The NBA postseason is upon us, examining the 20 teams still in contention for the 2023-24 championship, including three MVPs who must first navigate the play-in tournament.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics clinched the top seed, though the race saw plenty of last-minute excitement. The New York Knicks had to fight through overtime on the final day of the regular season to lock in the No. 2 seed, following a month of position jockeying behind the Celtics.
The Western Conference showcases a collection of star players, with the Oklahoma City Thunder leading, significantly ahead in their ambitious rebuilding plan. The third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves have resolved their lineup issues around their star guard, Anthony Edwards, challenging teams like the Denver Nuggets, who are led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
The play-in contests were tightly contested in both conferences, featuring teams led by Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry, all vying for a spot in the first round.
As for the postseason outlook, the Celtics have consistently led the league, bolstered by successful trades for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and remain strong contenders thanks to top-five offensive and defensive ratings. However, they face persistent issues during crunch time in playoffs, which they hope Porzingis can help address with his mismatch exploitation. Additionally, Boston’s depth may appear lacking, but sharpshooter Sam Hauser could prove crucial if the Celtics make a deep playoff run, thanks to his exceptional 3-point shooting skills.
