![]() The last time Memphis and LA met (early in March, without Morant), AD dominated with 30 points and outshined Jaren Jackson Jr. Steven Adams' absence will surely be felt if they end up facing LA, especially with Anthony Davis having proven to be a major headache for them. If things stay the way they are, the Grizzlies could end up facing a dangerous Lakers side that is brimming with confidence. Unfortunately for them, things aren't going to get easy right in the first round despite the fact that they got a higher seed. The Memphis Grizzlies did well securing the second seed despite all the off-court controversies they faced, including the gun issue that led to Ja Morant's suspension and lengthy absence. The Pels, Wolves and Lakers all went 2-2 against the Nuggets during the season.Ĭonsidering the way Denver has played recently as well–losing to the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz–Nikola Jokic and co. Out of all the four teams they could face, they only have a winning record against OKC. Sure enough, while Denver can be confident with their chances since they have homecourt advantage and more rest, they will have to be wary of whoever they will meet. The winner of the Pelicans-Thunder Play-In game and loser of the Timberwolves-Lakers showdown will be facing the Denver Nuggets as the no. The New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers are playing for the final two spots in the West. New York's playoff experience could also bode well in their chances of pulling off a stunner against a Cavs team that is making the postseason for the first time in the post-LeBron James era. Jalen Brunson seemingly loves playing against Donovan Mitchell and the Wine and Gold as well, and we all know what happened the last time JB met Mitchell in the postseason. However, the ‘Bockers have always been a thorn to the Cavs' side, with New York going 3-1 against Cleveland on the season. The Cavs have homecourt advantage and are 31-10 at home to finish the regular season, so they have that going for them in this series. ![]() This Cleveland Cavaliers-New York Knicks fight in the middle of the pack could certainly become one of the most exciting battle in the East. Philly swept the season series with Brookly, winning all four games including their first two when the team still had both Durant and Irving. They lack the star power to compete, and it's hard to see them slow down Joel Embiid and co. Admit it or not, Brooklyn the odd man out among all playoff contenders in the East. However, there is no denying that the Philadelphia 76ers possess overwhelming talent that they just couldn't match. No one expected them to hold on to an automatic playoff qualification spot after they basically blew up their core. Props to the Brooklyn Nets for maintaining a playoff position despite the midseason trades that saw Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving depart the team. The C's definitely have the edge considering their depth, but don't expect them to make easy work of the Vice City franchise should they really end up facing each other. As things currently stand, there's a good chance the Beantown team gets pitted against Miami, who has dominated its seasons series with Atlanta 3-1.Ī battle with the Heat could prove to be difficult for Boston, especially since the Celtics had a hard time beating them during the regular season. ![]() Like Milwaukee, the Boston Celtics need to wait the results of the Play-In meeting between the Heat and Hawks. All four teams pose interesting match-ups for Giannis Antetokounmpo and co., though none have shown the ability to really pose a threat to the 2020-21 NBA champions. The winner of the Toronto Raptors-Chicago Bulls game will play the loser of the Miami Heat-Atlanta Hawks showdown to get that final playoff spot. The Bucks will have to wait for a few more days to know who they will be facing in the first round of the playoffs. Now as the regular season ends, let's take a loot at the 2023 NBA playoffs bracket and the current matchups we have. There is no clear-cut favorite in the conference, and considering how deep the lower-seeded teams are, there are plenty of rooms for an upset and more. Out West, however, is a different story since it is pretty much wide open. The Eastern Conference is pretty top-heavy, with the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers expected to dominate the rest of the competition. And sure enough, the 2023 postseason is brewing to be another exciting affair with plenty of intriguing matchups to look forward to. The NBA playoffs bracket–pending the results of the Play-In tournament–is set.
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