It is officially time for the NBA Playoffs.
The 2024-2025 NBA regular season has been one of the weirdest and wildest in recent memory. Luka Doncic was traded. The Nuggets and Grizzlies made head-scratching coaching decisions. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic have had one of the closest MVP races in a long time. This season did not lack fireworks, but it is now time to turn the page to the playoffs.
The Thunder and Cavaliers won’t know their opponenets until Friday night, but regardless of who they play, they should both get through the first round with ease.
The Cavs will play either the Hawks or Heat, and neither should pose a threat to them. Atlanta doesn’t have enough defenders for the Cavs, and the Heat don’t have enough on offense to keep up for an entire series. The Cavs have to prove they are title worthy after multiple years of lackluster playoff performances, but that will have to happen later on in the playoffs.
As for the Thunder they should take care of the Mavericks or Grizzlies with ease. They have been the best team in the league all year long, and there are no signs of them slowing down. They are one of the best defensive teams in all of basketball, and they one of the premier scoring guards in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They can match up with anyone in the playoffs, and they simply have to much on both sides of the ball for whoever it is the play in the first round.
Celtics projected starting lineup: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Key Bench Players: Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Al Horford
Celtics X-Factor: Kristaps Porzingis
Against a Magic team that has a plethora of defenders who can guard positions 1-4, the Celtics need Kristaps Porzingis to exploit his matchup. At 7’2, he is a walking mismatch for anyone, but especially for this Magic team. Jonathan Isaac is the Magic’s best matchup for him due to his length, but his offensive limitations could limit his play time. He will be able to spread the floor and allow Tatum and Brown to work one-on-one.
On the defensive end of the court, Porzingis should be able to help off of Wendell Carter Jr., as he is an ok shooter, but not a high-volume one. He will be able to clog up the paint and force the Magic to kick it out to the perimeter and shoot, and that is a recipe for disaster for Orlando.
Key Mathcup For The Celtics: Guards Vs. Paolo Banchero on Defense
The Celtics switch everything on the defensive due to their versatility, but that can lead to mismatches. The only chance the Magic have of winning this series is if Banchero and Wagner go crazy, and mismatch hunting is their best chance to do so. Both Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are elite defenders who can guard up in size, but Paolo Banchero is a physical presence who wants to play downhill and attack the rim.
He will be looking for mismatches all series long, especially when Payton Pritchard is in. The Celtics guards will need to hold their own and not allow Banchero to get easy looks in the paint. If the guards, mainly Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, can hold their own when matched up with the Magic star, the Celtics should run away with this series. If Banchero starts to get comfortable, it could cause some problems for the Celtics.
Magic projected starting lineup: Cory Joseph, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Magic Key Bench Players: Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac
Magic X-Factor: Cole Anthony
As mentioned earlier, Cole Anthony is the best scorer off the Magic’s bench. He only averaged 9 points a game this year, but he has averaged at least 11 points in every other season. The Magic have been one of the league’s worst offenses all season, and it is due to their lack of shooting and shot creators. The Celtics are going to force someone other than Banchero and Wagner to beat them, and Anthony is the Magic’s next-best option.
He has averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in three games against the Celtics this year, and the team is 2-1 in those three games. He is a streaky shooter who wants to get downhill and attack the basket. Anthony will need to look for his shot when inserted into the game and force the action. If he gets hot, he could sway the outcome of a game in the Magic’s favor.
Key Matchup For The Magic: The Three-Point Line
Dealing with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is hard enough, but when the Celtics get hot from three, they are almost impossible to beat. They shot just 36.9% from deep this year, but they made they made the most per game at 17.6. The Magic will need to play one-on-one defense as much as possible because if they don’t, they will be leaving a knockdown shooter open, regardless of who it is.
When the Celtics get hot from deep, they blitz teams and turn the score upside down. The Magic shot a league-worst 31.8% from deep, and they made just 11 per game. They need to find a way to limit the Celtics’ attempts from deep in order to keep this series close.
