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NBA: 10 bold predictions for the 2022 playoffs

By Michael Saenz

NBA Giannis Antetokounmpo and Devin Booker (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
NBA Giannis Antetokounmpo and Devin Booker (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Brooklyn Nets WILL NOT pull off a first-round upset

Are the Brooklyn Nets a dangerous team heading into the playoffs? Yes. Do they have arguably the best player in the conference? Absolutely. Are the Nets going to be a handful in the first round, no matter which favorite they draw? Sure. Will this team pull off a first-round playoff exit? No.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both have the potential to take over a series at any given moment. They can singled-handily win the Nets a game that they have no business winning. However, they don’t have enough around them to beat one of the top 2 seeds in a series.

Many are jumping to pick the Nets as a team that’s going to pull off a first-round upset, but I simply don’t see that coming. As talented as this team is, I don’t believe the Nets will be able to be good enough on the defensive end to get the job done in a seven-game series.