The NBA postseason is here, and the 75th season in league history could deliver one of its most wide-open chases to the title.
The Phoenix Suns ran away with the league’s best regular-season record — eight games better than their closest challenger — but can Devin Booker and Chris Paul lead a second straight run to the Finals? They’ll have to contend with a host of Western Conference contenders, including Luka Doncic and the dangerous Dallas Mavericks, reigning MVP and current award favorite Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets and Ja Morant and the young but bold Memphis Grizzlies.
Oh, and the Golden State Warriors are back in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Finals in 2019.
In the Eastern Conference, the bracket is so tightly packed that the Nos. 1 through 10 seeds are separated by just 10 games. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, it’s the closest for any conference since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77.
The Miami Heat lead the way, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the surging Boston Celtics and Joel Embiid, James Harden and the revamped Philadelphia 76ers were on Miami’s heels throughout the second half.
And we didn’t even mention the Brooklyn Nets, who, after an injury- and drama-filled season, are lurking in the play-in tournament. If Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Nets make it to the opening round of the playoffs, watch out.
With the play-in and the playoffs just days away, let’s break down all the things — 75 things, to be exact — you need to know about the 20 teams still playing for a title, including storylines, stats and stars you can’t miss this postseason.
Note: 2022 NBA title odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. The Phoenix Suns are on a redemption tour
The Suns are trying to become the 15th team in league history to lose in the NBA Finals and then win the championship the following season. The last team to do so was the Warriors in…
Source : espn
