After a demanding regular phase, This Saturday the NBA playoffs begin. There are several teams that aim to dethrone Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks, the last champions of the biggest basketball tournament in the world.
On the way to the playoffs were candidates like Lebron James’ Lakers, who did not have the expected season. The first round of qualifying rounds, to which two teams are yet to join this Friday, offers duels of difficult prognosislike that of the Nets, by Kevin Durant, against the Celtics, by Jayson Tatum, and that of the Warriors by Steph Curry against the Nuggets by Nikola Jokic.
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers o Atlanta Hawks
Although they were finalists in 2020, few expected the Miami Heat to conclude this season as leaders of the Eastern Conference. The Heat exhibited enormous strength to overcome the prolonged absences of its three figures (Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry).
His opponent in the first round will be the winner of Friday’s playoff between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavaliers have been one of the great surprises of the season but they suffered in the final stretch the injuries of key pieces like Jarrett Allen while the Hawks rebounded at the most necessary moment hand in hand with his audacious point guard Trae Young.
Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets
The most in-form franchise against the best star duo of today. The Boston Celtics come into the series against the Brooklyn Nets in their primewith a record of 32 wins and six losses since February.
The Celtics finally found the formula to surround the talent of their young figures, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Although they took second place in the East, the Celtics face a dangerous playoff against a Nets who depend entirely on their two superstars, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
In a turbulent year on and off the field, the Nets had to qualify through the playoffs But nobody can trust a team that has Durant and Irving, who are averaging a combined 57 points a night.
Mila Milwaukee vs Chicago Bulls
The Bucks reach the playoffs with their leader Antetokounmpo in a spectacular moment of form and his squires ready to defend the ring won in the last finale against the Phoenix Suns.
Your first obstacle will be the Risen Chicago Bulls, who will experience their first playoffs since 2017 from the hand of the trio formed by DeMar DeRozan, who lives a second youth, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
Philadelphia Sixers vs Toronto Raptors
The Philadelphia 76ers are favorites on paper for this tie but they have great pressure on them and face a tricky rival like the Toronto Raptors.
The Cameroonian Joel Embiid has starred in the best season of his careerbeing the top scorer in the NBA (30.6 points on average) and a great candidate for the MVP award.
Both the center and James Harden, arrived in a mega transfer with Brooklyn, are facing their great opportunity to reach their long-awaited ring. The Raptors are far from the champion team in 2019 but they are always an uncomfortable rival for his defensive ferocity and his versatility in attack.
Western Conference
Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers o New Orleans Pelicans
The Phoenix Suns are emerging as favorites to have a second chance in the final. With Devin Booker and Chris Paul at the helm, the Suns have further tightened their gears to finish as the best team in the regular season.
His opponent will come out of Friday’s playoff clash between Paul George’s Los Angeles Clippers and CJ McCollum’s New Orleans Pelicans.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves
The Memphis Grizzlies want to confirm themselves as one of the emerging teams in these playoffs, which will start against the Minnesota Timberwolves released after three years out of the playoffs.
The series will offer a collection of some of the greatest young talent in the NBA, most notably Ja Morant (Grizzlies), a former All Star starter at 22 years old.
The Minnesota’s options rest on the trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell.
Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets
Three years after their last final, the The Golden State Warriors are back in the playoffs with the iconic trio that brought them three rings: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green..
With Thompson getting back on his feet after two years out injured, the focus is on Curry’s fitness, as he hopes to be ready after nearly a month out with a sprain.
Your first exam will be Denver Nuggets of Nikola Jokic, for many deserving of a second MVP after holding a workforce decimated by injuries.
Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz
Another team in suspense for their star is the Dallas Mavericks, who do not know if they can count on Luka Doncic in their challenging series against the Utah Jazz.
If Slovenian phenom Doncic misses games with his calf problem, the Mavericks have very few options. to survive the Jazz of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, forced to confirm their potential as a couple in the playoffs.
