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Who would you rather have in a Game 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama?

Wemby will no doubt be the answer to this question at some point in the (perhaps not-too-distant) future. But for now, I defer to those with at least some playoff experience. For my money, Jokić still reigns supreme as the best player alive, and for that reason, he’s my pick. CDL

Jokić. Not since peak Shaq has there been an offensive force this inevitable. He’s in the top 10 ever, already. 6ft 11in, 284lb, unguardable. Guard’s mind, center’s mass, wing’s skill. Makes everyone around him better, putting a battery in their back. Srećno. That’s Serbian for good luck. LE

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There’s not a finer player on the planet right now than Jokić, who at 31 is on a course to be in my all-time top five by the time he calls it a career. You’d truly never hear the end of it if he played in New York or LA. But at the moment, in a one-off and even as a playoff debutant, I’d fancy a punt on the vertiginous upside of Wembanyama. Game 7s have a way of tilting on chaos and no one creates more of it by erasing shots, stretching defenses and warping opponents’ decision-making. If he hits his ceiling for one night, whatever that may be, it’s a fait accompli. BAG

You know what? Gimme Victor. I don’t think we’ve fully reckoned with the Jordanesque scale of his competition problem. The Frenchman spent the previous offseason training with Shaolin monks, a fact that can never be overstated. He marked the Spurs’ regular-season series triumph over the Thunder, who were threatening the 2016 Warriors’ single-season wins record, by absorbing their supporter chants and squad culture like Thanos. He remained a viable MVP candidate even while playing under a wholly legitimate minutes’ restriction. Put all that in a 7ft 4in alloy of Steph off the dribble and Shaq in the paint and, sure, I’ll take my chances. AL

Team that will be most missed in these playoffs

Call me nostalgic, but I’m still pining for last season’s Indiana Pacers. It seems cruel and unusual that we had that team ripped from us in such dramatic and devastating fashion, and a playoffs without the scintillating Tyrese Haliburton and his never-say-die supporting cast is an objective downgrade. CDL

Missed – as in absent? The Lakers are technically in the playoffs, but not really: Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are gone, and so is any illusion of the team being at full strength. LeBron James, once again, will drag what’s left of the roster for as long as it lasts, maybe for the final time in LA. LE

It’s Miami for me. Only three teams seeded fifth or worse have managed to scratch their way into the NBA finals since 2000. Six teams ever. Two of them were Erik Spoelstra joints: the 2020 and 2023 Heat. Even in down years, there’s an institutional culture in South Beach seemingly lab-made for postseason mayhem: adaptive, opportunistic, built for disorder. The East side of the bracket just feels less dangerous without Coach Spo scheming another batch of role players into playoff giant-killers. BAG

It still smarts to be denied the chance to see this newly emboldened version of Miami’s Bam Adebayo who can apparently go for 83 points on any given night. It further feels especially cruel that the Hornets got to play on after LaMelo Ball’s dirty defense on Adebayo in their play-in matchup on Tuesday – though Ball was fined, which, I suspect, comes as little consolation to Spoelstra’s crew. AL

High seed at risk of going out early

Conventional wisdom would say this is the Lakers, and that’s probably the correct pick. But it feels a little too obvious to choose the team who lost their top two scorers, Dončić and Reaves. So keep an eye on the second-seeded Spurs. They’re set to face the winner of Nuggets-Timberwolves in round two, and if that’s Denver, I’d pick the more experienced team to survive and advance. CDL

The top-seeded Pistons, although this hinges on Charlotte making it through as the No 8 seed in Friday night’s play-in. Matchups are fate. Detroit can’t trade twos for threes with a Hornets team carrying the greatest shooting rookie ever and a pack of dawgs. That series could turn into carnage, fast. LE

I’m afraid it’s the Knicks. The first-round series with Atlanta is dicier than a 3-6 matchup suggests. The Hawks’ length, shooting and post-All-Star surge make them dangerous floaters who have already shown they can push New York to the brink in three tightly wound regular-season contests, including last week’s barn-burner played at playoff intensity. If Jalen Brunson gets crowded by Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Knicks’ deeper supporting cast stalls, it could get late early in Gotham. BAG

How about the Knicks drawing the short straw against Atlanta, one of the league’s most improved teams after the All-Star break? More impressively, the Hawks did so after turning over the core of their roster, making this a far trickier matchup for New York, who were lucky to make it out of Atlanta last week with a three-point win and keep themselves in the driver’s seat for the No 3 seed. The back-and-forth between Brunson and CJ McCollum has the potential to be box-office stuff. AL

