The 2025 NBA playoffs are lastly upon us. Listed below are every workforce’s possibilities of advancing previous the primary spherical and the important thing elements in every collection.
With the 2024-25 common season now behind us, it’s time for the 2025 NBA playoffs.
The primary spherical will function eight totally different collection, and we’re right here to preview all of them.
A workforce must survive three rounds inside its convention to advance to the NBA Finals, which start on June 5.
Let the enjoyable start.
Japanese Convention
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Miami Warmth
Common-Season Information – Cleveland: 64-18; Miami: 37-45
Head-to-Head File – Cleveland 2-1 vs. Miami
Staff Scores – Cleveland: No. 1 in O-TRACR, No. 8 in D-TRACR, No. 3 in TRACR; Miami: No. 19 in O-TRACR, No. 9 in D-TRACR, No. 14 in TRACR.
DRIP Leaders – Cleveland: Donovan Mitchell (3.6); Miami: Bam Adebayo (2.1).
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – Cleveland: Donovan Mitchell (24.0)/Jarrett Allen (9.7)/Darius Garland (6.7); Miami: Tyler Herro (23.9)/Bam Adebayo (9.6)/Tyler Herro (5.5).
Greatest X-Issue – 3-Level Capturing – Anytime you’ve got a David and Goliath-like collection, there needs to be somewhat little bit of luck to ensure that the underdog to come back out on high. When the Miami Warmth upset the Milwaukee Bucks within the first spherical of the 2023 playoffs, they shot 45% from behind the arc. It is going to take related sizzling taking pictures (together with some chilly taking pictures from the Cleveland Cavaliers) for an unbelievable end result right here.
Win Chance – Cleveland: 86.0%; Miami: 14.0%.
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic
Common-Season Information – Boston: 61-21; Orlando: 41-41.
Head-to-Head File – Orlando 2-1 vs. Boston.
Staff Scores – Boston: No. 4 in O-TRACR, No. 4 in D-TRACR, No. 2 in TRACR; Orlando: No. 27 in O-TRACR, No. 2 in D-TRACR, No. 16 in TRACR.
DRIP Leaders – Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (3.5); Orlando: Franz Wagner (1.4).
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – Boston: Jayson Tatum (26.8)/Jayson Tatum (8.7)/Jayson Tatum (6.0); Orlando: Paolo Banchero (25.9)/Paolo Banchero (7.5)/Paolo Banchero (4.8).
Greatest X-Issue – Cole Anthony – The Orlando Magic have the protection to hold with the Boston Celtics. The issue is that their offense pales compared to them. If they’re going to have any probability of scoring sufficient factors to win this collection, the Magic are going to wish Anthony to be at his highest. After a gradual begin to the season, he’ performed environment friendly basketball to finish the common season. He additionally scored 26 factors in simply over 20 minutes within the Magic’s play-in spherical victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Anthony might want to maintain this torrid tempo up for the Magic to hold with the Celtics offensively.
Win Chance – Boston: 82.5%; Orlando: 17.5%.
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
Common-Season Information – New York: 51-31; Detroit: 44-38.
Head-to-Head File – Detroit 3-1 vs. New York.
Staff Scores – New York: No. 5 in O-TRACR, No. 15 in D-TRACR, No. 10 in TRACR; Detroit: No. 17 in O-TRACR, No. 11 in D-TRACR, No. 15 in TRACR.
DRIP Leaders – New York: Jalen Brunson (2.1); Detroit: Ausar Thompson (1.4).
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – New York: Jalen Brunson (26.0)/Karl-Anthony Cities (12.8)/Jalen Brunson (7.3); Detroit: Cade Cunningham (26.1)/Jalen Duren (10.3)/Cade Cunningham (9.1).
Greatest X-Issue – Fouls – If the Detroit Pistons are going to beat the New York Knicks, they have to decelerate Jalen Brunson. Their two greatest choices to defend him are Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland. Each of these guys are gifted wing defenders (Thompson is even tied for fifth within the NBA in D-DRIP). The issue is that they’re younger and somewhat foul-prone. Pair this with Brunson’s affinity for drawing fouls (97th percentile in free throw fee), and the Pistons might discover themselves in a world of hassle. To win this collection, Thompson and Holland will want to verify they don’t chew on any pump fakes.
Win Chance – New York: 61.8%; Detroit: 38.2%.
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
Common-Season Information – Indiana: 50-32; Milwaukee: 48-34.
Head-to-Head File – 2-2 Tie.
Staff Scores – Indiana: No. 9 in O-TRACR, No. 14 in D-TRACR, No. 11 in TRACR; Milwaukee: No. 12 in O-TRACR, No. 13 in D-TRACR, No. 12 in TRACR.
DRIP Leaders – Indiana: Tyrese Haliburton (4.2); Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo (4.1).
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – Indiana: Pascal Siakam (20.2)/Pascal Siakam (6.9)/Tyrese Haliburton (9.2); Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.4)/Giannis Antetokounmpo (11.9)/Damian Lillard (7.1).
Greatest X-Issue – Damian Lillard – After it appeared like his season was over, Lillard defied all odds by coming back from deep vein thrombosis in a matter of weeks. Lillard gained’t be obtainable for Sport 1, however he’s anticipated again sooner or later within the collection. However right here’s the opposite kicker: the Milwaukee Bucks have been taking part in higher with out Lillard. Of their final 14 video games with out him, the Bucks are 10-4 with the fourth-best offense throughout that point. When will Lillard be again? And is it for the higher or worse when he’s?
Win Chance – Indiana: 50.5%; Milwaukee: 49.5%.
