You don't need to waste time on the preamble. So far, we've seen 16 teams play in 12 different post-2022 playoff series. Some of those series have been pretty good. others? Few. So, with the first two rounds in the books, let's go over the dozens of matchups we've seen so far, based on basketball quality, historical ramifications, and overall amount of fun.
12.Nuggetsy z DenveragainstMinnesoty Timberwolves
This was a fairly standard number 1 seed compared to the number 8 "gentleman" seed. Denver won the first two games at home quite comfortably. Things got worse in Minnesota, but the Nuggets still got a split, and then they sorted things out at home before Game 5. It wasn't a bad series by any means. It was the perfect warm-up for Denver andAntonius Edwardswas amazing for the Timberwolves, averaging 35 points in the last four games of the series, cementing his status as one of the league's most promising young stars. But it was one of the few post-season series where the result was never in doubt. This ensures an automatic placement in 12th place.
11.Philadelphia 76ersagainstBrooklyn online
Basketball was pretty disappointing here, but the drama? It was much more fun. This game spawned a whole discourse on groin shots.James Hardenplayed against the team he left the year before... in addition to everyone he played for, he also left and the player he was traded for (The Simmons) is nowhere to be found. The Nets also created an interesting defensive modeljoela embidaconstantly doubling the stakes and forcing the rest of the 76ers to beat them. As for the scans, it wasn't too bad.
10.New Yorkse KnicksagainstCleveland Cavaliers
There are rock fights and Knicks-Cavs. Cleveland averaged the fewest midcourt points per 100 possessions (102.2) in the playoffs, and the Knicks finished the season with a measly 88.5 points per 100 midcourt plays, thanks in large part to his fights with Cleveland. Basketball has been hard to watch this series, but drama wins again.Donovana Mitchelafaced a team that nearly traded him in the summer and was defeated byJalen Brunsonfor the second consecutive season. Cleveland Twin TowersEvana MobleyamiJarret Allenthey were intimidated by the big, burly men of New York, and now the Cavaliers must go back to the drawing board and figure out how best to envelop their youthful core.
9.Phoenix SunsagainstLos Angeles Stoners
There is something extremely alluring about a rival confronted with his own mortality. All of the preparation for the first round was about the number of teams looking to avoid Phoenix, the betting favorite to win the Western Conference before the playoffs began. Clippers tied and withoutPaulo Jorge(and then,Hug Leonard) really didn't stand a chance. But they managed to win the match, and their four losses combined are only 37 points. The Clippers would never beat the Suns, but they showed us how flawed Phoenix was.
8.Boston CelticsagainstAtlanta Hawks
Hey, about "Are you sure your favorite is okay?" series, we have a Celtics-Hawks series that looked like a two-game forfeit. And then all four of the last games were decided by single numbers. Atlanta scored at least 119 on all four, and suddenly Boston's infamous defense that had been overwhelming everyone for the past year and a half seemed invincible. Parity was one of the main themes of this post-season. Computer models suggested that despite their records, Boston was by far the best team on the field. The Atlanta series punched holes in that idea and made it clear that a championship is on the line. play resurrectionTrae Youngsreputation and it was a really fun game.
7.Hits from Miamiunlike the New York Knicks
The basketball itself was similar to what we saw between New York and Cleveland: ugly and defensive. When it comes to these two teams, it is of course preferable. The Knicks and Heat played versions of the same franchise in the 90s, and while they see that this style of play would be boring too often, it's a nice change from time to time. Add to that Jalen Brunson's heroism in the New York City defeat, and the Knicks-Heat not only turned out to be funnier than expected, but also ushered in a renewed rivalry that should last for years to come.
6.Los Angeles LakersagainstGrizzly z Memphis
The fun in this series was mainly off the pitch, not on it.Dillona Brooksathe basketball gods askedJames Lebronand he was punished for it. James may not have dropped 40 on him but the Lakers won the game 6 out of 40 and now it looks like Brookshe is unemployed. Two games were played in this series, but both were quite fun. The first one endedAustina Reavesato announce that indeedOnSecond litrewindfrom James. All in all, this series was a delight and could have easily scored much higher.
