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Now it’s a party.
With the NBA 22 in the bubble and just one game to finish the run-up to the normal season, the playoff image is much clearer.
In the Eastern Conference, no one wins or loses, the clashes are over.
Even with respect to the Miami Heat (No. 4) and Indiana Pacers (No. 5), who have precisely the same record, they would still face others in the first circular if they replaced positions after the last qualifying game.
The No. 1 seeded Milwaukee Bucks will face the Orlando Magic, the Toronto Raptors will face the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the Western Conference, there are still four competing for last place in the playoffs: Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs.
For the play-in tournament, whoever finishes at No. nine will have to take No. 8 and beat him twice to qualify for a first-round series with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The defense MVP of the Finals, Kawhi Leonard, and the Los Angeles Clippers will receive the Dallas Mavericks, and the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz will participate.
Perhaps the most intriguing first-round series will be between the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The duel will face Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook against others in the last off-season.
Here’s an updated review of ratings and some playoff scenarios and forecasts.
The East is in one position and the Western Conference Play-In game will be in action on Thursday! #WholeNewGame https://t.co/5mwAFVpMdP
Latest NBA rankings
Eastern Conference
1. z-Milwaukee Bucks (56-16)
2. y-Toronto Raptors (52-19)
3. x-Boston Celtics (48-23)
4. y-Miami Heat (44-28)
5. Pacers x-Indiana (44-28)
6. X-Philadelphia 76ers (42-30)
7. x-Brooklyn Nets (35-36)
8. x-Orlando Magic (32-40)
9. e-Washington Wizards (24-47)
Western Conference
1. z-Los Angeles Lakers (52-18)
2. x-Los Angeles Clippers (48-23)
3. Y-Denver Nuggets (46-26)
4. x-Oklahoma City Thunder (44-27)
5. y-Houston Rockets (44-27)
6. x-Utah Jazz (43-28)
7. x-Dallas Mavericks (43-31)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (34-39)
9. Memphis Grizzlies (33-39)
10. Phoenix Suns (33-39)
11. San Antonio Spurs (32-38)
12. e-New Orleans Pelicans (30-41)
13. e-Sacramento Kings (30-41)
z-clinched conference
Y Division
A playoff stand
E-removed from the playoffs
Scheduled draw for the playoffs
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. Orlando Magic
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
No Boston Celtics vs. No 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Four Miami Heat vs. Five Indiana Pacers
Western Conference
No. 1 for Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. No. Portland Trail Blazers
No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets vs. Denver No. 6 Utah Jazz
Four Houston Rockets vs. No. Five Oklahoma City Thunder
More intriguing first-round games
Miami Heat vs. Miami Heat Indiana Pacers
Because of the dust between Jimmy Butler and T.J. Warren and, of course, the latter’s augmented game in the bubble, the game between the Heat and pacemakers goes through the ultimate intrigue of the first round of the playoffs in the East.
Warren has gone from “financial considerations” to Bubble MVP, and will be a challenge for Miami.
So far, N.C. State’s small six-year-old striker has averaged 31.0 issues since the reboot in Orlando. Shoot an impressive 57.8% from the ground and 52.4% from the arc.
Based on his 53 points, a career cap opposed to the Sixers, the only thing that can hold Warren back is the plantar fasciitis of his right foot.
“He’s been through this all season,” Pacers head coach Nate McMillan told J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star. “I was able to play with that.”
Aside from the soft tissue injury, Warren has an obstacle: Butler.
The defensive-minded striker made his opposite game to Warren’s not public and played like that on Monday. According to StatMuse, Butler kept his new enemy on almost every owner and kept him in just 12 numbers in five of 14 shots from the field.
Butler’s rivalry with Warren will be smart for social media banter, however, when it comes to collective groups, or they are well trained and play more than expected.
Indiana is just a one-man show. He also has former All-Star Victor Oladipo returning from injury and former rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon. Miami has for the first time All Star Bam Adebayo, three-point shooter Duncan Robinson and rookie Tyler Herro.
It will be an exciting series with many comings and goings, but in the end it will be the Heat who will win and move on.
Prediction: Miami 4, Indiana 2
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
There are so many important things in the game between Houston and OKC.
First, there’s CP3 and Westbrook.
One switched to the other as part of a deal that seemed to bring the Rockets to new life while condemning the Thunder with a shipbase that would possibly have passed its heyday and a little too high.
But then some laughter happened.
Paul, aware of all the communiqués that he had been washed and banished on a team that may not simply win, took it and replaced the narrative.
He arrived and consolidated his leadership, advising young players like Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and guiding the team to a wonderful season that will put them head-to-head with the team that intended to be much better.
Now he has to face his team.
However, Paul has never been a diplomat and is in a position to meet the challenge.
“It’s going to be interesting,” Paul told Matt Eppers of USA Today. “Two groups that know each other well. We’ll get ready, we’re going to get ready and we’ll see what.”
Westbrook excelled with his new team.
His problems have increased from last year (22.9 to 27.2 according to the game) and he is particularly more efficient, triggering a 47.2% race record in the area after reaching 42.8% last year.
The 2017 MVP played seasons in thunder uniform, so the connection is deep.
And if that wasn’t enough, James Harden is also an OKC student. He played there for three years before being traded to Houston, where he became a superstar.
However, set everything aside and it will remain a wonderful game in itself.
Oklahoma has a balanced attack in the back area with Paul, Alexander and Dennis Schroeder. Steven Adams is his anchor in the middle, and the Thunder might ask other people if he plays well.
Westbrook is treating a right bloating of the quadriceps, but all the symptoms imply that he is able to play. He and Harden are a wonderful duo for the Small Rockets Ball, and they will get the help of others such as Eric Gordon, Robert Covington, Jeff Green and P.J. Tucker.
OKC head coach Billy Donovan is a finalist for Coach of the Year, so he’ll set up a wonderful game plan for Houston, but if Westbrook is ready, look at him and his team to win the series.
Prediction: Houston 4, Oklahoma City 3
Other first-round projections
Prediction: Milwaukee 4, Orlando 1
Prediction: Toronto 4, Brooklyn 0
Prediction: Boston 4, Philadelphia 2
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers 4, Portland 3
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers 4, Dallas 2
Prediction: Denver 4, Utah 2
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