After a regular season of 82 games and a riveting, exciting play-in tournament, we are now ready to finally start the NBA 2022 Playoffs, with as many open pitches as we have seen in recent memory. While the NBA does not often see many major upheavals in the first round, this year we have some interesting games that could lead to some unexpected results. The series that many will watch from start to finish is the match between No. 2 Boston Celtics and No. 7 Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern District. The Nets were the favorites to win the title before the season, but suffered injuries, part-time players and a mid-season trade that led to a disappointing regular season. They showed their firepower in the victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, however, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being nothing more than a regular seventh seed. The duo of power that will face the best defense of the Boston championship is guaranteed to be quite a show. Outside the West, the biggest intrigue comes from the fight between No. 4 Dallas Mavericks and No. 5 Utah Jazz. Dallas will be left without MVP candidate Luka Doncic for at least the first game in a row, which dramatically changes the odds in favor of Utah. Due to Doncic’s use rate and responsibility offensively, the Mavericks seem less equipped than some teams to survive without their superstar. With the playoffs starting on Saturday, our CBS Sports NBA experts have put a knife to predict every turn of the first round.
