 2 Golden State Warriors (58-24, 8-2): The Houston Rockets are going to have to play smart and efficient to beat the Golden State Warriors. In the last two years in the playoffs, the Rockets seem to falter in the playoffs with a lack of defense and laziness on offense. To attack the Warriors, the Rockets will have to move the ball and create space for James Harden and Chris Paul to operate and create plays for themselves and their teammates. With playing a fast paced offense, Houston may have to slow it up on some possessions to create switches on pick and rolls to kick it out or lob it into the post to someone like Clint Capela. On defense, they will have to be attentive and able to defend the pick and roll properly. Also, they will have to limit transition points because if the Warriors get it on the break, there is no doubt they are scoring baskets. Throughout the season Golden State has had one of the best offenses in the league and that has continued in the playoffs. They averaged 106 points per game against the San Antonio Spurs without Stephen Curry. That 106 points also came with about 27 assists. The Second Round, they put up 115 points a game and 31 assists as they eased Curry back into the line up. Even as it seems like the Rockets defense has improved, with the addition of Paul, the games versus the Warriors in the regular season were high scoring affairs. The Warriors have so many shooters, with Klay Thompson, Andre Igoudala, and the aforementioned Curry all shooting over 35 percent from three and the team averaging 29 assists a night. Golden State is so good at sharing the ball with each other and finding the hot hand, which will keep Houston on their toes. Not to mention that they have four All-Stars on the team that know how to either create a bucket for someone or get one themselves. Also with the Warriors playing small ball, it will be tough to defend. The Rockets defense will have a lot on their hands if they want to make it to their first NBA Finals since 1995.

Henningburg: Rockets.

O'Bannon: Warriors.

Paige: Warriors.

Post: Warriors.

Taylor: Rockets.

C. Wejinya: Rockets.

K. Wejinya: Rockets.

No. 2 Boston Celtics (55-27, 8-4) vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32, 8-3): When one team has Lebron James and the other team isn't the Golden State Warriors, the outcome should (almost) never be in doubt. The Cleveland Cavaliers were always going to be in the Eastern Conference Finals. Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, Jose Calderon, Derrick Rose, the worst dude in your local run, a mannequin from your mall, a cutout of Drew Carey, or a bowl of clam chowder. It never really mattered who started at point guard for the Cleveland Lebrons. He was always getting to this point. Now he looks across and sees a team led by the best coach in basketball. The Boston Celtics are a hobbled team being carried by young guys. Their dismantling of The Process was masterful. If there's one East team who could pose a challenge, it's this team with its next man up mentality and dearth of wings. With that said, I think James will be making his eighth straight NBA Finals. I've never seen someone dominate games the way he's doing this playoffs. He's in complete control of everything. If his supporting cast shows up as it did in the Toronto Raptors' series, this could be another short series. Boston will need to make a ton of threes and somehow slow down the best player in the world. Sometimes two points isn't just two points and sometimes greatness isn't just greatness. But what if greatness runs out of fuel? James is leading his team in four of the five main statistical categories, averaging 34.3 points and 9.0 assists per game in the playoffs, but what if the Celtics' depth offsets James. There are six Boston players averaging double digit points, including Jayson Tatum, Terry Rozier, and Al Horford combining for 54.0 points per game. Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Marcus Morris are putting up 10.6+ points to add to that. We saw how well Boston can play in Game 1 versus the Cavs, winning 108-83. James was only able to score 15 points on seven assists. We all recognize that James is one of the greatest ever, but his Finals streak is in serious jeopardy against the Celts.

Henningburg: Cavaliers.

O'Bannon: Cavaliers.

Paige: Cavaliers.

Post: Cavaliers.

Taylor: Celtics.

C. Wejinya: Cavaliers.

K. Wejinya: Cavaliers.

READ: NBA Second Round Predictions.

Aduroja: 6-2.

Collins: 6-2.

Henderson: 7-1.

Heningburg: 8-4.

O'Bannon: 8-4.

Paige: 9-3.

Post: 9-3.

Taylor: 3-1.

Stoll: 9-3.

C. Wejinya: 9-3.

K. Wejinya: 3-1.

Photo Credit: Hollywood Life.