PistonPowered first round playoffs predictions

Feb 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) dribbles against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) dribbles against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The 2016 NBA playoffs are finally here. See what the PistonPowered staff predicts for the first round of the playoffs.

The NBA regular season is over, but the best basketball of the year is finally upon us–playoff basketball (!).

Below are our writers and their predictions. The below format is as follows: staff writer, Western Conference match ups, Eastern Conference match ups.

Duncan Smith:

Golden State Warriors over Houston in four games
Portland over Los Angeles Clippers in seven games
Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks in five games
San Antonio over Memphis Grizzlies in four games

Cleveland Cavaliers over Detroit Pistons in five hard fought games
Atlanta Hawks over Boston Celtics in seven games
Charlotte Hornets over Miami Heat in six games
Toronto Raptors over Indiana Pacers in five games

Mike Davidson:

Golden State Warriors over Houston Rockets in four games
Los Angeles Clippers over Portland Trail Blazers in four games
Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks in five games
San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies in four games

Cleveland Cavaliers over Detroit Pistons in six games
Atlanta Hawks over Boston Celtics in seven games
Miami Heat over Charlotte Hornets in seven games
Toronto Raptors over Indiana Pacers in six games

Braden Shackelford:

Golden State Warriors over Houston in five games
Los Angeles Clippers over Portland Trail Blazers in five games
Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks in five games
San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies in four games

Cleveland Cavaliers over Detroit Pistons in seven games
Atlanta Hawks over Boston Celtics in seven games
Miami Heat over Charlotte Hornets in seven games
Toronto Raptors over Indiana Pacers in six games

Anthony Morgan:

Golden State Warriors over Houston in four games
Los Angeles Clippers over Portland Trail Blazers six games
Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks in
San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies four games

Cleveland Cavaliers over Detroit Pistons in six games
Atlanta Hawks over Boston Celtics in six games
Miami Heat over Charlotte Hornets in seven games
Toronto Raptors over Indiana Pacers in five games

Brady Fredericksen

Golden State Warriors over Houston Rockets in five games
San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies in four games
Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks in six games
Los Angeles Clippers over Portland Trail Blazers in five games

Cleveland Cavaliers over Detroit Pistons in five games
Atlanta Hawks over Boston Celtics in seven games
Miami Heat over Charlotte Hornets in six games
Toronto Raptors over Indiana Pacers in six games

Consensus first round winners:

Golden State Warriors
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Los Angeles Clippers

Cleveland Cavaliers
Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat
Toronto Raptors