Series Prediction- Celtics in 5
The Magic are simply outmatched on the offensive side of the ball in this matchup. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are great players, but they are both streaky shooters who look to get downhill and score. Beyond those two, Magic doesn’t have much consistency when it comes to scoring the ball. Anthony Black, KCP, and Gary Harris are all strong defenders, but teams are not worried about them lighting it up. Cole Anthony, as mentioned earlier, is the X-factor for the Magic, but it is asking a lot of him to beat the likes of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday consistently on the defensive end.
On the other end of the court, the Magic match up well with the Celtics from a defensive standpoint, but Boston has too many shooters and self-creators. Orlando will make things tough, and that could help them squeak out a win, but consistently shutting down the Celtics’ offense is too hard. The Magic are too outmatched on the offensive side of the ball to keep up in this series.
Knicks Projected Starting Lineup: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Karl Anthony-Towns
Knicks Key Bench Players: Miles McBride, Mitchell Robinson, Cam Payne
Knicks X-Factor: Karl Anthony-Towns
While he isn’t the Knicks best player, Towns may be the Knicks most important player. He elevates their offense in a way no one else on the roster can due to his shooting. He gives Jalen Brunson the necessary space he needs to create and get in the paint. His offensive impact is undeniable, but that is not the only reason why he is the X-Factor in this series.
Between his limitations as a defender and his history of dumb fouls in big games, the Pistons will attack Towns all series long. Cade Cunningham will seek him out from the moment the ball is tipped. Towns will need to hold his ground on defense, but more importantly, he needs to be able to stay on the court. Mitchell Robinson is a good player, but the drop-off on the offensive end between him and Towns is extremely evident.
The Knicks need Towns to be locked in on both ends of the court and play the same level he has all season long. His talent and impact are obvious, but he can’t make an impact if he plays his way off the court. In 32 career playoff games, he has averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game, as well as 3.5 fouls per game. To put that in perspective, he has only averaged less than 21 points per game just once in his career, and it was his rookie season where he averaged 18 a game. For the Knicks to advance past the first round and beyond, they need Towns to be at his best.
Key Matchup For The Knicks: Containing Cade Cunningham
It isn’t a surprise that the number one thing the Knicks need to prioritize is slowing down Cade Cunningham. He is the leader of the Pistons and their engine on offense. He had a career year with averages of 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists per game.
At 6’6, 220 pounds, he is not the prototypical point guard, and it will be interesting to see how the Knicks go about defending him. OG Anunoby is the ideal matchup given his size and athleticism, but the Pistons will find ways to get him off of Cade through different actions and screening. He will look to attack both Jalen Brunson, as he is too big for him, and Karl Anthony-Towns, as he is too quick for him. The Knicks will need to provide help when he is isolated on those two and force the ball out of his hands.
Slowing down Cunningham is easier said than done, but he is by far and away the best shot creator on the Pistons. If the Knicks can force the ball out of his hands and force others to create for themselves, that is a recipe for success.
Pistons Projected Starting Lineup: Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr., Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Pistons Key Bench Players: Malik Beasley, Dennis Schroeder, Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland
Pistons X-Factor: Malik Beasley
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Malik Beasley is the X-Factor for the Pistons. When he enters the game for the Pistons, their offense reaches a new level. He averaged 16 points per game off the bench this year and shot an elite 41.6% from three on 9.3 attempts per game. He is given the green light at all times, and when he opens up, the entire offense is due to his gravity as a shooter.
For the Pistons to advance in the playoffs, somebody other than Cade Cunningham will need to step up as a scorer, and Beasley needs to be that guy. He is capable of making 6,7,8 threes in a game, and against a suspect Knicks defense, he should have plenty of open looks from deep. If he is hitting his shots, it will force the Knicks to ease up on their help towards Cunningham, and it will open up the entire offense.
Key Matchup For The Pistons: Defending the Brunson and Towns two-man game
When it gets into crunch time and the Knicks need a bucket, they will look to Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns to create in a two-man game. Teams have to pick their poison when defending this action. The floor spacing ability of the latter makes it such a hard combo to defend. If teams switch, then Towns can shoot over the top of a guard, or Brunson can play one-on-one with a center. If teams decide to trap the ball handler, Towns will be open for a shot or on the roll. There isn’t an ideal way to defend this unless the opposing team has the ideal defenders.
