With the NBA Playoffs officially underway, the WSUM Sports crew gave their answers to the biggest questions surrounding the postseason.
What contender is most likely to become a first-round exit?
David Giardino: Whichever team plays the Lakers or Pelicans in Round 1. I think that both the Lakers and the Pelicans have massive upset potential in the first round. Especially for teams like the Timberwolves or Thunder, that don't have the experience could fall to those teams. Right now it looks like the Thunder will be matched up with the Pelicans, so as painful as it is for me to say, we would lose that series.
Joey Bonadonna: Looking at the current standings, if I had to pick a top-four seed from either conference, I don't think this Magic team is getting out of the first round. I don't really have faith in their lack of playoff experience and while Paolo Banchero is emerging as a star, I don't think this is the year for them.
Matthew Lodarek: The Knicks without Julius Randle are in trouble of a first round exit in this year's playoffs. Randle is the second leading scorer on this Knicks team, apart from Jalen Brunson, and has a season ending injury. He's one of the more experienced players on this team and is a great leader for the younger players. Although I do think the team's chemistry is very much up to par, this team is missing a key component in their physicality.
Maddox Durst: The Cavaliers are in the range to host in the first round of the playoffs as the season concludes, while only being back two games from the Bucks in the Central standings in the Eastern Conference. While Donovan Mitchell has been excellent this season, the surrounding pieces have not stepped up down the stretch, as they have dropped numerous games as of late.
Anthony Winker: Milwaukee is in a precarious position at the moment. Losing Giannis Antetokounmpo at this stage of the season is not great, especially with the fact that he's put up another MVP-caliber season. Even if he is able to make a miraculous comeback in time for the opening round, as the likely three seed, the Bucks are going to get a tough matchup. If it's the Heat, there's some history there . . . the bottom line is that I wouldn't be surprised if the Bucks bowed out early for the second season in a row.
Vincent Hesprich: Talent aside, the Kawhii Leonard Paul George experiment has been an abject failure over the last since the bubble. I could be talked into believing that lack of results has been due to bad injury luck instead of bad play. That said, the Clippers are finally healthy entering the playoffs and with Paul George's free agency looming, it might be now or never for LA. The Clippers have looked like a true contender for stretches this season but some nice late-season wins cannot cover up the inconsistencies.
What lower-seeded is most-likely to pull off a surprisingly deep playoff run?
David Giardino: I mentioned the Pelicans and the Lakers before, out of those I think the Lakers have the best shot of making a serious run. Last year the Lakers were a 7 seed that made it to the Western Conference Finals, and I think that that while their roster is not as good as last year, the top seed are also not as good as last year so I think that there is a chance that if they get a Minnesota → OKC path they could make another Western Conference Finals. On the East side, the 76ers could make a run. They're getting Joel Embiid back to 100% at the perfect time, and this is my favorite supporting cast for Embiid since the Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, JJ Redick team.
Joey Bonadonna: I have to go Philly here even though they shouldn't be in the play-in. I hope the Bucks avoid them in the first round but Embiid is Embiid and will bring a tough matchup to whoever sees them. If they get through the first round, I think they'll go on a deep, deep run.
Anthony Winker: If they can get by the Clippers in round one, I think the Mavericks have a decent shot to take down Denver in the second round and go on a run. The Lakers and Warriors are also scary with all of the playoff experience they have, not to mention that Steph Curry and LeBron James are on those teams. In the East, the 76ers are getting Embiid back at the right time and will be a tough matchup for one of those top teams in the East. It should be interesting.
Vincent Hesprich: I'm with Anthony all the way. The Luka Kyrie duo has been spectacular in year two and Daniel Gafford has been easily the best trade-deadline addition. We've seen Luka's amazing postseason performances yield largely minimal results, but the Mav's front office has finally done a solid job at surrounding their star with talent. Time to reap the rewards.
Luke Seruma: Obviously my team the 76ers. This has been a team that has not played well in the absence of Embiid but they have been 5-0 since he has been back and they are starting to find their form. This is definitely Embiid's best Added to that they will likely be playing a reeling Milwaukee team in the first round makes me want to bet big on my team.
Who is the most underrated player in the playoffs?
