The wait is over. The extremely anticipated 2025 NBA playoffs are set to start, that includes spicy first-round matchups, a never-before-seen technology battle, and two legends who’re someway nonetheless right here chasing titles. Who has probably the most at stake this postseason, and who will finally win all of it? Let’s dive in!
1. What’s the most important query within the East playoffs?
Vincent Goodwill: Who’s gonna problem the Boston Celtics? They lived a charmed existence final spring, it’s exhausting to recall them having powerful video games not to mention a troublesome time on the way in which to the Finals — and even the Finals have been simple. They’ve toyed with the Knicks this yr, their assumed second-round appointment except Detroit crashes the get together. So clearly the most important problem is the staff that’s led the East from end-to-end, these Cleveland Cavaliers.
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When the Cavs stormed into Boston and got here again from a 22-point deficit in late February, everybody needed to take discover. “Let em know” as they are saying. Donovan Mitchell is wholesome, and there are questions on Jaylen Brown’s bothersome knee. Is that sufficient to shut the hole? No staff within the trendy period has stormed by way of two straight convention playoffs — even these three-peat groups. A grind is coming, historical past tells us.
(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports activities Illustration)
Dan Devine: Is Cleveland actually for actual? The Cavs have finished every part they will to make the case. They gained 64 video games. They produced probably the most environment friendly offenses because the ABA-NBA merger. They outscored their opposition by the Thirteenth-highest margin in league historical past. They’ll doubtless put not less than two gamers on the All-NBA groups, with a number of potential finalists for different particular person awards. They posted an elite report in opposition to good groups, splitting their season sequence with Boston and Oklahoma Metropolis …
… and in the event that they buckle in opposition to Boston within the convention finals — or, heaven forbid, in opposition to both Indiana or Milwaukee a spherical earlier — everybody who doubted them will get to say they have been proper all alongside. I don’t assume that’s who this Cavs staff is. Now, we discover out.
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Dan Titus: Does Giannis request a commerce if the Bucks have one other first-round exit? Damian Lillard’s imminent return would add some much-needed firepower to Milwaukee’s title hopes. Nonetheless, consecutive first-round losses to Indiana may immediate questions on Milwaukee’s and Giannis’ future. The Bucks cannot waste one other MVP-like marketing campaign from Giannis, particularly after beating the Pacers by a margin of 9 factors of their three regular-season wins. The entrance workplace follies, plus falling quick within the playoffs, once more, may push Giannis to discover choices elsewhere.
[2025 NBA playoff matchups to watch]
Tom Haberstroh: Is Kenny Atkinson actually the Coach of the 12 months or simply Coach of the Common Season? The Cavs made the teaching change with nice success, successful 64 video games and the No. 1 general seed over the reigning champs. Evan Mobley is unlocked and De’Andre Hunter is an improve, however there’s nonetheless a way of doubt across the league that the Cavs are actually the very best staff within the East. We’ll see if Atkinson’s playoff success subsequent to Steve Kerr can translate to the East.
Ben Rohrbach: Can anybody match Boston’s playoff expertise? Solely Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker ever performed extra playoff video games than Jayson Tatum has (113) at his age. Similar goes for Jaylen Brown (124) at his age. Jrue Vacation can attain 100 playoff video games if the Celtics make a seventh convention finals in 9 years. Al Horford may surpass 200. Derrick White has now been to 2 NBA Finals previously three years with this group. They’re as battle-tested a staff as we’ve seen, apart from previous dynasties, and it’ll take a sequence of haymakers to knock them out. Can the Cavaliers ship these punches? The Thunder? Neither are almost as skilled.
2. What’s the most important query within the West playoffs?
Rohrbach: Can anybody make the most of Oklahoma Metropolis’s playoff inexperience? Noticing a theme to my solutions right here? It issues whether or not or not you may have been there earlier than. Simply take a look at the historical past of the league. It’s why I am choosing the Warriors in seven video games over the Rockets and the Lakers in seven video games over the Timberwolves. Veterans win within the postseason. However it could not matter for the Thunder. Led by a 26-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexaner, they may very well be too proficient, too deep and too rabid to let anybody, even all-time greats, stand of their method of a title.
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Titus: Are we sleeping on the Rockets? The Warriors, the second Seventh-seeded staff favored in a first-round sequence since 1988, deliver unmatched expertise and a championship pedigree. Then they added Jimmy Butler. Nonetheless, Houston’s top-5 protection thrives on physicality, sporting opponents down. With a frontcourt edge and defensive grit, the Rockets may disrupt Curry’s rhythm — one thing we’ve seen Houston do to Steph earlier than. Simply saying.
