The Golden State Warriors adopted up their second consecutive N.B.A. title — and third in 4 years — by including DeMarcus Cousins, the four-time All-Star. It grew to become commonplace to declare that that they had ruined the league by eradicating any suspense to the season. A beginning lineup of 5 All-Stars, two of that are former recipients of the Most Precious Participant Award, was simply an excessive amount of.
There was palace intrigue, nevertheless. Kevin Durant and Draymond Inexperienced feuded in public, Cousins was routinely uncovered on protection, Klay Thompson had a tough begin and Stephen Curry’s shot appeared to fail him earlier than he started carrying contacts on the court docket — in a scary acknowledgment that he had struggled along with his imaginative and prescient for years at the same time as he established himself because the deadliest 3-point shooter in N.B.A. historical past.
The drama — which many on the group have stated is definitely lower than they handled final season — led to lengthy stretches through which the Warriors appeared positively pedestrian. Maybe most related to those playoffs, it led to them feuding with officers, and Durant and Inexperienced topping the N.B.A. in technical fouls.
It has broadly been assumed that this will probably be Durant’s final season in Golden State. The quirks of the wage cap imply Cousins is sort of assuredly gone as effectively. Shaun Livingston is prone to retire, Andre Iguodala can’t outrun time endlessly, Inexperienced’s long-term standing is tenuous and Thompson is about to be a free agent. This might certainly be the final run of the Warriors dynasty.
Regardless of all of that ado, there isn’t any purpose to imagine the Warriors can’t flip the change and march to the finals, identical to they did final yr. The one potential obstacles appear to be a major harm — the group has stated an ankle harm to Curry is just not critical, however that state of affairs needs to be monitored — or a boredom with domination so deep that they loaf their strategy to a stunning upset.
With Cousins and Durant probably hoping so as to add a hoop on their manner out the door, focus shouldn’t be an issue. However first they must get there.
A preview of all eight first-round sequence reveals there’s lots to look at and revel in, even when Golden State continues to be “ruining” the whole lot — and finally ends up the champion as soon as once more.
Western Convention
No. 1 Golden State Warriors
vs. No. eight Los Angeles Clippers
Sport 1: Saturday, eight p.m., ABC
The Clippers (48-34) have been the N.B.A.’s most stunning group all season. The Lob Metropolis years could have been outlined by a top-heavy roster of stars, however this group was much more nameless and its expertise stretched additional alongside the bench. Led for a lot of the season by Tobias Harris, Danilo Gallinari and the bench duo of Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams — who this season became the N.B.A.’s career leader in points off the bench — they coasted alongside, profitable recreation after recreation through which they have been counted out.
Even the Clippers’ administration didn’t appear to imagine in them, buying and selling Harris and Boban Marjanovic to Philadelphia in February. The collapse that everybody predicted by no means occurred, and the Clippers simply held off Sacramento for the West’s last playoff spot.
However this sequence is the place the enjoyable story ends. An overachieving group might be exhilarating to look at, and there have been matchups the place the Clippers may need stunned somebody. However regardless of how bored the Warriors (57-25) appeared this season, a loss on this sequence would overtake the 2007 We Consider Warriors’ upset of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks as essentially the most stunning first-round loss in latest historical past. Golden State is simply too deep and too proficient for the plucky Clippers to face an opportunity.
Decide: Warriors in 4
No. 2 Denver Nuggets
vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
Sport 1: Saturday, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Don’t let their file idiot you — the Nuggets (54-28) are damaged, and it doesn’t take a lot to search out the date of the fracture: Jan. 15. That day, Denver, which got here into the sport brimming with confidence because the No. 1 group within the West, obtained pulverized by the Warriors. The Nuggets allowed a file 51 first quarter factors and misplaced, 142-111.
The Nuggets went 25-14 the remainder of the best way — not all that completely different than the 29-13 file that they had going into the sport — however any notion that that they had emerged as a real contender was formally scuttled. Two extra losses to Golden State helped drive that time residence, as did a 5-6 file over the group’s final 11 video games. The Nuggets barely held onto the No. 2 seed, almost dropping it to Houston on the ultimate day of the season.
An optimist would level out that Denver retaining the No. 2 seed means it’s uniquely positioned for a visit to the convention finals, as its win on Wednesday stored the Nuggets away from Golden State for the primary two rounds. If the Nuggets can get previous the Spurs (48-34), they might draw the winner of Portland-Oklahoma Metropolis.
