This week marks the start of the NBA Playoffs, the American basketball league’s postseason. In these playoffs, teams battle to determine the best on each side of the country, who then face off for the national championship. Read all about it in this article.
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association is divided into two so-called “Conferences”: the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. Each conference is further split into three “Divisions” of five teams each: the Atlantic, Central, and Southeast Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Northwest, Pacific, and Southwest Divisions in the Western Conference.
These divisions make up the regular season. The top eight teams from each conference — the three division winners and the next five best teams — qualify for the playoffs to compete for their respective conference title. The two conference champions then face each other in the NBA Finals to compete for the national championship.
Teams to Watch
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder might be the most promising team heading into these playoffs. With rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they have a young and talented leader who can always make a difference. And when he’s under pressure, Jalen Williams is ready to step in. Williams scored over 12 points in each of the final three games last year and has developed even more this season. With these two key players — and a strong supporting cast — the Thunder could be poised to win their first title since 1979.
Los Angeles Lakers
If everyone on the Lakers plays at their best, this team is nearly unbeatable. With stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles squad has an elite core. Doncic led the Mavericks to the Finals last year and now hopes to go even further with the Lakers. The offensive firepower is clear, but it might also be their weakness. If opponents learn to anticipate their backcourt passing, the Lakers could be in for a challenging playoff run.
Denver Nuggets
Everyone in the basketball world knows what Nikola Jokic is capable of — but winning a championship takes more than one star. That’s why all eyes are on Jamal Murray. He’s shown his quality before, but his form was inconsistent this season. The Nuggets need him to step up if they want another title. Especially against tough opponents like the Clippers, every player must bring their A-game. This is Murray’s chance to prove he’s not just Jokic’s sidekick, but a key piece of a championship-caliber team.
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics enter the playoffs as defending champions, and for one player in particular, there’s a lot at stake: Jayson Tatum. He’s established himself as the Celtics’ best player this season and wants to carry that momentum into the postseason. If Tatum can lead Boston to a second consecutive title — and perhaps win Finals MVP — he’ll cement his legacy as an all-time great Celtic. it would also mark the NBA’s first back-to-back championship win since 2018.
New York Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns proved last season he can take on a bigger postseason role, but with the Knicks, expectations are even higher. He’ll need to be a major offensive weapon while holding his own defensively, especially against fast, clever attacks. Alongside Jalen Brunson, Towns will be a key focus for opposing teams. With his physical presence and high ambitions, he’ll try to push the Knicks to the NBA’s biggest stage. Both the Knicks — and Towns himself — have serious playoff aspirations.
Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo once again played at an MVP level this year, yet the Bucks enter the playoffs as the fifth seed. With Damian Lillard missing the start of the postseason, Giannis will feel even more pressure early on. The big question is how he’ll respond if things don’t go according to plan. Giannis undoubtedly has the tools to lead a championship run — but the real test is whether the Bucks can support him well enough to get there.
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