The NBA postseason, originally scheduled to get underway on April 18, will finally begin today, about four months later than anticipated. Although the coronavirus pandemic threw a wrench into the NBA’s plans for the end of the 2019/20 campaign, the league is now in a good position to finish its season at its Walt Disney World campus.
Of the eight first-round playoff series scheduled to begin on Monday and Tuesday, the majority of the most fascinating matchups can be found in the Western Conference. And no first-round series is considered more of a toss-up than the No. 4 Rockets against the No. 5 Thunder.
The two teams finished with identical 44-28 records, despite the fact that last July’s Russell Westbrook/Chris Paul swap was one in a series of moves that made it seem as if Houston was going all-in on the 2019/20 season while Oklahoma City was taking a step back. A quad strain has compromised Westbrook’s availability for the start of the series, which dampens the Westbrook vs. Paul subplot, but Houston remains the slight favorite at -160, according to Caesar’s Sportsbook (link via ESPN). In other words, you’d have to risk $160 on the Rockets in order to collect $100 if they win the series.
The next-tightest matchup, per Caesar’s, is also in the West, as the No. 3 Nuggets (-220) face the No. 6 Jazz. Utah is likely relieved not to have to face Houston in the first round after being dismantled by the Rockets in the last two postseasons. But the Jazz will enter the playoffs without Bojan Bogdanovic and Mike Conley available. While Conley – who is away for the birth of his child – should be back at some point during the series, Bogdanovic is out for the season due to wrist surgery and his absence will limit Utah’s upside — even if the Nuggets are still without a couple key players of their own (Gary Harris and Will Barton).
The No. 1 Lakers (-450) are solid favorites over the No. 8 Trail Blazers, as are the No. 2 Clippers (-550) vs. the No. 7 Mavericks. But both of those lower seeds are frisky — Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic are each capable of single-handedly leading their teams to a win or two, and neither L.A. team has been so dominant this season that we should assume either series will be a cakewalk.
Over in the East, there are a pair of series that oddsmakers assume will be a cakewalk. The No. 2 Raptors (-5,000) are huge favorites over the No. 7 Nets, while the No. 1 Bucks (-15,000) are absolutely massive favorites over the No. 8 Magic, per Caesar’s.
Milwaukee and Toronto look like two of the NBA’s best teams, while Brooklyn and Orlando have both been hit hard by injuries and finished the season with losing records. The Nets have at least played impressive ball during the restart, knocking off the Clippers and Bucks and nearly ruining Portland’s playoff chances. They look like a better bet than the Magic to make a top seed sweat a little.
Elsewhere in the East, the No. 3 Celtics (-400) are solid favorites over the No. 6 Sixers, and the No. 5 Heat (-320) are considered good bets to defeat the No. 4 Pacers. That Boston/Philadelphia series would have been a whole lot more intriguing if Ben Simmons were healthy — without him, it’s not clear if the 76ers will have an answer for Boston’s versatile offensive attack. But Joel Embiid has always had success vs. the C’s, so if he can stay healthy and have a big series, the Sixers could make things interesting.
The Pacers, meanwhile, would be a more intriguing upset pick if they had Domantas Sabonis available and if Victor Oladipo were a lock to be at full strength. The Heat, who won the season series 3-0, look like the safer pick, but this could still be the most competitive first-round series in the East.
What do you think? Do you expect any underdogs to make it out of the first round, or are you picking the favorites across the board? Are there any 1-8 or 2-7 matchups that you think could be more competitive than advertised? Which first-round series do you expect to be the most entertaining?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts and your picks!
Don’t fall asleep on the Blazers. Lakers like one major component, and that’s outside shooting. Could make for an interesting series?
I hate it when I click send before proofreading. “Lack” outside shooting.
You know what regardless on how long the Laker vs trail Blazers go. This should be an entertaining series.
Bucks over Magic
Heat over Pacers
Celtics over Sixers
Raptors over Nets
Lakers over Blazers
Thunder over Rockets
Jazz over Nuggets
Clippers over Mavericks
Bucks over Heat
Celtics over Raptors
Lakers over Thunder
Clippers over Jazz
Bucks over Celtics
Lakers over Clippers
Bucks over Lakers for the title.
Bucks down 0-1 against Magic
Lakers down 0-1 against Blazers
Thunder down 0-1 against Rockets
Jazz down 0-1 against Nuggets
A Milwaukee/Lakers Finals is looking very precarious.
