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NBA '24 regular season has been written and is now a closed chapter in the history book. It's time now, for the Big Dance once again. We are rewarded with quite the slate of First-Round matchups across the board, with some of the bigger stars around the league jumping off the shelf in effort to make an impact for their respected playoff squads now; when it all matters the most.
It's good to see the likes of Joel Embiid, OG Anunoby, and Karl Anthony-Towns return from injuries in time for the playoffs. Hopefully they can stay healthy and deliver production to help aid a potential run for their squad. I also hope we get competitive action in a high percentage of the opening round games and beyond in the tournament. No blowouts. Four quarters of close basketball, please and thank you. The Play-In was the definition of meh. Lets turn the noise knob all the way to the right. It's playoff time!
The Play-In wasn't too loud in the noise department as just two of the six games were solid... three games to be kind. One of the three was good; the three non-solid games weren't competitive at all. Pelicans were involved in two of the good games as they split the Play-In to officially make it into the big dance. Philly, Miami, and the Lakers joined them.
Zion Williamson and Colby White stole the show with their 40-burger led performances; bummer Zion is out at least the next two weeks (hamstring) and possibly the rest of the playoffs. The two performances were fun to watch, but besides that; the action was quite lack-luster to start things off. Jimmy Butler went down. Zion went down. Hawks and Warriors looked like they didn't belong. All in all? We are ready for the First-Round. All eyes forward. Only mindset to have. The opening round has some matchups that are bound to deliver us the goods.
As I write this piece, the Magic and Cavs are tearing up the hardwood to open up the race for the O'brien. Saturday quadruple-header here today, then a quadruple-header on a glorious Sunday, tomorrow. All with war going down on the ice too. Beautiful stuff.
First round on the East side is nice, but sure feels some damage due to injuries. Magic/Cavs as mentioned- is a real nice matchup. Early on here in Game-1, the two are proving that to be no cap. Young and hungry Magic, led by Paolo Banchero, look to end the Donovan Mitchell era in Cleveland on a poor note... for Cleveland of course. I like this Orlando squad a lot. A pure force on the defensive; this team can lock a stranglehold on a roster like the Cavs in the playoffs. For my prediction, I think the difference of playoff experience will be the decider in that series; a decider in favor of the Cavs. I have Cleveland in 5-6 games. This is going to be a good learning experience for the young Magic squad. Cavaliers having their healthy core three of Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley will be too strong for the Magic to bear.
Boston should cruise past the Heat with Butler hurt and out of the equation for Miami. Rather a sweep or in five games; the Celtics should win comfortably in the opening round. The last two matchups are interesting to predict. The length of the Bucks' playoff run will rely on Giannis Antetokounmpo's health and how Dame and Middleton will play with him off the court. Bucks are sure to be without Giannis at least the first two games of the series against the Pacers- a two games in which Indiana will need to have a win only mindset.
I predict the Pacers to get over their first hump and upset the Bucks out of the playoffs. It's a tough prediction; I could surely be wrong. I am excited to watch this one; should be close and competitive throughout. Five to seven games for sure. I have the same feelings for the 76ers/Knicks series. That one is going six to seven. Unlike the Bucks with Giannis, the Knicks know their star power-forward won't be able to return with Julius Randle out indefinitely (shoulder surgery). A big note. Another big note is Embiid's health. He isn't 100%, but I do think he is healthy enough to lead the Sixers in an upset over the Knicks. Only if Brunson doesn't ball out (he will have to). Randle being out is a big-deal with Embiid the top scoring option in Philly. Give me the Sixers in seven games. Here is the bracket for the Eastern Conference's opening round and my predictions along with it:
The western slate is ultra-nice and sets up a few possible upsets that can cause a major stir and shakeup. Pels will give the top-seed Thunder a run for their money, despite being a sizeable underdog. New Orleans played OKC tight in the regular season and offers some solid matchups for the Thunder to overcome. Not having Zion is obviously a big-deal; which will make the task a tad easier for OKC. Thunder in five competitive games.
The other three series will be damn GOOD. We have the (4) Clippers takin' on the (5) Mavericks, (3) T-Wolves goin' to war with Durant and the (6) Suns, topped off the defending champion (2) Nuggets lookin' to sweep the (7) Lakers in the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Time to feast basketball fans. Clippers/Mavs should be real tight in comp'. Both teams feel to have creaked championship windows. It's all or nothing. Luka will do his dance, but I think Leonard and co. will win the clutch moments. I feel the series to be destined for seven games. As I do for the Suns/Wolves.
Anthony-Towns being back for Minnesota is a big deal, but nothing that changes things for Phoenix. Suns went 3-0 against the T-Wolves in the regular-season, two with Towns on the floor; those two being the more lopsided results of the three. I don't see Minnesota changing their fortunes against Phoenix. I have the Suns moving on. Durant isn't done yet, and D-Book will do what he does best. I'll take them in five or six games. For the Lakers/Nuggs; gimme Denver in five games. Jokić is going to prove again why he is the NBA's biggest dawg. Here is the bracket for the West and my four picks in clearer form:
It's good to have the NBA Playoffs back. We can only hope that most of the games will be competitive across four quarters of ball. The slate is shiny, which is a good start. Time for the figures of basketball to bring the noise to the hardwood. It all starts now. Time to dance.
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