Haberstroh: Is playoff expertise overrated? It’s the only greatest variable of all. If playoff expertise isn’t what it’s all chalked as much as be, search for OKC and Houston to satisfy within the Western Convention finals. But when they will’t act like they’ve been there earlier than, then we could be LeBron James’ or Stephen Curry’s seasoned squads within the Finals. I can’t wait to see the children balling out in opposition to the uncles.
Devine: Does Oklahoma Metropolis have a adequate reply when opponents throw the kitchen sink at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? We noticed the Thunder stumble in Spherical 2 final spring when the Mavericks packed the paint, lower off their drive-and-kick sport, and offered out to make Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates beat them. (SGA nonetheless averaged 32-8-7 on .599 true capturing, as a result of he’s a monster.) These teammates mixed to shoot 42.3% from the ground and 31.1% from 3-point vary. OKC misplaced in six.
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As this season has worn on, we’ve seen the Thunder thrive in non-SGA minutes by making certain that each Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are on the ground throughout them. If Mark Daigneault and Co. can replicate that form of magic when opponents promote out to show Gilgeous-Alexander right into a facilitator — and if Williams, Holmgren or each can step up and show to be a official, reliable No. 2 scoring menace in opposition to elite defenses — then the Thunder’s probabilities of making their first Finals look since 2012 enhance significantly.
Goodwill: Let’s be sincere right here. It’s in regards to the Lakers. Have they got sufficient now to make an actual run? Is Luka Dončić in adequate form to deal with the following two months? Does LeBron James have sufficient gasoline and well being for that very same time? They’ve the our bodies to throw at Anthony Edwards and SGA, however have they got sufficient measurement? There are many intriguing groups within the West, and aforementioned storylines, however we all know the eyes of many can be fixated on what occurs in downtown Los Angeles.
3. What are you most excited to observe this postseason?
Haberstroh: It’s cliche to say that every part revolves round LeBron and Steph, however they truthfully have probably the most compelling storylines this postseason. I don’t know what to anticipate from JJ Redick, Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves of their first foray collectively. Similar goes for Jimmy Buckets and the stress cooker of enjoying in San Francisco with Draymond Inexperienced and Curry. All bets are off.
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Goodwill: Who will get out of the Western Convention, as a result of that feels all about matchups versus who’s the very best staff. You might simulate these playoffs a number of instances, NBA Stay or 2K type, and give you a distinct winner every time. You might see OKC lastly placing it collectively, or the Lakers, or the Nuggets, and even the Warriors occurring a loopy run. It’s partially as a result of there is no such thing as a true diploma of separation between all these groups, or everybody has large questions that would spell doom, or that parity is right here to remain. Anyone who claims to know what’s going to occur is a liar or has the lottery numbers. Take a look at them.
Rohrbach: Does Denver nonetheless have what it takes? I ranked them fifth amongst all title contenders in our last energy rankings of the common season, trusting within the partnership of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray as the muse of a killer half-court offense — one which trailed solely the three title favorites within the common season. After which they fired their head coach. Did they do it with the assumption that David Adelman is best geared up to guide this staff on as deep a postseason run as Michael Malone led them in 2023? We may discover out of their first-round set with the Clippers.
Devine: What does the maiden playoff voyage of the Luka-and-LeBron Lakers appear to be? (Hopefully, for his or her sake, fewer Ls than that alliterative run.) How do their two A1 superstars play off of each other within the warmth of the postseason? How will they mitigate their lack of measurement in opposition to the Timberwolves? In the event that they advance, how will they fare in opposition to the physicality of the Rockets, or the offensive firepower of the Steph-and-Jimmy Warriors in a battle of small-ball? In the event that they don’t advance, the place will they’ve fallen quick, and the way will Laker brass look to handle them come the summer time? No scarcity of fascinating questions, and clearly no larger highlight than the one which comes while you’re sporting discussion board blue and gold.
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Titus: The Clippers’ redemption arc. Can Kawhi keep wholesome? Is James Harden going to choke once more? Regardless of the haters, the Clippers are driving an NBA-best, eight-game successful streak heading into the playoffs. With one of many league’s deepest rosters and an distinctive teaching workers, they appear poised to shatter narratives and make an sudden run.
4. Who has probably the most at stake this postseason?
Devine: Tom Thibodeau. He’s resurrected the Knicks, bringing the staff to the playoffs 3 times in 4 years, with back-to-back 50-win seasons for the primary time since 1994 and 1995.