The odds look right, but I’ll take the Pacers over the Heat. They just played each other and Butler was held out. I will assume that is temporary. But they beat the Rockets before that too, where only Harden and a few Pacer backups played well… sounds very Pacer. They have found some success with TJ Warren at the 4, so they won’t miss Sabonis enough to lose. Vegas and higher seed, 7 to 1.
All the WC round1 serieses close, all the EC not!
Normally I would say the Magic would be a sneaky team to look out for, but without Isaac and a limited Gordon, they’re likely toast. Ditto the Nets, despite their competitive nature in the bubble. The Raptors are just on another level and too well-coached to drop a series that early.
The Pacers won’t be able to take advantage of their size without Sabonis, although it’ll be interesting to see if Warren can bounce back from some ugly outings. Ultimately, I believe Bam and Butler will be too much. The Sixers could win a couple of games by virtue of the fact that Boston will have issues defending Embiid in the paint. However, their depth on the wing is unmatched by Philly and Tatum/Brown/Walker should rack up buckets.
The Trailblazers will push the Lakers with some terrific outside shooting. However, their defense is pitiful. They lack a defensive wing to take on LeBron even if Nurkic can somehow mitigate Davis in the paint. Portland tends to push games close, but I don’t see their offensive production as sustainable enough to outlast the Lakers.
The Nuggets, while missing Barton and Harris, have ample depth and will take advantage of a rather short Utah bench. Gobert could erase Jokic a bit, but Porter Jr. should seize the opportunity.
Dallas could push the Clippers a bit, especially if Porzingis pushes their undersized bigs. Unfortunately, Dallas lacks viable defenders against Leonard, George, and Lou. This will likely be the highest-scoring series, but I don’t see the Mavericks making enough stops to pull the upset.
Finally, the Rockets/Thunder matchup is certainly the most competitive. Both teams possess fantastic guards and some feisty defenders in Dort, Adams, Tucker, and Covington. If the Thunder win, they’ll take advantage of Westbrook’s absence and Schroeder/Gallinari will hit open shots. Conversely, the Rockets will need Rivers, McLemore, and Gordon to give them reliable bench minutes.
Let’s hope for an exciting and unexpected postseason!
The Houston/OKC matchup has been one of the two least competitive series so far (along with Toronto/Brooklyn which was expected). You did overlook Jeff Green there, which is okay since the Thunder did too.
It’s been one game. Small sample size much?
Two most sexy series to watch
Thunder Vs Rockets
Pacers Vs Heat
The rest 4-0 or 4-1
So the Blazers and Jazz won’t win more than a single game? Doubtful.
After watching game 1 the Jazz don’t look so great. Like Dallas, their main guy has to go off for 40 or 50 points to be in the game. That doesn’t bode well in a playoff series.
This season, I don’t expect either #1 seed to be in the Finals. We just had a bubble session where the best team (Suns) was one that didn’t even make the playoffs. All it takes is a team getting hot and remaining healthy.
As far as first round series go, I don’t see any upsets in the East (and no the Heat over the Pacers is not an upset regardless of seed). In the West, it could be very interesting. I could easily envision all 4 lower seeds advancing, with the Jazz as probably the least likely to win due to health.
Throwing a dart at the wall, I think the Rockets win it all this year over the Raptors.
Anyone who thinks a Lakers/Bucks Finals is a given will be disappointed.
Considering the Heat are -320, they’re a large favorite. Perhaps the pro bettors think Warren has been figured out, or that his game plays right into Miami’s. I don’t think the Pacers can get far though without their top player. I’ve seen that movie before with Indiana!
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Overall, this is not likely a GSW/CLE type year.
Basically, the bubble sched was the first series that for a few teams didn’t mean much. In the NCAA where you only have to play one series (6 games), getting hot can lead you to at least the final four. That “gettin’ hot” logic doesn’t apply to the 4 series that are played to win the NBA title. 16 to 28 games is a long time to stay “hot.”
May I please mention one thing with all due respect and friendliness and a sincere heart?
I understand many people have a problem with our president. But a username such as the one you’ve thought up and decided to use.. it’s just a sour thing to look at for some of us who have love our country.
As I said, I 100% respect your opinion and I have many many wonderful friends who don’t think the same way I do. This is what makes our country a beautiful place to live. We can voice our opinions, we can speak and write freely, and we can hold signs that say practically anything we want.
But please let me ask if you perhaps might decide to not use that username. It just really saddens me and I lose heart for America when the office of presidency is disrespected sometimes.