5. Miami Heat vs.Milwaukee dollars
Nothing beats a good diatribe, right? With Milwaukee leading by double figures in the fourth quarter of Game 4, the entire basketball world was betting that the Bucks would take an easy series win withGiannis Antetokounmpoback to the square.Jimmy'ego Butlerahe had other plans. With a total of 98 points from the last two games, the Heat overcame double-digit deficits in games 4 and 5 to steal the series. This made the Bucks the sixth No. 1 to lose in the first round, and the loss cost Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer his job. It's just another feather on Butler's eyelidThe scariest underdog in NBA history.
4. Boston Celtics x Philadelphia 76ers
This series would have finished second, leading to Game 7. And then we saw Game 7. Yes, Jayson Tatum's breakout performance was worth watching, but after years of Doc Rivers and James Harden falling apart in elimination matches, we shouldn't be surprised by what we saw anymore on Sunday. Harden may have lost us in arguably the two best playoff games of his career early in the series, but a 33-10 defeat in the third quarter was a testament to how little really changed. Harden and Embiid scored just 24 points combined, and the Process-era 76ers went down with an absolute groan.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs.Soldiers of the Golden State
This series was everything that makes the playoffs great. Yes, the historical consequences of confronting JamesStephen Curryfor the fifth time and perhaps the end of the Golden State dynasty were huge, but this series was also a tactical goldmine. The Lakers took advantage of two great Golden State lineups and leftAnthony'ego Davisathey act as a full-time rim protector in Game 1. The Warriors respondedJa Mychal Groenin Game 2, forcing Davis to recognize a decent shot in Game 2. The Lakers objected to the puttJarreda VanderbilttheyDraymond Verdeso they can exchange pick-and-roll Curry-Green. The Warriors responded to a counterattack that beganGary'ego Paytona IIand using it to track Curry, who dragged Davis to the edge and away from the edge. The Lakers countered off the counter and switched all the ball screens. So yes, the casual fan might enjoy big names and drama, but this series was also a die-hard's dream. It was a tactical chess game between the four-time champion and the rookie coach. The rookie won.
2. Denver Nuggets x Phoenix Suns
Have you ever wondered how far two players can drag a weak team against a potential championship favourite? The obvious answer is six games.Kevin DurantmiBecome Bookertogether, they scored just over 56% of Phoenix's points against Denver, and the 87 they scored in Game 3 was one of the best performances by two teammates you've ever seen. Unfortunately, none of them were the best fighter in the series.Nikola Jokicdefeated the Suns with an impressive 34.5 triple-doubles in the series on nearly 60% shooting. Individual performances determine post-seasons. In this series, no one was better than Jokic and Booker.
1. Golden State Warriors vs.Kings of Sacramento
High-quality basketball? Check. Two matches were decided in the last minute, while two others were almost equally evenly matched. Historical consequences? Check. The four-time champion faced the team in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Drama? Check. green got upDomantas Sabonischest and that's ithe went crazywhen Sabonis refused to shake hands with him after the series. Great individual performance? This is a big check as Curry posted the first 50-point Game 7 in NBA history. It was the perfect playoff series. No notes. It will be next to impossible to knock out the Kings-Warriors for the rest of the season.
FAQs
Can Warriors make playoffs 2023? ›
With the defending champion Warriors losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, the 2023 playoffs marked the fourth straight year where the defending champion was eliminated before the conference finals.
What seed are the Warriors in 2023? ›Thanks to the Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Phoenix Suns, the Warriors are locked into the sixth seed and will face the Sacramento Kings in the first round.
Who is the best team in the NBA 2023? ›What's the Lowest Seed to Ever Win the NBA Finals? The lowest seed in NBA history to win the Finals was the No. 6 Houston Rockets in 1995. Houston, fresh off of a championship win in 1994, returned to the playoffs as one of the Western Conference's lowest-ranked teams.
How likely are the Warriors to win the championship? ›What's more, the Warriors' odds to win the NBA Championship next year are currently at +750, with only the Celtics (+550), Bucks (+600), and Clippers (+700) having shorter odds. For comparison's sake, the Warriors' odds were at +600 shortly after their Game 6 win at TD Garden, tied with the Celtics and Clippers.