The Pistons have some long athletic wings to put on Brunson, in Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland, but both are inexperienced young players, and the latter is a liability on offense at the moment. As for the Towns matchup, it will be Jalen Duren when he is on the floor. While he is a very athletic big man, he isn’t quick enough to keep up with Brunson on a switch, and that could be a problem for the Pistons down the stretch.
If the Pistons are going to advance, they need to lock in defensively down the stretch of games. Finding ways to disrupt the two-man game between Brunson and Towns should be the number one priority for Detroit entering this series.
Series Prediction- Knicks in 6
The Pistons are going to play with nothing to lose, considering most of the roster has never been to the playoffs before. That could be dangerous for the Knicks, but not dangerous enough to eliminate them. The Knicks have too many shot creators, whereas the Pistons don’t have many outside of Cunningham. This should be a fun series with a lot of points and some possible fireworks, but when it comes down to crunch time, the experienced team usually winds up on top.
Pacers Projected Starting Lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner:
Pacers Key Bench Players: Bennedict Mathurin, T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin:
Pacers X-Factor: Bennedict Mathurin
While the Pacers’ run was great last year, it was clear they didn’t have enough true offensive firepower. They didn’t have enough players who could create for themselves against an elite Celtics defense. A large reason for the lack of firepower was the absence of Bennedict Mathurin, as he missed the entire postseason with an injury. He is now healthy this time around, and he should provide a massive spark for the Pacers.
He averaged 16 points per game for Indiana this year while splitting time as a starter and a reserve. Against a Bucks team that lacks strong perimeter defenders, Mathurin could excel in this series due to his athleticism and shot creation. All of the attention will be on Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt, and that should lead to plenty of good looks for Mathurin.
The Pacers’ offense is great because of the ball movement, but when it comes down to who can get a bucket, they don’t have many strong options, and that was evident last year. Now with a healthy Mathurin this year, they have another strong option that they can give the ball to late in the game.
Key Matchup For The Pacers: Giannis Antetokounmpo the playmaker
The Pacers do not have a good matchup for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the scorer, and that could open up his playmaking. He averaged a career high 6.5 assists per game this season, but in the month of April,, he averaged 11.8 assists per game. Without Damian Lillard the ball is in his hands even more, and he has become the lead playmaker for the Bucks.
If the Pacers decide to play one-on-one with Giannis, he could average 40 a game in this series. If they choose to double him and help off shooters, he will find the open player, and considering the Bucks shot a league high 38.7% from three, that isn’t a great idea either. Giannis has turned into a real threat as a playmaker, and that has been on full display without Lillard in the lineup. The Pacers are going to need to figure out the best way to play him because if he gets the ball down low, it’s either a layup or an open three.
Bucks Projeceted Starting Lineup: Damian Lillard*, Tauren Prince, Kyle Kuzma, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez:
Bucks Key Bench Players: Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Bobby Portis:
Bucks X-Factor: Kevin Porter Jr.
The Bucks got great news regarding the health of Damian Lillard and his availability for the series, but he is still unlikely to play in game one. With uncertainty surrounding exactly when he will return, the Bucks will need someone to step up as a shot creator, and Kevin Porter Jr. is best suited to do so.
Since arriving in Milwaukee at the trade deadline, KPJ has averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in just 20 minutes a night. Over his last five regular-season games, he averaged 20 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game in around 30 minutes per night. He provided a much-needed spark as a scorer and playmaker for the Bucks. He is now in a position where he has a real chance to impact this round one series for Milwaukee in the absence of Damian Lillard. Against the Pacers last year, the Bucks lacked perimeter shot creation without Lillard, but now they have a reliable backup option with KPJ.
The Bucks need someone to step up alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Porter Jr. may be best suited to do so.
Key Matchup For The Bucks: Controlling the paint
Despite having one of the best paint scorers in the league in Giannis, the Bucks were bottom-five in paint points per game with an average of 44.1 per game. The Pacers, on the other hand, ranked in the top ten with an average of 51 points in the paint per game.
