2017 NBA Playoffs Predictions: Quarterfinals

Here are my predictions for the Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

Eastern Conference
(8) Chicago Bulls vs (1) Boston Celtics: This should be an interesting series featuring big markets, a bunch of big name players, and two teams that seem to be heading in opposite directions. The Celtics are a very good team with an outstanding head coach in Brad Stevens that plays hard every game. The might have the best player in this series in Jimmy Butler, who has been mentioned in trade rumors all season (and the Celtics are the most talked about team in the trade conversations surrounding Butler). The Bulls are the most unpredictable team perhaps in the playoffs and Butler and Dwayne Wade will put up their points, but the Celtics are flat out better and Isaiah Thomas will be clutch for the C's in what I think will be a short series.
Prediction: Celtics in five games.

(7) Indiana Pacers vs (2) Cleveland Cavaliers: Color me surprised among those that the Cavaliers did not finish with the 1-seed. That's what they get for resting players too much. The intrigue of this series is to see if Cavs flip the switch or not. LeBron James will be motivated to try to get the Cavs to repeat. The Pacers have underachieved this season and Paul George will get his points in this series and they might steal a game or two, but James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, and the depth of the Cavs will be too much for the Pacers in what should be a short series.
Prediction: Cavaliers in five games.

(6) Milwaukee Bucks vs (3) Toronto Raptors: This is actually a pretty fun series. The Bucks deserve credit for making the playoffs because they lost Jabari Parker for the season with a torn ACL and here they are. It helps that they got Khris Middleton back from injury as well. Giannis Antetokounmpo might be the best player in this series, but the Raptors have Kyle Lowry back from injury and they are the better team here with Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, and trade acquisition Serge Ibaka leading the way in what should be a fun series.
Prediction: Raptors in six games.

(5) Atlanta Hawks vs (4) Washington Wizards: This series should be very interesting. The Hawks have been up and down all season long that have some very impressive wins and some terrible losses this season. When healthy, Dwight Howard and Paul Milsap make a good front court I'm fascinated to see what Hawks team shows up here. The Wizards deserve credit due to the fact that they got off to a bad start this season and here they are with homecourt advantage in the first round. John Wall will be the best player in this series and Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr will hit big shots for them as well. I like the Wiz here because of Wall, Beal, Porter, and the depth they have and the unpredictability of the Hawks. Also, expect a ton of high scoring games and three point shooting.
Prediction: Wizards in six games.

Western Conference
(8) Portland Trail Blazers vs (1) Golden State Warriors: Here we have a Semifinals rematch from a year ago. Kevin Durant is back from injury for the Dubs and he, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are under immense pressure due to the fact they are the favorites to win their second championship in three seasons. The Blazers underachieved to some degree this season and the dynamic backcourt Damian Lillard and CJ McCullom will put up their points, but Durant, Curry, and Thompson will be too much for the Blazers to handle in what should be a short series that will be a ton of high scoring games in.
Prediction: Warriors in five games.

(7) Memphis Grizzlies vs (2) San Antonio Spurs: These two teams have hooked up four of the last seven seasons and last season and it was a Spurs sweep. The Grizzlies are healthier this time around, so don't be surprised if Marc Gasol and Mike Conley lead them to a win or two. That said, the Spurs are healthy right now too and Kawhi Leonard is a top five player in the league and he and LaMarcus Aldridge will lead the way for the Spurs to advance yet again in what should be a short series, but with competitive games.
Prediction: Spurs in five games.

(6) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (3) Houston Rockets: This is easily the best series of the first round, featuring the top two MVP candidates in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Mike D'Antoni deserves credit for the Rockets success because he has the perfect team that fits his style with Harden, Eric Gordon, and Trevor Ariza leading the way. Westbrook will be the best player in this series and will give the Thunder a chance to pull this upset off, but the Rockets are the deeper team and this series is bound to go to distance.
Prediction: Rockets in seven games.

(5) Utah Jazz vs (4) Los Angeles Clippers: This is perhaps the most fascinating series of the first round. The Jazz have had a great season this season and Quintin Snyder is a great coach. The Clippers are the more talented team here and it would be a huge disappointment if they lost this series. Both teams futures are hanging in the balance and the outcome of this series can determine the futures of Doc Rivers, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul in Los Angeles and Gordon Hayward and George Hill's futures in Utah. That said, the Clippers led by Paul, Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan should advance in what should be a competitive series.
Prediction: Clippers in six games.