NBA Playoffs 2025 1st Round Finish, 2nd Round Start!

(C5) My picks for the East and West Semi-Finals, and my revised TOP 12 most important NBA Guys. Plus, the biggest winners and losers of Round 1

So far, I predicted 5 out of 7 first round series correctly. The one that was the boldest, is still pending (that is Warriors v Rockets). So, tonight I will either be like Jordan going 6 out of 8, or I’ll be 5 out of 8, which is still a winning record for first round picks.

Let’s get started with Round 2/ Conference Semi-Finals Matchups and then speculate on the last one that isn’t settled yet.

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Eastern Conference:

1-Cleveland Cavaliers v. 4-Indiana Pacers

<I pick the Cavs>

Maybe I was sleeping on the Pacers, but I don’t think so. I actually think this will be a quick series where the Cavs win in 5. They have been that impressive!

2-Boston Celtics v. 3-NY Knicks

<I pick the *Celtics>

Celtics have homecourt over the Knicks, and this is a series for regional bragging rights. Despite the Celtics absolutely dominating the Knicks in recent memory, I think this will be a real competitive series. Having said that, I still think the Celtics win in 6.

*If the Celtics do happen lose this series to the Knicks, I will never be so happy to be so wrong

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

1-OKC Thunder v. 4-Denver Nuggets

<I pick the Thunder>

As impressed as I am by Denver’s gritty 7 game series versus the LA Clippers, I’m still going with the Thunder in 6. We don’t realize how good this Thunder team is yet, and we might not until they advance to the Western Conference Finals.

6-Minnesota Timberwolves v. 2-Houston Rockets or 7-Golden State Warriors

<I pick the T-Wolves>

No matter who wins the pivotal Game 7 matchup between the Rockets and Warriors, I’m picking the T-Wolves to advance to the Western Conference Finals, NO MATTER WHAT!

The funny thing is I think the Wolves would make quick work of the old and tired Warriors and close them out in 5. As for a potential Rockets matchup, I can see the series being stretched to 7. But I’ll go out on a limb and say T-Wolves in 6.

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MY REVISED 12 MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS IN THE NBA (right now!)

1. LeBron James, LA Lakers: He’s still the guy, and will be next season, just so long as he doesn’t retire.

2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves: I don’t want to skip ahead, but if the Wolves and the Thunder both advance to the WCF, it will make for tremendous theater!

3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: It almost feels disrespectful that Jokic is still only 3rd on this list. But, then again, it almost feels like he wishes he were only an after-thought.

4. Luka Doncic, LA Lakers: Despite the slight vindication for Mavs GM Nico Harrison, Luka still is a marquee guy playing for THE MARQUEE FRANCHISE!

5. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors: Curry being ranked 5th in importance seems like his current floor. If his team wins Game 7 and continues to make some real progress in these playoffs, there is only one place left for him to go, and that’s up!

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks: It’s incredibly hard to maintain in the TOP 4, when your team keeps getting bounced out of the 1st round of the playoffs (3 years in a row, now).

After 1 Round of playoff action, the TOP 6 is still the TOP 6 with slight alterations. The million-dollar question now is - Can any of these next 6 guys make it into the TOP TIER, by the time these playoffs are over?

7. SGA, OKC Thunder: I was very tempted to put Tatum here, but for now the better playoff winning percentage this year was the tiebreaker.

8. Jason Tatum, Boston Celtics: His stock is certainly on the rise.

9. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers: His stock is on the rise too.

10. Jalen Brunson, NY Knicks: I must be the “Anti-Homer” Knicks fan! How did I not put him in my original TOP 12???

11. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers: Despite his father being banned from attending any more playoff games this year, Haliburton has earned this spot. (And honestly, he should have at least been on my honorable mention list, all along).

12. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs: Despite not seeing any postseason action in his young career, yet. He’s still one of the future stars of the league. If I need to expand my list beyond 12, I will. But for as long as he’s healthy and improving as a player, Wemby is safely on any one these lists I make.

Biggest Winners of the 1s Round of the Playoffs

1. Nikola Jokic: His legacy would have taken a slight hit if he was bounced out of the 1st round, or if he lost another Game 7 at home. He and his team answered the bell in a big way, and that shows why he’s always a winner and a perennial MVP candidate!

2. Anthony Edwards: He made the jump from being the 6th most important guy in the league on my list, to the 2nd most important, all in 5 playoff games

3. Jalen Brunson: Just see what I wrote about him in my rankings, having him as #10 now.

4. Fred Van Fleet, Houston Rockets: That championship pedigree and steady hand, has made a world of difference in the “Rockets V Warriors” Series. Think of it like this - Do you think the Clippers would have rather had him over their current (choke-artist) point guard who just blew another playoff series?

5. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves: The Lakers have done more to rehabilitate this guy’s image than any PR Team could have.

6. Julius Randall, Minnesota Timberwolves: All us Knicks fans are shocked that Randall actually took a step-up in these playoffs. Usually, he does a James Harden and disappears in big moments.

7. Nico Harrison, GM Dallas Mavericks: Luka Lakers fell flat in round 1 of the playoffs, and Harrison gets to breathe a (temporary) sigh of relief.

Biggest losers of the 1st round of the playoffs

1. James Harden, LA Clippers: I actually think he’s a bigger choker than Karl Malone. That and he was referenced (not by name) when I picked Van Fleet as a winner of Round 1. And he was clearly referenced when I picked Julius Randall as a winner of Round 1!

2. Luka Doncic: He’s now under the biggest microscope ever. People are still wondering if he will ever come into a new NBA season in shape.

3. Austin Reeves, LA Lakers: Looks like AR is going to be the easiest scapegoat for the Lakers first round collapse.

4. JJ Reddick, Head Coach LA Lakers: I better understand why people have so much fun making fun of Duke Guys!

To Be Determined:

Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors: Sometimes it’s not even how you play, it’s whether or not your team gets out of the 1st round of the playoffs. We will know if Jimmy Buckets belongs on the biggest losers of round 1 list, later this evening.

Those that fell out of the TOP 12

1. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers: His rejuvenation was a nice story, but ended too soon.

2. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns: A friend of mine said he didn’t belong in my TOP 12 in the first place. I think he was right

Honorable Mention for TOP 12

1. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic: I saw him against the Celtics, and despite his team only taking one game off of them, he was good! And that was a tough-hard-nosed team that lost to the potential eventual 2x Champions.

2. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets: My same friend told me he’d put Sengun in his TOP 12 very early on in these playoffs. Given how the Rockets have been playing, I’ll put him here at least, no matter how Game 7 plays out.

Until the Conference Finals!

-JPJ

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