The GQ Sports activities Information to the NBA Playoffs

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The particulars

It’s the NBA playoffs, the annual event that decides who might be topped champion. It takes 16 wins between now and mid-June to safe the Larry O’Brien trophy, however I really feel such as you already knew that…

How you can watch

ESPN and TNT will do the heavy lifting, as common. Each networks have apps should you’re making an attempt to observe on the go, however they require a sign-in with a cable supplier. Should you don’t have cable, each can be found on YouTube TV, which additionally streams ABC. You’ll want ABC for the Finals in addition to a number of primetime video games, like Sport 1 of Warriors-Kings on Saturday evening.

Ought to I attempt to go to this in-person in some unspecified time in the future?

After all! For among the extra in-demand locales (New York, LA, San Francisco) tickets might be fairly dear. Identical with Sacramento, the place you’re paying the “we haven’t been right here since Daniel Powter was on the high of the charts” tax. However should you’re making an attempt to catch a recreation in, say, Memphis or Cleveland, you will get within the door for underneath $150, which is fairly affordable for an NBA playoff recreation. Additionally, as most Brooklynites already know, tickets for a Nets recreation are each fairly straightforward to get and never almost as costly as one would possibly suppose. The official Nets’ web site is promoting tickets for Sport 3 beginning at $59.

The favourite

It’s onerous to not just like the Milwaukee Bucks. They’ve a championship pedigree and all the main items remaining from that title-winning squad in 2021. They’re the betting favourite largely due to that cohesion. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Vacation and Khris Middleton nonetheless don’t completely really feel like they get the respect they deserve for being one of many fiercest trios within the league, and all three are top-flight wing defenders, too. If ballhandlers are in a position to get previous them, human eraser Brook Lopez is ready on the rim.

The Western Convention is actually anybody’s guess. The Phoenix Suns’ star energy makes them the favourite, technically, however these dudes simply haven’t performed a lot basketball collectively. Kevin Durant remains to be basically studying methods to play with Devin Booker, as a freakish early-March harm throughout warmups held Durant to only eight video games with Phoenix after his mid-season commerce. The Suns additionally gained all of these video games, so…

Story continues

The Golden State Warriors are the confirmed commodity right here, however they haven’t regarded like themselves shortly. The Denver Nuggets might very nicely win the West, but it surely wouldn’t really feel completely stunning to observe them get tripped up by one of many groups with latest Finals expertise both. The Nuggets additionally had a shedding document on the street…however so did the Suns, Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies! Not with the ability to constantly win exterior of your individual fitness center looks like it’d be a problem within the playoffs, but when the opposite high canine have the identical drawback, you is likely to be okay? Once more, this convention is bananas.

The underdog

Look, it’s traditionally by no means been a good suggestion to place any religion in any respect within the Los Angeles Clippers. However hear me out for a second. They’ve top-of-the-line playoff performers of all time in Kawhi Leonard. They’ve a head coach in Tyronn Lue who’s already gained a championship, and did in order one of many largest underdogs ever, together with his Cavs taking down the 73-win Warriors in 2016. The one concern is Paul George, who will reportedly miss the primary spherical collection in opposition to Phoenix with a knee harm. George is definitely a high 20 participant on this planet when he’s wholesome, so if the Clippers could make it out of the desert alive, his presence could be an enormous enhance within the later rounds.

FanDuel has the Clips at +4900 to win all of it, which is the precise sort of guess outlandishly designed to make you pull the set off. Additionally, in the event that they get by means of their first spherical tangle with the Suns, they’ll have eradicated one of many stiffer opponents of their convention, making issues barely simpler down the street.

Hipster choose

The Sacramento Kings, child. Using with the Kings to win all of it is certainly not the transfer, however the Kings have actually the perfect offense in NBA historical past, so that they’re liable to make some noise. When factoring within the big home-court benefit they’ll get because of playoff-starved followers who haven’t seen their workforce make it this far since 2006, the Kings are going to be each impartial fan’s postseason darling.

Mild the mf’n beam.

Underrated participant

There’s in all probability not sufficient expertise round him to make any actual playoff progress, however we’ve gotta give Mikal Bridges some love. In 27 common season video games with the Nets after headlining their return within the Durant commerce, he averaged simply over 26 factors per recreation, a large leap from the 17.2 he was placing up in Phoenix.

Like his Manhattan rival Jalen Brunson—who was additionally his school teammate and obtained heavy consideration for this part—Bridges has proven that he was the precise sort of participant who would profit from having the ball in his arms extra typically. With an extended offensive leash in Brooklyn, the lanky ahead has blossomed right into a participant his new workforce can be ok with constructing round. He’s additionally a tenacious defender and dead-eye free throw shooter, two qualities that shine throughout crunch time.

