Five bold predictions for the long-awaited return of the NBA playoffs

Sure, some sports are back. But “sports” as we know them are largely still on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. Today is Day 87 without sports. ?

The NBA playoffs will give sports fans a smorgasbord of games when the 2019-20 season returns July 31 following a hiatus. The new format is sure to deliver an unprecedented amount of parity since there will be no homecourt advantage — with games played on a neutral court in Orlando without fans — and the rhythm that teams usually develop over the course of a typical 82-game season offset the COVID-19 crisis. How healthy, deep and cohesive teams show up will be completely unpredictable given their time away from the gym. 

Expect some chaos and upsets.

And the NBA’s playoff format, with 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams, bolstered by a potential play-in for final playoff spots, will provide a watchable format similar to the NCAA tournament. This could be the NBA’s version of March Madness in the summer. With that, here are five bold predictions for the NBA playoffs.

A No. 8 or No. 9 seed plays Cinderella. The last time this upset happened in the NBA playoffs, the eighth-seeded New York Knicks staged an improbable run to the NBA Finals in 1999. That came after a lockout and shortened season. Should we expect something similar this summer given the peculiar circumstances for playoff teams?

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The top 16 teams in the East and West will be joined by teams currently within six games of eighth place in either conference: New Orleans, Portland, San Antonio, Sacramento, Phoenix and Washington. The eight-game regular-season allows “bubble” teams (that’s an NBA term now) the opportunity to draw within four games of the No. 9 spot, prompting a potential play-in tournament for the No. 8 seed. The Pelicans and Blazers, in particular, could be poised for runs, while it’d be smart to never count out a Gregg Popovich-coached Spurs squad.

Zion Williamson spearheads a deep run. Speaking of the Pelicans, Williamson was on a tear before the season was postponed in March, and he started to come into his own despite missing the early portion of the season. Should he come back in great shape (his endurance is always under the microscope), New Orleans has firepower to go far despite not having the record to show for it. Williamson’s athleticism and playmaking at the rim alongside a talented supporting cast make this team the most dangerous sleeper of the 22 teams invited to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World.

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The Mavericks knock out the Clippers, stage big run. The Lakers are a favorite to reach the NBA Finals, and the Kawhi Leonard-led Clippers are on track to be the second-best team. But one scenario in which a several-month break could stir up a surprising narrative might be at the No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup in the West. Luka Doncic is an MVP-caliber player and Kristaps Porzingis was starting to hit his groove as a top-tier sidekick before play was suspended. Could the Mavs play spoiler and oust a contender?

Celtics upset Bucks to reach NBA Finals. Giannis Antetokounmpo fell short of the Finals last season when his Bucks lost to the Raptors in the East finals. This season seemed like destiny for the Bucks to reach the NBA’s biggest stage. Yet Boston could be poised to play spoiler and reach the Finals instead behind the young nucleus of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. This team has found its identity without Kyrie Irving. Lakers-Celtics in the Finals?

LeBron James gets his fourth ring, reviving the GOAT debate. Perhaps the greatest beneficiary of a four-month break is James, who at 35 has just a few years left of his prime. The rest could work wonders or it could ruin the first-place Lakers’ chemistry.

James’ health might be the biggest hurdle to finishing his career on a championship-winning spree. Does this bizarre playoff scenario help his remaining years or hurt them? Anthony Davis is an MVP-caliber big man, meaning James can play his more comfortable facilitator role. Even Jordan needed Scottie Pippen to win six rings, so perhaps Davis will prove he’s that sidekick to James this summer.

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