The Pacers look to get downhill and attack the paint, especially when they get out in transition, and the Bucks need to limit those opportunities. Between Kylze Kuzma, Giannis, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis, the Bucks need to control the paint from a rebounding and scoring standpoint. They need to control this game, and the best way for them to do so is by taking advantage of their size in the paint. They aren’t quick enough to keep up with Pacers in transition, so limiting those opportunities is key for Milwaukee, and keeping the ball inside is the best way to do so.
Series Prediction- Bucks in 7
Last year, this series was not very competitive, mainly due to the injuries to both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. This year, the former is available, and the latter was recently cleared to return at some point in the series. The series should be very competitive this year due to the completely different play styles of the teams. The Bucks are the much bigger team, especially with the addition of Kyle Kuzma, but the Pacers are the quicker team, and that should play to their advantage.
Originally, the Pacers in 7 was the pick, but given the positive news about Lillard, it was switched to the Bucks. It is hard to see Giannis losing this series, considering how the Bucks’ last two playoff appearances have gone. Expect a back-and-forth series with plenty of fireworks, but the Bucks have the best player in the series, and the Pacers don’t have an answer for him.
Rockets Projected Starting Lineup: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun:
Rockets Key Bench Players: Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams:
Rockets X-Factor: Jalen Green
Jalen Green has always been the Rockets’ X-Factor due to his offensive upside. He averaged 21 points per game this season, but he shot just 42% from the field and 35% from three. He can score 30 on any night on great efficiency, but he can also go 4-20 and score 13 points. The Rockets need the aggressive version of Green who looks to get downhill and force the action in this series, as he is their most skilled scorer. He can’t settle for threes and pull up jump shots against an undersized Warriors team.
The Rockets are a defense-minded team, but that can only take you so far in the NBA. Their offensive ceiling is as high as Jalen Green takes it, and he needs to be at his best for the Rockets to have a real shot in this series.
Key Matchup For The Rockets: Amen Thompson Vs. Steph Curry
Earlier this month, these two teams played each other and it set the table for what to expect in this series. It should be an intense series with a lot of fireworks, but the biggest thing to pay attention to will be the matchup of Amen Thompson and Steph Curry. In that game earlier this month, the former held the latter to just 3 points on 1-10 shooting from the field.
Curry is the greatest shooter to ever play the game of basketball, and he requires so much attention from opposing defenses. Amen Thompson has emerged as one of the premier perimeter defenders in the NBA due to his athleticism and size. He will almost certainly start the game guarding Curry, and it will be fascinating to watch how he holds up throughout an entire series. The Warriors will find ways to free Curry up, especially off the ball, but Thompson won’t be easy to shake. If he can bother the Warriors star for a majority of the series, it could push things in the Rockets’ favor.
Warriors Projected Starting Lineup: Steph Curry, Brandon Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler III, Draymond Green:
Warriors Key Bench Players: Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney:
Warriors X-Factor: Jimmy Butler III
If the play-in game against the Grizzlies was a sign of things to come, it is clear that Playoff Jimmy is back once again. He is one of the best playoff performers in the league, and paired with Steph Curry, the Warriors could be scary in the playoffs.
In 2022-2023, when the Heat made their run to the finals as an 8 seed, Butler averaged 27, 6.5, 6, and 2 steals a game, but those numbers don’t do him justice. In the first round against the Bucks he averaged 38, 6, 5, and 2 steals a game. An injury in the first game of the second round ruined what had the chance to be a generation run of performances.
Now that Butler is healthy and motivated, there is no telling what he will do in these playoffs. His track record speaks for itself, and against a young Rockets team, he could thrive. All the attention will be on Steph Curry, so Butler will have to step up as a scorer and playmaker, two things he has shown he is very capable of doing. If the Warriors get Playoff Jimmy against the Rockets, they should advance. They have the two best players in the series and two of the best playoff performers in the league.
Key Matchup For The Warriors: The Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams minutes
The Warriors play small, and it hurts them on the glass, but one of the advantages of playing small is the ability to get out and run. The Rockets have started playing a double-big lineup with both Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams, and they have killed teams in those minutes. They are elite on the glass at both ends of the court and they clog up the paint.