Greatest uniforms

If we’re choosing particular person jerseys, it’s onerous to beat the Celtics’ traditional inexperienced ensemble, which is without doubt one of the finest get-ups in all of sports activities. The Suns’ throwback—which completely has no motive to not be their main jersey—can be very particular.

However as NBA groups steer manner too far into shock worth with their alternate unis, I’ve obtained to insist that the perfect and deepest uniform closet belongs to the Memphis Grizzlies, who’ve stored issues sharp and tasteful. Whether or not it’s the powder blue Swingmans or the black Metropolis Editions, the Grizz have good options to their commonplace white and navy tops.

No workforce actually has unhealthy jerseys, per se, however the Thunder might use a rebrand.

Greatest dressed gamers

It’s clearly Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who doubles as the perfect dressed athlete within the galaxy. He lately beat out Timothée Chalamet, Steve Lacy and A$AP Rocky in our Most Trendy Man of the Yr voting, bringing a degree of drip that the state of Oklahoma had probably by no means seen earlier than.

That stated: we don’t know what number of extra playoff runs Russell Westbrook has! Be on excessive alert for a viral match every evening. James Harden could have some gems too, relying in your definition of gem. Fellow playoff vets Chris Paul and P.J. Tucker perceive the ability of the tunnel entrance as nicely.

Should you’re in search of youthful gamers, Devin Booker has established himself as a strolling match, D’Angelo Russell has his moments, and if you would like an under-the-radar stunner, keep watch over the Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt.

Greatest first-round matchup

Feast your eyes on the Suns-Clippers bout that not solely pits Durant in opposition to Westbrook, but in addition CP3 in a playoff collection in opposition to the Clippers group that he helped resurrect. That one will get occurring Sunday. It stands to be one of the aggressive first-round collection, and there needs to be at the least two or three guys on the courtroom always that even probably the most distant NBA fan will acknowledge.

Honorable mentions go to Warriors-Kings and Cavs-Knicks.

Matchup we’re dying to see

There’s no scarcity of juicy late-round matchups that might whet your urge for food. KD vs. the Warriors. KD vs. LeBron and the Lakers! (As a consequence of numerous accidents and cargo administration techniques, Durant and James haven’t performed in opposition to one another since Christmas 2018. Nonetheless, don’t get your hopes up: a theoretical Suns v. Lakers collection must be within the convention finals, which is extraordinarily unlikely.)

So far as sheer vitriol, you possibly can’t actually beat a New York vs. Boston or New York vs. Philly matchup. It simply form of feels just like the Knicks would get rinsed in both of these potential collection (which, once more, must come within the convention finals). The very best collection for drama-plus-actual-competitiveness might be the aforementioned Suns-Warriors tilt, or a Grizzlies-Warriors showdown that pits the upstart shit-stirrers in opposition to the outdated guard and their 4 rings. Memphis and Golden State have historical past, too: they met in an exhilarating 2021 play-in recreation that went to Memphis in time beyond regulation, then once more within the 2022 second spherical. The Dubs got here out victorious in that six-game set, however Ja Morant didn’t play in any of the ultimate three video games. And has there ever been a troll-off just like the one we’d see between Draymond Inexperienced and Dillon Brooks? Stoking these flames once more could be a fairly platonic concept of NBA playoff motion.

If we’re speaking Finals, a Nuggets-76ers showdown could be nice leisure, catnip for the MVP debate groups, and produce some much-needed newness to the championship podium. Denver has by no means made the NBA Finals; the Sixers haven’t been there since 2001 and haven’t gained a chip since 1983.

Potential controversy

The refs. It’s at all times the refs. We already obtained some controversy out of the way in which when the Dallas Mavericks determined that they’d truly quite not make the playoffs. The Mavs’ option to relaxation a number of key gamers of their final two common season video games set off a complete NBA investigation about tanking, which, uhh, doesn’t appear that mandatory! They have been undoubtedly tanking!

Within the playoffs, there’s at all times a recreation or six that hinges on a referee’s whistle. That is simply form of how basketball works. However the scrutiny on officiating is way more heightened in the course of the playoffs, and if a controversial name impacts a celebrity participant or high-profile workforce, you gained’t cease listening to about it for days on finish.

Legacy speak

There’s lots at stake right here, as per common. Nobody is realistically anticipating a Lakers championship, so LeBron’s legacy doesn’t take an enormous hit in the event that they expectedly fall in need of that. However LeBron has additionally by no means gained a playoff collection with the Lakers exterior of the bubble, and chatter about that can actually develop louder if he and Anthony Davis can’t pull off an upset.

A primary championship would do wonders for each Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic’s legacies. Successful the MVP is one factor, but it surely’s a subjective factor. Strive because the naysayers would possibly, it’s fairly troublesome to poke holes in a championship, which is actually inside attain for each scintillating facilities.