David Giardino: Jamal Murray is the most underrated player in the playoffs. Nikola Jokic gets all of the attention on that team, and rightfully so, but Jamal Murray is the separating player for that team. Before he got hurt he was an All-Star lock, and his pick and roll game with Jokic is what gets their offense going, and when it's going it's unstoppable.
Joey Bonadonna: Tyrese Haliburton has a knack for the big moments. I think the Pacers are gonna be a tough out if he's able to score the way he did during the In-Season Tournament. Also looking at the rest of the roster, having Pascal Siakam's championship experience is going to bring an added boost to this team in the playoffs.
Matthew Lodarek: Although he's one of the best players in the league, Steph Curry might just be underrated in this year's playoffs. The Warriors are the tenth seed and still have a halfway decent supporting cast, some of which were a part of that 2022 championship team. The thing about Steph is that he is one of the only players in league history to have the one shot policy, meaning you cannot let him get a single bucket. He has the potential to turn their regular season into a success come these playoffs.
Anthony Winker: Even with Karl-Anthony Towns coming back, Naz Reid is going to play a role in the postseason for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's already supremely underrated around the league in my opinion, and with strategic deployment from Chris Finch, he could be the X-factor if the Timberwolves go on a deep run.
What superstar is under the most pressure entering the playoffs?
David Giardino: The clear answer to me is Jayson Tatum. This Celtics team should have a fairly easy path to the finals. Their front offense has done the best possible job to put a team around Tatum to lead them to a championship that anything else would be a failure this year. They have 6 guys that can give them 20 points on any given night, but the playoffs always come down to if your stars can make plays. Tatum wants to be respect as one off the best players in the league and that only happens if you can lead your team in the playoffs.
Joey Bonadonna: I agree, Jayson Tatum is probably the guy that needs a championship most out of anyone in these playoffs. He has no real accolades and isn't winning MVP anytime soon. He's going to need a ring at some point.
Mawuenam Dossa: Gianis Antetokounmpo. He is coming out of an injury going back into a possibly tough opponent with the winner of the Heat-Sixers matchup. This would be an embarrassing exit after a season of slide-offs throughout the season.
Brody Killoren: Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves this season have looked the best they have in recent memory. Because of this, much will be expected of their starting five. Edwards is a younger player with lots of talent; as the playoffs heat up most of the team will be looking to him. As the number one overall draft pick in 2020, it's clear the franchise has high hopes for him. The Timberwolves are looking for nothing less than a deep playoff run, Edwards will have to lead the team to the best of his ability and shrug off the pressure.
Anthony Winker: On the far-and-away best team in the NBA from the very beginning this year, this has to be the year for Jayson Tatum. If not, there are going to be a lot of questions.
Who is your pick to win it all and in how many games?
David Giardino: I'm going to be boring here but I have the Nuggets over the Celtics in 6. While I think teams like the Clippers, and Mavericks, can make runs I don't think that anybody is on the level of Denver fully healthy. I also think the East is more or less a cake walk for Boston unless they beat themselves. But at the end of the day I'll take the team with the ring. Denver is 6.
Vincent Hesprich: There are a ton of intriguing teams in the West. The Thunder are young and hungry, the Timberwolves have a championship defense, and the star-studded Celtics look like the most dominant regular-season team since the Durant-Warriors. Nuggets in 5.
Joey Bonadonna: Bucks in 6. No matter what.
Maddox Durst: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics will finally take the NBA crown after coming up short in the Finals last season. They will take down Oklahoma City in 6.
Mawuenam Dossa: Cade and ‘em in Cancun.
Anthony Winker: They say defense wins championships, right? RIGHT? I sure hope so because I'm rolling with the Timberwolves for no other reason then this is what I want to happen. They get it done over the Celtics in 6 in front of their home fans.
Brody Killoren: Even with Giannis's recent injury, the Bucks have looked phenomenal this season; they have looked fantastic for the past 5 years. However, the Bucks can still rely on the likes of Lillard, Lopez, and Middleton as part of a solid starting five. There definitely are a lot of contenders for the championship this year, as the Nuggets and Celtics look to be the top teams to beat. Nonetheless, the Bucks will win it in 6.
