The National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament among 16 teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference (called divisions, since 1970), which usually decides the NBA Champion. After an 82 game regular season , wins and losses determine the 8 seedings in each conference.

This year the favorites to make it to the finals are probably the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, because they are both 1 seeds in their conferences. But, just because they are top seeded doesn’t mean they go the championship. The San Antonio Spurs are the two seed in the Western Conference, and many think they can knock out the Warriors due to regular season encounters. Cleveland can compete with either I believe, if they stay healthy. There are also other good teams in the East. The Celtics, Raptors, and other teams can make a run at the championship many people believe.

The playoffs are an exciting time of the year for basketball players and fans. A lot of good games go on throughout the day and there are upsets, buzzer beater wins, basically just a lot of excitement. Going to a playoff game is probably going to be one of your best experiences if you enjoy basketball.

This year’s playoffs are the most exciting playoffs in a long time. It seems almost all games are close and more serious, most teams are going to six or seven games each round. Right now, it is each conferences’ semifinals. The Warriors are in a series with the Portland Trailblazers and Steph Curry just returned from and injury and scored 40 points, with 17 in overtime, an NBA record. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are battling right now as Oklahoma City just took game 5 thanks to Russell Westbrook for going off for 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists.

In the East the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the Atlanta Hawks, and it is too easy for the Cavs. Everything has been going well for them. Lebron is being Lebron. And Kyrie, Kevin Love, and J.R. Smith have been putting up numbers as well. There 3 point shooting and ability to move the ball with ease tears defenses apart. The other semifinal game is between the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors. It seems Dwyane Wade is coming to the end of his career because he is getting up there in age. But, he has been playing great. I believe he is the reason for their success. For the Raptors, one of the best backcourts in the league has been carrying them. Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan have been doing it all, Demar just had 34 points to lead them in a game 5 victory while Lowry had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assist.

So, what does it take to be a championship team? Defense wins championships, if you can defend the best. you win simple as that. If you shut down a team’s offense you shut the team down. So when asked who is going to win the championship, try to think of a team that with lock down defense and then think of an offense that seems they can’t be stopped. Anything can happen on any given night, one player can go off for 40 but have 10 the next game. Basketball is unpredictable because it is a team sport and if that player you depend on to help lead the team is having an off night someone else has to step up.

Basketball is a fun, fast paced game with a lot happening at once. With so much going on, someone can get hurt and injuries are a nightmare in the NBA. Lets not wish injury on anybody. Do you really think the Cavs are still going to be in the talk of making it to the championship? The star player of the team means a lot to the team and they depend on that player for many reasons. But, the most valuable out of all these great players this year was once again Steph Curry. Curry has done things that not many people have never even seen before. With his ability to shoot lights out and break down a defense with all his offensive attributes the Warriors are a tough team to beat. But I do think the former MVP Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers can pull through this year and win it all.

Now that the Thunder are in the Western Conference Finals with the Warriors, Westbrook was asked on Steph Curry ,”He’s a shooter,” Westbrook said before Monday night’s Western Conference finals opener against the Golden State Warriors. “He’s not nothing I haven’t seen. Him, Damian Lilliard, guys like that, can shoot the basketball from four or five feet behind the 3, you’ve got to do a little different job. But just be physical.”