2025 NBA Playoffs: Surprising Contenders and a Shocking Finals Match-up Revealed

The NBA's Regular Season: A Crisis or Opportunity?

Just how dire is the situation in the NBA? As the basketball faithful tune in each night, some wonder if the regular season is in a state of crisis. Here’s the deal, folks, it’s not as bleak as it might seem, but let’s dive into the cracks and see if there’s a silver lining or just more… well, crack:

– The Allure of Star Absence: We see star players sitting out, causing fans to clutch their pearls in dismay. Perhaps it’s time for the league’s loudest voices to shift their focus from crisis management to celebrating the game. The opportunity exists now to tweak the rules, bring back some physicality, and reignite the defensive zeal. The NBA isn’t in crisis, but the opportunity for structural improvements is glaring.

– Networks Bet Big: Titans like Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video shelled out a sum greater than $76 billion for broadcasting rights. They didn’t pour in that kind of money for a product they believe is inferior. They’re betting on the NBA to fix what ails it. Maybe bringing the defense back to relevance could make each game compelling again.

– The PR Conundrum: Here’s the part that really grinds my gears—the NBA’s PR problem. Teams are complaining, rights-holding networks are badmouthing the product, and local games feel like a ghost town. Yet, the NBA commands $76bn in rights fees, so how much of a crisis are we really talking about?

– Tweaks Instead of Overhaul: Instead of an all-out crisis intervention, maybe the NBA just needs a few strategic tweaks. The in-season tournament could be spiced up, ticket prices ought to be revisited, and a few games trimmed off the schedule. After all, the essence of the NBA’s regular season isn’t in question; it’s the experience that needs resuscitation.

– The Overblown Crisis: Boy, do we love to exaggerate! Yes, the league has issues, but calling it a full-blown crisis seems, frankly, a bit much. The Western Conference was intense right until the last buzzer, and the playoffs are promising with a blend of experience and youth. The NBA’s primetime viewership is even up!

So, while the critics might see a crisis, I see an NBA at a fascinating crossroads, brimming with potential. Maybe it’s time to stop the pearl-clutching and start celebrating the opportunity.

For those looking to understand more about the nuanced state of the regular season, LEARN MORE here.

Is the regular season in crisis?

It’s weird to call a team that has Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Norman Powell and Ty Lue on the sideline a dark horse. But so it goes when that team is the Los Angeles Clippers. While the Lakers and the Warriors helped the fairytale championship narrative with their blockbuster mid-season trades, the Clippers have been solid, steady and Leonard is looking like the Leonard of old .This could be their year. ALThe team or the players? I’m already missing KD and his band of grumpy, really upset Suns, and of course, we’re all praying to the god of your choice that Victor Wembanyama will be back next season. Overall, the Philadelphia 76ers mess is always a good follow, and I think we’ll all miss the day-to-day drama Joel Embiid and friends bring to the first round of the playoffs. DLAdvertisement

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The Rockets. Coach Ime Udoka did the unexpected by leading the Rockets to the No 2 seed in the rigorous Western Conference. But achieving the second-best record in the West appears to be a pyrrhic victory as Houston are underdogs against the Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler-led Golden State Warriors. The scrappy Rockets will make each game uncomfortable for the more playoff-experienced Warriors, but expect an early exit for Houston’s youth movement. ARSAdvertisementAbsolutely not. Could it stand to be a little shorter? Sure. Do the referees need to be more judicious with when they intervene? I’d argue they do. But the real problem the NBA faces is, in my opinion, a PR one. Its loudest voices should spend less time pearl-clutching and more time celebrating. Claire de LuneCeltics over Pacers DL

Western Conference finals

Vegas doesn’t have a lot of faith in second seeded-Houston in the playoffs, and neither do I. It’s commendable (hat tip to head coach Ime Udoka) that a super-young Rockets team were able to go from missing the play-in tournament last year to ending this year as the No 2 seed, but an unproven, youth-heavy, offensively challenged roster will likely get exposed in their first postseason outing. CDLAfter the Jimmy Butler trade, the Warriors went from Cancun-bound after the regular season to title contenders once again. More than just the best running mate Curry has had since Kevin Durant, Butler can carry the offensive load when Curry’s off the floor and take over games defensively. How the Warriors ever got away with him still boggles the brain. ALAdvertisementCan I be selfish and say the Chicago Bulls? For the first time since their ethereal first-half campaign to the 2021-22 season, the Bulls have been genuinely fun to watch – and the life of the party has been Josh Giddey, the triple-double threat who harks to the days when a healthy Lonzo Ball was leading the break. He showed enough to earn a long-term extension and another running mate to help get Chicago into the play-in stage. ALThere are multiple issues with the NBA such as an overindulgence of three-pointers, the forgettable All-Star game and perpetual foul-hunting. However, the notion of a crisis is a bit overblown. The Western Conference remained highly competitive until the final day of the season, the playoffs feature a mix of All-NBA veterans and rising young stars, and the NBA’s primetime viewership is up double digits from last season. There is space for improvement, but the league is far from being in crisis. AR Shaw

Your NBA champion will be …

Celtics over Cavaliers ALAdvertisementThe New York Knicks, who blew a 28-point lead while losing to the top-seeded Cavaliers last Saturday to fall to 0-10 against top-three NBA teams. Point guard Jalen Brunson is one of a number of their key players dealing with injuries – none of which can be blamed on Tom Thibodeau’s withering instruction anymore, apparently. All of this sets them up poorly for their matchup against the resurgent Pistons and Cade Cunningham, a Knick-killer in the making. (He averaged better than 30 points, eight assists and five boards against them.) ALAdvertisementCeltics over Cavaliers ARS