Who is projected to win NBA Finals 2023? ›To open the Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics remain the favorite to win the 2023 NBA Championship. In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets are the favorites to advance to the NBA Finals and win the Larry O'Brien trophy.
Do the Warriors have a 1st round pick in 2023? ›Golden State only has their own first-round pick for this year's draft, having taken multiple selections in each of the last four drafts.
What team is Stephen Curry on in 2023? ›Share All sharing options for: Stephen Curry has been selected to the 2022-2023 All-NBA Second Team. The NBA has just announced its All-NBA Teams, with the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry being selected into one of the guard slots of the Second Team.
Who has the best record in the NBA? ›The Celtics and Lakers have each won 17 NBA championships, the most in NBA history. The Lakers also have a record 32 Finals appearances. The Celtics and the Lakers had played each other in the Finals for a record 12 times.
What is the best offense in the NBA 2023? ›| TEAM | SEASON | FGA |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Kings | 2022-23 | 88.2 |
| Boston Celtics | 2022-23 | 88.8 |
| New York Knicks | 2022-23 | 89.4 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2022-23 | 83.8 |
Who has the best defense in the NBA playoffs 2023? ›
1 .
Anthony Davis has defended 20.9 shot attempts per game in his 12 playoff games, limiting his opponents to a 39.4% success rate from the field. In addition, Anthony Davis' defense saves the Los Angeles Lakers 9.5 points per 100 possessions when compared to what his opponents would normally score on average.
Who is most likely to win MVP NBA 2023? The current MVP odds NBA suggest that Nikola Jokic has the best chance of winning the award. He is priced at -275 with BetMGM in the 2023 NBA MVP odds.
Has an 8 seed ever beat a 1 NBA? ›8 seeds had advanced past No. 1 seeds in Round 1 of the playoffs, beginning with the No. 8 Nuggets' victory over the No. 1 SuperSonics during the 1994 season.
Has a number 1 seed ever lost NBA? ›The 1994 Sonics were first No. 1 seed to lose first round of NBA playoffs. Almost 30 years ago, the Thunder's former selves made NBA history, but not in the way it wanted. After winning their first two games against the Nuggets, the Sonics dropped three straight, including Games 4 and 5 in overtime.
Has a 7 seed ever beat a 2 seed NBA? ›Five No. 7 seeds have beaten No. 2 seeds since the NBA playoffs expanded in 1984: 1987: Seattle over DAL 3-1 (Round 1) 1989: GSW over Utah 3-0 (1) 1991: GSW over SAS 3-1 (1) 1998: NYK over Miami 3-2 (1) 2010: SAS over Dallas 4-2 (1)* *The only 7-game series.
Who is favored to win Game 6 NBA Finals? ›Celtics open as Game 6 favorites
This series has been as unpredictable as any in these 2023 NBA playoffs, which should make for a compelling Game 6 as the Heat look to close it out, and the Celtics looking to become just the fourth team in NBA history to push a series to a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 in the series.
1. Boston Celtics (42-17)
Who is favored to win the Eastern Conference finals? ›Caesars Sportsbook lists Boston as the 7-point home favorite, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 204 in the latest Heat vs. Celtics odds.
Who is the potential No 1 pick in the NBA 2023? ›The NBA Draft Lottery is complete and the San Antonio Spurs will have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. They are expected to take Victor Wembanyama.
Who is most likely to win the Super Bowl 2023? ›- Kansas City Chiefs (+650)
- Philadelphia Eagles (+700)
- Buffalo Bills (+900)
- Cincinnati Bengals (+900)
- San Francisco 49ers (+900)
Who is most likely to get first pick in NBA draft 2023? ›
Wembanyama is the most talked-about prospect among NBA scouts and executives since LeBron James in 2003 and is the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by a mile (-10000 at BetMGM).
Do the Carolina Panthers have a first round draft pick in 2023? ›Who Did the Panthers Draft in 2023? Despite the limited amount of picks, the Panthers did own the No. 1 overall pick, which they acquired from the Chicago Bears by trading away the No. 9 overall selection, the 61st pick, a 2024 first-rounder, a 2025 second-rounder, and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Do the Raptors have a 2023 draft pick? ›The Toronto Raptors will select 13th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft after Tuesday's draft lottery. The lottery results were announced in Chicago. The Raptors were projected to pick 13th overall.