Long shot to win

Take a walk with me, if you will, down Pigs-flying-with-dodo-birds Lane. An NBA folk tale for the ages: LeBron James, one last time, puts a woefully ill-equipped team on his back, for one round ... just long enough to facilitate the return of Dončić and Reaves from injury. The Lakers then go on a memorable playoff run, lift the trophy and send James into retirement as a five-time champion. Is it likely? No. Would it be fun? The most. CDL

The Spurs. I called it pre-season. They’re ahead of schedule now, but Wemby sniffing a title in year three tells you what he is already. Around him: a swarm of fearless two-way wings and guards, a swarm of killer instinct. LE

The Pistons. Can a No 1 seed that paced the Eastern Conference for the final 157 days of the regular season really be considered a long shot? When the oddsmakers are pricing them as the seventh favorite to win the title, the answer is yes. Nobody seems to believe in Detroit’s youth movement, even after the third 60-win season in the team’s 85-year history. Their edge is a workmanlike consistency: a deep, unselfish system that’s held through injuries and doesn’t beat itself. BAG

The Hawks have length, bounce and brilliant tactician in Quin Snyder – who may well have the best NBA roster he’s ever coached. What’s more, they’ve caused headaches for higher seeds in the past, pushing eventual champion Milwaukee to six games in the 2021 conference finals and spooking Boston in similar fashion in the 2023 first round. AL

Most important player this postseason

Jokić will, once again, face a gargantuan task. To get to the finals, he will probably have to overcome the thorn in his side that is the Timberwolves, take down Wemby and a red-hot Spurs team, and, ultimately, dethrone the reigning champions. But I believe if anyone is capable of such a task, it’s the Serbian superstar. CDL

Gilgeous-Alexander. If his MVP trajectory falters – or worse, he’s injured – it derails OKC’s ascendent dynasty and throws the field into chaos, where anyone can bag the crown. LE

Wembanyama. The 22-year-old from the Paris suburbs was breathlessly hyped as the NBA’s best prospect since LeBron when he was still a gangly teenager, but he’s somehow managed to exceed those expectations while growing mentally, physically (he’s 7ft 5in now?!) and even spiritually. The Spurs have emerged as a trendy pick to win it all after besting the Thunder in four of their five regular-season meetings and their cheat code at center remains the biggest potential spanner in the defending champs’ repeat bid. BAG

Narratively, it’s Anthony Edwards. The Minnesota star already shown he can drag a team deep into the playoffs, albeit with a roster that hadn’t yet peaked. But if he can manage the trick again – with a thinner supporting cast, in a return to the sixth seed – it sure would make a helluva statement. AL

Eastern Conference finals

Knicks over Pistons. CDL

Knicks over Pistons. LE

Pistons over Celtics. BAG

Celtics over Pistons. AL

Western Conference finals

Thunder over Nuggets. CDL

Spurs over Thunder. LE

Thunder over Spurs. BAG

Thunder over Spurs. AL

Your NBA champion will be ...

At the risk of dampening intrigue, I really do think the Thunder are likely to be repeat champions. They got healthy at the right time, their chemistry appears to be at an all-time high, SGA is favorite to win MVP and for some unknowable reason, Daryl Morey gift-wrapped them yet another perfectly suited bench player in Jared McCain. The Nuggets will give them a run for their money in the conference finals, but ultimately, I just can’t pick against this Thunder machine. CDL

Related: How the streaming dream turned sports on TV into a costly maze

The Knicks. They already bloodied Boston and Detroit in last year’s playoffs. There’s the revenge for 1999 angle; even the Spurs don’t scare them. OKC, young and brilliant, wilt under MSG’s big city lights. Brunson, born to play basketball, takes the Knicks to the promised land, achieving sainthood. For a fanbase title-starved for more than five decades, this is more than a championship run. We’re talking generational spiritual repair, the kind people chase in deserts, dreams and God. LE

The Thunder. Let the dynasty chatter begin. Oklahoma City are the most complete team with the deepest rotation in the most adaptable system. There are no weak points to attack. SGA is the MVP-caliber talent who anchors everything, but it’s the collective that makes them overwhelming. They can win fast or slow, big or small, ugly or pretty. The question now is whether anyone can consistently disrupt them. The Spurs managed it in the regular season, but knocking OKC out of the playoffs will require near-perfect basketball for four quarters, four times. I wouldn’t bet on it. BAG

