It’s the most wonderful time of the year, NBA fans.
With the NBA playoff picture getting clearer, take a look at the must-see opening round match-ups, this time in the Eastern Conference.
No burner and ‘troel’ found
(#2 New York Knicks vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers )
For the first time since 1989, the New York Knicks (50-32) will face the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers (47-35) in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs in the no.2-vs-no.7 matchup.
Early on, the Knicks had trouble getting into a groove, alternating wins and losses, and found themselves seventh in the East after 31 games and desperately needed a boost.
All of a sudden, OG Anunoby arrived in town.
Anunoby, an All-Defensive Team player who made 40% of his corner threes, brought instant impact to New York as the Knicks surged to fourth behind a to 12-2 record after his arrival.
However, eventual injuries to Julius Randle and Anunoby proved costly and the Knicks struggled.
Enter Jalen Brunson.
He had his career-best season so far, averaging 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists to lead New York’s first season with 50 or more victories since 2012-13.
Together with Donte DiVicenzo, Josh Hart, and trade deadline additions of Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burk, the Knicks look to surpass their second round playoff exit. But standing their way is no less than the reigning MVP himself, Joel Embiid.
Embiid is averaging 32.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in his last 10 games and dropped a 23-15 double-double in their Play-In clincher over the Miami Heat.
Before missing almost three months of play due to a left knee surgery, Embiid was tearing up the league, averaging 35.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
The likely Most Improved Player this year, Tyrese Maxey is expected to share the responsibilities in offense alongside key players in Nic Batum, Buddy Hield, Kelly Oubre, and even Kyle Lowry.
New York won the season series 3-1, capitalizing on the absence of Embiid in three of those meetings. The Knicks’ victories came by margins of 36, 14, and 27 points.
Oubre and Lowry could most likely handle Brunson on defense and without Randle, Isaac Harkenstein would be on the opposite end of Embiid.
With both stars being grounded, it all comes down to the supporting cast players shining in their respective roles.
The question is, who will step up when the light shines the brightest for these Atlantic Division rivals?
From Game Ball to Ball Out
(#3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. #6 Indiana Pacers)
In a random game on December 14 of last year, Giannis Antetokoumpo scored a franchise-record 64 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers.
On the same night, Pacers rookie Oscar Tshiebwe scored his first career points.
A controversial post-game scuffle ensued in the hallway near the Indiana locker room over who had the game ball, and who was entitled to it.
Nobody expected that four months later, the two teams would meet in the postseason fighting for a spot in the East semis round.
Damian Lillard’s first season on a team not named the Portland Trail Blazers was an eventful one, from early struggles to mid-season coaching changes to becoming the first player to the All-Star 3-point title and ASG MVP.
His partnership with Antetokounmpo has its fair share of ups and downs but here they are in the playoffs.
Except Giannis could not be there--for the time being.
The former MVP suffered a left calf strain in the third to the last game of the Bucks. Reports said he won’t be ready for Game 1.
Meanwhile, Indiana emerged to be an unlikely playoff contender before the season started but Tyrese Haliburton had other plans.
The four-year guard averaged 20.1 points and a league-leading 10.9 assists and became the engine to the league’s second-best offense (120.9).
With the arrival of former MIP Pascal Siakam last February, the Pacers have a legitimate secondary scorer next to Haliburton.
Indiana went 4-1 against Milwaukee during the regular season, claiming the season series against their Central Division rival for the first time since 2018.
As long as Giannis is playing, Milwaukee has a chance, Without him, it’s a coin toss.
Either way, this might be the start of a modern-day playoff rivalry.
Fresh, feisty, and furious
(#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Orlando Magic)
For the first time since 2009, the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34) and fifth-seeded Orlando Magic (47-35) square off in the postseason.
Cleveland entered the playoffs with something to prove after losing to the Knicks in five games in the first round last season.
Health has been an issue, with five-time NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell missing significant time down the stretch, and young stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley battling injuries. At full strength, this is a dangerous team capable of scoring in bursts and turning up the defense when needed.
On the other hand, Orlando’s 13-win improvement from last season yielded them a playoff berth for the first time in four years behind Paolo Banchero, who took a great leap this season and Franz Wagner, one of the best young forward tandems in the league.
Despite finishing within a game of each other, right in the neck of the Eastern Conference, these two teams are far apart in terms of circumstances. Orlando is a young squad just off a rebuild, proving to the entire league that they have graduated from the cellar. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have been here in the postseason before, making the playoffs each of the last three seasons.
The two teams split their season series, 2-2.
An exciting series of up-and-coming stars will definitely pique your interest.
Doesn’t mean a thing without a ring
(#1 Boston Celtics vs. #8 Miami Heat)
Being the only team to win 60 games? Nice.
Beating 10 teams by 30 or more points and becoming the first team in NBA history to have three 50-point wins in the same season? Awesome
Clinching the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed with 11 games remaining in the regular season? Not bad.
But as rich and glorious as a basketball franchise like the 17-time NBA champion Boston Celtics, all of those don’t matter.
In short, nothing short of a chip no. 18 is a failure.
And just this Saturday, it's confirmed--there's going to be a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals... only it's coming right in the first round this year.
For the third time in the last five years, the Celtics and Heat will meet again in the postseason.
Miami took the first one in the 2020 bubble, Boston then avenged that loss in the 2022 East Final but the Heat avoided a 0-3 meltdown last year to barge to the NBA Finals.
But this season, one key player is missing, Heat superstar Jimmy Butler. Butler suffered a sprained right MCL in the Play-In loss to Philadelphia and reports have surfaced that he will miss ‘several weeks.’
The Celts swept their regular-season series with the Heat, 3-0.
However, if any Eastern Conference opponent can put some doubt in the Celtics’ heads, it’s this Miami.
But without Butler, it’s a new whole ball game.