Giannis bringing residence a second Larry O’Brien in three years would put him in elite firm. It doesn’t have the identical panache as back-to-back—which LeBron, Steph and Kobe have on their resumes—however profitable two out of three is a giant deal. Whereas bringing residence a championship this yr wouldn’t match their profession totals, Giannis might be a part of Tim Duncan and Larry Chook within the two-out-of-three membership.

In the meantime, Chris Paul remains to be looking for his first ring—it’s been 18 years!—whereas Durant would have his third (and first with out the Warriors) if the Suns can pull this off. Leonard coming into three-timer territory, each with a unique workforce, would bump him up a number of spots on the all-time checklist, too.

That is undoubtedly not betting recommendation

Is it incorrect to suppose the Warriors can win the West? As unusual as it’s to see a six-seed subsequent to their identify, Golden State nonetheless has some juice. They get an inexperienced Sacramento workforce within the first spherical. Then they’ll both see the additionally inexperienced and Steven Adams-less Grizzlies, or the Lakers, who’re strikingly mid.

Even of their mid-30s, making an attempt to cease the Splash Bros once they’re sizzling is like making an attempt to defend an earthquake. Jordan Poole is at all times a risk to go for 30, they usually nonetheless have their typical band of function gamers who, for lack of a greater time period, are very Warriors. Crazier issues have occurred than a workforce like that—who’ve hung 4 banners within the final eight years—making the Finals.

Greatest media comply with

You merely can not embark on two months of intense basketball Twitter with out following Dragonfly Jonez. One of many hosts of the rollicking Jenkins & Jonez podcast, Jonez has been top-of-the-line follows on Twitter for years, whatever the subject. However his basketball content material is high shelf, notably relating to the age-old artwork of clowning.

Texting with an professional

We hit up Howard Beck, a basketball author and podcaster who you’ve seen and heard on the New York Occasions, Sports activities Illustrated, Bleacher Report, and proper right here at GQ Sports activities.

GQ: I feel probably the most compelling factor about these playoffs is how large open all the pieces is. It type of appears like 2015 once more, the place the throne is up for grabs and a number of other groups might make a go at it. What number of groups do you suppose might realistically win all of it?

Howard Beck: Realistically? In all probability two: the Bucks and Celtics. They’re the one contenders with the celebs, the depth and the protection that it takes to win all of it. Each little bit of typical knowledge factors to these two. Then once more…the Sixers have the MVP favourite (Joel Embiid). The Nuggets have the reigning two-time MVP (Nikola Jokic). The Suns have Kevin Durant and a number of co-stars. The Warriors are the reigning champs, and nonetheless have Steph Curry. The Lakers are resurgent, and nonetheless have LeBron. And the West is such a jumble this season that it appears like something can occur. So, seven? Let’s say seven.

What kind of issues do you search for in a selected participant or workforce that tells you they’ve a reliable probability to win a championship?

It is a star-driven league, so begin there. You want an MVP-level centerpiece (a Giannis, a LeBron, a Steph), flanked by one other All-Star or two. So whereas all of us get pleasure from a pleasant ensemble (whats up, Kings and Grizzlies), these groups usually get bounced by the glitzier names. Traditionally, you want a top-10 protection, a normal that will rule out the Lakers, Warriors, Nuggets, Clippers and Kings.

Give us a bizarre or quirky or underreported storyline to keep watch over.

Do not forget that axiom, coined by NFL teaching legend Invoice Parcells, “You might be what your document says you might be?” I feel the NBA is about to obliterate it. The Suns have the West’s fourth-best document, however are extensively seen as favorites to win the convention title, because of their midseason acquisition of Durant. The Warriors are sixth, however are nonetheless seen as critical contenders, because of their championship pedigree. In the meantime, it’s onerous to search out anybody who really believes within the championship potential of the Nuggets (No. 1 within the West), the Grizzlies (No. 2 within the West) or the Kings (No. 3 within the West). Sorry, Coach Parcells, however typically the standings lie.

Cool factoid to cross off as your individual

Do you know the Cleveland Cavaliers play on the league’s slowest tempo? There’s a stat for this now: the Cavs examine in at lifeless final with 96.27 possessions per 48 minutes (for context, the Warriors are first at 102.54). Their grind-it-out type might be an efficient device for taking the Madison Sq. Backyard crowd barely out of the sport, however make no mistake about it, this workforce can rating too. Cleveland has a top-ten offense and employs one of many NBA’s finest backcourt duos in Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, who can each actually fill it up. They’ll simply be deliberate about it.

Free sizzling take

Joe Mazzulla won’t be minimize out for this. The 34-year-old started the season as Boston’s interim coach, however had that tag eliminated in February when he had the Celtics rolling. However the C’s had some unhealthy losses in March, and the coach’s fourth-quarter administration has been some extent of main consternation for some time now. Textual content probably the most Boston sports-crazed particular person in your life and ask how they’re feeling about their coach—who’s youthful than his beginning heart—heading into the most important two months of his skilled life.

Initially Appeared on GQ