Every week throughout the NBA 2024-25 season, we are going to dive deeper into a number of the largest situations within the league with the intention to decide whether or not the traits are extra primarily based in reality or fiction sooner or later.
[Last week: Kevin Durant to the Celtics just makes sense]
Reality or fiction: we have now resolved the classification of the Western Convention
The picture of the playoffs of the Western Convention is a extra complicated panorama than the Grand Canyon.
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A recreation separates n ° 4 to eight seeds. In line with whom the final two video games of the season wins, there are, by my rely, a number of million alternative ways, the primary -round eliminatory discipline might be totally seen, and my arithmetic are positively fallacious. Even then, solely two first -round sequence can be decided.
A recreation match, that includes the n ° 7 to 10 heads of ordinary, will dictate the opposite two. Consequently, the primary seeded of Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder won’t know who they face within the first spherical for an additional week.
Make sense. Or let him play. Describing every situation could be like a “Good Will Searching” break lengthy sufficient for somebody to unravel the equation on the board. Are you right here for leisure or homework? Relatively allow us to information you thru the most certainly, petty and most entertaining situations.
The most certainly situations
In line with Playoffstatus.comThese are the situations of the most certainly qualifying sequence within the West (pondering that the sport match would nonetheless want to find out the seeds n ° 7 and eight) …
1. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (100%) towards 8. Memphis Grizzlies (55%)
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Season sequence: Thunder 4, Grizzlies 0
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The principle occasion: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander towards JA MORANT. Younger superstars.
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UNDERCARD: Chet Holmgren vs Jaren Jackson Jr. even youthful co-stars.
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The selection: Thunder in 5.
2. Houston Rockets (100%) towards n ° 7 Golden State Warriors (32%)
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Season sequence: Warriors 3, Rockets 2
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UNDERCARD: Draymond Inexperienced vs Dillon Brooks. Extra beef than fattened cattle.
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The selection: Warriors in seven.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (92%) towards n ° 6 Denver Nuggets (27%)
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Season sequence: Lakers 2, Nuggets 2
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The principle occasion: Nikola Jokić towards Luka Dončić. A confrontation in euros.
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UNDERCARD: LeBron James vs. Per week -long coach. A supercomputer towards an Apple Macintosh 128K.
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The selection: Lakers in seven.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (43%) towards n ° 5 Los Angeles Clippers (39%)
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Season sequence: Timberwolves 3, Clippers 0
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The principle occasion: Anthony Edwards towards Kawhi Leonard. Youth vs expertise.
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UNDERCARD: James Harden towards an environment within the playoffs. The limitless battle.
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The selection: Timberwolves in six.
Essentially the most imply situations
In my view, these are the situations of the smallest qualifiers within the West (if, as has been proposed, however not critically entertained, the primary three seeds may select their preliminary opponents) …
1. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (100%) towards 8. Los Angeles Clippers (4%)
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Season sequence: Thunder 4, Clippers 0
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The principle occasion: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander towards his former staff. Sorry, Clippers.
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UNDERCARD: James Harden’s protection towards OKC. An offensive genius in a swarm of hornets.
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The selection: Thunder in 5.
2. Houston Rockets (100%) towards 7. Memphis Grizzlies (18%)
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Season sequence: Rockets 3, Grizzlies 1
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The principle occasion: Ja extra towards Amen Thompson. The athletics bowl.
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UNDERCARD: Dillon Brooks towards his outdated staff. Payback or a laughing assault.
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The selection: Rockets in six.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (92%) towards 6. Los Angeles Clippers (17%)
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Season sequence: Lakers 3, Clippers 1
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The principle occasion: The vs. The rights of the road views.
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UNDERCARD: LeBron James towards Kawhi Leonard. A 3 recreation eliminatory match.
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The selection: Lakers in seven.
4. Denver Nuggets (23%) towards 5. Minnesota Timberwolves (25%)
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Season sequence: Timberwolves 4, Nuggets 0
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UNDERCARD: Jamal Murray towards his knee. A power take a look at with championship ramifications.
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The selection: Timberwolves in seven.
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Essentially the most entertaining situations
In my view once more, these are the situations of probably the most entertaining western playoffs …
1. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (100%) towards 8. Denver Nuggets (9%)
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Season sequence: Thunder 2, Nuggets 2
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The principle occasion: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander towards Nikola Jokić. MVP favoritesMano a mano.
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UNDERCARD: Jalen Williams towards Jamal Murray. Whose second possibility is probably the most dependable?
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The selection: Thunder in six.
2. Houston Rockets (100%) towards 7. Los Angeles Clippers (15%)
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Season sequence: Rockets 3, Clippers 1
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The principle occasion: Amen Thompson towards Kawhi Leonard. Wanting in a mirror in your older self.
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UNDERCARD: Steven Adams towards Ivica Zubac. A heavyweight combat.
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The selection: Rockets in seven.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (92%) towards 6. Golden State Warriors (21%)
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Season sequence: Lakers 3, Warriors 1
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The principle occasion: LeBron James towards Stephen Curry. The legends proceed.
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UNDERCARD: Luka Dončić towards Jimmy Butler. A pair of commerce delay items.
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The selection: Warriors in seven.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (43%) towards 5. Memphis Grizzlies (9%)
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Season sequence: Grizzlies 2, Timberwolves 1
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The principle occasion: Ja extra towards Anthony Edwards. A manufacturing facility of strengths.
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UNDERCARD: Julius Randle towards the playoffs. Benefit the playoffs.
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The selection: Timberwolves in seven.
Willpower: Fiction. We now have not resolved the classification of the Western Convention. However we made them extra enjoyable.