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By Tyler Erzberger
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We've made it to the NBA playoffs, and it's time to see if anyone in the field has what it takes to topple the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder from going back-to-back as league champions.
But before we get to the NBA Finals, we need to find out who will make it past the first round and join the elite class of eight teams remaining in the postseason.
As we kick off the play-in tournament on Tuesday, here are my official predictions for who will make it out of the Western Conference in the opening round of the playoffs.
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(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
Portland has been a fun story this season after years down at the bottom of the standings, but the Suns should handle business to make it into the playoffs proper.
Prediction: Suns
(9) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
It feels almost fitting that this is the lowest-rung matchup in the Western playoffs. A decade ago, the "Lob City" Clippers and emerging dynasty of Steph Curry's Warriors were the marquee matchup in the West. Now, this could truly mark the end of the Warriors' run as they look towards a long, frustrating rebuild.
Prediction: Clippers
(8) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (9) Los Angeles Clippers
While the Trail Blazers have a brighter future than the Clippers, L.A.'s experience and overall pedigree will be enough to grab them the final Western Conference playoff ticket.
Prediction: Clippers
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(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (9) Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers may have been better off losing in the play-in. The Thunder are on the warpath to create a dynasty, and the old, pieced-together Clippers held together by Kawahi Leonard are pure cannon fodder for the reigning champs.
Prediction: Thunder in 4
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
A broken, injured team physically against a broken, injured team mentally. Truly a matchup for the ages. If Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves could come back in the middle of this series, then the Lakers have the advantage. While the Rockets should be favored, I can't trust a team that feels like they're on the edge of imploding at any minute.
Prediction: Lakers in 7
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
The best first-round matchup in either conference: the Nuggets taking on the Timberwolves in a heavyweight bout between two teams who believe they can make it all the way to the finals.
Although Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves can push the Nuggets far, it's difficult to pick against a franchise that knows how it feels to win a ring and has Nikola Jokic leading them in peak form.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Phoenix Suns
The Suns are a good basketball team, but they're standing in the way of Victor Wembanyama and a red-hot Spurs team that is in no mood to slow down. They might be contending for a title earlier than expected, though that's what happens when you have a generational talent like Wembanyama leading the charge.
The Suns take a game, but the Spurs let the fans and media know that they're a legitimate contender to the Thunder's throne.
Prediction: Spurs in 5
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