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The regular season of the NBA is over, which means that 16 teams are still pursuing the only goal: an NBA championship.
But not all teams have the chance to win everything. In fact, only a handful of teams even have a chance for the puncher to challenge the Warriors, who are the favorites of the three-way race this season.
Here are all the playoff teams, ranked by championship odds.
First round: vs. Golden State
The Clippers have not aspired to the championship this season. Their goal was to rebuild without tanker. In a way, they did just that.
But they drew Golden State, which represents an inevitable death in four games. Los Angeles has had an incredible experience, but this one ends early.
First round: against Milwaukee
The Pistons have no chance against the Bucks. Detroit is outperformed at virtually all positions and Blake Griffin is not even 100%.
First round: vs Toronto
The Magic have been a very good defensive team, but there is no one in their team as good at both ends of the room as Kawhi Leonard or Pascal Siakam. Nikola Vucevic is a star player, but he attracted Marc Gasol in this match. It's a dead end for Orlando, but I'm expecting them to make it a five-game series.
First round: vs Philadelphia
D'Angelo Russell was special and the Nets play basketball stronger than most teams. But the Nets struggled to defend the big dominant men. Joel Embiid is the most dominant of all.
The Nets can get a home win, but the Sixers are too stacked. Brooklyn has exceeded all expectations, but it would be a shock if they came out of the first round.
First round: vs Boston
Indiana's title hopes were defeated by the devastating injury of Victor Oladipo. Are they better than the intended world? Absolutely. Could they come out of the first round? Why not?
But are they championship contenders? Definitely not. Even though Oladipo was healthy, the Pacers still need a second star.
First round: against Houston
The Rockets are just not a good match for the Jazz guy. The last time they played, Houston won by 27.
Donovan Mitchell is becoming a star and Rudy Gobert locks the painting and the glass every night. But that will not be enough. Utah needs more star power and firepower to deal with Houston.
First round: vs Denver
You can never really rely on a team driven by Gregg Popovich, is not it? There is just something about the Nuggets that does not cause a definite misfortune.
The biggest question the Spurs have to face: which DeMar DeRozan will show up? If it's the DeRozan with a flea in the shoulder, San Antonio could get upset.
The West is dark and full of terror, and the Spurs are not among the most terrifying teams in recent years. Of course, we say that now, until Popovich pulls a new round of his sleeve. You can never count the Spurs until they are out.
First round: vs Oklahoma City
Jusuf Nurkic's injury was devastating, but Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are the coldest backs in the league. Is it sufficient? Against Oklahoma City?
It may be right. Neither team has a playoff record that inculcates conviction. He could be seven years old or, like last season, he could have four.
First round: vs. Indiana
Are the Celtics good enough? They were at a game in the NBA finals last season, but looked like a shell of this team anyway. There was no Kyrie Irving, no Gordon Hayward, and, more importantly, no expectation of a young Boston team without its star leader.
Now, Irving is back, Hayward is recovering from his injury and the Celtics seem quite crazy. There is no reason that such a talented Boston team at each position is not among the top three records in the East. But they quarreled, embarrassing their relationship along the way. Winning heals everything, and for some teams, the regular season does not matter; only the playoffs.
The Celtics are still young, but they did more with less. If Boston manages to agree, in time, they should be able to get back on track.
First round: against Brooklyn
The 76ers have the second best NBA lineup, behind the Warriors and better than Milwaukee and Houston. With two stars and two marginal stars, Philly should move to the first round.
Chemistry is still a problem, as is Ben Simmons' inability to shoot three, reducing the playing field for everyone else. Another red flag: The Sixers have lost three of four this season against the Celtics and Raptors, and two of three against the Bucks. Many of these games, however, took place before the exchange for Tobias Harris.
Philly's greatest strength is simple: they've found a way to win at times when they should have lost, and they have the most dominant big man in the NBA. This should be enough, especially with their starry starter lineup. If that's not the case, Philly has some decisions to make this summer.