Western Convention
No. 1 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
Common-Season Information – Oklahoma Metropolis: 68-14; Memphis: 48-34
Head-to-Head File – Oklahoma Metropolis 4-0 vs. Memphis
Staff Scores – Oklahoma Metropolis: No. 2 in O-TRACR, No. 1 in D-TRACR, No. 1 in TRACR; Memphis: No. 6 in O-TRACR, No. 10 in D-TRACR, No. 7 in TRACR
DRIP Leaders – Oklahoma Metropolis: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4.9); Memphis: Jaren Jackson Jr. (1.5)
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – Oklahoma Metropolis: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.7)/Isaiah Hartenstein (10.7)/Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6.4); Memphis: Ja Morant (23.2)/Zach Edey (8.3)/Ja Morant (7.3)
Greatest X-Issue – Rising Pains – Greater than probably, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder will win this collection. With the chances so closely stacked of their favor, one of the best factor the Thunder can do right here is use this spherical as a studying expertise to assist vault them in later rounds. As a younger workforce, they nonetheless must show their stars are prepared for the physicality of the postseason. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already confirmed he was prepared for battle final yr, however Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren nonetheless must rise to a better degree. Can they do it on this first-round matchup? Or will the lights proceed to be too vibrant for them?
Win Chance – Oklahoma Metropolis: 92.2%; Memphis: 7.8%.
No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors
Common-Season Information – Houston: 52-30; Golden State: 48-34.
Head-to-Head File – Golden State 3-2 vs. Houston.
Staff Scores – Houston: No. 15 in O-TRACR, No. 5 in D-TRACR, No. 9 in TRACR; Golden State: No. 13 in O-TRACR, No. 6 in D-TRACR, No. 6 in TRACR.
DRIP Leaders – Houston: Amen Thompson (2.4); Golden State: Jimmy Butler (4.6).
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – Houston: Jalen Inexperienced (21.0)/Alperen Sengun (10.3)/Fred VanVleet (5.6); Golden State: Stephen Curry (24.5)/Draymond Inexperienced and Kevon Looney (6.1)/Stephen Curry (6.0).
Greatest X-Issue – Quinten Submit – Submit solely performed six-and-a-half minutes when the Golden State Warriors performed the Houston Rockets earlier this month. Nonetheless, he might be essential to the Warriors’ success on this collection. The Warriors are going to wish dimension to take care of the Rockets’ physicality and rebounding. Kevon Looney looks like the apparent selection for this process, however his lack of offense (-0.7 O-DRIP) implies that he most likely hurts the Warriors greater than he helps them at this level. That’s the reason Submit goes to be so essential. In idea, he provides Golden State the scale it wants whereas additionally being a knockdown shooter (40.8% from three).
Win Chance – Houston: 48.9%; Golden State: 51.1%.
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Common-Season Information – Los Angeles: 50-32; Minnesota: 49-33.
Head-to-Head File – Tied 2-2.
Staff Scores – Los Angeles: No. 8 in O-TRACR, No. 17 in D-TRACR, No. 13 in TRACR; Minnesota: No. 7 in O-TRACR, No. 7 in D-TRACR, No. 5 in TRACR.
DRIP Leaders – Los Angeles: Luka Doncic (5.4); Minnesota: Anthony Edwards (3.3).
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – Los Angeles: Luka Doncic (28.2)/Luka Doncic (8.1)/LeBron James (8.2); Minnesota: Anthony Edwards (27.6)/Rudy Gobert (10.9)/Julius Randle (4.7).
Greatest X-Issue – Mike Conley – One factor groups love to do to the Minnesota Timberwolves is ship a number of our bodies at Anthony Edwards and dare another person on the workforce to beat them. When Mike Conley is on the ground, these doubles often get punished, because of his taking pictures (41.0% on 3s) and fast decision-making. The difficulty is that he can’t at all times be on the ground as a result of his age (37) and diminutive body (6-foot-1) make him a straightforward goal on protection. Will the Timberwolves discover methods to maintain him from getting hunted by Luka Doncic and all-time scoring chief LeBron James? Or will one in all their greatest offensive gamers must spend massive parts of the collection on the bench?
Win Chance – Los Angeles: 33.4%; Minnesota Timberwolves: 66.6%.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
Common-Season Information – Denver: 50-32; Los Angeles: 50-32.
Head-to-Head File – Tied 2-2.
Staff Scores – Denver: No. 3 in O-TRACR, No. 19 in D-TRACR, No. 8 in TRACR; Los Angeles: No. 11 in O-TRACR, No. 3 in D-TRACR, No. 4 in TRACR.
DRIP Leaders – Denver: Nikola Jokic (6.0); Los Angeles: Kawhi Leonard (4.5).
PPG/RPG/APG Leaders – Denver: Nikola Jokic (29.6)/Nikola Jokic (12.7)/Nikola Jokic (10.2); Los Angeles: James Harden (22.8)/Ivica Zubac (12.6)/James Harden (8.7).
Greatest X-Issue – Kawhi Leonard – For so long as he’s been on the town, the destiny of the Los Angeles Clippers has been tied to the well being of Kawhi Leonard. Sadly for them (and him), his well being hasn’t been nice. Leonard hasn’t made it by a full postseason wholesome because the bubble season of 2020. Leonard seems wholesome proper now, however can he keep that method? If he can, the Clippers are virtually unbeatable (they gained 18 of their final 21 video games). But when he can’t, one other season will finish tragically for the “different” workforce in Los Angeles.
Win Chance – Denver: 40.2%; Los Angeles: 59.8%.
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