Nikola Jokic is a really particular participant, and can get an opportunity to shine on a nationwide stage sooner or later, however even when the Nuggets are extra proficient than San Antonio, it’s laborious to imagine that Coach Gregg Popovich can’t give you a strategy to exploit Denver’s weaknesses and advance in what may very well be one of many extra intently matched sequence.
Decide: Spurs in 6
No. Three Portland Path Blazers
vs. No. 6 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Sport 1: Sunday, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Watching the video of the brutal leg harm sustained by Jusuf Nurkic final month is just not beneficial, however understanding its influence is pretty necessary in these playoffs. Nurkic, the Bosnian heart, was in the midst of a career-defining season however will now miss the playoffs. He helped remodel the Path Blazers (53-29), from a group identified for its transcendent guard combo — Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum — right into a group that appeared harmful towards any opponent within the West moreover Golden State.
Enes Kanter, who signed with the group in February after being purchased out by the Knicks, can substitute a good quantity of Nurkic’s offense and rebounding, however the defensive drop-off may hardly be extra excessive. That would depart McCollum within the unenviable place of getting this infamous second on Twitter revisited:
With Nurkic, the Blazers probably would have been heavy favorites towards the Thunder (49-33), however because it stands they appear outmatched by the mixture of Paul George, Steven Adams and Russell Westbrook.
Oklahoma Metropolis is much from excellent. George’s play plummeted after accidents within the second half, and Westbrook continued his streak of seasons through which he’s averaged a triple-double however did so with a horrific taking pictures line of 42.eight p.c from the sector, 29.zero p.c on 3-pointers and 65.6 p.c from the free-throw line. Adams, although, ought to have the ability to swallow his good buddy Kanter alive on each ends of the court docket, and the probability that George rises to the event ought to have Portland exiting within the first spherical for the third yr in a row. This yr, although, they need to win a minimum of one or two video games. For Jennifer.
Decide: Thunder in 6
No. Four Houston Rockets
vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
Sport 1: Sunday, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Generally you possibly can win by dropping. The Rockets (53-29) went into the season’s last day with a shot on the No. 2 seed within the West, however Denver’s win left Houston at No. 4. The fantastic thing about that, ought to the Rockets survive a first-round matchup towards Rudy Gobert and the Jazz (50-32), is that it could set them up for a face-off towards Golden State within the second spherical, with James Harden as recent as potential and with a much better probability of Chris Paul being wholesome.
However first Houston must take care of Utah, a group that will get elite protection from Gobert — the group was the second-most environment friendly protection within the N.B.A., permitting 105.7 factors per 100 possessions, in accordance with Basketball Reference — and sufficient offense from Donovan Mitchell to remain aggressive.
This Rockets group is much completely different from the defensive powerhouse that almost knocked off Golden State within the convention finals final yr. Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute are missed on that finish of the court docket, however Houston managed to rise out of an early funk because of Harden proving he had a fair increased gear than the one he displayed en path to profitable M.V.P. final season.
Harden’s common of 36.13 factors a recreation was the very best by any participant in N.B.A. historical past apart from Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. And whereas he could not have averaged a triple-double like Westbrook, he scored 30-plus in 32 consecutive video games and had two triple-doubles through which he scored 50 or extra factors. He now owns 5 of the 14 50-point triple-doubles in N.B.A. historical past.
Jap Convention
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks
vs. No. eight Detroit Pistons
Sport 1: Sunday, 7 p.m., TNT
The Bucks (60-22) have been speculated to be good. However they weren’t speculated to be this good. The season started with debates about which group within the East would step into the vacuum created by LeBron James’s departure to the Western Convention: Boston, Philadelphia or Toronto. Shock, shock, shock.
The tales in regards to the group, and the instant neighborhood of the basket, have been dominated by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the favourite to be named M.V.P. over Harden, however Milwaukee was not a one-man present. Khris Middleton was an All-Star, Eric Bledsoe appeared content material to be a 3rd choice, and Brook Lopez, the lumbering 7-footer, continued his reinvention into maybe the N.B.A.’s least probably 3-point specialist — and certainly one of its simplest perimeter defenders.
A tear within the plantar fascia of Malcolm Brogdon’s proper foot has the Bucks at barely lower than full power for the primary spherical, however the Pistons (41-41) barely certified for the playoffs, and apart from a reasonably particular season from Blake Griffin they provide little purpose for any group to be afraid.
No. 2 Toronto Raptors
vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic
Sport 1: Saturday, 5 p.m., ESPN
The Raptors (58-24) weren’t anticipated to maintain up with Boston or Philadelphia — even by this writer’s predictions — however they managed to jell round Kawhi Leonard sooner than many predicted. Leonard’s well being points, whereas not totally a factor of the previous, didn’t cease Toronto from simply profitable essentially the most troublesome division within the N.B.A.