… and but. New York’s seemed shaky for the final couple of months, enjoying just-above-.500 ball because the commerce deadline. A few of that may be hand-waved away due to the evident caveat that Jalen Brunson missed a month with a nasty ankle sprain; even with him, although, the Knicks have struggled all season in opposition to good competitors, famously going 0-10 in opposition to the Celtics, Cavaliers and Thunder. If New York’s season as soon as once more ends earlier than the convention finals, questions will swirl about whether or not Thibodeau, who has inarguably raised the Knicks’ flooring, is the proper coach to push them to succeed in a better ceiling.
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(Additionally, perhaps David Adelman? “Hey, take over the staff and go beat the Clippers” is one hell of a job interview!)
Goodwill: Luka Dončić. Wasn’t he traded as a result of his boss believed him to be a loser? For those who learn between the strains, that’s what Nico Harrison is making an attempt to let you know — Dončić not being in form, or his disappointing efficiency in final yr’s Finals. Harrison was raked by way of the coals for making the deal, for sending him to the Lakers no much less, and not using a fear Dončić would come again to hang-out him in his personal convention. That claims: “I don’t imagine this man to be a winner.” Whether or not it’s clairvoyant or foolhardy, plenty of eyes are on Dončić.
[2025 NBA playoff X-factors]
Titus: LeBron James. At 40, LeBron’s quest for GOAT standing hinges on including to his championship haul. The Lakers secured Luka Dončić for a bag of chips and Austin Reaves is a budding star, so the expertise is there. Whether or not it is truthful or not, something lower than a Finals look invitations criticism.
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Rohrbach: Stephen Curry. Truthfully, I believe the Warriors can win the championship this season. The collective expertise (see: that phrase once more) of Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced is an actual factor. They are going to take a look at anybody. And what in the event that they do win? That might be 5 championships for Curry, matching Kobe Bryant and surpassing LeBron James. Would we then need to have some uncomfortable conversations about who ranks greater within the pantheon? We actually will.
Haberstroh: Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets. I might say SGA, however this feels just like the third inning for OKC, not the ninth. For Jokić and Co., there’s lots on the road this postseason. Who’s operating the staff? Who’s teaching the staff? Is Jokić’s supporting forged going to get a much-needed improve? In the event that they get swept subsequent week, I nonetheless don’t see Jokić demanding a commerce. However I don’t assume he’d be blamed for it.
5. What’s one daring prediction for the primary spherical?
Titus: Pistons upset the Knicks. BetMGM places the Knicks as heavy favorites (-425, 81% chance to win), however Detroit’s Cade Cunningham has been an issue for New York all yr. The Pistons are well-coached with a balanced roster that may knock down 3s, bang within the submit, and lock up defensively. It is Detroit vs All people on the street to assert their first postseason sequence win since 2008.
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Haberstroh: Cleveland, OKC and Boston all sweep. We haven’t seen three sweeps in Spherical 1 since 2020, however I’ve a sense we’ll see it exterior the Bubble for the primary time in virtually a decade. They’re that significantly better than their first-round opponents.
Rohrbach: Giannis Antetokounmpo reminds us that it’s unwise to choose in opposition to him within the playoffs, averaging round 40 factors per sport in a seven-game victory in opposition to the Pacers, which might rely as an upset, in response to BetMGM. Will a first-round victory be sufficient to persuade Antetokounmpo that MIlwaukee remains to be a long-term dwelling for him? That I don’t know.
Goodwill: Nikola Jokić and Kawhi Leonard interact the world in a battle of non-emotional chess, and deal with us to probably the most compelling first-round matchups we’ve seen in years. Plus, Cade Cunningham will turn into the brand new MSG foil, scaring the dwelling nightlights out of the Knicks in a seven-game marathon.
Devine: Rudy Gobert stonewalls Luka Dončić on a clutch final-second possession, blocking a step-back 3 to seal a Timberwolves win. The apology is not going to be as loud because the disrespect was.
Bonus query: What’s your early Finals prediction?
Devine: I took OKC over Boston in our preseason roundtable. I’m not going to modify up now.
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Haberstroh: OKC over Cleveland. The Thunder dynasty begins this season. I assume till Wemby takes over.
Titus: Boston over OKC. It’s chalk, however they’re the very best groups till confirmed in any other case.
Rohrbach: I’m with Dan. I picked Boston over OKC within the preseason. No motive to vary.
Goodwill: Boston over whomever. Could possibly be OKC, Lakers, Nuggets. I’m punking out on the opponent, however Boston will repeat — it simply gained’t be simple.