The Celtics. Less than a year after Jayson Tatum went down with a ruptured achilles and threw Boston’s future in doubt, he roars back and leads the Celtics to their 19th championship, rekindling dynasty talk and putting the rumors of unrest between him and Jaylen Brown to rest for good. Joe Mazzulla, now undeniably a mad genius, celebrates by getting a pet wolf – but his wife says he can’t keep it in the house. So the Celtics build a habitat outside the Garden, and fans make a tradition out of hurling the jerseys of their vanquished rivals, putting a basketball spin on the idea of being “thrown to the wolves”. AL

INDEPENDENCE — Basketball isn’t an individual sport, but you might not know that if you just watched First Take or listened to sports-talk radio. Individuals are judged solely on whether or not their teams come through in the postseason. And while that’s an important part of the conversation, one player can only do so much.

“You know the American way is championship or nothing,” Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “In our movies, we call the little kid, ‘Hey Champ.’ That’s the thing. Sure, we’d all love to win the championship, but that doesn’t mean you’re not successful.”

Few players have experienced the ridicule and criticism that comes from being a great individual player but not winning a championship more than James Harden.

Harden’s individual accomplishments over his 17-year career are astounding. He’s an 11-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA player, three-time scoring champ, two-time assist champ, Sixth Man of the Year, MVP, is ninth all-time in scoring, and he’s still adding to that resume. That should put him in the conversation for being one of the very best guards in league history, but it doesn’t for one simple reason. He hasn’t gotten it done in the postseason.

There aren’t many in the league more competitive than Harden. That’s how he’s been able to be such a high-impact player for as long as he has. Atkinson has called Harden’s dedication to the game obsessive. Someone who’s that committed to their craft wants to do everything in their power to win. But at the same time, Harden isn’t defined by the hole in his resume. He admits that he’s had a fulfilling career regardless of what happens from here.

“I’ve done so many things 95% of the world can’t even imagine,” Harden said after practice Wednesday. “I’m very, very confident. I’m happy. Life is amazing. I’ve impacted a lot of different people in a positive way. I’ve impacted the game in a positive way.”

There’s valid criticism for Harden’s playoff shortcomings. He hasn’t stepped up in the biggest moments like you’d expect someone of his caliber to do. But to pin all of his team’s losses on him is reductive. That isn’t how basketball works.

However, if you did decide to put those losses squarely on Harden, he probably wouldn’t mind.

“Honestly, I don’t care,” Harden said matter-of-factly when asked whether the forgotten context of his postseason losses bothers him. “There’s more detail and depth that I could go into as far as running up against a dynasty, injuries, that’s part of the game. There’s no excuse.”

Winning is the number one goal in sports. It’s why they play the games in the first place. But much more goes into winning than simply being the best player or having the most talented team. The margins are thin in closely contested postseason games. The difference between wins and losses can come down to inches and sometimes pure luck.

The Cavs aren’t the favorites to win the championship this season. There’s plenty of reasons to be skeptical of their postseason chances, given how little continuity this core has together. That being said, sports are weird. Anything can happen. This team has the top-end talent to piece things together and go on a magical run. And if that were to take place, no individual player’s legacy would change more than Harden’s.

But if the Cavs flame out, leaving Harden once again on the wrong end of a difficult playoff loss, that wouldn’t change who he is or his approach to the game. He’s still going to show up for training camp in the fall and do everything in his power to be ready for another deep postseason. Maybe in the end, the resiliency to keep coming back to the fight — even after things haven’t broken your way for over a decade and a half — is the mark of a true winner.

“I don’t feel bad. I don’t dwell on it. I don’t think back on it,” Harden said. “It’s part of it. It’s life. I’m sure we all could look at ourselves and think about certain things that happened over the course of our lives that just didn’t go our way, and feel bad about it. I just don’t think like that. I just keep pushing.”

The turn this Lakers’ season took, it should go down as one of the franchise’s great what-ifs, coulda-woulda-beens, we’ll-never-knows …

Shared regret for a legion of Lakers fans who were, for the full 15-2 month of March, vibing with their team, screaming excitedly like 6-year-olds and riding hard on the MVP campaign trail for Luka Doncic.

But then things got twisted — Doncic’s grade 2 hamstring strain and Austin Reaves’ grade 2 oblique strain — and now it should be obvious: With two of their three best players sidelined indefinitely, we should expect the Lakers to shut the book on this season soon, unless …

Unless LeBron James can pull off the second-greatest feat of his 23-year career.