Credit score ought to go not simply to Leonard, but additionally to Coach Nick Nurse, who did a strong job of competing evening in and evening out; to Kyle Lowry, who moved on, reluctantly, from DeMar DeRozan; and most of all to Pascal Siakam, who, in a single season, went from being seen as a enjoyable function participant to being referred to as a future famous person.
That Toronto is a heavy favourite is a bummer for the Magic (42-40), a group that emerged from years of being atrocious and placed on a very good present almost each evening. The leap to All-Star by Nikola Vucevic was inspiring, and the athleticism on the roster can result in some actually sensational highlights. Sure, the Raptors ought to win, and it’s totally potential that they may sweep, however Orlando is among the few groups that would get away with an perspective of simply being pleased to be there.
No. Three Philadelphia 76ers
vs. No. 6 Nets
Sport 1: Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
The 76ers (51-31) probably have essentially the most proficient beginning 5 exterior of Golden State. Joel Embiid is a system unto himself — he’d desire to be referred to as a Course of; Ben Simmons can do something besides shoot 3-pointers; and Jimmy Butler is just not your buddy, however he’s a terrific all-around participant. That the Sixers can complement these three with a pair of dead-eyed shooters like Tobias Harris and J.J. Redick virtually appears grasping.
The value, it appears, is depth and cohesiveness: The beginning 5 has managed simply 161.1 minutes on the court docket collectively over 10 video games. Whereas Boban Marjanovic is a number of enjoyable coming off the bench — offered you’re not the one guarding him — there isn’t so much else to discuss among the many Sixers’ reserves.
The Nets (42-40), in the meantime, have depth in spades. D’Angelo Russell took the leap to All-Star-level this season; Spencer Dinwiddie is among the league’s high sixth males; Jarrett Allen is a slender however formidable brick wall in entrance of the basket; and also you by no means know when Caris LeVert and Joe Harris will dominate. Coach Kenny Atkinson managed to have 13 gamers common greater than 17 minutes a recreation this season by mixing and matching his lineups (and by coping with accidents).
The 76ers are rightfully the favourite. At any given level in a recreation they may declare to have the 5 most proficient gamers on the court docket — with the potential exception of Russell over Redick and/or Harris. However a major harm to any certainly one of Philadelphia’s stars — all the time a priority with this group’s harm historical past — may very well be a demise knell.
Decide: 76ers in 5
No. Four Boston Celtics
vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers
Sport 1: Sunday, 1 p.m., TNT
What to make of the Celtics? The group made a run to the convention finals final season with a spark however with out Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward, after which after getting them again from harm this yr they have been flat for a lot of the season. It’s not that they didn’t find yourself with good numbers — they have been a top-10 group in offensive and defensive effectivity — however they didn’t scare anybody due to their inconsistency.
The Warriors proved final yr {that a} group can meander by an everyday season after which get up within the playoffs. This group will not be fairly as proficient as Golden State, however the seed for the same transformation does look like current ought to Coach Brad Stevens discover a strategy to shake up his gamers and get them correctly motivated.
If Boston thinks it may loaf its manner by this sequence, nevertheless, it is going to be sadly mistaken. The Pacers (48-34) survived dropping their greatest participant, Victor Oladipo, to a season-ending knee harm and completed with the identical file that they had final yr whereas exhibiting small enchancment of their effectivity on each ends of the court docket.
Boston is so proficient that it must be the favourite, however that is the sequence with the widest vary of potentialities.
Decide: Celtics in 6
Employees Picks
Harvey Araton — @AratonHj
West: Rockets over Thunder | East: Raptors over Bucks
Champions: Rockets
Jonah Bromwich — @Jonesieman
West: Warriors over Nuggets | East: Bucks over Raptors
Champions: Warriors
Scott Cacciola — @ScottCacciola
West: Warriors over Thunder | East: Bucks over Raptors
Champions: Bucks
Sopan Deb — @SopanDeb
West: Warriors over Nuggets | East: Raptors over Bucks
Champions: Warriors
Benjamin Hoffman — @BenHoffmanNYT
West: Warriors over Thunder | East: Bucks over Raptors
Champions: Warriors
Shauntel Lowe — @ShauntelLowe
West: Warriors over Thunder | East: Bucks over Raptors
Champions: Warriors
Marc Stein — @TheSteinLine
West: Warriors over Thunder | East: Raptors over Bucks
Champions: Warriors
Kelly Whiteside — @KellyWhiteside
West: Warriors over Blazers | East: Bucks over Raptors
Champions: Warriors