The teams to be wary of in the NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs are fast approaching, and speculation over which teams - and their star players - will make the postseason is amping up. The regular NBA season concludes on May 16, with the playoffs set to begin on May 22.

There will be games in between those two dates, though. This year, those teams ranked 7-10 in each Conference will enter a play-in tournament. Two teams from the East and two from the West will use that to capture the final four berths in the first round of the playoffs.

While some teams have already clinched their playoff berth and others have been removed from contention, most of the spots are still up for grabs and there are numerous big teams vying for them.

Whichever 16 teams find themselves in the playoffs across to the Conferences, they’ll all be looking to their star players to perform when it counts and progress them through the tournament.

The two players who arguably will have the most impact on the playoffs are LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the LA Lakers. Both are currently sidelined through injury with no firm date set for their return. If they’re out for the playoffs, the Lakers have next to no chance of defending their title.

However, should they return to fitness in time for the postseason then things will get very interesting. Their impact on the franchise cannot be understated; last season they went 45-14 and then 16-5 in the playoffs when both were on the court. The pair holds an enormous plus-14.6 net efficiency rating across 517 minutes this season, prior to their respective injuries.

If LeBron and Davis are on the court, then the NBA odds for the playoffs will likely continue to reflect kindly on the Lakers.

The Brooklyn Nets are seen by bookmakers as the closest threat to the Lakers, in large part due to their blockbuster signing of James Harden earlier in the season. The 31-year-old has established himself as one of the best offensive players in the league, and arguably ever, finding the net from all manner of positions and scenarios.

This season, he is averaging 25.2 points, 8 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game, equating to an impressive 46.3% for his shooting. He’s been nothing short of prolific for his new team and will be an essential part of their playoff run; if he can consistently find the net, other teams will struggle to slow Brooklyn down.

His teammate Kevin Durant, who recently returned from a torn Achilles, is still one of the best in the game and makes for an imposing partner for ‘The Beard.’ His enormous size and wingspan make him a threat anywhere on the court.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to become the new face of the NBA, but the glaring omission from his resume is a title. The 26-year-old is the two-time reigning MVP and has been on a tear for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, though he’s acutely aware of how much he needs a championship win to cement himself as a leader in the sport.

Averaging 28.4 points per game with a 56.8% shooting marker, it’s scary to think that ‘The Greek Freak’ is still improving, particularly with his shooting. The Bucks face an uphill struggle to make it to the Finals, but Giannis is the sort of generational talent that could get them there.

This year, the Phoenix Suns clinched their first playoffs spot since 2010 and Devin Booker has been a key part of that success. His offensive prowess make the Suns a constant threat - proven by his 70-point performance against the Boston Celtics a few years ago.

His major weakness is defense, but this is made up for by the impact he has at the other end of the court.

Los Angeles’ other franchise, the Clippers, could go deep in this year’s playoffs, particularly if LeBron and Davis aren’t back to fitness. Kawhi Leonard has been outstanding for the Clippers in recent years, establishing himself as arguably the best perimeter defender in the NBA, while still racking up excellent offensive stats too.

What’s more is that Leonard clearly puts a lot more emphasis on the postseason as opposed to the regular season, meaning he saves his best work for the playoffs. He is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on this year.

At just 22, Luka Doncic has worked wonders for the Dallas Mavericks, bringing them levels of success similar to that of LeBron when he played there. The sky seems to be the limit for Doncic, whose barnstorming talent has elevated the Mavs to serious Finals contenders. If he can maintain his form in the postseason, he could take Dallas far.

Lastly, it’s always worth tabbing Stephen Curry at the Golden State Warriors. After an injury-plagued 2019-20 season, the three-time champion has been dominant this year, notching 62 points in a game earlier this season. Already an all-time great, Curry looks dead-set on taking his team to this year’s Finals.

There are a handful of superstar talents within some of this year’s playoff contenders, and all of them have what it takes to take their squad deep into the tournament. If they’re all fit and healthy by May 22, this year’s playoffs will be a thrilling watch.

The teams to be wary of in the NBA playoffs to NBA Basketball Blog

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