Unless he can carry the Lakers past the heavily favored Rockets in a best-of-seven series that starts Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.

Unless the Lakers’ last standing superstar — in what could be his last stand on this team or in this league, no one really knows — can hold the door long enough for Doncic and Reaves to recover and reenter the fray for Round 2.

Read more:Luka Doncic eligible for NBA's postseason awards after league, NBPA rule in his favor

Yes, the Lakers are leaning on a 41-year-old who started the season sidelined because of sciatica.

Their season rests entirely on the broad shoulders of the team’s willing third wheel.

It’s all up to the guy who capped the regular season by earning his 70th conference player of the week nod, who has won four NBA titles and three gold medals, but who wouldn’t have been able to finish the first round last postseason if it had taken the Minnesota Timberwolves more than five games to beat the Lakers. Recall, James suffered a grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the deciding loss.

So you shouldn’t hold your breath. But you also shouldn’t count out LeBron; the kid from Akron has beaten the odds before.

He would tell you he’s been beating them the whole time, coming from where he started to where he is now, a billionaire basketball player-slash-businessman, he’s scored more points than anyone, ever. He makes history every time he steps on the court, including sometimes with his son Bronny.

If the famous meme is to be believed, even LeBron can’t believe this is his life.

He does, however, believe he’s the G.O.A.T.

Said so in a 2018 episode of ESPN’s “More Than An Athlete” as he reflected on leading the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the 73-win Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals two years earlier: “I was like, ‘That one right there made you the greatest player of all time.’”

No team had won more regular-season games than Stephen Curry’s squad in 2016. And no team had rebounded from a 3-1 deficit in the championship round until LeBron’s Cavaliers. That was largely thanks to his back-to-back 41-point efforts in Games 5 and 6, and his meeting the moment in Game 7, when he scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and had the iconic, series-saving chase-down block that set up Kyrie Irving’s game-winner.

A beat-up, fourth-seeded Lakers team beating the ascending, fifth-seeded Rockets in the first round won’t top that. Nothing will.

Nor will it make a difference in the great G.O.A.T. debate; if that 3-1 comeback didn’t do for you what it did for LeBron in your personal pantheon of top players, there’s no point having the conversation.

But winning this series against an athletic, physical, long Rockets team that has won nine of its last 10 games? Slot that in as the second-most impressive achievement in James’ decades-long career.

Read more:How do the Lakers match up against the Houston Rockets entering their playoff series?

Creating a real problem for Houston and doing it without Doncic, who had 36 points and 40 points, respectively, in the Lakers’ most recent victories against the Rockets?

Rebounding from dreadfully depressing injury news to knock out the NBA’s best rebounding team?

Nothing but the 3-1 comeback would come close. This would be more astonishing an accomplishment than his other three championships, including the one with the Lakers in the challenging confines of the Orlando bubble.

It would rank higher than LeBron’s 45-point explosion to save the Miami Heat from elimination against the Boston Celtics in 2012, or the game in which he scored 29 of the Cavaliers’ last 30 points to topple the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. Or any other major victory on which your dart might land.

It would be that monumental of an upset. That unlikely an outcome. That epic.

And that’s why almost no one outside of the Lakers believes in them.

All six of CBS Sports’ experts picked Houston; NBA.com has the Rockets winning in five games, the Athletic has it happening in six games. Eleven of ESPN’s 12 prognosticators went with the Rockets, and the betting sites all have them as heavy favorites, with DraftKings favoring Houston by 4.5 points in Game 1 — in Los Angeles.

Let’s be real, rational thought portends the obvious: It’s a wrap.

Unless …

Unless James can juke Father Time and pull off another odds-defying dead lift for the ages.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The playoffs bring out something different in us. Suddenly, media and fans alike have takes they need to get on record — not because it’s right, necessarily, but because there’s a chance it might be. And if it is, well, you’ll be hearing about it for the next six months. The other 480 takes that didn’t quite land? Those quietly disappear into the void.

At CelticsBlog, we like to think we’re above that. Thoughtful. Measured. Responsible. But this time of year has a way of breaking even the strongest wills. So we gave in.

Everyone loves a hot take. Let’s hear one for the Celtics.

Jeff Clark: My hot take is that Baylor Scheierman is going to win us a game. Payton Pritchard is going to win us a series. And Derrick White is going to get us to the Finals. Then it is on the Jays to take us home.