How many first round picks in 2023? ›NFL Draft 2023: Ranking all 31 first-round picks as Eagles, Steelers rewarded for trades up; Seahawks impress.
What is the Warriors record without Steph Curry 2023? ›| TEAM | SEASON | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | 2022-23 | 1/7/2023 |
| Golden State Warriors | 2022-23 | 1/20/2023 |
| Golden State Warriors | 2022-23 | 2/6/2023 |
| Golden State Warriors | 2022-23 | 2/8/2023 |
| NAME | SEASON | 3PM |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | 2022-23 | 273 |
Stephen Curry has attempted 7,929 three-pointers in his career.
Who is the number 1 goat in NBA? ›NBA player poll votes in favor of MJ as the GOAT
According to an anonymous player poll done by The Athletic, 58.3 percent of the 103 players polled believe Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time. His vote count supersedes that of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Bill Russell and Tracy McGrady.
The longest win streak in NBA history belongs to the LA Lakers' 1971-72 championship-winning team who won 33 games in a row before having their win streak snapped by the Bucks.
What player scored 100 points in a single game? ›On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain tallied 100 points for the Warriors in a 169-147 win. Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points to set a single-game NBA record. NBA.com takes a look back at the top moments that define the history of the NBA.
Who is projected to have the best defense in the NFL 2023? ›
- Cincinnati Bengals. The Cincinnati Bengals have been rock solid on defense all season. ...
- San Francisco 49ers. DC DeMeco Ryans has been a heavily interviewed candidate for head coaching vacancies throughout the playoffs. ...
- Philadelphia Eagles. ...
- Kansas City Chiefs.
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
James is the all-time playoffs leader in games played, minutes, field goals, free throws, steals, turnovers and points (among many other categories). But he's still looking for his first postseason series win outside of the bubble as a Laker.
Most efficient half court offenses in the NBA: 1. SAC: 1.07 ppp 2. DAL: 1.06 3. BOS: 1.044 4.
Who has the #1 defense in 2023? ›The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins have the best defenses in the NFL based on our 2023 NFL defense rankings.
What is the best NBA defense of all time? ›1. 1963-64 Boston Celtics: 112.89. Now that you see the Boston Celtics have completed their clean sweep of the podium, it's worth reflecting on just how dominant Bill Russell was. Not only did he anchor the top four defenses in NBA history, but he also plugged up the middle for eight of the top 20.
Who has the best Defence in the NBA? ›Who Has The Best Defense In The NBA 2021? The Lakers are the best defense in the league, allowing just 105 points per game this season, and sit with the best defensive rating. With Anthony Davis in the middle of the defense and him being a reigning defensive player of the year it is no surprise.
Who is favored to win MVP? ›Who is most likely to win NFL MVP? Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes are currently tied as favorites to win the 2023 NFL MVP at +650 odds. Followed by Josh Allen (+750) Justin Herbert (+900), Jalen Hurts (+1000), Tua Tagovailoa (+1400), and Trevor Lawrence (+1400).
Who is the youngest player to win MVP? ›Wilt Chamberlain @ 23
He had a brief stint with the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the league and took the league by storm in his debut year. Chamberlain won Rookie of the Year, All-Star MVP, and regular-season MVP awards in 1960.
Larry Bird is the most recent player to win three straight MVP awards. Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlin and Bill Russell are the only players to ever do it. 10,501 people like this. Larry won his third consecutive MVP 34 years ago today.
Has an 8 seed ever beat a 1 seed in the playoffs? ›8 seeds had advanced past No. 1 seeds in Round 1 of the playoffs, beginning with the No. 8 Nuggets' victory over the No. 1 SuperSonics during the 1994 season.
How many times has a 16 beat a 1? ›
16 seed has beaten a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament twice: UMBC defeated Virginia in 2018, and Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Purdue in 2023.
