2016-17 NBA Playoffs Predictions: Will it Be a Back-to-Back Win for Cleveland Cavaliers or a Regained Championship for Golden State Warriors?
The NBA free agency period this year was filled with controversies and surprises. Now that it is on its way of cooling down, early predictions about the 2016-17 Western and Eastern Conference playoffs started to surface.
A Rematch Between Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors?
Broderick Turner of Los Angeles Times projected that the Warriors will once again rule the Western Conference playoffs because of its 73-9 record last season. Aside from the Warriors' impressive performance, the franchise has also added strong players to its solid roster. Last season's MVP, Stephen Curry, and three-point bomber, Klay Thompson, are expected to elevate the Warriors' performance with newly signed teammates Kevin Durant, Damian Jones, ZaZa Pachulia, David West and Patrick McCaw.
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Moreover, Turner also predicted that the Cavaliers will do their best to make a back-to-back win in the next season. With LeBron James expected to re-sign with the franchise, the team is anticipated to ace the Eastern Conference playoffs for the second year in a row. Aside from James, the Cavaliers have a strong roster for the next season that includes Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, and new recruits Chris Anderson and Mike Dunleavy.
ESPN also made the same prediction that the Warriors and the Cavaliers will be facing again in the 2017 NBA Finals. The forecasting panel of the sports television channel cited the team rosters of the franchises, as their advantage in leading the Western and Eastern Conference playoffs.
Tough Contenders in Western & Eastern Conference Playoffs
Turner also projected that the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers will be the Warriors' top rivals in the Western Conference. Both teams are expected to do well on the court in the next season because of their promising rosters. The Spurs recently signed Pau Gasol, Dewayne Dedmon and Dejounte Murray, while the Clippers recruited Brice Johnson, Marreese Speights, Raymond Felton and Diamond Stone.
Moreover, according to ESPN, if the Cavaliers is eyeing for a back-to-back win, the reigning NBA champion should beat Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference. These teams did not only perform well last season but have also added established players to their team rosters.
Jakob Poeltl, Pascal Siakam, and Jared Sullinger have joined the Raptors' pool of talented players that include DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, and Jonas Valanciunas. Meanwhile, the Celtics has strengthened its roster by acquiring Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, Gerald Green, Ben Bentil, Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic.