Bill Sy: Hot take, you say? The cold, boring answer is that defense wins championships. The surface-of-the-sun take is where that D comes from. As we’ve seen all year, Mazzulla is going to task all the young wings to do some heavy lifting on that side of the ball. Expect Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham to get heavy doses of Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez.

Rich Jensen: I don’t like hot takes. If you’d ever had the misfortune of waiting for me to decide where to eat, you’d know that I don’t make up my mind quickly. I don’t really have a hot take regarding the Celtics. But I might have a mild or medium take—one with no habaneros and only a few jalapenos. I think that the Celtics might break the tradition of tighter playoff rotations. I think that few championship caliber teams have been this deep—as evidenced by the team’s game 82 win, and I think Mazzulla might find a way to exploit that depth as the playoffs unfold.

Ian Inangelo: My hot take for the playoffs is that Nikola Vucevic has one game where he wins Boston a game with his impact off the bench like Kristaps Porzingis in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Mark Aboyoun: The Celtics don’t lose more than two games per series leading up to the Finals. Whether it’s Orlando or Philadelphia, New York or Detroit, the Celtics will win every series in six games or fewer.

Nirav Barman: Unfortunately, I’m superstitious, and I also know there are plenty of Green Teamers who see the team with shamrock tinted glasses, so I don’t have any particularly hot takes. I believe this team can hang with anyone in the league, including OKC and San Antonio. We won’t be the favorites in every matchup, but we shouldn’t be far from it, especially if Tatum and White find their strides.

Mike Dynon: This is the spiciest we can make it: Jayson Tatum will duplicate what Jaylen Brown did two years ago, winning Most Valuable Player of both the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals, and leading the Celtics to yet another banner.

Ryan Paice: Queta is going to emerge as the team’s most impactful role player, even ahead of White. Especially with the lack of defensive depth at center behind Queta, I think he’s going to put up some impressive +/- numbers over the course of the playoffs and prove to be a vital key to the team’s success. His defensive impact will be noticeable at all times, both when he’s on the court swatting shots and swallowing up offensive boards, and when he’s on the bench and we have to watch teams repeatedly target Vucevic and Garza. 

White might still be the better overall player, but Queta is less replaceable on this current squad and will have a chance to show he’s a top-tier starting center in the league. I expect him to seize it.

Gio Rivera: Baylor Scheierman will make himself right at home this postseason.

That signature thumbs-up celebration will pop up often enough for the Causeway Street T-shirt vendors to get to work, rolling out a fresh design that floods North Station by the Eastern Conference Finals. Scheierman will rise to the occasion, shoot better than 45 percent from three throughout the playoffs, and even get Joe Mazzulla in on the thumbs-up celebration at some point (OK, maybe that last part is a stretch).

Grant Burfeind: Luka Garza is going to hit a huge corner three late in a tight playoff game, right in front of the opposing bench, and unleash an all-time mean mug. I can see it so clearly it’s basically a memory at this point. You’ll hear the screech of Garzilla before the ball even hits the net.

18 thoughts and tidbits on Sixers vs. Celtics 1st-round series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Though there’s nothing unfamiliar about the Sixers’ first-round playoff opponent, the team’s upcoming series vs. the Celtics is still full of storylines.

Before Game 1 Sunday afternoon in Boston, here are 18 thoughts and tidbits on the series: 

1. Boston isn’t invincible, but the Celtics are very strong and just about everyone will reasonably pick them to win this series.

Since starting 5-7, Boston has gone 51-19. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Celtics rank second in offensive rating outside of garbage time and fourth in defensive rating over those 70 games. 

Counting their play-in tournament win over the Magic, the Sixers are 46-37. They won’t need to force the underdog role whatsoever.

2. As has been the case in plenty of prior postseasons, the great unknown is Joel Embiid. 

The Sixers’ star center underwent an appendectomy last week and is out indefinitely. Embiid’s instinct has always been to rush back from injury in the playoffs, although appendicitis is obviously not a traditional basketball ailment.

For now, the Sixers haven’t given any indications that Embiid has a targeted return date. They were happy to have him in attendance for Wednesday night’s victory. Embiid stopped by the Sixers’ locker room pregame and cheered from the bench.

“I’d talked to him via phone and I was surprised to see him there,” Tyrese Maxey said. “I gave him a big hug. I’m glad to see him and his spirits are high. We’re happy for him.” 

