The NBA Playoffs, the National Basketball Association’s postseason tournament hosted after the regular season the determine the season’s champion is back. The playoffs are one of the most exciting events of the year because this where the teams that qualified compete for the coveted NBA title.
Last year, the NBA title was won by the Boston Celtics, when they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in a best out of seven games to determine the champion. This year it seems as if there potentially can be a new champion.
The Celtics are looking strong to win another title, but a challenge from the Cleveland Cavaliers may stop them from getting there. The Cavaliers finished the season with 64-18 record throughout the season, while the Celtics finished with a 61-21 record.
The Eastern Conference in general has its competition for the tournament, but the Western Conference is also where all the competition is as well.
The Westen Conference has the Oklahoma City Thunder who had a 68-14 record to end the season, this year look like the favorites to win the title, especially with some impressive performances from MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous Alexander. The Thunder may have some competition from the Denver Nuggets with the other MVP favorite Nikola Jokic, and some competition from the Los Angeles Lakers after the acquisition of Luka Doncic has given Lebron James a chance to chase another championship.
In the Eastern Conference, besides the Cavaliers and the Celtics, you have the Knicks, Bucks, Pistons, and Magic in the running. The Knicks who are third in the conference, have had a rough time when it comes to facing top teams as they have lost to all teams seeded better than them multiple times. They have a tough task ahead of them when they face off against the Detroit Pistons the league after years Pistons who have surprised the league after years of struggling.
The Playoffs are known for having some of the most incredible performances and it shows when teams come together knowing a championship is on the line.