The Best NBA Teams in the Playoffs Right Now, Vol. 2
From the defending champion Warriors to last year's runner-ups in the Boston Celtics, here are the five teams with the best shot at the Larry O'Brien trophy.
Image via Getty/Jim Davis
Stomps to the chest, shots to the groin and significant injuries overshadowed an exciting week of playoff basketball last week. That includes Russell Westbrook’s reemergence and the Knickerbockers of New York’s 3-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers, which, in typical Knicks fan fashion, resulted in them shutting down Fashion Avenue for an impromptu “championship” parade.
We’d love to wax poetic about the Sacramento Kings/Golden State Warriors series, but X’s and O’s would take a backseat to Draymond Green using Domantas Sabonis’ chest as a launching pad in Game 2, which rightfully led to an ejection but questionably led to a Game 3 suspension due to Dray’s “history of unsportsmanlike acts.” Juxtapose that reasoning with justifying not ejecting Philadelphia 76ers’ big man, Joel Embiid, for kicking Brooklyn Nets’ Nic Claxton in the groin—only receiving a Flagrant 1—but tossing James Harden out in the same game for using Royce O’Neale nether region as target practice. The same thing for Memphis Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks, who talked so much shit about wanting to face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, he couldn’t help himself and showed his competitive spirit to the King and was booted for his troubles.
The next CBA should mandate protective cups to be worn.
Inconsistent officiating aside, the injury bug bit some notable players in the tuchus, really affecting the outcome of the first-round matchups. The Los Angeles Clippers are down bad, not only being down 3-1 to the Phoenix Suns but with Kawhi Leonard sitting out Game 3 and 4 (and more likely beyond) with a knee injury, joining Paul George, who hasn’t played a minute of playoff ball. The Milwaukee Bucks are behind in their series with the Miami Heat mainly due to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s lower back injury, which had his sitting out Games 2 and 3 and questionable for Game 4. And Joel Embiid is on the mend with a sprained knee. Maybe all his ridiculous flopping during the Sixers’ sweep of the Nets (a series where he and Harden combined for a putrid 38.7 percent from the field) contributed to his injury
Just a thought.
With that in mind, all these developments affected this week’s rankings. Let’s get this off our chest.
Milwaukee Bucks
Oooooh, the Bucks came thiiiiiis close to not cracking this list. But, with the last-minute news that Giannis Antetokounmpo is returning to the lineup in tonight’s Game 4 against the Miami Heat, we couldn’t in good conscious shut them out. It couldn’t have come at a better time because Milwaukee can’t go back to Wisconsin down 3-1 to the eight-seeded and hobbled Heat. As expected, scoring responsibilities has fallen to Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and, off the bench, Bobby Portis putting up 24, 19 and 14 points per game, respectively, in this physical series.
Brook Lopez, who logged 25 points on a 70 percent clip in a much-needed Game 2 win, has also stepped up in the Greek Freak’s absence. But, his presence has been felt on the defensive end, specifically slowing the Heat’s Bam Adebayo, who scored a series low 12 points on 4-10 shooting in a Game 3 loss in South Beach.
Giannis’s return could spell the end for the lofty playoff hopes of the feisty Heat, who currently tops both offensive rating and three-point shooting categories in the postseason. It’s hard to see how a team who ranked 25th in offense during the regular season continues their lights-out shooting, especially with a former Defensive Player of the Year making his dramatic return to save his team’s season.
Golden State Warriors
Wow, what a series we have on our hands in Northern California. If Harrison Barnes canned the last-minute three-pointer that would’ve won the game but put the Sacramento Kings up 3-1 in this series, sports media would’ve vilified Draymond Green for once again costing the Dubs playoff success, and we’d be pouring one out for the Golden State dynasty. Alas, that’s not the case, the Warriors survived, and we get a best-of-three series.
In the Game 4 thriller, the Splash Brothers combined for 58 points—Steph Curry with 32 and Klay Thompson with 26. Andrew Wiggins has rewarded the Warriors with solid play, averaging 20 points since returning to the starting lineup after Game 1—including Game 4’s 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting.
