2021 NBA Playoffs Preview

2 years ago gave us the NBA rigging it to be a Canadian celebration, last year gave us the Kobe Story and the return of the Laker Empire. Today we have a new question. Who is the NBA going to giftwrap a championship this year? Before we answer that question let’s see who the 16 teams fighting for Larry O’Brien are?

Charlotte Hornets: An interesting team that has been inconsistent right from the opening game. This year was the learning experiment year but I also thought with the young talent on display they could make the playoffs. Well the Hornets haven’t made it easy on their fans and employees. (Their 2 energetic announcers deserve much better than mediocrity) Even if LaMelo Ball has been a god in almost every game he has played the depth has been up and down. Even if PJ Washington has potential they need someone to guard the big boys of the East if they have any chance of surviving the play-in. Don’t worry guys you are so far winning the Kemba Walker trade because of Terry Roziers upside. You need Gordon Hayward back and you need him back badly. Good luck MJ!

Indiana Pacers: The Pacers strike me as a team that has had rotten luck in more ways than 1. Losing TJ Warren early in the season was difficult but they have had to deal with Victor Oladipo leaving town in favor of Caris LeVert. Who has been ok. All they need is Domantas Sabonis to remain healthy if they want to get past the play-in. Also can someone tell Malcolm Brogdon to stay healthy due to the fact that he is injured every year. (This is why the Bucks got rid of him ESPN!) That would be nice if they could reach their potential despite all of the curveballs that have been thrown their way.

Washington Wizards: This is why Scott Brooks should get more credit than he deserves. Early in the season, the Wizards were underachieving expectations and many people considered this team over the hill and off course. Now they have turned it around and at least have a chance to survive the play-in. Russell Westbrook now has the honors of becoming the greatest Triple-Double Man the game has ever seen. To his side, his scoring machine sidekick in Bradley Beal. Those 2 may be due for huge contracts but we can’t pretend that this team is going to get smacked early on. If Washington is going to shock the world they are going to need the depth to step up like they have done during the stretch run. I wouldn’t want to face this kind of squad if I were you. The high end talent that’s on display is the main reason why.

Boston Celtics: I didn’t expect this. After what I saw in the 1st month of the season I thought that the Celtics had a solid chance to be a Finals Contender like in years past. BOOM! Then everything blew up dramatically thanks to underachieving and the lack of an elite Center. Jayson Tatum is only getting better despite the fact that a majority of the media are saying that they need a legit star to be a serious threat. (Tatum has been the best player they have had since Paul Pierce) Jaylen Brown also has had the best year of his career, CRACK! Then he was punished to the almighty Basketball Gods via season ending injury. Everyone is looking at Brad Stevens and saying “He can’t adjust to the modern offense.” That’s true but they usually overachieve in the playoffs considering how everyone left them for dead excluding their 2019 all-in run.

Miami Heat: As expected the Miami Heat have championship ambitions but don’t let the seeding fool you. When they have been healthy they are a tough out. Last year was a prime example. Now that everyone knows who Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro are they will zero in on those guys. If you do that, you get picked apart by “Jimmy Buckets.” Despite his injury history Butler is once again on a mission in the playoffs. He wants to prove that last year was no fluke. The problem with the Heat has been their trend to stall out in key spots. This wasn’t the case in the bubble but that’s what we call the modern NBA. To me they are either going deep again or striking out in Round 1. This time they won’t have the Mickey Mouse soil known as Walt Disney World to bail them out this time!

Atlanta Hawks: Oh have the tides turned. Back in February the Hawks had no hope and there were rumors about trading Clint Capela and John Collins. Instead they are brought back to life by the talents of Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic and have turned into a dark horse candidate for a Finals run. Nate McMillen went from Public Enemy #1 in Indianapolis to now resurrect the Hawks franchise in just 1 year. Since they fired Lloyd Pierce they have one of the best teams in the East because of clever moves by the front office and the emergence of their young talent. Even if Lou Williams has been questionable off of the court with his late night antics he still is a potent weapon on offense. (Turns out that the Rondo signing was a flop) I wouldn’t consider you guys a lock for Round 2 only because of your 1st Round opponent.

New York Knicks: Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children of ages, step right up witness the return of title ambitions for the New York Knicks. Even with the talents of Julius Randle this is a well oiled machine that stops for nothing. Tom Thibodeau has turned this organization around completely and despite the hype of their rivals across NYC they have won the hearts of so many people this season. RJ Barrett is establishing himself as a future star and cornerstone and Derrick Rose is back in his prime. Even if Mitchell Robinson has been out for a while they still haven’t missed a beat. I think they have a chance at a deep playoff run if Thibs knows what he is doing. Considering that they have had the best defensive team the NBA has seen in almost a decade it is a possibility. This is the Cinderella Story of the playoffs, they are either going to have a potential Subway Series with the Nets, or does the clock strike midnight and James Dolan has to file a conspiracy theory saying that the NBA is rigged. I think the league would be fine either way.

