What's Wright - Nick Wright's NBA Playoff + Awards Predictions: Will Lakers SURVIVE Rockets? Celtics-Nuggets Finals?

Welcome to episode 447. It’s our NBA playoff picks and awards ballot show, and we just got word that Luka and Cade won their 65‑game appeals and are awards‑eligible. I saw the Shams screenshot and my heart jumped thinking it was a return announcement, but I’m thrilled they’re on the ballots. Let’s dive in and pick every series.

West, round one: OKC sweeps whoever comes out of the eight–nine, whether it’s Phoenix or Golden State. Spurs handle Portland in five. Denver beats Minnesota in six with real stakes for Ant and Joker narratives. I hate to do it, but I’ve got Houston over the Lakers in six, with LeBron stealing one and the Rockets coughing up another.

East, round one: Detroit in five over the Orlando–Charlotte winner. Boston over Philly in six if Embiid returns by game three; if he doesn’t, it’s shorter. Knicks–Hawks is my lone seven‑gamer; I trust Jalen Brunson at home, and I think Jalen Johnson has a moment. Cavs over the Raptors in six, even though I’m pulling for Scottie.

I wouldn’t give Philly two against Boston, even with Embiid. If Knicks–Hawks hits seven, I lean Atlanta.

Round two: OKC over Houston in five. Denver over the Spurs in six in a series San Antonio could’ve dodged by winning game 82. East semis: Detroit over Cleveland in six with a classic Harden home game, and Boston over the Knicks in six to avenge last spring. Conference finals: Nuggets over the Thunder in seven, Joker reminding everyone he’s still the guy. Boston over Detroit in six. Finals: Celtics beat Denver in a game seven at TD Garden. We compared brackets and didn’t disagree much; Demandze has the Hawks upsetting the Knicks and is high on OKC over the Spurs despite the regular‑season head‑to‑head. We both end up with Boston winning it all, which will put him through emotional whiplash.

On the awards‑eligibility rulings: Luka was at 64 games with two missed for the birth of his child, Cade at 63 with a collapsed lung, and Ant’s 60‑game challenge was denied. I wasn’t sure Cade’s case would qualify, but I’m glad it did; leaving him off ballots would’ve missed a huge story of the season.

All‑NBA: First team locks are Shai, Luka, Wemby, and Jokic. The last spot was Cade versus Jalen Brown; I went Cade as best player on a 60‑win one seed. Second team: Jalen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, and Jalen Duren because I like a true center on each team. Third team: Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Johnson, and Chet Holmgren. Deni Avdija was my first man out once Cade became eligible; KAT and Scottie Barnes were in the mix.

If I’m starting a franchise, I’m taking Wemby as my hub. For MVP this year, I’d go Joker first, then Wemby.

My MVP ballot from five to one: Cade fifth, Luka fourth after the late‑season missed time, Wemby third, Jokic second, and Shai wins it with an absurdly efficient thirty a night and wire‑to‑wire team success. Jalen Brown and Jalen Brunson are next up if I had two more lines.

Other awards: Defensive Player is Wemby by a distance. Sixth Man goes to Keldon Johnson, a key spark for a top seed. Rookie of the Year is Cooper Flagg, with Con Knueppel right there and VJ Edgecombe a clear third, and I’ll admit the play‑in we all watched can nudge perception. Most Improved is Jalen Duren after jumping to twenty a game and carrying stretches when Cade sat. Clutch Player is Shai. Coach of the Year is Joe Mazzulla; the Celtics crushed their projection and never let up. Bonus hardware: East finals MVP Jalen Brown, West finals MVP Jokic, and Finals MVP Jason Tatum. Even if Boston wins, the ‘best player alive’ belt likely stays with Joker unless Shai goes back‑to‑back and tears through everyone again.

That’s the full bracket and ballot. Rest up for forty‑five days of late‑night hoops. Lakers–Rockets will be a 10:35 Eastern tip, so pace yourselves. Enjoy the games, catch me on TV during the week, and we’ll be back here Tuesday.