With three weeks left until the start of the 2024 NBA postseason, conference standings are still not decided. In the West, there are three teams vying for the top spot, with all kinds of scrambles ranging from 6th to 11th seeds. Meanwhile, the battle for 6th place is fierce in the East, with a duel for home court advantage taking place in the first round. With so many different topics to choose from, we asked five of his writers to pick their potentially most interesting first-round series. Here are their opinions:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Howard Beck: Don't worry about my data, which is what I value most. The golden rule of the NBA playoffs is that when in doubt, experience trumps youth. Of course, this is not always the case. But that's part of the fun of blindly accepting axioms. As you said, I would like to see the Los Angeles Lakers advance to a first-round showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
What is the average age of LA's current starting five? 29.8, including the 39-year-old with four rings and four MVP trophies. What is the average age of OKC's starters? This comes to 22.6 points, including the 25-year-old point guard competing for this year's MVP award. LeBron James has played 282 playoff games, more than all Thunder players combined. Heck, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura has played in more playoff games than the five Thunder starters combined (13 for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 6 for Lou Dort, and 0 for everyone else). (21 games).
This could be LeBron's last and best chance to make a deep run in the playoffs (because at this stage every run is his last and best chance). This is his first and best chance for SGA to achieve a deep run, perhaps as deep as the finals. Yes, the Thunder have that much talent. But they're so green that it's hard to see them beating multiple experienced opponents, whether it's the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Suns, Warriors, or a combination thereof.
I don't think the Lakers are good enough to compete for another title. I don't think the Thunder are ready for prime time yet. But this will be an incredible test of all our assumptions and cherished axioms.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat
Rob Mahoney: If you're just dreaming of a series, let's dream it Really have everything. The plan is to get revenge in the playoffs after the Bucks were eliminated in the first round in embarrassing (and franchise-altering) fashion last year. It's an opportunity for everyone involved to resolve their concerns regarding the Damian Lillard trade, or lack thereof in the Heat's case. (I remember that time Jimmy Butler casually asked the league office. (To investigate Bucks tampering?) A chance for Doc Rivers to exorcise his playoff demons in a coaching showdown with Erik Spoelstra's certified playoff demons. A pairing that brings out the absolute best in Jimmy Butler and tests Giannis Antetokounmpo in ways no other matchup can. There's a good chance Patrick Beverley is going up against the hardest-working, best-conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, meanest team in the NBA, all of them. And most importantly, the contrast in style, makeup and fights always, always comes true. While Milwaukee and Miami have similarities (including like-minded superstars), they have enough differences to push each other to their limits. This is a juicy and interesting matchup that has given us great basketball time and time again, and could do so again soon.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Seerat Sohi: As a relatively new Angeleno, there are people around me who are in a preparatory schadenfreude stage (distracting themselves from the Lakers' mediocrity) while waiting for the Clippers' postseason collapse. I wouldn't put myself among those people, but I like the idea of failing quickly. And I like the idea of self-discovery by walking on hot coals. That's right, a first-round matchup against the Pelicans, who just moved past the stumbling Clippers for fourth place in the West.
Put it this way: We need to let the Clippers pass a stress test before we trust them again. If Ivica Zubac can withstand a frontcourt of Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas, and if James Harden can withstand ball pressure from Herb Jones and Trey Murphy, I'm on this team again. You'll be ready to ride. And if the Clippers are really mean, there's a way there with Kawhi Leonard hitting CJ McCollum and JV on the other end while punching away from Williamson.
But given the current state of play for both teams, I tend to favor the Pelicans, and if that's what it has to be, I'd prefer this version of the Clippers (lazy, unconnected, 7-0) (7 losses and bottom 10) is not necessary (March defense) has been graced my TV screen since April. I spent all summer thinking whether Paul George would look better in a Sixers or Knicks jersey, and instead Williamson re-emerged as an up-and-coming superstar in a sweet, sweet casual way, decimated by opposing defenses. I'd like to see it cause a mismatch problem.
Here's a scenario that will give Clippers and Celtics fans an aneurysm (and this is really just for the Lakers group chat): Both teams are facing early exits, and Boston is facing an early exit from the Jays. Sign Harden in a last-ditch effort to build a connection with Vet's Low Line this summer. I also like chaos.
Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks
Tyler Parker: Their first game of the year was an in-season tournament game that took place long before Doc Rivers was still working at ESPN. The Nags won that game, and then waltzed into their next game at home in mid-December without Kyrie Irving. But in their third meeting nine days ago, Ricks won 107-105, ending with one of the best buzzer-beaters in recent memory, a miraculous off-hand teardrop shot by Kyrie at the 4:51 mark. It was so wild that there is a YouTube video of it. Video from every conceivable angle. He hit a 7-footer in the face and took a shot a step inside the 3-point line. Part of the floater, part of the skyhook, part of the runner, it's all lightning. He has the skill and sure hand to pull off such a procedure. It has space-age handles, brilliant shot-making. A kind of smoothness that doesn't immediately make sense. Obviously, isometric projection has a lot of flavor, and when Jupiter aligns with Mars, it gets even more flavor. One of the most talented offensive players in league history, and far and away one of the two best players in this hypothetical series. Let's go there.