Milwaukee Bucks: If you look at the Bucks from a talent standpoint this is the most talented team they have had since 2001. (They are more talented than 2019 and 2020 DARN-IT!) In the games that they have had to win in the last month of the season, they have not only showed up but they have found new ways to win and most of their big wins were blowouts. Giannis Antetokounmpo (GREEK THEATRE!) is in MVP form again and Jrue Holiday has been everything the team has wanted and more. Not only has it been the success of their marquee acquisition, but their other free agent signings in Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes have been cornerstones coming off the bench. Mike Budenholtzer has changed his tendencies from running the same game plan expecting a different result each time to the opposing team having no true blueprint on how to stop the offense he has assembled. Now that Giannis and Jrue have been locked up for the future they have plenty of time to win a championship. It may have to be this year since their longtime voice of the team Jim Paschke is retiring this offseason after 35 years in the broadcast booth. (Just send him out with a bang will you.) I see a lot of the 2012 Ravens in this team because of narratives, no one gives them a chance and they are ready to prove people wrong again. (If they lose in the 1st Round get GM Jon Horst out of MKE!)

Brooklyn Nets: Spare me the rhetoric of what is considered on paper the most high flying offense in NBA History. I know they have KD, Kyrie, and James Harden, plus Joe Harris and Jeff Green and the rest of that deadly crew I get. However there are still major flaws on their team. Will Steve Nash shed his choking reputation and make the Finals for the 1st time in his career? Do they have the tools to shut down Joel Embiid and the Greek Freak? Which James Harden will we see in the playoffs? Can Kyrie Irving stop telling the media that he is focused on non-basketball things he can’t control and his tendencies to skip press conferences? (“We tried warning you about Andrews and George Brooklyn!” -Salty Bucks fan) Can Kevin Durant win a championship without the Golden State Empire? And how will the rest of the team accompany the 3 Amigos? The last thing the NBA needs is Ernie Grunfeld winning a championship and shoving it in the face of his old teams. (They have players, coaches, employees, and reporters that either hate Giannis or were in the Bucks, Celtics, and Wizards organizations at one point of their careers) To me this team is either going to be the 2001 Lakers or the 2019 Celtics considering that their 3 future Hall of Famers have played in less than 10 games. (Those 2 teams I just mentioned had the same thing that season) Do you really trust these guys to win a championship when they need help from their defense? Oh by the way they have 2 chances to win it all with the Big 3 before they are FAs after 2022, THE CLOCK IS TICKING!

Philadelphia 76ers: I didn’t expect this out of these guys. If you saw Philly in the playoffs last year in the Orlando Bubble last year you saw a team that had no hope. Ever since they brought in Daryl Morey to the executive office they have retooled things thanks to the hiring of Doc Rivers and have become the contender that their fans have been waiting for for years. Despite the excellent talents of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons the 76ers are dealing with the same concerns that they had under Brett Brown. (It might be Groundhog Day for these guys if things don’t go right.) The bench players, especially the guards are only shooting 3s, the inconsistency of Simmons in big games, the fears of being lorded over by the big boys in the East YET AGAIN, and Embiid’s health being a massive concern. This is their chance to overcome the “Can’t make it past the 2nd Round narrative.” If they fail to make it past that point enjoy the memes of NBA fanboys everywhere! (I want a Bucks vs Sixers ECF just like in 2001)

San Antonio Spurs: This is why you can’t take a Gregg Popovich coached team and call them dead. Because when you do they will continue to find ways to sneak into the playoffs. They are the Detroit Red Wings on STEROIDS! Even if DeMar DeRozan is in the last year of his contract and they shipped off Lamarcus Aldridge right before he retired they still managed to make the play-in round. At least Patty Mills has been reliable as ever. As long as they keep developing young and exciting talent they should be able to keep their championship window open at all costs.

Memphis Grizzlies: This is one of those teams that has an emerging talent and is well coached. What Taylor Jenkins has done in his time in Memphis is outstanding. Taking a team that was set up for a few tank years and making them a playoff team. Part of the reason for Jenkins early success has come in the form of Ja Morant. He has established himself as a stud for years to come. For a majority of this season they were still winning games without Jaren Jackson. Now that he is back Jonas Vallenchunas shouldn’t have all of the pressure in terms of the rebounding department. As long as they continue to build their squad through the draft they should have a chance to make some noise a few years down the road.

Golden State Warriors: Even without the services of Klay Thompson the Warriors must be taken seriously at all costs. Any time that Steph Curry is on his game this squad shall be feared. Part of it is also due to the experience of Steve Kerr. Those 2 elements are their only chance to survive the juggernauts of the West now that James Wiseman and Draymond Green have been injury prone this season. The good news for DubNation is that they have more playoff experience than the Top 4 teams in the West combined. And you need that experience in every form there is. Even if they lose early in the playoffs there is hope. Thompson should be back next year and you also have a potential Top 5 pick from the Timberwolves. I give them time to return to glory.

