Crossover: PurplePTSD and Vikings Territory Predict the 2024 NBA Playoffs
Josh Frey
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PurplePTSD usually is a website that revolves around the Minnesota Vikings.
However, we and our flag-ship site, Vikings Territory, have made it an annual tradition of predicting the NBA playoffs when the third week of April rolls around (though last year’s predictions were horrific, so we probably should have given up there). As usual, the panel consists of myself, Dustin Baker, and Janik Eckardt.
Here is how we see the NBA playoffs turning out in 2024.
First Round
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston Celtics over (8) Miami Heat, 4-1
(5) Orlando Magic over (4) Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-3
(3) Milwaukee Bucks over (6) Indiana Pacers, 4-3
(7) Philadelphia 76ers over (2) New York Knicks, 4-3
The voting in the first round was unanimous for two of the series. All three of us believe that the Boston Celtics will get revenge on the Miami Heat this year and prevent another Cinderella run while we also predicted that the Milwaukee Bucks will knock off the Indiana Pacers.
However, we were split on 76ers/Knicks and Cavs/Magic. Dustin and Janik predicted that Philadelphia would upset New York while I picked the Knicks. Meanwhile, Janik and I picked the Magic while Dustin had the Cavaliers. Because of the democratic process of these predictions, the Magic and 76ers advance by majority vote.
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder over (8) New Orleans Pelicans, 4-1
(4) Los Angeles Clippers over (5) Dallas Mavericks, 4-3
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves over (6) Phoenix Suns, 4-3
(2) Denver Nuggets over (7) Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
The first round in the West promises to be a thrilling time, but the panel was unanimous in selecting Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and Denver to advance to the conference semi-finals. Dustin and Janik chose the Clippers to advance while I had the Mavericks. LA advances by majority vote.
Conference Semi-Finals
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston Celtics over (5) Orlando Magic, 4-1
(3) Milwaukee Bucks over (7) Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
The conference semi-finals in the East were straight forward for the group. We all picked Boston to beat up on Orlando, and despite some injury concerns for both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid that threw us for a loop, Milwaukee was the unanimous pick to knock off Philadelphia.
Western Conference
(4) Los Angeles Clippers over (1) Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-3
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves over (2) Denver Nuggets, 4-3
The other side of the bracket saw much more disagreement. Dustin and I both picked the Clippers to upset the Thunder while Janik had Oklahoma City winning in seven games. For Nuggets/Timberwolves, Janik and I had Minnesota advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004, upsetting the defending champs. Dustin picked Denver in seven games, but he was overruled.
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston Celtics over (3) Milwaukee Bucks, 4-2
The Jrue Holiday revenge series comes to fruition in the Eastern Conference. As the Bucks fan on the panel, I had to pick Milwaukee to win, but Dustin and Janik took the other side, each picking the Celtics to win the series.
Western Conference
(4) Los Angeles Clippers over (3) Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-3
Over in the West, we somehow landed on two teams who have never made the NBA Finals. However, the magical run for Minnesota ends in heartbreak, and all three of us decided to pick the Clippers to win in seven games.
NBA Finals
(1) Boston Celtics over (4) Los Angeles Clippers, 4-1
Alas, when presented with this matchup, none of us had the guts to go against the Boston Celtics. LA’s quest for their first championship fizzles out, and the Celtics win their 18th title.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.