MENU
Tonight could be the night that three more NBA Playoff series come to a close. For the betterment of what is already an insane (and quite awesome) first round of playoff action, however, we’ll all probably cross our fingers that we see at last a couple of game seven’s.
Whether or not that will come to fruition is the big question, though, as Friday night brings three more amazing battles with the Raptors/Nets, Spurs/Mavericks and Rockets/Blazers all squaring off in exciting game six action.
Let’s break down each matchup and see if we can’t predict the winner with Friday’s NBA Picks:
Toronto Raptors (3) @ Brooklyn Nets (6) – 7:00 PM ET
Toronto is supposed to be the team lacking experience and the ability to close. Instead, they took care of business in a big way in game, five, snuffing out a late run by the Nets and taking a commanding 3-2 series lead. Teams that win game five normally go on to win, but the way this series has been going, that theory may have to be pushed to it’s limits.
Brooklyn has the advantage of a big game six coming on their home court, where they’re a different basketball team. The Raptors could very well close this series out in an electric game seven, but it does look like that is what they’ll have to do. The Nets are more experienced and are at home, so it will be hard to bet against them.
Pick: Nets 104, Raptors 101
San Antonio Spurs (1) @ Dallas Mavericks (8) – 8:00 PM ET
Vince Carter pushed the Mavs into an unlikely 2-1 series lead in game three with a dramatic finish. Since then, the Mavs haven’t been able to close. In fact, game five was probably the Mavs’ last chance to really take over this series, as a 3-1 lead would likely have been too much, even for the top-seeded team in the entire NBA.
Tony Parker isn’t 100% and the Mavs can run with anyone, but their defense down the stretch just hasn’t been good enough. Tiago Splitter and Tim Duncan can do as they please down low, too, meaning the Mavs will have to switch things up and come out ablaze to have a chance to keep this series alive. Dirk Nowitzki and co. have been more than up to the task to give it a go in this series, but it seems the writing is on the wall – even in a game six at home.
Pick: Spurs 95, Mavericks 90
Houston Rockets (4) @ Portland Trail Blazers (5) – 10:30 PM ET
The Rockets and Blazers have battled through five games in a series that could easily be tilted either way thanks to multiple overtime games. Each game has come down to the wire for the most part, and game six in Portland should be no different.
These teams are so evenly matched that it’s difficult to see the Blazers closing it out with a 4-2 series lead. They stormed out to a terrific 3-1 series lead, but after Houston staved off elimination at home in game five, it’s starting to look like they might be able to pull off the improbable comeback if they can just get the series back to Houston for a game seven. It won’t be easy, but they might be able to do just that on Friday night.
Pick: Rockets 104, Blazers 102
