What Would Happen If the NBA Playoffs Started Today?

The Finals

Golden State Warriors (82.0 nERD) vs. Toronto Raptors (64.8)

It's not quite what we had hoped for, but by the numbers alone, it's what we get. And, as with most Finals, there are great individual battles and games are decided by those. It's Lowry, DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll/P.J. Tucker, and Ibaka versus Curry, Klay Thompson, Durant, and Draymond Green. While it's a close call when it comes the unique skillsets of Lowry and DeRozan and Curry and Thompson, the big difference should be Durant.

Tucker and Carroll have defensive ratings of 109 and 108 on their seasons. Durant has an offensive rating of 125 and a defensive rating of 102, even better. In fact, Durant's defense is at its best since entering the league.

Offensively, he should be able to handle anything Tucker and Carroll try to throw at him. He's shooting 60.6% from inside the arc and 37.8% outside of it for nearly 2 three-balls per game. He's even dished out 4.8 assists per game.

Unlike what we would expect from a Warriors/Cavaliers Finals, the Warriors would probably close the series out in five games, and it's certainly not unreasonable that Durant would win his first ever NBA title -- and the Finals MVP, too.