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Experts' predictions for the Eastern Conference, Western Conference and NBA Finals

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Jalen gives his NBA sleeper teams for the restart (2:10)

Jalen Rose sees the Celtics and the Heat as possible challengers to the Bucks, Clippers and Lakers for the NBA title. (2:10)

The NBA restart begins Thursday night, as the Utah Jazz-New Orleans Pelicans and LA Clippers-Los Angeles Lakers showdowns welcome fans back to basketball after the league's four-month hiatus.

Will we be watching an all-Los Angeles Western Conference finals? Plenty of our experts think so.

Meanwhile, the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks don't begin their restart until Friday against the Boston Celtics (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), in a matchup of two teams capable of a Finals run. How many of our experts are picking against Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. to make it out of the Eastern Conference?

Let's run through the list as our insiders make their East finals, West finals and NBA Finals predictions.

MORE: NBA Power Rankings, plus best and worst cases for all 22 teams


Eastern Conference finals

Jerry Bembry: Milwaukee Bucks over Boston Celtics

Nick DePaula: Milwaukee Bucks over Miami Heat

Nick Friedell: Toronto Raptors over Milwaukee Bucks

Jonathan Givony: Toronto Raptors over Milwaukee Bucks

Andrew Han: Milwaukee Bucks over Philadelphia 76ers

Chris Herring: Milwaukee Bucks over Toronto Raptors

Baxter Holmes: Milwaukee Bucks over Boston Celtics

Andrew Lopez: Milwaukee Bucks over Boston Celtics

Tim MacMahon: Milwaukee Bucks over Toronto Raptors

Bobby Marks: Milwaukee Bucks over Toronto Raptors

Kevin Pelton: Milwaukee Bucks over Toronto Raptors

Jorge Sedano: Milwaukee Bucks over Philadelphia 76ers

Andre' Snellings: Milwaukee Bucks over Toronto Raptors

Marc Spears: Toronto Raptors over Milwaukee Bucks

Eric Woodyard: Milwaukee Bucks over Boston Celtics

Royce Young: Milwaukee Bucks over Philadelphia 76ers


Final tally: Milwaukee Bucks (13); Toronto Raptors (3).

Western Conference finals

Jerry Bembry: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Nick DePaula: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Nick Friedell: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Jonathan Givony: Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers

Andrew Han: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Chris Herring: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Baxter Holmes: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Andrew Lopez: Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers

Tim MacMahon: Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers

Bobby Marks: Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers

Kevin Pelton: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Jorge Sedano: Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers

Andre' Snellings: Los Angeles Lakers over Houston Rockets

Marc Spears: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers

Eric Woodyard: Los Angeles Lakers over LA Clippers

Royce Young: LA Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers


Final tally: LA Clippers (9), Los Angeles Lakers (7).

NBA Finals

Jerry Bembry: LA Clippers over Milwaukee Bucks

Nick DePaula: LA Clippers over Milwaukee Bucks

Nick Friedell: LA Clippers over Toronto Raptors

Jonathan Givony: Toronto Raptors over Los Angeles Lakers

Andrew Han: LA Clippers over Milwaukee Bucks

Chris Herring: Milwaukee Bucks over LA Clippers

Baxter Holmes: LA Clippers over Milwaukee Bucks

Andrew Lopez: Milwaukee Bucks over Los Angeles Lakers

Tim MacMahon: Los Angeles Lakers over Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Marks: Milwaukee Bucks over Los Angeles Lakers

Kevin Pelton: LA Clippers over Milwaukee Bucks

Jorge Sedano: Los Angeles Lakers over Milwaukee Bucks

Andre' Snellings: Milwaukee Bucks over Los Angeles Lakers

Marc Spears: LA Clippers over Milwaukee Bucks

Eric Woodyard: Los Angeles Lakers over Milwaukee Bucks

Royce Young: LA Clippers over Milwaukee Bucks


Final tally: LA Clippers (8), Milwaukee Bucks (4), Los Angeles Lakers (3), Toronto Raptors (1).

Bonus: Who wins the West's No. 8 seed?

Jerry Bembry: Memphis Grizzlies

Nick DePaula: Portland Trail Blazers

Nick Friedell: Portland Trail Blazers

Jonathan Givony: New Orleans Pelicans

Andrew Han: Portland Trail Blazers

Chris Herring: Memphis Grizzlies

Baxter Holmes: Portland Trail Blazers

Andrew Lopez: Portland Trail Blazers

Tim MacMahon: Memphis Grizzlies

Bobby Marks: Portland Trail Blazers

Kevin Pelton: Memphis Grizzlies

Jorge Sedano: Portland Trail Blazers

Andre' Snellings: Portland Trail Blazers

Marc Spears: Portland Trail Blazers

Eric Woodyard: Portland Trail Blazers

Royce Young: Portland Trail Blazers


Final tally: Portland Trail Blazers (11 votes), Memphis Grizzlies (4); New Orleans Pelicans (1).