What is the farthest 8 seed in the NBA playoffs? ›What's the farthest a No. 8 seed has ever advanced in the NBA Playoffs? A No. 7 seed has never reached the NBA Finals but there has been one No. 8 seed to pull it off. In 1998-99, the New York Knicks did the unthinkable.
Has a number 2 seed ever lost? ›Princeton became the 11th No. 15 seed to defeat a No. 2 seed when it shocked Arizona, 59-55, in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament. It marked the third year in a row a 15 downed a 2, as Saint Peter's took down Kentucky in 2022 and Oral Roberts upset Ohio State in 2021.
Has an NBA team ever lost 3 0? ›It's not over." The three teams to force a Game 7 after falling behind 3-0 are the New York Knicks (lost to the Rochester Royals in the 1951 NBA Finals), Nuggets (fell to the Utah Jazz in the 1994 second round) and Portland Trail Blazers (lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2003 first round).
How many times have the 8th seed beat 1? ›8 seeds have eliminated No. 1 seeds since the playoffs expanded to their current 16-team size in 1984? The answer is five, and that includes the following teams.
Has a 15 seed ever won 2 games? ›While they are better than the 1-147 mark 16-seeds have against 1s, 15-seeds are just 10-138 against 2-seeds since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Here's a brief look back at the chronological history of 15-seed upsets. 1991: Richmond became the first 15-seed ever to beat a 2 when they shocked Syracuse 73-69.
Has a 14 seed ever beat a 3 seed? ›The No. 14 seed has beaten a No. 3 seed 22 times since the NCAA Tournament expanded in 1985 for a 15.3 winning percentage.
Has a 2 seed ever been swept NBA? ›In the 1988-89 season, Chris Mullin and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors swept Karl Malone, John Stockton and the No. 2 Utah Jazz in three games.
Can Golden State Warriors make playoffs? ›Warriors Clinch 2023 Postseason Berth.
What teams will be in the NBA Playoffs 2023? ›- Milwaukee Bucks - Miami Heat.
- Cleveland Cavaliers - New York Knicks.
- Philadelphia 76ers - Brooklyn Nets.
- Boston Celtics - Atlanta Hawks.
How many games left in NBA season 2023? ›
While it's almost certain that the Denver Nuggets will finish the season at the top of the Western Conference standings, the East is still up for grabs. Overall, there are 454 games left to play in the 2022-23 NBA season.
How many wins do the Warriors need? ›Basically, the Warriors need either two wins or one more win combined with one more loss each for the Lakers and Pelicans.
Have the Warriors ever lost game 1? ›Well, they lost Game 1 of the 2016 Western Conference finals vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, they closed out that seven-game series with three straight wins to advance to their second consecutive NBA Finals.
Can Lakers make playoffs 2023? ›The Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated from the 2023 NBA playoffs, falling to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals 4-0.
Who has the most first round picks 2023? ›Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia led all teams with three first-round selections each. Iowa and Clemson had two picks each.
Which team has the most 1st round picks in 2023? ›Which Team Has the Most Picks in the 2023 NFL Draft? The Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders have 12 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, leading the NFL. Houston has each of its own picks in Rounds 1 through 4, plus the Cleveland Browns' first- and third-round picks from the Deshaun Watson trade last year.
How many teams go to the playoffs 2023? ›How many NFL teams get a bye in the 2023 NFL Playoffs? A total of 14 teams compete in the playoffs, which means there are seven teams from each conference. Each first-round seed will receive an automatic bye into the divisional round, while the other six teams will compete in the wild card round.
Is the NBA 2023 schedule out? ›The regular season schedule is planned to be released in the summer of 2023.
Are the Celtics out of the playoffs? ›Boston finishes the postseason at 5-6 on its home court, losing all three home games against the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. "We failed," a despondent Brown said after the loss. "I failed.
Why no NBA games on April 3 2023? ›There are no Monday games in the NBA, as is always the case during the first week of April due to the NCAA men's championship game.
How much is a NBA League Pass? ›
The NBA League Pass cost for a monthly package starts at $14.99 and is $19.99 for the Premium version. If you wish just to follow one team and pay on a monthly basis, that subscription starts at $13.99.
How often do NBA players play games? ›NBA teams play, on average, slightly over three games a week over a 26-week regular season.