8P9S Roundtable: 5 bold predictions for the 2022 NBA Playoffs

Which team is the most likely to pull off an upset in the first-round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs?

Kyle Pring: The Brooklyn Nets, though I don’t love this pick. Toronto obviously came to mind, but it is easier to envision a scenario where Philly usurps them in six games or less than the Raptors upsetting them in a long series considering their thin bench. Against the red-hot Celtics, the Nets could have more than a fighting chance, especially due to the sheer isolation prowess of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, two typical playoff standouts. Also, watch out for the possible return of Ben Simmons, who easily flips the defensive ceiling of this fragile Brooklyn squad and makes Boston a bit more vulnerable with Rob Williams out.

Zach Pearson: I can see a path where the Denver Nuggets pull off the upset against the Golden State Warriors. This to me depends on if Steph Curry misses any games of the series and if so how many. Jokic is having an MVP caliber season and The Nuggets have beaten the Warriors in three out of four regular-season matchups. The X factor is Steph Curry and if the Nuggets supporting cast can provide consistency or one of Murray/Porter can return. I think they have a shot at an upset but if the Warriors have a healthy Curry it will be difficult.

Rhett Bauer: Gotta be the Toronto Raptors. The Sixers seem like a mess, Harden doesn’t seem to be right, and Thybulle can’t play in Toronto. I’m not sure when/if FVV is coming back, but they have the length and the athletes to bother Embiid and still recover/rotate to the other guys. I don’t think they’ll do it in 5 games or anything, but 6 or 7 would not be surprising to me at all.