Los Angeles Lakers: Well the defending champs despite many people picking them to go to the Finals have a go big or go home feeling. Considering how many injuries that have come their way and the inconsistency of their new acquisitions it is a possibility that they could be out early. But as we all know a LeBron James led team is always considered locks for a deep playoff run. Now that he and Anthony Davis are back in the mix there obviously is optimism. However this is the most competitive playoff bracket that LeBron has ever faced. I don’t think the rest of the Lakers conference has time for their ninkompu nonsense considering how many good teams there are this year. I’m probably going to be wrong about the King AGAIN!

Portland Trail Blazers: The Trail Blazers are one of those teams that doesn’t get the credit they deserve. Yes they might be the 6th seed but they have been down this road, they know how to play in the postseason. Damien Lillard has once again led the charge, and now that Jussef Nurkic has returned from that horrific injury their defense should be as stout as ever. Getting a playoff warrior in Norman Powell definitely helps but how will Carmelo Anthony and CJ McCollum overcome last year’s embarrassment. It will be a grind just to win a series that I will say.

Dallas Mavericks: Dallas went from a team that was mired in mediocrity at the All Star Break to the contender people thought they would be in the preseason. Luka Doncic has clearly become one of the best guards in the league, and even if Porzingis has been out for a while they still have solid weapons all around. Tim Haraway Jr, Maxi Kleber, Jalen Brunson, and JJ Redick are the ones to watch out for. If they win their 1st playoff series in a decade it would be a huge lift for their fanbase. I wonder who they will have to go through?

Los Angeles Clippers: That team happens to be the LA Clippers. Even if Doc Rivers is gone they still have championship ambitions thanks to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. They may not have had the talent they had last year but they still have upside. I know that the 2nd Round narrative is still there but I think they will learn from their mistakes last year. The good news for them is that Lou Williams is gone and has been replaced by a playoff sensation in Rajon Rondo. At the very least they won’t have to face the Lakers unless they play each other in the WCF. From how I’m seeing these guys I don’t know if they have enough to go all the way.

Denver Nuggets: Just like last year the Nuggets are trying to prove that they can win big games without a key player. Last year they didn’t have Garry Harris, and this year they had to deal with Jamal Murray suffering a horrific knee injury which ended his stellar season. The reasons they have survived this setback have been Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter, Markus Howard, and Austin Rivers. I would say Paul Millsap and Aaron Gordan but both of them have also been injured. The winning culture that Mike Malone has established in the Mile High City has been something they have lacked for years. To me this team is much better than they were last year when they knocked off the Clippers which means that they have a solid chance to reach the finals for the 1st time in franchise history. The only thing that can stop them is the Basketball Gods to some peoples degree. Hopefully they’re wrong like last year.

Phoenix Suns: The neofight of NBA Contenders exceeding expectations and winning the ultra competitive Pacific Division with a blend of skill and defense. Just like everyone in the state of California predicted in Bizarro World. The Chris Paul trade has been the best bang for the buck that Suns fans could have imagined. This has allowed Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton all of the freedom there is to score points. If you look at Monty Williams closely you see a coach that went from potentially having no job to being one of the frontrunners for Coach of the Year. The road to winning their 1st Playoff Series in 11 years is going to be rough depending on their 1st Round opponent. (Either the Lakers or Warriors want to knock you off) I hope they shock the Western Conference for the narratives the LA fans have on them. I need to do a document on this franchise for the work they have done to get themselves back on the map.

Utah Jazz: What a stunning revelation. The Jazz after years of teasing their fans and potential from their young core have emerged into a Legit Contender for the 1st time since the late 1990s. Now they have their new age John Stockton and Karl Malone in the forms of Donavan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert putting in excellent seasons in the 1st year of their mega deals. Besides those 2 stars they have Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley and longtime Jazz favorite Derrick Favors to help them out. The best record in the NBA means nothing considering that a team with the best record hasn’t won the title since 2015. Quin Snider you know what to do, give this team the chance to win their 1st championship in franchise history!

Do you want predictions, I mean it’s always a fun time to reveal them in front of an audience that is eager to see what it is. Who will I jinx or motivate this time?

Prediction: This is perhaps the most competitive playoff bracket the NBA has seen since the Jordan Era if not the most of all time. Any team that is in this postseason has championship ambitions plus the talent level and elite coaching to get them over the top. If I’m going to make a prediction like this I’m going to go for the 2 teams that I think are the most likeable teams in this bracket. Phoenix and Milwaukee. Having seen these 2 teams against the elite squads and beating a majority of them, plus the fan bases of both teams being hungry for a title it’s honestly a solid choice for a matchup for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. But you can all call me crazy for saying this since the NBA is probably going to rig the Finals to be Lakers vs Nets. With that being said, I’m probably going to be wrong about my Finals pick at the end of the 1st Round considering how wacky these next 2 months are going to be!