3. Embiid’s on-court presence remains invaluable to the Sixers and he played at an All-Star level in many of his 38 games this season. The Sixers were 24-14 when he was available. Excluding the play-in, they went 21-23 without him. 

4. The Sixers aren’t satisfied just to have cracked the playoffs again. However, a year after enduring nonstop injuries and finishing 24-58, returning to the postseason is certainly meaningful. 

“I told the guys I’m proud of them,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday. “There’s many times this season I’ve told them I’m proud of them for how they kind of picked themselves up and kept playing. This was another example tonight with some stakes and some pressures. We played extremely hard. I thought we made a lot of winning plays.

“And to go back to the opening press conference of the year, I said, ‘We’ve got a really, really big hole to dig out of and we want to get into the tournament somehow.’ It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty, but we’re here and now we’ve got to see what we can do with it.”

5. The Celtics and Sixers split their four-game series in the regular season. The first three games were all ultra-close and entertaining. On opening night, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe totaled 74 points and the Sixers stormed back to win in Boston. The Sixers’ speedy, tireless backcourt would love to rekindle that magic in Game 1. 

6. Watching the tape of the season series, it’s remarkable that the Celtics had such an excellent year amid a rather high volume of roster and rotation changes. Xavier Tillman, Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott and Chris Boucher were all in the Celtics’ rotation for the opener and they’re no longer on the team. 

7. By far the most notable in-season Celtics addition was Jayson Tatum. He’s played 16 games since returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon and averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Even if he’s a bit worse than his norm as a shooter and isn’t incredibly explosive in the playoffs, Tatum should clearly make the Celtics harder to beat. 

8. Paul George also played zero of the four Sixers-Celtics regular-season games. He appeared in the Sixers’ final 10 games of the season after serving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy and posted 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals per contest.

To upset the Celtics, we imagine the Sixers will need George to score in isolation, easing the offensive burden on Maxey; launch catch-and-shoot three-pointers and make a fair number; play high-quality defense on Boston’s stars while avoiding foul trouble; and provide veteran steadiness to a Sixers rotation without much playoff experience. 

That’s asking a lot, but George has shown signs post-suspension that he’s much healthier and capable of playing like a star. 

9. In sizing up the Celtics, George nicely captured the stiff test ahead. 

“We’re playing against winners,” he said. “We’re playing against champions. This is where they play their best basketball. We respect that. We’re going to have to challenge that. They’ve been great for a couple years now. They’re a well-oiled machine. 

“Great coach, great roster. Two studs, two superstars over there and just a ton of guys that know how to play the right way. It’s going to be a challenge. We’ve just got to be ready for it.”

Jaylen Brown’s a five-time All-Star and Tatum’s a six-time All-Star. Other important pieces from the Celtics’ 2023-24 championship-winning team are still in Boston, among them Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Joe Mazzulla has a 238-90 record (72.6 winning percentage) in four years as head coach. 

10. The Celtics have a well-earned reputation as a team that bombs away from long range. They were third in the NBA in three-point frequency.

Boston can also hurt the Sixers inside the arc, though. Both Brown and Pritchard torched the Sixers in the mid-range to propel the Celtics to a big first-half lead back on Halloween.

If the Sixers get caught on screens, make small mistakes defending drivers, or fail to fully stop the ball in transition, the Celtics will take and make comfortable two-point looks. 

11. The fact that Boston relied on its half-court offense more than any other team this season may be a small silver lining for the Sixers. 

The Celtics had the NBA’s slowest pace. They also ranked last in transition frequency, per Cleaning the Glass. Mazzulla may very well encourage his team to play faster than usual and target the Sixers’ transition defense, which has often struggled. But at their core, the Celtics lean heavily on their half-court offense. 

12. As would be the case against almost any opponent, the Sixers’ defensive rebounding is a serious concern.

They were 27th in the NBA in defensive rebounding rate. The Celtics were fifth in offensive rebounding rate. Neemias Queta was dominant on the glass against Andre Drummond and the Sixers in Boston’s March 1 win. He posted a career-high 27 points, 17 rebounds (10 offensive) and three blocks. 

Queta’s a true 7-footer and an outstanding athlete. Assuming Embiid stays out to start the series, the Sixers’ center pair of Drummond and Adem Bona must be better against him, especially in the rebounding department. 