6. Denver Nuggets
First round: vs. San Antonio
I was inclined to put Denver eighth on this list for one simple reason: I do not think they are as good as those advertised. I believe in Nikola Jokic, I believe in Jamal Murray and in Mike Malone's offense that allowed his Nuggets to completely erase their teams. But I also believe that Star Power wins the championships.
So make good games.
The Nuggets will see San Antonio in the first round and the Portland winner against OKC in the second. Nothing less than an appearance at the finals of the Western Conference is incredibly disappointing. Denver should theoretically be able to defeat their opponents against Golden State or Houston.
5. Toronto Raptors
First round: vs Orlando
Pascal Siakam was amazing. He was Toronto's Draymond Green, a versatile two-way threat – he alone can also score. Kawhi Leonard is still his best in the playoffs. Remember, he was the difference between the Spurs beating the Warriors and the Spurs eliminated from the playoffs. And the rest of the Raptors' lineup allows the team to change defense, run in transition, shoot at three, and play.
Orlando was good, compared to Orlando. But they do not have the power of star to compete. The Toronto playoffs start in the second round, more than likely a tough series against Philly.
First round: vs Portland
In one way or another, the Thunder regressed from playing champion-grade basketball and ending up in the bottom half of the playoffs of the West. They will have a tough battle with no home advantage and a first-round match against Portland. But if they succeed this first round, the door is wide open.
OKC has two superstars and a host of players who know their role. Paul George has been absolutely fantastic all year. Russell Westbrook has no choice but to come to life when the game counts the most. And the Thunder had been a very good defensive team that George had led in attack.
Oklahoma City was a black horse for a deep playoff race for many people. Chances are against them, but if they play their best basketball brand, there's no reason the Thunder can not cross Portland and face Denver.
3. Houston Rockets
First round: vs. Utah
The Rockets would have to defeat the Warriors in one way or another. Now, they will simply have to do it earlier, in the second round instead of the conference finals.
Houston should not have too many problems with Utah in the first round. They'll pull them apart, shoot three, and let James Harden cook all night.
The Rockets were one win at the NBA finals last season, and this missed opportunity is still in their memory this season. Houston is not the same team as last year, but Harden has taken his offensive to astronomical levels. He averages 36 points per game this season. In January, he averaged 43.6 points and had 61, 58 and 57 points.
The Rockets are healthy, finally, after injuries to Chris Paul and Clint Capela. Houston may not be the same team, but she's just as hungry and she has something to prove. They will have to prove it in the second round with their date
2. Milwaukee Bucks
First round: vs. Detroit
Giannis Antetokounmpo's Bucks got the best result in basketball. Milwaukee has not survived the first round of the playoffs since the turn of the century. This should change, and it should change very soon.
The Bucks are not a one-man show. Khris Middleton is a star, Eric Bledsoe could have been too. Brook Lopez sprays three by three like no other. And of course, Mike Budenholzer could be the coach of the year with what he did, taking Milwaukee from the eighth seeded last season to the best NBA team.
Is it enough to overthrow the warriors? Probably not. Is it enough to win the Eastern Conference title? Toronto has something to say about it. Just like Philly and Boston. But the Bucks are the best hope of the East. This is the only team that could potentially have the best player on the ground, every game.
1. Warriors of the state of the gold
First round: vs Los Angeles
Can someone really stop the warriors? If it's not the warriors themselves, the answer is categorical: "Good God!", Golden State has five legitimate stars. Even though they went through the regular season, they still enter the playoffs with the best record of the Western Conference.
There are hardly any answers for Kevin Durant on an island, Stephen Curry in transition, Klay Thompson with more than half a foot of space or Boogie Cousins when he is motivated. The Warriors will become three-time NBA champions this season. Nobody, like the Rockets, Bucks, Raptors, Nuggets, Thunder or any other NBA team, can afford to stop them in a seven-game series.
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