The Eastern Conference takes centerstage on Wednesday to kick off the NBA’s first ever play-in tournament.
Two playoff berths are up for grabs as four teams battle it out in the East. Ninth seed Indiana Pacers (34-38) host tenth seed Charlotte Hornets (33-39) at 6:30 AM in an elimination game. This is followed by the matchup between seventh seed Boston Celtics (36-36) and eighth seed Washington Wizards (34-38) at 9:00 AM.
The victor of the Celtics-Wizards game will automatically clinch the seventh seed, while the loser gets another crack at the playoffs, facing whoever wins between the Pacers and Hornets.
So who comes out of the East play-in and heads to the playoffs?
Right off the bat, the odds tip in favor of the streaking Wizards.
Washington owns a backcourt that can unearth defensive schemes and scorch the scoreboard. A monster game from either Bradley Beal or Russell Westbrook (or both) can catapult them into the postseason. They produce a league-best 53.6 points which is an amazing stat but doesn’t fully grasp the potency of the duo.
Beal, who finished second in scoring with 31.3 points a game, can score 50 on his own. He’s shooting 48.5 percent from the field, including 34.9 from deep, and making 2.2 3s as well. Westbrook, who’s churning out triple-doubles like a man possessed (22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.7 assists), can put up eye-popping numbers. He’s not posting 10-10-10 lines. He can go out there and dish out 15-plus dimes and pull down 12-plus boards.
Of course, hoping that Westbrook and Beal shine in one or two games puts them in a lot of pressure as opposed to expecting them to perform well in at least a handful of games in a seven-game series. Westbrook is explosive but he can also be volatile. Plus, how can we be certain that Beal is back to full strength from his hamstring injury? These are lingering concerns that the Wizards have to face. Still, it’s tough to bet against these two stars for possibly two games. Even if they lose to the Celtics, it’s hard to fathom that they won’t bounce back in another chance to enter the playoffs.
It’s both strange and astonishing to think that these are the same Wizards who held a 17-32 record. The same team who didn’t play for nearly two weeks due to COVID-related issues. It’s amazing what a full and healthy lineup does to a team. They’ve not only soldiered on and fought through, but thrived toward the latter part of the season. Led by the fury and raw scoring power of Beal and Westbrook, sprinkled by the inspired play of role players, they went 15-5 in their last 20 games. Maybe we’re just beginning to understand the real Washington Wizards.
The play-in tournament, with all its intricacies — high-stakes, high-pressure, elimination-type style — seems like the perfect setting for stars to perform.
That being said, it’s hard to put a ceiling on Jayson Tatum. The Celtics star is a throwback to the NBA greats of the early 2000s. Obviously he’s got Kobe Bryant’s game down pat but he also has the swag and charisma of a Tracy McGrady and the killer instinct of Allen Iverson. He’ll shoot the tough jumper, slither through defenses, and attack relentlessly. He’s a gunslinger, and with his back against the wall, you know he’ll unload everything in the chamber.
Tatum finished the season with averages of 26.4 points on a 45.9 shooting clip, alongside 7.4 boards and 4.3 dimes. He can single-handedly push the Celtics into the playoffs, though it might take them two games to get there.
The aforementioned Wizards and their hot streak will be a tough cover for the Celtics who’ve been inconsistent all season long. Should the Celtics fall to the Beal-Westbrook combo, they can make amends by beating the Pacers or Hornets.
Boston, being the highest seed, has home court advantage in the play-in and fans are allowed up to 12 percent capacity at the TD Garden. It’s not a lot, but you have to take every advantage you can in a win-or-go-home setting.
The blueprint is there for the Celtics to enter the playoffs. Tatum can provide the scoring while being flanked by the combined playmaking and defensive prowess of Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker. The young players have to hold fort, even for a little while, while Boston’s stars do the heavy lifting.
It’s tough to discredit the Pacers and the Hornets, but they’ll have to pull a rabbit out of a hat to come out of the play-in tourney.
The Pacers have been marred by injuries, controversies, and overall just poor form. We might never know the full impact of the early loss of TJ Warren, who was a standout in last year’s Orlando bubble, due to a navicular stress fracture. Losing Myles Turner to a right toe injury was a huge blow for the Pacers, especially on the defensive end.
Indiana does have its bright spots. All-Star Domantas Sabonis made the most out of this season by pouring in 20.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. He is the first player in franchise history to average a 20-10-5 line. He also has 47 double-doubles this season, the seventh most in the league.
On the bench, Indiana has its own issues focusing on head coach Nate Bjorkgren. Will missing out on the playoffs be the final straw?
As for the Hornets, nobody can take away the hype and the buzz (pun intended) that this season has brought the franchise.
The arrival of LaMelo Ball has invigorated the fan base and put the rest of the league on notice. The team became a hot League Pass squad and they were dangerously potent as well. The core of Terry Rozier, PJ Washington, Devonte Graham, and Miles Bridges has not only provided the highlights but also the right plays.
But their youthful excitement won't be able to match the experience needed in the postseason. Veteran Gordon Hayward is likely out for the season because of a foot injury. And outside of him and Rozier, nobody has enough playoff mileage that could help this young group survive the tough play-in test.
The Hornets can probably muscle their way past the Pacers but it will be a tall order to take down the Celtics or Wizards. Nonetheless, the play-in will be a good experience for a team bursting with potential.
