More than 4 months after initial planning, the NBA playoffs are expected to end Saturday in the NBA bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
This year’s team includes several well-known contenders who seem to be on track to reach the final since the beginning of the year, namely the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Both clubs won the most sensible seed at the East and West Conferences, respectively.
The Lakers are far from the only Los Angeles team to win a championship this year, as a Rebuilt Clippers team with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard seems ready to rewrite the history of their franchise. To do so, they will have to triumph in a first-round game with the Dallas Mavericks in a No. 2 war against No. 7 that may be the entertaining top series of the early stages.
With all the games played in an unbiased place in Orlando, Florida, any fan, the game box has never been so uniform.
Here’s a look at what enthusiasts can expect over the next two months.
First of the Eastern Conference
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8)
As for the Magic, the question in this series is not whether the Bucks will go to Orlando, but how many games they’ll want to do.
Led by the league’s reigning MVP to Giannis Antetokounmpo (29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists consistent with the game), who can very well regain the award this year, Milwaukee has several goal threats that Magic will have to see if he hopes to do so. Succeed. disappointed him.
The Bucks averaged 118.8 game-consistent issues in the normal season, to 106.9 for Orlando. Milwaukee also finished with a league top of 51.8 rebounds consistent with the game and the sixth-best number of 108.4 problems, countering the Magic’s biggest strength, while Orlando averaged 108 problems.
If Orlando needs a playoff win, it’ll be defensive. With Bucks Khris Middleton (21 points), Eric Bledsoe (15.1 points) and Brook Lopez (11.9 points) with a double-digit night average, that doesn’t seem very promising.
Program
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18, 1:30 pm ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, August 20 at 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, August 22, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Monday, August 24, 1:30 pm ET, NBATV
Game 5: Wednesday, August 26, to be determined
Game 6: Friday, August 28, to be determined
Game 7: Sunday, August 30, to be determined
If necessary
Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Toronto Raptors Brooklyn Nets (7)
Raptors are just as damaging this season even though they look to others when they won the NBA name last year.
Kawhi Leonard went to Los Angeles and the team replaced him with a committee, consistent with the progression of the force ahead of Pascal Siakam (22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds consistent with the game) and baseman Fred VanVleet (17.6 points, 6.6 assists). Toronto stepped forward with their consistent victory with a percentage of 0.707 in 2018-19 to 0.732 this year despite Leonard’s defeat.
That’s what the Brooklyn Nets will have to check to slow down. If Brooklyn had a list, it wouldn’t be such a big demand.
Despite the touchdown of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in loose standing last summer, neither of them has injuries that save them from leaving for the rest of the season. Brooklyn is also without Wilson Chandler, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince, the COVID-19 causing rotation before the reboot.
Instead, the Nets are led by Caris LeVert (18.7 game-consistent issues), Jarrett Allen (11.1 problems, 9.6 rebounds consistent with the game) and Chris Chiozza (6.4 game-consistent issues), making an opposing game to Toronto even more difficult.
Program
Game 1: Monday, August 17, p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, August 19, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 3: Friday, August 21, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 4: Sunday, August 23, 6:30 p.m. Tnt
Game 5: Wednesday, August 26, to be determined
Game 6: Friday, August 28, to be determined
Game 7: Sunday, August 30
If necessary
Boston Celtics (3) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (6)
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens enters the playoffs with a new contract extension. Philadelphia 76ers boss Brett Brown is a coach to save his job.
This tells you a lot about the team’s position to enter the playoffs if necessary.
Another disappointing year for the Sixers may still have them in the playoffs, but the team is a shell in itself.
The two pillars of the franchise, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, suffer injuries, the first being excluded for the year and ankle of the 100% pass.
Meanwhile, Boston has Kemba Walker with almost all his strength and a deep list that has uncovered his position as he looks forward to a series of deep playoffs.
Program
Game 1: Monday, August 17, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, August 19, 6:30 pm ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, August 21, 6:30 pm ET, TNT
Game 4: Sunday, August 23, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 5: Tuesday, August 25, to be determined
Game 6: Thursday, August 27, to be determined
Game 7: Saturday, August 29, to be determined
If necessary
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Indiana Pacers Miami Heat (5)
The first grudge against the NBA bubble.
T.j. Warren has been one of the league’s most sensible scorers since the reboot last July, and only one player has slowed him down: Jimmy Butler of Miami.
The first two fought in a Pacers defeat in January that ended with the expulsion of Warren and Butler kissing him.
Now the two will fight, with the elimination in play.
The Pacers have not made the first round of the playoffs since 2013-14 despite four consecutive spots in the playoffs. Twice that period, Indiana forced a seven-game series. The other two ended up with the Pacers’ sweep.
This has the feeling of being first and introduces the star players to get there, however, the game to watch comes down to Butler opposite Warren.
Program
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18 at 4 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, August 20, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, August 22, 3:30 pm ET, TNT
Game 4: Monday 24 August, 6:30 pm ET, TNT
Game 5: Wednesday, August 26, to be determined
Game 6: Friday, August 28, to be determined
Game 7: Sunday, August 30, to be determined
If necessary
First of the Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs. Play-in Winner (8)
The Lakers will have to wait a little longer to find out who their opponent is while The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies face off in a series of play-ins.
If Memphis wins a game before the Blazers can win two, they’ll be the Grizzlies. Otherwise, Portland gets the go-ahead. Anyway, it’s overwhelming for the No. 8 seed.
You could say that Los Angeles has the duet in the league with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The offense has been in a bad mood lately, with the club getting a 3-5 record in resumption, however, any of the stars are veterans with delight in the playoffs who can make a difference quickly.
No matter who they play with, the Lakers pass with any club in the West, one of the reasons they seamlessly got the top spot.