Both teams did what they were supposed to do: protect their home court. If this trend continues, Golden State will be packing for Cancun after Game 7 because it’s been talked about ad nauseam how trash they’ve been on the road. Even though the Kings are an offensive force, in these playoffs, their defense is in the bottom half amongst playoff teams, and they’re not world beaters at Golden 1 Center (23-18).
And with the sudden news of De’Aaron Fox’s fractured index finger, leaving his Game 5 availability doubtful, Sacramento is ripe for a home loss. Golden State is ripe for a road win. All they have to do is win one game on the road, and their world championship defense will continue.
Phoenix Suns
We know, we know, one of the reasons for Phoenix’s commanding 3-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers is largely due to Paul George and Kahwi Leonard being injured. But, it doesn’t take away from basketball fans witnessing how Kevin Durant adapts to his new team in real time, specifically, his latest superstar pairing with Devin Booker. Booker leads the league in playoff scoring with 34.8 points per game on 57 percent shooting and 43 percent from deep and has been dropping 30 or more points after the Suns’ Game 1 loss. That includes a ridiculous 45 points with 62 percent from the field in their Game 3 victory.
KD is also in the top ten of playoff scoring, chipping in with 27.8 points. Deandre Ayton has manned the middle with a solid 14 points and 11 rebounds stat line, and “Point God” Chris Paul has effectively orchestrated the offense with 13 points, eight dimes and one ridiculous HORSE-like shot. Escaping this series against the Clips seems inevitable, but with a severe lack of depth, Durant and Booker leading the league in postseason minutes (43.8 and 43.5, respectively) and an offense that, by the eye test, is basically “give the ball to D-Book and KD and GTFO the way,” it’ll be interesting to see how sustainable Phoenix’s playoff success will be beyond the first round.
Denver Nuggets
Respect is due to the Nuggets, who could’ve easily packed everything up last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves when it looked like Minny was going to avoid the brooms. But with under three minutes in regulation, they went on a 12-0 run to push the game to overtime even though, if Jokic had made both his free throws, Denver would’ve completed the sweep. With his 43 points in Game 4, The Joker tied a playoff career-high and became the first center in NBA history to score 40 points, grab ten boards and nail five threes in a playoff game.
It’s not just the MVP contender that’s putting in the work. Jamal Murray has added to Denver’s one-two punch averaging a little over 25 points this series—including a 40-point outburst in Game 2—with a hair under 40 percent from beyond the arc. Michael Porter Jr has shown hella aggression, with an 85 percent clip when driving to the basket, adding to his overall field goal percentage average at 52.8.
Last night aside, Denver is proving their No. 1 seeding in the Western Conference is legitimate. Yeah, Anthony Edwards has shown out this series, including his “I’m Him” 34-point performance in Game 4, his fifth 30-point playoff game, which passes Kobe Bryant for the second most for a player 21 or younger. But, be careful what you ask for, young fella; the Nuggets have the second-best home record in the NBA (34-7).
Boston Celtics
After starting Game 4 shooting 1 for 7, Jaylen Brown finally took off his Batman-like mask that he’s been rocking since a facial fracture in February and went off, going 11-15 the rest of the way, dropping 31 in Boston’s 129-121 win against the Atlanta Hawks and taking a 3-1 series lead. Jayson Tatum added 31 points, as well, and pushed the Celtics’ record when both of their stars (“The Jays,” as they’re affectionately called) score 30 points each to 22-1. That level of dominance is the best among all-time duos. Role players Derrick White, Marcus Smart and Sixth Man of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon have all done their part in Boston’s early playoff success.
Outside of their Game 3 loss, the C’s defense has been stout, holding the Hawks to under 45 percent shooting in Games 1, 2 and 4, shutting down their 3-point capabilities, too, with Atlanta shooing a paltry 33 percent from deep. Even though he’s averaging nearly 27 points during the series, Trae Young hasn’t been much of a factor, only shooting 42 percent from the field, 31 percent from 3, and a -7.8 plus/minus.
That is all a testament to Boston’s dominance and is well on their way to a gentleman’s sweep.