The regular season is over. Those words mean one thing for basketball fans across the globe – the start of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs. The atmosphere the NBA playoffs bring always proves to be one of the best in all of sports. This year, there’s been the potential birth of young dynasties, teams looking to return to glory and some with revenge on their minds, all looking to make a run at the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. With so many great teams rising to occasion this season, a long 82-game road to the playoffs should gift fans with some great playoff basketball. Let’s look at the top teams to watch for this year’s postseason.
Head coach Michael Malone has the two-seeded Denver Nuggets ready for another run. They’re led by superstar center Nikola Jokić, who put together another Most Valuable Player (MVP) type campaign averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9 assists a night for the defending champs. Point guard Jamal Murray is his partner in crime, who has a knack for coming up clutch in big games and is ready to steal the show in these playoffs. Alongside this dynamic duo is a group of veterans, knockdown shooters and suffocating defenders. Not much has changed from this group from last year, part of the reason why they’re the betting favorites in the West.
The Boston Celtics are the top seed in the Eastern Conference. General manager Brad Stevens built a powerhouse coming into the year and at 64-18, the squad has not disappointed. From point guard to center, there’s star level talent at every position. There’s the usual suspects in forward Jayson Tatum and guard Jaylen Brown, looking to finally get over the hump. Guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday complete the backcourt, both doing it all; shooting, facilitating and locking up team’s defensively. Along with Holiday, center Kristaps Porzingis is another newly acquired star, stretching the floor and adding another layer to Boston’s nifty defense. While the Celtics have had their fair share of cold nights from the field, when they’re on, they’re nearly impossible to stop.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves are two feel-good stories coming out of the West this season. For the Thunder, general manager Sam Pesti speedran this rebuild by hitting on top draft picks like center Chet Holmgren and forward Jalen Williams and building through their MVP candidate in guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. No one picked them to take the top seed in the West, but this young group has become one of the most connected and effective groups in basketball. The question is: will the lack of experience keep them from winning it all?
For the Timberwolves, it’s a more experienced group, but the youth still bleeds through. The team is known for their physical dominance on the defensive end, but have some explosiveness to their offense, led by 22-year-old guard Anthony Edwards. The former number one pick continues to prove he’s one of the league’s budding stars, leading the team in scoring with 25.9 points per game. Timberwolve-lifer center Karl-Anthony Towns continues to be a consistent option offensively and the scrutinized 2022 acquisition in center Rudy Gobert never fails to turn in a Defensive Player of the Year caliber season. Add a supporting group that does the dirty work on both ends of the floor, and they could be the team to dethrone the defending champs.
Now for the teams that aren’t getting enough love. Out East, with Boston stealing the attention, teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks are being overlooked, two heavyweights that will clash in the first round. For the seven-seeded 76ers, an injury to their leader in center Joel Embiid almost ruined their season. However, new head coach Nick Nurse and all-star guard Tyrese Maxey stepped up and weathered the storm until their superstar returned. Since then, Embiid has helped the team secure the seven-seed.
For New York, they have their own superstar with guard Jalen Brunson breaking out as one of the league’s top players. Acquisitions at the deadline like two-way forward O.G. Anunoby and a strong bench also helped fuel this squad to a 50-32 record. With so many scorers filling up the bucket, this should prove to be one of the most exciting first-round matchups. The 76ers might have the defense to contain the Knicks’ leading scorers, but for the Knicks, some have questioned if they have the defense to withstand Embiid’s all-around scoring ability. Regardless, it’s not hard to imagine any of these teams mentioned making a Finals trip. With the talent and top tier caliber, it should be one of the most anticipated postseasons in recent memory.