As James seeks to earn a name in his third city, silencing him in a seven-game series will prove to be the toughest task in the playoffs.
Program
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18 at 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, August 20 at 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, August 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 4: Monday, August 24 at 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5: Wednesday, August 26, to be determined
Game 6: Friday, August 28, to be determined
Game 7: Sunday, August 30, to be determined
If necessary
Los Angeles Clippers (2) vs. Dallas Mavericks (7)
Possibly there wouldn’t be a first-round series with more stars.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George against Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic. Undisputed shooters who oppose how the league has never seen.
The Clippers swept the series of the season, 3-0, beating the Mavericks 350-317 in the process. L.A. is not unlikely to pass through Dallas back in the playoffs, but it probably wouldn’t be without a high-quality game on both sides.
Doncic is one of the most exciting young stars in the game that gives the impression that the game is normal. He led the league with 17 triple-doubles and finished fourth in the player’s power rating. If someone can take over a match or series, that’s the 21-year-old Slovenian player.
Not to be left behind, Leonard is looking for back-to-back titles and is as fierce a defender as any in the NBA. He and George have benefited from smart cargo control this season. Now they’ll have to go to Head Coach Doc Rivers for the extra rest to appreciate.
Program
Game 1: Monday, August 17 at 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, August 19 at 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, August 21 at 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Sunday, August 23, 3:30 p.m. a B C
Game 5: Tuesday, August 25, to be determined
Game 6: Thursday, August 27, to be determined
Game 7: Saturday, August 29, to be determined
If necessary
Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Utah Jazz (6)
The two Western Conference contenders are compared in this first-round series.
Denver has a trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Will Barton, while Utah opposes Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic.
Where the two differ is their depth.
The Nuggets have emerging stars in the rookies Bol Bol and Michael Porter Jr., with the ability to absolutely replace the game before the conflicting parties can adapt.
At 7’2″ and with a lot of diversity in his shot, Bol can become the most talented floor player in the series. But there’s no denying how raw those gifts are. Whether or not they can cope with the intensity of the playoffs will say a lot about how many minutes you can take care of and probably how far Denver can go.
In Porter Jr., the ultra-athletic striker can stretch the ground, but struggles to be healthy enough to do it consistently.
Program
Game 1: Monday, August 17, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, August 19 at 4 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, August 21, p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sunday, August 23 at 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5: Tuesday, August 25, to be determined
Game 6: Thursday, August 27, to be determined
Game 7: Saturday, August 29, to be determined
If necessary
Houston Rockets (4) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (5)
Houston stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook have called for themselves in Oklahoma City, and now have evidence that opposes the organization that selected them.
Westbrook acquired OKC last summer in an industry for Harden’s backfield partner, Chris Paul.
There is no doubt that Paul would like to take down the franchise that rejected him and do so with a Thunder team that in the past tactically departed with Westbrook and Harden would have an air of poetry. But this isn’t the only secondary plot here.
Houston tries to win through the game basically a small ball game. None of the Rockets’ headlines are more than 6’7″ ahead of Robert Covington and the plan is to shoot down the conflicting parties on the court with a quick attack that lives and dies in the suspension shot.
It paints well, but it can also collapse.
Program
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 pm ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, August 20, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, August 22, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4: Monday, August 24 at 4 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5: Wednesday, August 26, to be determined
Game 6: Friday, August 28, to be determined
Game 7: Sunday, August 30, to be determined
If necessary
Conference semi-finals
Both meetings are scheduled to start the circular for the time being on August 31, the precise dates count on the duration of each circular of the first circular.
A Lakers-Rockets game in the Western semi-finals would provide many scoring moves, as the winner of his last 3 games this season scored at least 113 points. The Rockets went 2-1 off Los Angeles this year and their rapid speed would put as much strain on the Lakers as any team can handle.
In the East, an imaginable rematch of last year’s convention semifinals may be lurking for Philadelphia and Toronto. The Raptors won with Leonard’s first Buzzer-Bat in Game 7, however, board man is rarely here to give Toronto the win this year.
End of the conference
The NBA has set September 15 as the start date for the convention finals.
Toronto beat Milwaukee in six games in the 2019 Eastern Conference finals. A year later, the Bucks take revenge.
The two top-talented groups in their respective meetings have no trouble combining themselves to earn the right to play for the Larry O’Brien Trophy and that would be an even more exciting war with the two groups that emerged from last season’s experience.
In the West, it all comes down to Los Angeles. An All-LA game would not mark the first time the Lakers and Clippers would face each other in the playoffs, however, it would be the first final appearance at a convention in Clippers history.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in front of Anthony Davis and LeBron James. If Los Angeles were big enough for both of us, Orlando isn’t.
NBA Finals
September 30 marked the start of the NBA Finals, and October 13 is a forward-looking date for Game 7.
The league has many exciting games to watch ahead: Clippers vs. Sixers, Celtics vs. Lakers, Raptors vs. Clippers, Bucks vs. Blazers, but only one catches the 2020 NBA.
League leaders would go crazy through a Lakers-Bucks series as the all-time top productive player in the game in LeBron James’ battles against his all-exclusive top player Giannis Antetokounmpo. No. 1 as opposed to No. 1. It’s the ultimate productive option on the table, however, there’s really not a forward-looking series that NBA enthusiasts don’t like this year.
Joe Dumars will serve as Kings’ interim executive vice president of basketball operations and will serve as general manager.
Luke Walton’s paintings are ‘safe’ for The Athletic
After being stretched from the ground, Heat Forward will be reassessed over the weekend.
From backyard to cement. We won together. Support the Social Change Fund with our new ?
@wontgottlieb explains why Chicago couldn’t move forward until he severed ties with his coach