Several of these series have the ability to go through seven games, while some others may be four-game scans. With so much action to focus on, we ranked the first round races from less exciting to more exciting. Select the checkbox to confirm that you want to sign up.
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As nice as it was to see the Pelicans fight the Clippers to secure their place in the playoffs, I do not see them being able to give a big fight against a Suns team that could play in June. It will be exciting to watch Brandon Ingram in the postseason for the first time in his career and CJ McCollum has a talent for putting huge numbers in the playoffs, but Phoenix is just too talented and too deep to think that this turn does not go very far. I’ll probably regret putting the Hawks and Heat so low, because watching Trae Young fire the Cavaliers for 38 points on a return win over Cleveland was full of all the drama and entertainment you want in a playoff series. But Miami is not Cleveland and Clint Capella’s knee injury puts Atlanta out with another crucial key player if he is unable to play part of the series. Young will likely show wild stats during this series, but he alone will not be able to beat a Miami team that has very few weaknesses when it comes to meeting the Hawks. As special as Young may be, I’m surprised if this series went through five games. This series really had the potential to be exciting, but Luka Doncic’s executive really reduced it. Doncic is not expected to play in Game 1, and may not be ready to play in the second game either, which means the Jazz should have the upper hand here. But do not write off Dallas yet. Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie have a chance to win a few games for the Mavs, and if guys like Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock break their open run, then Dallas has a small chance of winning without the star point guard. their. But if Utah gets things done and plays like it was the top attacker in the regular season, then it could be another disappointing first-round exit for the Mavericks. There is also the possibility that Doncic will return to this series at some point, and if he is 100 percent healthy, then that will definitely change the narrative. Although the Bucks have the major advantage in this series, as they have beaten the Bulls all four times they have met this season, and by chance employ Giannis Antitokoumbo, there are still some fun things to watch in this series. We will see the debut after the season of Zach LaVine, who has often played second violin with DeMar DeRozan this season. DeRozan deserves all the credit for having a highly productive season and was the main reason why the Bulls are even in the playoffs for a start. But seeing how LaVine plays when games start to get a little more important will be tempting. He also happens to be ready for a maximum contract this summer, so you know he’s going to want to go out now to prove he’s worth every penny Chicago is going to give him. This match also has the potential to get a little squeaky, as the Bucks guard Grayson Allen played a role in the injury of Alex Caruso earlier in the season. Ever since that happened, Allen has received a lot of disapproval on the two occasions Milwaukee played in Chicago. These two arenas are also within a convenient two-hour distance of each other along Lake Michigan, so there are also some competition links between the two fan bases.
4. (4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
We will see James Harden and Joel Ebid together for the first time in the playoffs against an underrated Raptors team that has one of the most exciting rookies in its class at the Scotty Barnes. Philadelphia has a mountain of expectations after the deal for Harden with the expectation of playing for the championship this season. Will Philly treat Harden the Ben Simmons if he does not live up to expectations? Will Doc Rivers be left without a job if the Raptors surprise the Sixers and send them to pack their bags in the first round? There are many stories to watch in this series, such as the fact that Philadelphia will be left without its best defender at the Matisse Thybulle for road racing because he is unvaccinated, which does not comply with Canada’s COVID vaccine mandate. . For the Raptors, they have the opportunity to show everyone that they have been seriously ignored this season, as Pascal Shiakam has confirmed himself as an All-NBA player. Add the new All-Star Fred VanVleet, the two-way capabilities of OG Anunoby and this series could be close throughout. Stephen Curry is ready for Game 1, having missed the last 12 games of the regular season due to a leg injury. However, it is expected to be limited to minutes at the start of the series. This could be a really fun match, as the Warriors will have their big three Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green together again in the playoffs for the first time since the 2019 Final. On the other side of the race is the MVP of the league, who could very well win his second consecutive prize this year. Although Nikola Jokic will be without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., that alone is enough for the Warriors. There is no other player in the league who has as much influence in every field of play in attack as Jokic. The Nuggets may be outnumbered as they are not in full force, but that just means we have to have some really special appearances from Jokic trying to lead his team to a reversal against a healthier Warriors team than ever before. Do you enjoy the tough youth groups that have all the confidence in the world? Two guards flying high over Morant and Edwards who are human top reels? What about loads and loads of garbage? Well, this series is for you. This would have been ranked No. 1 if the teams had been level, but the Grizzlies could have taken care of the Wolves rather easily. However, we saw how annoying Patrick Beverly can be in Minnesota’s victory over the Clippers and he will definitely try to do the same against a young Memphis team. But the Grizzlies have their own defenders, such as Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr., who can change a game and get into the head of an opposing team just as easily. It does not matter if this series only goes to four games or to all seven, you will each have to watch TV. Following a defeat by the Celtics in early March, in which Irving heard voices every time he touched the ball from fans inside the TD Garden, the All-Star Guard compared Boston fans to a “contemptuous ex-girlfriend who asked explanations why I left but I still want a message back “. It is safe to say that Irving’s disapproval of the Celtics hosting the Nets will be like nothing he has heard before. But beyond that, this series is without a doubt the most exciting. Kevin Durand is dating Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown. Marcus Smart tries to lock Irving. Oh, and then there is the opportunity for Ben Simmons to make his long-awaited debut this season. Simmons is aiming for Game 4 to return as soon as possible, which could add a whole new wrinkle to the series.