The 5 Best Potential First Round Playoff Series

Imagine the possibilities

We’re 33 days away from the NBA Playoffs. Wait… where’s Pitbull?

Great, thanks.

We’re 33 days away from the NBA Playoffs and I have no idea which teams will face off in the first round but I do know which teams I want to watch face off in the first round, so let’s talk about those potential matchups.

76ers vs. Bucks

Why I’m Intrigued: This matchup moves me because, if it happens, then Philadelphia made it through the play-in tournament, and if Philadelphia made it through the play-in then Joel Embiid has likely returned and is (close) to full health, and if Joel Embiid returns and is (close) to full health then Philly might be favored as a seven seed and the playoffs would generally be more fun for everybody. That was a mouthful.

Am I nuts for saying that I would confidently pick the 76ers in this series? Maybe. But I like nuts! Almonds pecans cashews you name it. Anyway, I can’t fully buy into the Bucks. Giannis is having his best year in a while (will likely be the first player ever to average 30 points on 60% shooting) but this team hasn’t played like a contender for more than a week straight this season. Damian Lillard is a good point guard in 2024— he’s still capable of 30-point, 15-assist games like he produced on Sunday against Phoenix— but there are too many 14-point games in between the great ones for me to feel confident that he can lead this team to 16 playoff wins… or 12… or maybe even eight… or… maybe… if they play Philly in the first round… four?

I have nothing against the Bucks, but my gut is telling me that they’re exiting the playoffs awfully early this season— that actually might be the green juice I had earlier but I’m pretty sure it’s the first thing.

Also, the hype around Tyrese Maxey has died as the season has progressed which is to be expected (his efficiency has dropped with Embiid out, duh) but I sense a giant playoff run coming from the first-time All-Star.

Wolves vs. Mavericks

Why I’m Intrigued: I think either team could sweep the series and I love that range of potential outcomes.

Dallas sweeping Minnesota sounds far-fetched, I understand— because it is far-fetched— but Minnesota’s clutch time offense keeps getting worse and there’s no reason to think it’ll level out this deep in the season; this team is just abysmal in close games. Dallas, meanwhile, hasn’t played a ton of clutch time minutes (77 minutes, fourth-least in the league) but has been incredible in those minutes (+19.5 net rating). Does anyone believe Minnesota can close out four close games against Luka and Kyrie? Tell me! Do you believe that?

I don’t. With that being said, I think the Wolves would win this series because 1) their role players are considerably better than the Mavs role players and 2) if anyone has the bodies to throw at Luka for an entire series, Minnesota does. You can’t take him out of a series because he’s that damn good but a mix of Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Anthony Edwards, Kyle Anderson and the semi-regular double team might at least irritate him enough to throw Dallas off course.

Cavs vs. Magic

Why I’m Intrigued: Because I selfishly want both of these teams to advance past the first round and if they play each other then it guarantees that at least one of them will. And because I think the matchup chess would be pretty fun here — Paolo vs. Evan Mobley (?), Darius Garland vs. Jalen Suggs, Dean Wade vs. Franz Wagner (that one’s for the real sickos) would all be fun to watch unfold over a series. And because this is the best defensive matchup we could see in the first round (both are top five in D-rating) and I love ugly basketball.

The amount of pressure on these two teams would be drastically different which always makes for a fun series, too. Cleveland would be trying to prove that it made the right choice by not making any big moves at the deadline while Orlando would be trying to arrive a “year early.” Just making the playoffs would be a success, but winning a series would really change the perception of where Orlando is and what it needs to do next.

Pelicans vs. Thunder

Why I’m Intrigued: Because what the hell would happen in this series? I am a firm believer in OKC’s ability to make the Western Conference Finals but I’m also becoming a re-believer in Zion Williamson and the Pelicans. New Orleans has the fourth-ranked net rating for a reason, and I think sticking Herb Jones on SGA and letting Zion try to body everyone on OKC every time down the floor is a genuinely decent strategy for the Pels. Speaking of Zion, he’s playing better than he has in years and it’s so lazy to say Zion makes this team go but wow this team is reliant on its star going and right now he’s going.

Can New Orleans actually win a series against Oklahoma City? Probably not— there aren’t quite enough Pels I trust for seven theoretic games, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a blast to watch it anyway.

(I know this isn’t a likely matchup— OKC would have to fall to third in the standings and New Orleans would have to dip behind Sacramento and finish sixth— but a man can dream.)

Clippers vs. Suns

Why I’m Intrigued: Because when was the last time a first round matchup had this much at stake for both teams?

Los Angeles has been on the verge of truly contending for five years— serious injuries to Kawhi and Paul George over the years have kept that from ever really happening— and 2024 looks like the franchise’s best chance at making good on the lofty goals that were set way back in 2019 when it acquired both of those guys. Kawhi is having his best shooting season ever— 23.7 points per game on 52.6% FG, 42.5% 3PT, 88.8% FT and James Harden never gets to the rim anymore (19% of his shots are at the rim, by far a career low) but is still a great table-setter for the team’s other stars.

Phoenix, meanwhile, gave up its entire future to build the team it has now just for the team it has now to not… be… that… good.

A bad team? No— and some days, a very good team. But seldom a great team, and definitely not one that should still be using the “talented roster” excuse. Yes, we know you have really good players on your team. We don’t care! Guard somebody!

Where do things go for Phoenix after this season? I’m never one to overreact to any given season but this was supposed to be the season for Phoenix and it has never once felt like the season.