NBA Playoff Predictions: Experts Weigh in on Conference Winners, Championship Contenders, and Breakout Stars

With the NBA Playoffs officially underway, many believe this could be one of the most unpredictable postseasons in recent memory. The Oklahoma City Thunder have put together the most dominant regular season since Michael Jordan’s 1990-91 Chicago Bulls, while the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers finished atop the Eastern Conference with a combined 125 wins, outpacing their rivals by a massive ten-game margin. So, just how wide open is the chase for the Larry O'Brien Trophy? To answer that question, we turned to the experts at NBC Sports to get their take on which teams will emerge as conference champions, which player will steal the spotlight, and which team will ultimately claim the title.

NBA Eastern Conference Winner Predictions

• Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports): Celtics (-145) over Pacers (+2200)
  Dalzell sees the Celtics as the clear favorite, but he gives the Pacers a chance to surprise, especially with their fast-paced style matching up well against Cleveland. He believes Indiana could give Cleveland a run for its money in the second round.

• Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper): Cavaliers (+210) over Celtics (-145)
  Dinsick sees a strong difference between the top two teams in the East, backing Cleveland’s home-court advantage and superior offensive closing five to prevail over Boston.

• Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk): Celtics (-145) over Cavaliers (+210)
  Helin plays it safe, sticking with the Celtics, acknowledging their dominant position in the East.

• Raphielle Johnson (@raphiellej): Celtics (-145) over Cavaliers (+210)
  Johnson believes the Celtics and Cavaliers are head and shoulders above the competition, making it difficult to imagine another outcome.

• Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas): Celtics (-145) over Cavaliers (+210)
  Thomas adds that Boston's depth and strong two-way play make them an even tougher matchup in a seven-game series.

NBA Western Conference Winner Predictions

• Dalzell: Lakers (+600) over Clippers (+1200)
  Dalzell predicts a dramatic postseason in the West, with the Los Angeles teams potentially making a deep run. While the Thunder may be the favorites, Dalzell thinks the Lakers and Clippers have the experience and star power to challenge them.

• Dinsick: Thunder (-140) over Lakers (+600)
  Dinsick predicts the Thunder will cap off their historic season with a run through the West, getting revenge on the Lakers and Luka Doncic along the way.

• Helin: Thunder (-140) over Warriors (+750)
  Helin sees the Thunder as the likely conference champions, but notes that a potential second-round series between the Lakers and Warriors could be one of the most exciting matchups of the postseason.

• Johnson: Thunder (-140) over Lakers (+600)
  Johnson highlights the Thunder’s favorable bracket, but acknowledges that the Lakers, led by LeBron James and Luka Doncic, could make a strong push for the Finals.

• Thomas: Lakers (+600) over Thunder (-140)
  Thomas picks the Lakers to emerge from the West, pointing to their playoff experience and the duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic as the deciding factors in a potential championship run.

NBA Championship Predictions

• Dalzell: Celtics (+190) over Clippers (+3000)
  Dalzell believes the Celtics will have a smoother path to the Finals than the Thunder, with their depth and health making them the team to beat in a matchup against the Clippers.

• Dinsick: Thunder (+165) over Cavaliers (+650)
  Dinsick backs the Thunder to claim the championship, with their dominant defense and MVP-level play from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading them to victory in a thrilling Finals series against Cleveland.

• Helin: Thunder (+165) over Celtics (+190)
  Helin puts his faith in the Thunder, trusting their regular-season dominance to carry them through to an NBA title.

• Johnson: Celtics (+190) over Thunder (+165)
  Johnson goes with Boston, provided Jaylen Brown’s knee holds up, calling them the most complete team in the NBA.

• Thomas: Celtics (+190) over Lakers (+1400)
  Thomas picks the Celtics to win the championship, citing their offensive and defensive prowess, their deep roster, and their ability to outshoot opponents as key advantages in the Finals.

NBA Player to Breakout in the 2025 Playoffs

• Dalzell: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
  Green is poised to take center stage for the Rockets in the postseason, with a chance to make a major impact against stars like Ja Morant or Steph Curry in the first round.

• Dinsick: Austin Reaves, LA Lakers
  Dinsick predicts Reaves, playing alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, will become a major contributor for the Lakers in their playoff run.

• Helin: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
  Helin sees Cunningham thriving in the playoffs, particularly in pick-and-roll situations, as Detroit looks to make noise against teams like the Knicks.

• Johnson: Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
  Johnson believes Thompson’s versatility and skillset will make him a breakout star for Houston in their playoff journey.

• Thomas: Luka Doncic, LA Lakers
  Thomas highlights Doncic as a potential breakout player, noting his pairing with LeBron James could lead the Lakers on a deep postseason run.

As the playoffs unfold, these predictions will likely provide plenty of drama and surprises, but most experts agree that the top teams in both conferences—Boston and Oklahoma City—are the favorites to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy come June. But as always, anything can happen in the NBA postseason.