The National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League have already commenced their respective playoffs as NBA and NHL teams compete for the Larry O’Brien and Lord Stanley Cup Trophies, respectively.

Can Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets repeat and capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the world champion in the NBA once again? Can the Vegas Golden Knights repeat in the NHL as the Stanley Cup Champions? Here’s a look at both postseasons and White’s World’s predictions for which teams I like to hoist their respective trophies in June.

NBA Playoffs

There has already been some terrific action. Last night the New York “Knickerbockers” as an announcer called them, first time I’ve heard of that nickname in a while, came back from 6 points down to the Philly 76ers in the final minute to win by three, 104-101, fueled by a trifectas from Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo, who were both key parts of the Villanova National Championship teams in 2016 and 2018. Jay Wright had some superb teams in Philly. It was a spectacle last night as the great Joel Embid (Kansas) scored 34 and pulled down 10 rebounds on a bad wheel, and Tyrese Maxey, from (where else?) Kentucky, poured in 35 and added 9 boards. Quite a contest.

So what about moving forward. Which teams will advance and which team will ultimately capture the O’Brien Trophy.

TV

ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV are covering all the action.

ABC will carry the Finals.

Finals

Game 1, Thursday, June 6th

Game 2, Sunday, 6/9

Game 3, Wednesday, 6/12

Game 4, Friday, 6/14

Game 5, if necessary, Monday, June 17th

Game 6, if necessary, Thursday, June 20th

Game 7, if necessary, Sunday, June 23rd.

Game times are 7:30 PM CT all days except Sundays, which will tip at 7 PM CT.

Predictions

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Boston Celtics over Cleveland Cavaliers in 5

Knicks over Milwaukee Bucks in 6

Eastern Conference Finals

Celtics over Knicks in 7

Western Conference Semis

Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks in 7

Denver Nuggets over Minnesota Timberwolves in 6

Conference Finals

Nuggets over OKC in 7

NIkola Jokic just gets over the top over the great 7’1” Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga) and another MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder. (SGA is from Kentucky).The third MVP candidate is Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks). The Most Valuable Player Award winner will be announced later this week. Jokic is a two time Most Valuable Player from the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and could very well win it again this year. Joel Embid won it in 2023.Holmgren is a future MVP as is SGA. SGA might win it this year. Should be a classic.

NBA Championship

Celtics vs. Nuggets

It’s hard to go against the basketball “Joker,” Jamal Murray (Kentucky) and the Nuggets, but I like the Celtics with their greats’ Jayson Tatum (26.9 ppg, 8.1 boards, 4.9 assists reg season, Duke), Jaylen Brown (23 ppg, 5.5 boards, 3.6 assists Cal-Berkeley) and Kristaps Porzingis (20.1, 7.2 boards, no college, Euro from Latvia) to help raise the banner in TD Garden for the first time since 2008 when Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy home to Boston.

I also like their great veteran, Al Horford, at 37 years old to secure his first championship ring in his illustrious career in the NBA. He was a national champion at Florida in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan, and has been a stellar player and person in the National Basketball Association throughout his career. Brad Stevens, of Butler University fame, where he took the Bulldogs to the national championship games in 2010 and 2011 against Duke and UConn respectively, which was quite a feat even though his teams fell just short, is the Celtics president and has done a phenomenal job building and developing the roster. Tatum has been a Celtic for 7 years and Brown for 8 years and they’ve been heartbroken along with all the Celtics fans for the last several years, barely coming up short. Will they get over the top this time. That is the $64,000 question.

The Celtics have captured 17 NBA Championships in their remarkable history and second year coach Joe Mazzulla, Tatum and Brown clear that very high hurdle and capture banner number 18 for the C’s over Joker, Murray and the Nuggets. It won’t be easy, however. The Nuggets will not go down without an intense fight.

Celtics over the Nuggets in 7

Finals MVP: Jayson Tatum

Stanley Cup Predictions

These teams are prolific in the National Hockey League Playoffs and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are as stellar as it gets. Who will capture Lord Stanley’s Cup? Lord Stanley was the Governor of Canada and donated the award to the top ranking amateur ice hockey club in Canada. It became the trophy for the NHL in 1910, the oldest trophy in professional sports.

TV: ESPN, ESPN 2, TNT televises the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

ABC will televise the Stanley Cup Finals. All times 7 PM CT

Game 1, Saturday, June 8th

Game 2, Monday, June 10th

Game 3, Thursday, June 13th

Game 4, Saturday, June 15th

Game 5, if necessary, Tuesday, June 18th

Game 6, if necessary, Friday June 21st

Game 7, if necessary, Monday June 24th.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Florida Panthers over Toronto Maple Leafs in 7

New York Rangers over Carolina Hurricanes in 7

Both series will be all out wars.

Eastern Conference Finals

New York Rangers versus Florida Panthers

In another classic series, give me the President’s Trophy winner (best record in the regular season). Home ice advantage is the differnece.

Rangers over Panthers in 7

Western Conference Semis

Edmonton Oilers over Vancouver Canucks in 6

Dallas Stars over Winnipeg Jets in 7

Conference Finals

Oilers over Stars in 7

Stanley Cup Finals

Rangers versus Oilers

Twenty seven year old Connor McDavid finished with 132 points individually this season (goals and assists combined points) and led the league with 100 assists from his center position. But I think it’s the New Yawk Rangers’ year. Thirty-two year old Artemi Panarin, from Korkine, Russia, not my favorite country, but it produces some tremendous hockey players, and the Rangers capture their first Cup since 1994 when the great Mark Messier played for that stellar team. Interestingly, the President’s Trophy winner, or the team with the best record in the regular season, has not won the Stanley Cup since the Chicago Blackhawks did it in 2012-13. I like Panarin, 31 year old Mika Zibanejad from Sweden, and 32 year old Chris Kreider from Boxford, Mass. to lead their team to the championship. Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers’ 28 year old goalkeeper from Moscow?, gets the job done tending the net.

Rangers over Oilers in 6, Home ice prevails again

Conn Smythe Trophy Winner. Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Artemi Panarin