And so the real season finally begins. All 16 teams—eight from each conference—are ready to rumble and tumble in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
It’s really hard to figure out how things are bound to unfold this time around, but many can definitely agree that the Golden State Warriors, who recently set a new league record of 73 regular-season wins, are the top favorites (-180) to repeat as champions.
However, this is the time of the year where upsets usually happen, and that might just happen to the Warriors especially if they let their egos get the best of them. That said, find out below as to who the basketball experts currently think will come away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Meanwhile, you can also checkout our expert prediction pieces for the Eastern and Western Conference.
NBA News & Predictions
- 2017 NBA Draft Expert Picks and Predictions
- 2017 NBA Draft Sleepers
- 2017-18 NBA Championship Odds Update
2016 NBA Finals Expert Predictions
Bleacher Report
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Adam Fromal | Golden State Warriors |
Well, you can’t blame him for doing so. This team’s been playing surreal basketball all season long, and even opponents can’t help but show some admiration towards them. The Warriors broke the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record of 72 regular-season wins, and these kinds of things only happen to very special teams.
Speaking of special, Golden State has the likes of Stephen Curry, the reigning league MVP, on its side. He’s bound to win the aforementioned award again thanks to these ridiculous averages of 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists this season. More importantly, it’s almost impossible to stop Curry from going on a rampage. He can torch opposing teams with his speed and handles, while also burning them through his outside shooting. Curry has accumulated a total of 402 three-pointers this year, which sets a new NBA record.
Besides Curry, there’s still the pair of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to make the Warriors scarier and (almost) unbeatable. Both players are scoring double-digits, posting 22.1 and 14.0 points respectively.
CBS Sports
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Ken Berger | Golden State Warriors |
| Zach Harper | Golden State Warriors |
| Bill Relter | Golden State Warriors |
| James Herbert | Golden State Warriors |
| Ananth Pandian | Golden State Warriors |
| Matt Moore | Golden State Warriors |
Among all the six experts of CBS Sports, no one was willing to put their trust on any team other than the Golden State Warriors. And yes, there’s no surprise here.
The Warriors are just too good, and (arguably) have no weaknesses. Other than the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green leading the show, their second unit, which is led by the 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, has been providing enough support throughout the regular season. Golden State’s bench is averaging 33.7 points on 43.2% shooting and is garnering about 9.3 assists per game.
Statesman
| Expert | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Kirk Bohls | Golden State Warriors |
| Cedric Golden | Golden State Warriors |
The same goes for the experts of the Statesman. Both Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden have full confidence on the Golden State Warriors to repeat as champions this year.
Bohls points out that the Warriors’ 73-9 record is no fluke at all, and the Rockets—their first-round opponents—are going to be beaten to a pulp without question. Golden, meanwhile, feels the same way, but he notes that the San Antonio Spurs will pose as the toughest hurdle in Golden State’s quest for a second-straight championship.
Create a betting account now, and start placing your bets on all the upcoming action in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