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Point Beefcake has hell coming out of his hands at any given time, but he tends to get more Promethean-like minutes in the playoffs. The frequent shuffling of her sombers, the disappearing Moonraker, the pink color of her arms. Her biceps look like pounded pork. She smells of honor and biscuits. Her chemistry with aviation artist Aaron Gordon reached new heights. They play in the clouds and talk with their eyes. And then there's Jamal Murray, the Serbian's eternal partner. Murray wasn't selected as an All-Star this year, but if past postseason results are any indication, that won't stop him from playing like an All-Star. They run the most reliable pick-and-roll in the league, get buckets and steal hearts when needed.
Luka in the playoffs is ridiculous. Mr. Doncic was my father. Please call me God. God or Ra or Death, the great savior. He has a lot of sand to spare, and he commits acts of vandalism. His smile is sadistic. No player in the league accounts for more points for his team. If Doncic goes out, he goes out pissed, thumbs his nose, runs out of money, runs out of cigarettes and ammo and options. His team hasn't reached Eden yet, but he has more records on the playoff belt than 99 percent of the league's players. He holds himself to high standards, but his ceiling is so high that it's probably too high. The numbers are so consistent and flashy that we become paralyzed. Dropped 73 to the Hawks and was treated like it was the end of the world? [Very Kendrick Perkins voice] Marika the cow cannot fly, but she can eat pie. Atlanta's defense was disappointing. can not see. Freedom and buckets for everyone. Watching Luka's performance made me wish I didn't have eyes. This game was unholy. The devil is happy tonight.
A series starring Doncic and Jokic means a series in which both lead dogs also perform magic tricks. It's a fantasy, Michael. Some of the back and forth sequences could look like an MJ-Bird McD's HORSE commercial. A quirky and unusual assist. Passes thrown blind go over your head or over someone else's head, and they all go off without a hitch. The ball will arrive at the target on time. They operate outside the norm and handle the floor like prophets. It's hard to find better quarterback play. The Manning cast is going to be a long groan. Peyton also sweated while wearing the half-zip. Doncic and Jokic have all the throws. There is also the small fact that they are in love with each other. Not in the way Doncic and Devin Booker love each other (I'm sure they're already flirting), but in a different, more Trapper Keeper kind of way. Doncic writes “Luka Jokic” in his book. Jokic scrawled “Nikola Doncic” in her book.of ahis a heart.
If the screws continue to loosen and the game continues to flow well, we will see high-level, high-style, aesthetically diverse playmaking from both teams. When it comes to rock battles and slow shot clock iso haymaker battles, it's not as appealing. The Ricks don't have anyone who can stop Jokic — neither Rome nor their army can stop him — but Derek Lively II and his rubber legs are still here, and they're working hard to stop him. He will demonstrate his abilities and run as fast as he can. Additionally, Dallas is poised to face him after the trade deadline. Daniel Gafford came from the Wizards with spring and energy.
But look at the banner. michael malone. The Nags are still the champions, and it's going to take something huge to take them away from that title. At first glance, Ricks doesn't seem like he has enough horsepower, but Doncic and Irving should be able to do the heavy lifting. It will be fun to watch them take on the challenge.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks
Logan Murdock: The last time the Mavericks reached the postseason, Luka Doncic led them to the Western Conference Finals as a No. 4 seed. The runs peaked when Doncic sent home Devin Booker and Chris Paul, who was last seen at his peak, in one of the most embarrassing collapses in recent memory with an epic takedown of the top-seeded Phoenix Suns. reached. Two years later, the Mavericks added Kyrie Irving to the team and upgraded their frontcourt around two star guards.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, currently in third place in the West Division, are looking to prove their regular season success by making the playoffs. Looking up and down their roster, you see a group of players with question marks in the postseason. Karl-Anthony Towns, who suffered a knee injury earlier this month and is expected to return early in the postseason, has shown a tendency to disappear when the team needs him most. Rudy Gobert usually turns into a turnstile around this time of year. And while Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels had great seasons, their offensive limitations don't help a team that tends to get bogged down in the second half of close games. All of this forces Anthony Edwards to do superhuman things every night.
Dallas has its own flaws. Jason Kidd's offense has little imagination, and his lineup choices often draw the ire of Mavs fans. But a backcourt of Irving and Doncic can not only match Edwards' ability and killer instincts, but also potentially demoralize a team that hasn't yet shown the killer instincts needed on the biggest stage. Did I just predict a hypothetical upset? probably. Mavs 7 times.