To put it in perspective of how elite the duo is, the Rockets have a 127.1 offensive rating, a 91.5 defensive rating, a net rating of +35.6 and an offensive rebound rate of 50%. The Rockets are elite when these two bigs share the floor, but they become a slower team as well.,
The Warriors need to get out and run on this lineup. Any chance they have to get out in transition against this lineup, they have to take it. As long as they can secure a rebound, they should be able to get out on the break and get a clean look at the rim or beyond the arc. The Warriors have to win the minutes where the Rockets have both bigs on the court, because it should play to their advantage on the offensive end. They need to put both Sengun and Adams in the action and make them work on defense.
Series Prediction- Warriors in 7
This feels very similar to the Warriors vs. Kings series a few years ago. The Kings were the higher seed, and they were coming off their best season in quite some time, but the Warriors were the more experienced team and they won in seven games. The Rockets are young and hungry, but the Warriors have been one of the league’s best teams since the Jimmy Butler trade, and this just feels like a series where the veteran team wins. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Rockets won by any means as they have been great all year long, but a team with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler losing in the first round doesn’t sound right.
Lakers Projected Starting Lineup: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes:
Lakers Key Bench Players: Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt:
Lakers X-Factor: Jared Vanderbilt
The answer here could be Austin Reaves, but there is a strong chance that Jared Vanderbilt plays heavy minutes in this series as a small-ball center. He isn’t much of a threat on offense, but he is a very good defender who can switch across all positions. When he is in the game he will likely draw the Anthony Edwards assignment as he is best suited to deal with the quickness and athleticism.
The Lakers are going to generate open looks and put up points, as Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Reaves will seemingly have a favorable matchup. On the other end of the court, their starting lineup does not have a good answer for Edwards, and that is why it won’t be a surprise if Vanderbilt plays heavy minutes. He won’t pop on the stat sheet and change the game on offense, but if he can make things difficult for the Timberwolves star, that is a massive win for the Lakers.
Key Matchup For The Lakers: Rudy Gobert
The last time Luka Doncic played Rudy Gobert and the Wolves in the playoffs, it left a lasting image in everyone’s head of Doncic screaming at Gobert after hitting a game-winning stepback three over him. Now they get to play again, and it is hard to imagine things going differently for Gobert.
The Lakers have multiple players who will be able to attack the former defensive player of the year, and limit his impact on the game. When the Lakers take out Jaxson Hayes and play with essentially LeBron at center, they can space the floor and pull Gobert out of the paint. They can attack him off the dribble or force him to guard a shooter away from the ball. They need to take advantage of the mismatch in front of them and they have the perfect players to do it.
Timberwolves Projected Starting Lineup: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert:
Timberwolves Key Bench Players: Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker:
Timberwolves X-Factor: Julius Randle
The playoff track record for Julius Randle is not great. He tends to force shots and let his emotions get the best of him. He can’t let that happen to him this year because the Timberwolves need him to step up and help Anthony Edwards.
This matchup isn’t ideal for Randle as the Lakers have a lot of players who can match his physicality in the post and frustrate him. He will need to stay the course and not force things if they are not working for him. He needs to let the game come to him instead of forcing the action in this matchup. He is a skilled player who can do it all on offense, but he needs to pick and choose his spots.
The Wolves need a scoring punch from Randle, but more importantly, they need him to stay locked in the entire series. When he is on his A-game, he can be a difference maker for the Wolves, but when he is off, it shows, and the Timberwolves can’t afford to have that happen.
Key Matchup For The Timberwolves: The Paint
The most glaring weakness of the Lakers is their lack of a true center. Jaxson Hayes is a placeholder in the starting lineup, but he isn’t much of a factor. The Timberwolves are quite the opposite as they have the option to run some of the bigger lineups in the entire league. With Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle, the Wolves should always have two bigger players on the court at all times. Add in Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Anthony Edwards, and the Timberwolves can run massive lineups full of athletes.
When they choose to go bigger, the Wolves need to control the paint against a strong, but small Lakers team. They need to be able to protect the paint, win the rebounding battle, and get the ball inside and take advantage of their size. If they settle for long twos and threes, they will be playing right into the Lakers lap.
