The play-ins begin on Wednesday, then American basketball will begin to offer its best. To the East stands Boston, further away Milwaukee and the surprising New York. In the West, don’t be fooled by the excellent progress of Oklahoma and Minnesota: for the ring, Jokic docet, more is needed. And Dallas-Clippers smacks of an early finish
It just is showtime, cheerful defenses or basketball feats for their own sake. Now it’s time for real basketball, the kind that doesn’t get boring. “And that’s the fun part,” he guarantees Nikola Jokicas reigning champion with his Denver Nuggets. The NBA regular season has just ended and the direct elimination phase begins on Wednesday. First the play-in mini-tournament, to decide the seventh and eighth participants of the two Conferences. Then, from April 20th, the playoffs will really begin: quarter-finals, semi-finals, last act in the East and West. Then the final series, which could last until June 23rd. Teams ready, all to chase the battleship Denver, between declared contenders and insidious outsiders. Up to those teams already forced with their backs to the wall, but notoriously hard to die. While waiting for the ball, a little guide to orient yourself in the post-season that will be.
The situation in the Western conference
The land of the Joker, precisely. So far his very strong Nuggets have played with handbrake, at times slyly. But without overdoing it, they finished second (69.5 percent successes), tied with Oklahoma City, however rewarded by the NBA criterion (most victories within their own Conference). The Thunder have more than doubled their win-loss ratio in the last two years, are in the midst of exponential growth and have surprised the NBA with fast, spectacular basketball. Two men on the shields: technical leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, rookie of the year candidate. A fresh and talented team, however lacking in experience in these latitudes: it would be a surprise to find them beyond the semi-finals. The same goes for the Minnesota Timberwolves, at times first in the standings and in the end third with only one victory less than the first two (and the best defense in the entire NBA). The Minneapolis public returned to dream on the Edwards-Towns axis, with the grumpy presence of Rudy Gobert under the basket. But apart from the veteran Mike Conley, for many of Coach Finch’s boys the playoffs are uncharted territory. Already against the revived Phoenix Suns of Booker and Durant (sixth by the skin of their teeth) they could risk a lot.
The Clippers vs. Mavericks pairing is also intriguing, a potential early Conference final, with Los Angeles having the advantage of home advantage thanks to a fourth place defended tooth and nail. In fact, the perfect now or never amalgam has been created around Kawhi Leonard’s star: seasoned players, from George to Harden, who have found the right alchemy. Dallas is also on the rise, mindful of last season’s poor performance. Doncic and his teammates took center stage at the end (12-3 in the last 15: best NBA record at the time) thus ensuring the playoffs straight away. It is unnecessary to reiterate Luka’s creativity, Irving da sparring-partner he’s in shape, Gafford is a smart center. A very open challenge, whoever wins it will accumulate certainty to attack the title.
And we come to the play-in, which compares several excellent exclusions. New Orleans has a lot to complain about, having lost a notable sixth place on the final day and was thus forced into the play-offs. He will face the Lakers, never to be underestimated in a single match – the In-Season Tournament has not arrived by chance – and dragged by an Olympic version of LeBron. Whoever loses will face the winner of Sacramento-Golden State: in effect the revenge of what last year was worth access to the semi-finals. It was a dazzling series, with the Warriors emerging victorious 4-3 yet exhausted to compete any further. This season both have shown a slight decline. Especially the Kings, well trained but with De’Aaron Fox no longer so overflowing. While Curry and his teammates finally put the turbo on: 10 wins in the last 12. If they prevail in the play-in, both they and the Lakers could create havoc all the way.
The situation in the Eastern conference
Boston, and the big leap. With 64 victories (78 percent), Tatum’s Celtics achieved the best record of this NBA by dominating the regular season: they are the big favorite in the East, and according to experts they would also be the favorite in a possible final against the equal role in the West. Beyond the class of number 0, coach Mazzulla’s roster is certainly deep and can count on Porzingis, Brown and White in the best period of their careers. New York (50-32) follows in the photo finish: the party at Madison Square Garden in overtime against Chicago, while Milwaukee capitulated to Orlando. For these Knicks it’s a feat but not a miracle. The orange and blues, once again under the very solid coaching of Tom Thibodeau, are enjoying Jalen Brunson in MVP format (already 11 games in the season with 40 or more points on the scoresheet), Donte DiVincenzo’s triples and very efficient rotations especially after the addition via trade of OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa (enough to make up for Randle’s bad injury). In Manhattan we even return to dreaming of the ring. The reality is that New York already risks facing a match between Miami and Philadelphia in the first round: what doesn’t kill makes you stronger, it goes without saying. Only third were the highly anticipated Bucks, who despite the arrival of Damien Lillard have experienced more downs than ups, complete with a change of coach. And Antetokounmpo enters the playoffs with a muscle problem: not the best calling card, after the burning elimination last season. But both against Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers – sixth, promising tomorrow, declining today – and in perspective, the real anti-Boston could still be Milwaukee.
Compared to the program in the West, the comparison between fourth and fifth is more limited. The Cleveland Cavaliers experienced a moment of great momentum between January and February, but in the smell of the playoffs they deflated and Darius Garland is not always decisive. If they will play against the Magic of Paolo Banchero and the Wagner brothers, a nice positive note for this NBA: Orlando defends hard, knows how to play various types of games and makes up for their inexperience in the playoffs with enthusiasm. The series is open, but whoever wins will face the battleship Boston or whoever will have made the trip of the year: in any case, a prohibitive semi-final.
Luxury play-in also on the Atlantic coast, with two great intruders immediately against each other. On the one hand, Philadelphia, punished by a vertical collapse in performance after Embiid’s injury, but once again on the rise following the return of the 2023 MVP to the parquet. On the other, Miami, reigning runner-up against all odds: even the year Last year, Butler and his teammates passed through the play-in and we know very well how it ended. Whoever loses the playoff will have a second chance against the winner of Chicago-Atlanta: a gap too important not to expect the 76ers and Heat to complete the playoff picture. And at that point, the first round will already be very slippery for the seeded teams. Boston and New York be ready.
2024-04-16 10:58:37
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