I’m with you brother, HE !! hasn’t respected the office many times. I’m with you on that. But it’s just something about scrolling through a hoopsrumors article and then seeing your username with “stupid” in it. I don’t know.. it saddens me.
But as I said, that’s the beautiful thing about our country. We can do as we wish which is almost anything to a certain point. If you continue to use this username then I will stand up and applaud our system of open expression. I will also a stand up and applaud YOUR courage to wholeheartedly Proclaim what you believe. That’s what being Americans all about.
I hope this message is received in the same way it was written and intended.., which is with a loving heart and respect for all. God bless America.
When it comes to morality. Ethics, sincerity, and civility. Our president is the worst one. Where we should all respect the office. He doesn’t make it easy to do.
Agreed Al. 100%. I’m just giving my two cents which is worth what you paid for it LOL
Yes, but if the Blazers “get hot” and eliminate the Lakers in the first round then the remainder of the Western terms move up in the pecking order. Meaning a team like the Rockets wouldn’t have to remain hot. For example, if the Blazers knock out the Lakers and the Mavs knock out the Clippers, then the Rockets would likely be the favorites in the both the second round and the WCF. They wouldn’t have to ride a hot streak. They would just be able to take advantage of someone else’s hot streak.
hiflew, you really think the Rockets have a chance to do some damage in this year’s playoffs? I think they’re going to miss Clint capela big time. Without him I think they face an uphill battle.
The fact that they were willing to give up Capela plus a first round pick for Covington truly shows how valuable he is to them. Guys like RoCo and Tucker may not look great on paper, but they more than make up for it on the court.
I think the first round pick was needed to cover the terrible contract.
Blazers vs Lakers should be a fun series. CJ has to stay on point. Remember Blazers got back Collins and Nurkic. Lost Ariza which will hurt with Bron. You need all bodies for Bron. They signed Melo Nov 19. He will have to play D lol. I’m not a Melo guy. But he’s been playing well, even playing D. Collins, Mello, Gabriel, Hezonja will all have to play Bron. Bron is worst matchup for Blazers. And Dame , CJ is worst matchup for Lakers. I can see this go 7. Go Blazers
OKC vs Rockets is also a fun series. These series to me will be most competitive. Rockets missing WBrook for 2 gms will hurt. OKC should capitalize on this. CP3 knows Rockets offense better than they do. So this series should be a lot of fun. I think Blazers have a shot. Especially if it goes 7. But I see Thunder winning this. Rockets better be careful with Westbrook. Cause they could lose him for yr. If injury not handled right. These two are best series of 1st rd.
CP3 doesn’t know the Rockets offense better than they do.
If they can continue playing well in games 2 and 3, and take control of the series, then hopefully it will allow them to rest Westbrook for the first round and then bring him back in round two if they manage to get past OKC.
Y’all talking about POR which hasn’t got much of a chance at all, if you don’t believe me, you can see how people ain’t putting money on them to win, I wonder why!
But y’all should be talking about DAL, with Luka & KP6 they have a much higher chance to win against the LAC, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if DAL makes it through.
Also notice that DAL is the 3rd WC team with highest % of winning their conference, Luka can set the playoffs on fire, watch out!
PS: LBJ has never lost a R1 series, how ’bout that?
Good points El Don, and I don’t like that Portland has weakness on the wing. But there’s something different this year about Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. I think they see this as their last shot at a real opportunity to advance. But it should be interesting.
My opinion… there’s no chance Dallas of moving past the Clippers. Luca is a nice player but stick Paul George on him and the fun stops.
One more point about the Mavericks that I think gets exposed in the playoffs is their defense. Playoff basketball is a whole different animal and opposing team smell blood when they see Luca (or JJ Barea) on the floor. They will go at them like a Steamroller over hot pavement on a Friday at 4:55 pm.
Watching the game now, and the Dallas defense is awful. Their strategy seems to be to let Clipper players get into bad shots and stay even with efficiency. The NBA is not kind to that method. Doncic is amazing but cannot stay in the game all minutes. Zinger was not setting his feet to shoot. I wanted more from Trey Burke when Doncic was out.
LBJ has never played a R1 series against a team from the West either.
The first game proved which LA team people should fear most, and it’s obviously the Clippers (not the Lakers). Bucks looked bad too.
The only mildly intriguing matchup in the east is Miami and Indiana. The other 3 series will almost certainly be over in 4 games. Everyone thinks the West will be the same, but the Houston/OKC will be no closer than any of the other three. The Lakers, Clippers, and especially the Nuggets could just as easily lose in the first round as the Rockets.