Play-In Finals, 1 vs. 8 Seed Predictions
In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers are the higher-seeded home team, but they are underdogs in the game. If the regular season is any indication, that is the way it should be, as the Hawks went 3-1 against the Cavaliers.
The regular season sometimes is a different monster from a one-game playoff. The Cavaliers are getting Jarrett Allen back in the lineup, which will provide them with a considerable boost emotionally. However, it was not enough to pull out the victory, going on to face the No. 1 seed Miami Heat.
Miami likely prefers to draw the Atlanta Hawks, as Cleveland’s size could present some issues. Atlanta will get beaten by a veteran Heat squad on a mission this postseason.
In the Western Conference, the Clippers’ chances of winning the Play-In final were thrown for a loop, with Paul George testing positive for COVID-19. They just cannot catch a break, and the New Orleans Pelicans took full advantage of the situation.
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New Orleans pulled off the upset, going into the Crypto.com arena, and defeated the Clippers. That will set them up in a matchup against the Phoenix Suns, who finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA at 64-18, eight games clear of the following best team.
If Zion Williamson returns to the court, the Suns will face a stiff test. CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram have been playing great basketball, and the supporting cast has been excellent. But the Suns will be too much, knocking off an up-and-coming Pelicans team in five games.
