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The NBA postseason begins with the play-in match on Tuesday night time.
The highest six groups from every convention have already certified for the playoffs, whereas the seven to 10 seeded groups enter a play-in match for an opportunity to qualify for the ultimate two playoff spots in every convention.
Listed below are the three main speaking factors of the Western Convention earlier than the NBA playoffs:
1. Can any of the defending champions beat Denver?
The Nuggets had been the one crew within the NBA common season that appeared like they had been in cruise management for big parts of the season and had the additional gear obtainable when wanted.
Listed below are some compelling the explanation why Denver ought to repeat as Western Convention champions:
He has the NBA's Most Helpful Participant (MVP)., Nikola Jokic is a favourite to win his third MVP this season, which places him in nice firm. Extremely, the middle averaged practically a triple double for your entire season (26.4 factors, 12.4 rebounds and 9 assists), however Jokic doesn't care about statistics – solely profitable.
when it counts they win, Because the starting of the season, many specialists have predicted a Boston vs. Denver matchup in June's NBA Finals. Of their two conferences this season, Denver swept the league-leading Celtics, profitable each contests by controlling the sport within the pressure-packed closing minutes.
NBA's finest beginning lineup, Relying on how one charges Denver's lineup, additionally they have the league's finest beginning 5 with Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon. They’re proficient, have nice coordination and every participant clearly understands their position in crunch time.
West's finest quantity two, NBA TV commentators should not exaggerating after they name Jokic's teammate Murray “Playoff Murray.” Within the 2023 playoffs, the purpose guard averaged a formidable 26.1 factors, 7.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 20 video games en path to his first NBA championship. When wholesome, Murray has been practically unstoppable from the perimeter throughout his playoff profession and constantly assaults the enamel of defenses to attain from shut vary.
Murray's solely weak point is his persistent damage historical past – and that's in all probability the one factor that might derail one other Western Convention title cost for Denver.
2. May the getting older greats of the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State Warriors make one final look within the Western Convention postseason?
Two of the league's celebrity faces – LeBron James (Lakers) and Stephen Curry (Warriors) – should choose out of the NBA Play-In Event to compete on this yr's playoffs.
The Lakers (17-9) and Warriors (19-10) have been spectacular because the All-Star break, however they’ve been unable to chase down the highest with a number of sturdy Western Convention groups already forward of them within the standings. Six seeds to robotically qualify for the playoffs.
Now, they need to do it the arduous manner.
But when current historical past is any information, there could also be some trigger for optimism for these two league icons. Final season, the Lakers superior out of two play-in eliminator video games and reached the Western Convention Finals.
Climbing the Western Convention mountain once more with the evergreen 39-year-old James enjoying heavy minutes could also be too huge a problem, even for the “King”.
However extremely, James has added an additional dimension to his sport in his twenty first season: super-efficient three-point taking pictures, making 41 p.c of his makes an attempt and changing into a reputable menace from past the arc.
Curry, in the meantime, has suffered a disappointing “what may have been” kind of season with the Warriors, because of the erratic actions of key teammate Draymond Inexperienced.
Inexperienced made headlines for all of the mistaken causes in the course of the season, being suspended twice for a complete of 17 video games associated to 2 offensive incidents on the courtroom: placing Minnesota Timberwolves middle Rudy Gobert in a chokehold in November and throwing Phoenix Suns participant Jusuf Nurkic in a chokehold. Strike. Face off in December.
Curry used Inexperienced's adversity as a rallying cry to reclaim his season, and now the Warriors' postseason success or failure will journey on the shoulders of the 35-year-old guard, thought of by many to be the very best shooter of all-time. .
Followers around the globe – to not point out the NBA – can be hoping that James and Curry make it out of the NBA Play-ins and advance to the Western Convention Playoffs.
With such a loaded convention, these four-time defending NBA champions will want a bit luck to high the West.
3. Are the Dallas Mavericks now the principle challengers within the Western Convention?
Regardless of ending fifth within the Western Convention, no crew comes into the postseason with extra momentum than Dallas.
A transparent case could be made for the Mavericks to make a deep playoff run within the Western Convention. Earlier than their blowout loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Sunday night time of their meaningless closing season sport, Dallas had:
- League's finest win-loss file (13–3) within the final month of the season.
- The NBA's finest offense within the final 10 video games.
- The NBA's finest protection during the last 10 video games.
- Luka Doncic might be the league's finest (or second finest) participant, ending with season averages of 33.9 factors, 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists per sport.
- Guard Kyrie Irving is as soon as once more enjoying like an All-Star, rating within the high 15 with 25.6 factors per sport.
The Mavs made a giant gamble on the 2023 commerce deadline, buying Irving from the Brooklyn Nets to supply a 1-2 offensive mixture with Doncic.
That gamble didn't repay final season – they missed the playoffs – however this season, Doncic and Irving, in addition to a gaggle of dependable position gamers, have the Mavericks poised to do one thing particular this postseason.
Essentially the most sudden purpose the Mavericks gained the West is the factor they’re least recognized for: protection.
Within the closing month of the season, the Mavs had been the NBA's primary defensive crew.
If their defensive depth, coupled with the scoring masterclass from Doncic and Irving, continues into the playoffs – averaging 59.5 factors per sport – then it's going to be very tough for anybody to disclaim Dallas within the Western Convention.