Series Prediction- Lakers in 7
While the Timberwolves have been playing great as of late, picking against LeBron James and Luka Doncic in the first round doesn’t seem like a great idea. The Lakers have two players who can take over a game, and the Timberwolves just have one. Luka will have plenty of matchups that he can attack, and it ultimately feels like he will be able to dictate the flow of this series. While the Timberwolves have capable scorers outside of Anthony Edwards, there isn’t another guy who can take over the game if he were to struggle.
Nuggets Projected Starting Lineup: Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic:
Nuggets Key Bench Players: Russell Westbrook, Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther:
Nuggets X-Factor: Jamal Murray
When Jamal Murray is good, the Nuggets tend to be good, but when he struggles to score the ball, they tend to struggle on offense. He needs to be at his best in this series for the Nuggets to have a shot. The Clippers have multiple elite perimeter defenders that they can throw at Murray, and he will need to be able to deal with them. He needs to get himself comfortable on offense and not let the Clippers dictate the flow of his game.
Last year, the length and athleticism of the Timberwolves really bothered him, and the Clippers have similar defenders to that Wolves team. The Nuggets need Jamal Murray to produce offensively, otherwise, it could be a struggle for them to score against a tough Clippers defense.
Key Matchup For The Nuggets: The Non Jokic Minutes
This one is self-explanatory. If the Nuggets can’t hold up with Nikola Jokic on the bench, they will be in big trouble. They have an offensive rating of 112.3 without him this season, compared to a 122.1 rating with him. For the 8-10 minutes a night that he is not on the court, the Nuggets need the likes of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon to step up offensively.
In a series that projects to be as close as this one, every minute will count, especially the ones where the Nuggets’ best player is off the court. If they can keep up in those minutes without him, they should win the series, but if they can’t, it could be a short series for the Nuggets.
Clippers Projected Starting Lineup: James Harden, Kris Dunn, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac:
Clippers Key Bench Players: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Derrick Jones Jr., Ben Simmons:
Clippers X-Factor: Ivica Zubac
Ivica Zubac has been one of the best stories in the league this year. He has a career year across the board and has been one of the most improved players in the league. He has anchored an elite Clippers defense all year and has been one of the best rebounders in the league with an average of 12.6 a night. He had an amazing season, but this is a different challenge.
Against the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic, he will need to play the best ball of his career, specifically on the defensive end of the court. From a pure size and physicality standpoint, he matches up well, but that isn’t enough to contain Jokic. He will need to be able to hold his own against the Joker in the post. He will need to be able to limit his offensive glass. He needs to guard him without fouling. Zubac needs to make Jokic work for everything if the Clippers are going to win this series.
The Clippers have enough firepower to win this series even if Big Zu isn’t putting up his usual 17 points a game, but they need him to be at his best on the defensive end of the court. Everything the Nuggets do goes through Jokic, and if Zubac can just control him enough, the Clippers should advance to the second round.
Key Matchup For The Clippers: Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. Vs. Jamal Murray
As mentioned earlier when discussing Jamal Murray, the Clippers have multiple strong defenders to throw at him, specifically Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. At least one of the two will likely be in the game at all times, and it would a stunner if they are not the primary defender for Murray. They are both able to stay in front of their matchup and bother them due to their length and athleticism.
The Nuggets’ offense runs through Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and while slowing down the former is almost impossible, the latter can be bothered. The Clippers need Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. to get under Murray’s skin and get him off his rhythm.
Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun can all score the ball, but feed off of Murray and Jokic. If the Clippers can disrupt the Nuggets star guard, they will force someone else to beat them and that doesn’t bode well for the Nuggets.
Series Prediction- Clippers in 7
This should be the best series of the first round, and while it could go either way, the Clippers have to many options on both sides of the ball to bother the Nuggets. The Nuggets’ style of play fits right into the Clippers’ defensive strengths, and that may be the difference. Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world, but he can’t do it all by himself, and this matchup is not favorable for Jamal Murray.
There are so many great matchups in round one of the playoffs this year. Every series in the West should be amazing, and in the East it will be fun to see how the Pistons perform in Madison Square Garden and how far the Pacers and Bucks rivalry goes. There should be no shortage of drama and storylines in round one of the playoffs, and it should set up a phenomenal two months of playoff basketball.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
