The NBA Regular season has come to an end and what a wild ride the final day was. The Knicks grabbed the 2 seed in the East, whilst New Orleans and Phoenix swapped spots in 6th and 7th.
It’s Play-In Time now, 4 spots are still up for grabs, and it all kicks off this morning with Western Conference action getting us started!
New Orleans (7) v LA Lakers (8):
The Pelicans have steered clear of Play-In Hoops for the vast majority of the season. Dallas got red hot late as did the Suns, which put pressure on a Pels team missing Brandon Ingram. They had the doors blown off them on the final day v the Lakers 124-108 courtesy of a monster night from LeBron James! LeBron finished with 28 Pts, 11 Rbs and a whopping 17 Asts. He’s in year 21 people…
New Orleans can’t let the moment become too big for them in this one, and need to start strong, something they didn’t do on Monday. They’re clearly a very talented team, but the experience is well and truly with the Lakers, a team who was in this very position last season as well.
It’ll come down to what version of Zion and BI can help the likes of CJ McCollum to give the Pels every chance of causing an “upset” as every expects the Lakers to be far too good in this contest. Much has also been mentioned about the Lakers potentially losing this one on purpose to avoid Denver in round 1. In what world would you put yourself in a win or go home situation on purpose??
Prediction : This match up will have some points in it, and if the Pelicans don’t get a good start, this could get ugly. They’re a very good ball club, and have played far too well this season to lose here at home. Pelicans by 4.
Sacramento (9) v Golden State (10):
The moment we’ve all been waiting for since last years playoffs. It was Game 7 in Sacramento where the man himself, Steph Curry, dropped 50 points and eliminated the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento gets their chance at revenge, although they’ll be doing it down on troops from their playoff push last season. Malik Monk (arguably the best 6th man this season) and Kevin Huerter are out injured, while the Warriors have seemingly hit their straps just at the right time.
DeAaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis will have to have monster nights for the Kings to progress here, but the X factor may very well be one of their young guns. Keegan MURRRAYYYYY will have to see one going through the hoop early from deep to give him the confidence to play spoiler and have a big night himself.
The X Factor for Golden State is one member of the splash bros. You never know what you’re going to get this season from Klay Thompson, but similar to Keegan Murray, if he sees one go through early he’s in for a big night!
Prediction: Similar to the 7v8 match up, there should be points a plenty. 3 match ups this season were decided by 1 point this season between these 2 teams. This one ends in similar fashion. LIGHT THE BEAM!
Philadelphia (7) v Miami (8):
What a battle this is going to be. Both teams are far better than their seeds suggest, and there’s no doubting Boston and New York at the top of the East are thinking the same thing!
Joel Embiid has returned and is giving Philly fans genuine excitement about their teams ability to make a run from 7th.
Jimmy Butler on the other hand loves facing his former team, and has a killer instinct when this time of year rolls around, as per last year with this team making a run to the NBA Finals from the Play-In.
3 of the 4 match ups this season were decided by 7 points or less and this match up could get ugly, quite the opposite of our Western Conference match ups. It’s going to be a grind, basketball purist heaven some would say!
Prediction: A Low scoring affair is on the cards, and Bam Adebayo may have a big say in his ability to slow down Embiid. Even if he does, I think Maxey gives Philly the edge at home and gets the 6ers into the playoffs to face the Knicks (with Miami winning the 9v10 battle to face Boston).
Chicago (9) v Atlanta (10):
Bulls fans may want to watch “The Last Dance” instead of this Play-In match up, as even if they win, they aren’t progressing against the loser of the 7v8 battle!
Both teams enter play with losing records, but Play-In basketball brings about some crazy things doesn’t it!
DeMar DeRozan has been phenomenal for the Bulls this season, whilst Dejounte Murray has carried the Hawks late in the season in the absence of Trae Young. Young returns now to the Hawks line up and they’ll feel like they’re every chance of causing the upset in Chicago on Thursday.
Alex Caruso will have a big say in that, as whether he guards either Young or Murray, one is in for a long evening!
Prediction: With Young back in the line up, the Hawks are every chance here, especially with Bogdanovic playing the X factor here. Points a plenty here also, with a Buzzer Beater by DeRozan or Young to get them through to an elimination game Saturday.
Enjoy the Play-In Madness hoops fans!!
Bauky