13. Maxey’s lingering right pinky finger injury shouldn’t be an afterthought. 

As he acknowledged after the play-in win, that taped-up finger has been impacting his jumper. Although he wasn’t his most efficient vs. Orlando — 31 points on 11-for-25 shooting (3 for 9 from three-point range) — Maxey wasn’t reluctant to fire. 

“It’s just a comfort thing,” Maxey said postgame. “Sometimes the ball feels a little different … but I’m not going to make any excuse. The Indiana game, I was trying to get up more threes just so I could see OK, where do I feel comfortable at? I’ve got to shoot ‘em and I’ve got to make ‘em for this team. 

“That’s how we win games and that’s just my game. It helps me with everything else. … That’s the biggest thing for me, comfort level. But I’m comfortable. It is what it is. It’s the playoffs and everybody’s probably banged up.”

14. The Sixers only used a three-man bench vs. the Magic. That surely won’t be sustainable (or optimal) for an entire best-of-seven series. Justin Edwards would be a logical addition to the rotation for this matchup.

At his best, Edwards is a competitive wing defender with a knack for finding and sinking open jumpers. He’s unafraid to take important shots, too. The 22-year-old lefty had a memorable night vs. the Celtics on Nov. 11, making his first eight field goals. He finally was off on a late go-ahead jumper attempt, but Kelly Oubre Jr. snagged the rebound and made a put-back lay-in. 

“Game-winning miss,” Edwards said. 

15. Some of the defensive assignments are easy to predict. For instance, as he did in the regular season, Oubre will spend a ton of possessions guarding Brown.

We’ll also highlight Jordan Walsh’s defense on Maxey as a significant, intriguing option for Boston. According to NBA.com, Maxey shot 1 for 9 with Walsh defending him in that Nov. 11 game. Walsh has a tenacious approach and a 7-2 wingspan. 

16. During the Embiid era, the Sixers have lost series to the Celtics in 2018 (4-1), 2020 (4-0) and 2023 (4-3). Their last series win over Boston was 44 years ago. 

17. There was a lot for the Sixers to like from that 2023 second-round series until they got blown out in Game 7. 

James Harden was magnificent on multiple occasions, including a 45-point performance in an Embiid-less Game 1 win and a 42-point outing in the Sixers’ overtime Game 4 victory. Embiid raised the MVP trophy at home before Game 3. Role players like De’Anthony Melton, Georges Niang and Danuel House Jr. had bright moments. 

Of course, it didn’t quite add up to enough. The Sixers failed to finish off the Celtics in Game 6 and played a terrible third quarter in Game 7. They were left to wonder what would’ve happened against the eighth-seeded Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

18. The one player in the series who’s been both a Sixer and a Celtic is 35-year-old Boston big man Nikola Vucevic. 

On the executive side, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey started his NBA career with the Celtics. Assistant general manager Jameer Nelson had a six-game playing stint as a Celtic during the 2014-15 season. 

Sixers assistant coach Mike Longabardi won a title with the 2007-08 Celtics. Mazzulla has several former Sixers coaches on his staff in Sam Cassell, DJ MacLeay and Tyler Lashbrook. Cassell grew close with Maxey during his Sixers years and played a major part in him developing into a superstar.

Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks to open the Eastern Conference first round. New York went 2-1 against Atlanta during the regular season. The Knicks won the last regular season meeting 108-105 on Monday, April 6 led by 30 points from Jalen Brunson, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 36 points for the Hawks.

The Knicks are 35-17 against conference opponents. New York averages 116.5 points while outscoring opponents by 6.4 points per game.

The Hawks are 27-25 in conference play. Atlanta is 7-8 in one-possession games.

The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 0.5 more points than the 116.0 the Hawks give up. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mikal Bridges is scoring 14.4 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 20.3 points and 2.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Jalen Johnson is scoring 22.5 points per game and averaging 10.3 rebounds for the Hawks. Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 111.2 points, 40.3 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points per game.

Hawks: 6-4, averaging 120.0 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.6 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), OG Anunoby: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow), Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle).

Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (finger), Nickeil Alexander-Walker: day to day (toe), Jalen Johnson: day to day (rest), CJ McCollum: day to day (rest), Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee), Dyson Daniels: day to day (toe), Jock Landale: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Charlotte Hornets (44-38, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hornets -3.5; over/under is 218

PLAY-IN GAME: The Magic and Hornets square off to decide the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets take the court for the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament. The winner claims the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The Magic are 26-26 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando is 20-26 against opponents with a winning record.

The Hornets are 11-5 against the rest of their division. Charlotte is seventh in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.0 points per game and is shooting 46.0%.

