The NBA playoffs are set to tip off this weekend, and though we’re not quite sure of all the matchups–we still have small matter of the play-in tournament to settle–the contours of the battles ahead have been set.
The play-in will go like this:
Tuesday, April 14
- East:Â Heat (10) vs. Hornets (9), 7:30 p.m. ET
- West:Â Trail Blazers (8) vs. Suns (7), 10 p.m. ET
Wednesday, April 15
- East:Â Magic (8) vs. 76ers (7), 7:30 p.m. ET
- West: Warriors (10) vs. Clippers (9), 10 p.m. ET
Friday, April 17
- East: 7/8 loser vs. 9/10 winner, 7:30 p.m. ET
- West: 7/8 loser vs. 9/10 winner, 10 p.m. ET
Followed by the first round, which looks like this:
Eastern Conference
- (1) Pistons vs. (8) TBD. Sunday April 19, 6:30 p.m. ET
- (2) Celtics vs. (7) TBD, Sunday April 19, 1 p.m. ET
- (3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks, Saturday April 18, 6 p.m. ET
- (4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors, Saturday April 18, 1 p.m. ETWestern Conference
- (1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD, Sunday April 19, 3:30 p.m. ET
- (2) Spurs vs. (7) TBD, Sunday April 19, 9 p.m. ET
- (3) Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, Saturday April 18, 3:30 p.m. ET
- (4) Lakers vs. Rockets, Saturday April 18, 8:30 p.m. ETTo prepare for what will be a long but fascinating slog through the postseason, we’ve asked scouts and assistant coaches from across the league how they’d size up the contenders and longshots–and who’s just happy to still be playing.
NBA Playoff Preview Part I: True Contenders
- Thunder. West scout: “Last year, they needed experience. This year, they have experience. They’ve made themselves zone-proof, and that was the way to beat them before. No more.”
- Spurs. West coach: “They hit you with waves of players. They don’t have a ton of experience, but they’re going to have the best player in any series they have in the West, and that Victor Wembanyama. That includes the Thunder in the West finals.”
- Celtics. East scout: “They still are not as good as they are going to be. Jayson Tatum has been an easy fit coming back in. But they have to avoid overloading on 3s–that killed them last year.”
- Nuggets. West coach: “This was a really frustrating season for Nikola Jokic. I would think he is going to set out to dominate here. He had the injuries, the team was out of sorts, but they’re hitting their stride and it is tough to be against him.”
- Knicks. East coach: “They have the most talent. That counts for something. They have not really put it together, but if you can get both Mikal Bridges and OG (Anunoby) playing well together, that’s going to be a key for them.”
GettyJayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball past Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden.
Part II: So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
The Atlanta Hawks have been the best team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference since the All-Star break, and credit for that should go to the team’s activity ahead of the trade
- Pistons. East scout: “Cade Cunningham is back and they should be able to get up to speed in the first round. I don’t think they have the experience to match up with the other top East teams, though.”
- Cavaliers. East scout: “Dangerous when healthy. If they can keep everybody on the floor, they can play enough defense to let (James) Harden and Donovan Mitchell win games for them.”
- Rockets. West scout: “They really missed a guy like Fred VanVleet. I think the lack of a point guard like him and the lack of his leadership is what is holding these guys back.”
- Timberwolves. West coach: “Health has been such a big problem for them. When you’ve got your best player dealing with a knee–Anthony Edwards–and you have such a key guy like (Jaden) McDaniels dealing with it, too … you just hope they’re 100%.”
NBA Playoff Preview Part III: The Longshots
- Hawks. East scout: “They’ve been playing really good defense, but I don’t know that they have the shot-making to survive the first round.”
- Lakers. West scout: “With Austin (Reaves) and Luka (Doncic) out? Not a chance. They’d be a play-in team. Their one hope is maybe the Rockets implode in the first round and they can get those guys back for Round 2.”
- Sixers. East coach: “They were an interesting group when everyone was on the floor, which they never were. Joel Embiid (appendix) being out is a killer.”
- Raptors. East scout: “They’re a fun team to watch, they play really great defense and have done so all year. But they’re probably outmanned, they do not have the star power.”
- Clippers. West coach: “Give credit to Ty Lue, he kept them engaged. But you get the sense they want this season to be over.”
Getty LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles past the defense of Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of a game at Crypto.com Arena.
Part IV: We’re Just Happy to Be Here
- Hornets. East scout: “Lot of young talent. I hope they make the playoffs so they get that first bit of experience.”
- Warriors. West coach: “How much can you ask Stephen Curry to do?”
- Suns. West scout: “They play hard and that alone is a huge change from recent years. But they don’t have the stars.”
- Magic. East coach: “Major disappointment. They have too much talent to be where they are. They play like a bunch of guys who do not like each other.”
- Trail Blazers. West scout: “Young but out of their league.”
- Heat. East scout: “I’d like to see them pick a direction.”
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