Post by Ian Noble on May 24, 2015 20:41:07 GMT
Playoff Matchups
There's still two days left in the regular season but already we know some of the first round matchups!
EAST
WEST
There's still two days left in the regular season but already we know some of the first round matchups!
EAST
1. Milwaukee Bucks
8. Charlotte HornetsOn paper there's not a huge amount of difference between these two teams: the Bucks lineup combines for 421 rating points and the Hornets combine for 399, but Milwaukee's been all class this year and we're unlikely to see an upset whilst MVP candidate Anthony Davis is healthy.
2. Miami Heat
7. Brooklyn NetsThe Nets jettisoned their talent in the final month of the regular season and it looks like this might be a bit embarrassing for Brooklyn. Miami wont face any key opposition until the second round.
3/6. Toronto Raptors
3/6. Philadelphia 76ersThe only two teams in the Atlantic Division who aren't tanking could swap spots with one another in the next two days, and even if they did they would only face each other! With a late-season injury to Kyle Korver the Raptors will have a more difficult job versus the Sixers.
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Indiana PacersThe Bulls are held out of the Top 3 by their division rivals - the Milwaukee Bucks, and instead will face their other division rival - the Indiana Pacers. Hard to see the Pacers claiming 4 of these games but they're not in 5th for no reason.
WEST
1. Golden State Warriors
8. Minnesota Timberolves // 8. Sacramento KingsBoth Vlade and Walt continue to battle it out for... a lottery spot - because they both know they're going down in the 1st. Golden State's surged to the top of the league, just like in real life, and show no signs of slowing.
2. Dallas Mavericks
7. Houston RocketsEven if Houston wins their last game of the season and Denver lose theirs, alphabetic drawings will see the Rockets drawn at 7 to face the Mavs. Dallas have Dirk and Houston are missing Kevin Love but it's not all about white, all-star power forwards! The West is so competitive anything could happen.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
6. LA Clippers // 6. Portland Trailblazers // 6. Denver NuggetsThis is where it gets messy and things will only be decided by Tuesday! The Clippers, Blazers and Nuggets remain to face the Durant-less Thunder. Storylines abound with the Clippers missing Carmelo Anthony and having three big-names to re-sign in the off season, the Blazers are defending last season's championship and the Nuggets look like a terrifying force behind a returned Paul George (88) and a ratings boosted James Harden (92) and Kyrie Irving (87) - anything is possible - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!