The Magic are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.7% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.0% from the field, 1.6% lower than the 47.6% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Magic. Jalen Suggs is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LaMelo Ball is averaging 20.1 points and 7.1 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 116.4 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points per game.

Hornets: 6-4, averaging 113.4 points, 44.8 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.1 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee).

Hornets: Moussa Diabate: day to day (hip), PJ Hall: out for season (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Golden State Warriors (37-45, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (45-37, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT

LINE: Suns -3.5; over/under is 219.5

PLAY-IN GAME: The Suns and Warriors square off to decide the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

BOTTOM LINE: The Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors for the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament. The winner earns the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

The Suns are 10-7 against division opponents. Phoenix averages 112.6 points while outscoring opponents by 1.5 points per game.

The Warriors are 7-9 against Pacific Division teams. Golden State is eighth in the Western Conference giving up only 115.2 points while holding opponents to 48.0% shooting.

The Suns score 112.6 points per game, 2.6 fewer points than the 115.2 the Warriors give up. The Warriors average 15.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.5 more made shots on average than the 12.2 per game the Suns give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Devin Booker is shooting 45.6% and averaging 26.1 points for the Suns. Royce O'Neale is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Brandin Podziemski is scoring 13.8 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Warriors. Gui Santos is averaging 12.1 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 51.2% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 115.1 points, 44.2 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.

Warriors: 3-7, averaging 111.4 points, 40.3 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.3 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Mark Williams: day to day (foot), Grayson Allen: day to day (hamstring).

Warriors: Quinten Post: out (foot), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Moses Moody: out for season (knee), Kristaps Porzingis: unknown (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Raptors (46-36, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)

Cleveland; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT

LINE: Cavaliers -8.5; over/under is 219.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Cavaliers host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors to open the Eastern Conference first round. Toronto went 3-0 against Cleveland during the regular season. The Raptors won the last regular season matchup 110-99 on Tuesday, Nov. 25 led by 37 points from Brandon Ingram, while Donovan Mitchell scored 17 points for the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference teams. Cleveland is seventh in the Eastern Conference in rebounding averaging 44.4 rebounds. Evan Mobley paces the Cavaliers with 9.0 boards.

The Raptors have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Toronto has a 21-27 record against teams above .500.

The Cavaliers are shooting 48.2% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 46.7% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors are shooting 48.2% from the field, 1.8% higher than the 46.4% the Cavaliers' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 assists over the last 10 games.

Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Ja'Kobe Walter is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 121.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.

Raptors: 6-4, averaging 119.8 points, 41.0 rebounds, 32.3 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.

INJURIES: Cavaliers: James Harden: day to day (rest), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), Dennis Schroder: day to day (rest), Evan Mobley: day to day (calf), Keon Ellis: day to day (knee), Jarrett Allen: day to day (injury management), Thomas Bryant: day to day (calf), Sam Merrill: day to day (hamstring), Donovan Mitchell: day to day (ankle).

Raptors: Chucky Hepburn: day to day (knee), Immanuel Quickley: day to day (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)

Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Rockets -5.5; over/under is 207.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets to open the Western Conference first round. Los Angeles went 2-1 against Houston during the regular season. The Lakers won the last regular season matchup 124-116 on Thursday, March 19 led by 40 points from Luka Doncic, while Alperen Sengun scored 27 points for the Rockets.

The Lakers are 33-19 in Western Conference games. Los Angeles has an 8-3 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Rockets are 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Houston has a 5-9 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Lakers make 50.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.2 percentage points higher than the Rockets have allowed to their opponents (46.0%). The Rockets average 11.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 fewer made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Lakers allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jake LaRavia is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 7-3, averaging 116.2 points, 41.4 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.

Rockets: 9-1, averaging 123.6 points, 49.1 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points.

INJURIES: Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (rib), Jaxson Hayes: day to day (foot), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).

Rockets: Kevin Durant: day to day (rest), Amen Thompson: day to day (rest), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Jabari Smith Jr.: day to day (rest), Alperen Sengun: day to day (rest).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Saturday afternoon for the show where we’ll preview the Pistons’ postseason. We’ll know who the Pistons play in the first round by the time we record, so how are you feeling about the matchup? What’s your prediction for the series? And how does Cade Cunningham’s successful grievance for NBA postseason honors impact Jalen Duren’s potential All-NBA hopes?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Saturday April 18 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

• Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
• Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
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As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.