The NBA season is heating up with only a third of the regular season left to play before we enter the playoffs. As of writing, the Boston Celtics lead the Eastern Conference while the Minnesota Timberwolves lead the Western Conference.
Despite not being considered among the favorites, the Timberwolves managed to surprise many by topping the conference. Their charge to the NBA's playoff bracket has been led by a formidable defense that allows just 106.7 points per game, the best record in the league.
They represent good value for their lead atop the Western Conference, although it is still tight. Boston, on the other hand, has a huge lead atop the East and it would take a major collapse to see them enter the playoffs as anything other than a top seed.
We now see the playoff picture taking shape with only a few weeks remaining. For those who maybe aren't familiar, the NBA playoff bracket works like this:
- 16 teams qualify for the playoffs, 8 from each conference (Eastern and Western).
- Teams are ranked upon completion of the regular season based on their win-loss record. The team with the best record in each conference gets the No. 1 seed, the second team gets the No. 2 seed, and so on.
- Since 2021, a play-in tournament has been implemented for the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference. The winner of the 7th vs. 8th seed match becomes the No. 7 seed, while the loser plays the winner of the 9th vs. 10th seed match for a final playoff spot (the No. 8 seed).
- In theory, the higher your rating, the more favorable your path to the playoffs is (1street Seed 8 playsy Seeds in the opening round, 2Second abbreviation Plays 7y)
The games are then played in a best-of-seven series format until the NBA champions are crowned in the Finals.
Let's take a look at this season's favorites.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics were one of the preseason favorites to win the NBA Championship, and so far they have lived up to that billing.
At the time of writing, Boston is on a six-game winning streak and sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 43-12 record, the best in the entire league. They have been impressive on both ends of the court, averaging 120.7 ppg with an average point differential of +10.1.
All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown lead the scoring charts with averages of 27.1 and 22.0 respectively with Kristaps Porzingis also averaging just above the 20 point mark.
Boston will enter with a score to decide after its surprising 4-3 loss to the Miami Heat in the conference final last year.
Denver Nuggets
The defending champions appear poised to head to the playoffs with ease once again, as they currently sit in fourth place in the ever-competitive Western Conference. They are anchored by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is currently averaging a double-double with 26.1ppg and 12.0reb as well as 8.9 assists.
Couple that with the fact that he's shooting a 57/35/81 split, and it's clear to see why “The Joker” is currently considered the best player in the league and leading the way as the favorite for the MVP award. He finally had the supporting cast around him last season as he got his hands on his first NBA championship ring and they appear to be in good shape to do it back-to-back in 2024.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are another team that will enter the playoffs in 2024 with a score to settle if they continue their strong form. They fell at the first hurdle last year when they lost 4-1 in the first round to the Phoenix Suns. They have been very solid this season so far, helped by the performance of Kawhi Leonard.
The six-time All-Star is currently averaging 24.1ppg with a shooting percentage of 52/45/89. James Harden has also been an excellent playmaker for the Clippers this season, averaging 8.4 assists per game.
The Clippers should have no problems reaching the playoffs, although after last season's disappointment there may be some question marks about how they will perform once they get there.
Milwaukee Bucks
Despite their recent struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks are still considered a strong contender for the NBA Championship this season. Following the acquisition of Damian Lillard in the offseason, many Bucks fans were excited at the prospect of seeing him and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo playing alongside one another.
However, while the dynamic duo lit up the scoring charts as expected, it was their defensive woes that caught many by surprise. As of this writing, the 118.8 points they are allowing per game is 23.Research and development In general in the league.
Despite this, they still finished third in the East after parting ways with coach Adrian Griffin and bringing in Doc Rivers. Many seem to believe that the quality of their offense can do enough to see them reach the Finals and capture the franchise's third championship.
