Unprecedented clashes, old acquaintances and a lot of history: What can we expect from the 2024 edition of the NBA Playoffs? | ANALYSIS

Welcome to the peak moment of the NBA, the most competitive league in the world, the one where the big stars become superheroes, the substitutes perform emblematic feats and the fans go crazy with plays that will go down in history. What does the postseason that began this weekend have in store for us?

David vs Goliath

In 2023, these teams met in the Western Conference finals and the result was a crushing 4-0 in favor of those led by Michael Malone. Will there be a possibility of a different outcome this time?

Lakers vs Nuggets It is heading as a modern classic in the NBA. During the regular season they faced each other three times and the balance was Denver as the winner in all of the duels. The two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic, will have a new litmus test against Anthony Davis guaranteeing a show in the paint. For its part, the agility of Jamal Murray and the cunning of LeBron James will set the tone in the attack of both teams.

Colorado’s team had an up-and-down road to the Playoffs, losing five of their last seven games. However, they occupy second position in the Wild West, they are the clear favorite to win the series and they are the terror of Angelenos.

Although it is a complicated series for the Lakers, so that the Californians can reverse the previous results, the front line made up of Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura and LeBron It requires functioning with a strategic rhythm typical of an exceptional orchestra. Perimeter shooting, defense and stopping Jokic from efficiently distributing the ball will be key.

unprecedented crash

For the first time in NBA history, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns They star in a Playoff bracket. Throughout the season, the Wolves have relied on their solid defense; the same one that will give, for at least four games, a difficult final exam against the Suns. The Arizona boys, although they qualified at the last minute in sixth position, have stellar offensive power in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Can the league’s number one defense against the empowered version of the Suns? The aces up Minnesota’s sleeve fall on one of the young players with the best projection, Anthony Edwards, and in a recovered Karl-Anthony Towns. The Dominican missed 18 games due to a torn meniscus, but his numbers indicate that he could make the fast-paced Suns uncomfortable.

Although the wind is blowing in favor of Phoenix, which previously conquered the Wolves, with a 3-0 record in the regular season, nothing is said in this Playoff series. The attack versus defense promises a movie narrative.

The truth is that in the first match, Minnesota won 120 to 95. The second game will be this Tuesday the 23rd at the Target Center.

Reunion

In the city of stars there is more than one protagonist. Los Angeles Clippers with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook They will receive the team commanded by the ‘wonder boy’ duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks.

The Crypto Arena will be the stage where this constellation of experienced players promise to give us a chapter different from the previous ones. Doncic has been cut three times by the Clippers; However, the Slovenian believes that the Mavs have a team to transcend. Luka said recently.

The series between numbers 4 and 5 in the Western Conference has among its most attractive ingredients players who combine for a total of 47 All-Star selections, two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, two Most Valuable Player awards of the NBA Finals and the list goes on. Will it be enough argument to reach 7 games?

Old Acquaintances

Boston and Miami They will meet in the Playoffs for the fourth time in 5 seasons. The Celtics have won 64 of 82 regular season games, one of the best records in the history of the league, so in 2024 they are clear favorites to reach the Finals.

The Celtic team’s biggest threats, Milwaukee, New York and Philadelphia, are on the other side of the draw and dealing with injuries or have a star recovering after a long absence. The Heat find themselves in a similar circumstance, since they lost Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.

However, we should never dismiss Cinderella from the story. Miami is a squad that beat the top two spots in the Eastern Conference (including Boston) last year on their way to the Finals. If there is any opponent that can shake the minds of the Celtics, it is the Heat.

In the ‘Big Apple’

The giant of the 76ers, joel Embiid, is back and will put the painted area of ​​New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden to the test. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s perimeter defense will have to contain the Knicks’ tireless producer, Jalen Brunson.

An interesting battle is before our eyes. New York has its own center back in Mitchell Robinson. He along with Isaiah Hartenstein and 6’1″ defenseman OG Anunoby will do what they can to stop the offensive flurries of Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tobias Harris.

It has been said that the second best team in the East is not the Knicks but Philadelphia with Embiid. His presence produced a 31-8 record in favor of the 76ers. Now, although he is not in the best physical condition, the nine days to play the first four games will be the best to alleviate his pain and activate his MVP mode.

They complete the picture

What are the surprise series that could change the narrative of the 2024 Playoffs? In the West, the young OKC Thunder team led by MVP candidate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderwill face the New Orleans Pelicans team without Zion Williamson.

In the East, a champion team like the Milwaukee Bucks is obliged to beat the Indiana Pacers.

Finally, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic have a conglomerate of promising individual talents and very similar strengths, both in attack and defense. Will this be an unprecedented competition and will a rivalry be born? The clock shows 24 seconds and absolutely anything can happen.