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The NBA playoffs kick off on Saturday with an exciting four-game slate. Before the festivities begin, we’re identifying the key players from all eight series in the opening round. Starting with the Eastern Conference:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#4 Bucks vs. #5 Pacers – MIL Kyle Kuzma
The Bucks received good news with Damian Lillard’s impending return. The nine-time All-Star will miss Game 1 but is expected to play in this year’s playoffs. Until he’s back on the floor, Milwaukee will need to find a way to keep up with the fast-paced Pacers. Kyle Kuzma was brought in to be the Bucks’ No. 3 option. He’ll have to elevate to No. 2 next to Giannis for the time being. Kuzma hasn’t played in a postseason setting since 2021 with the Lakers — 29.2 FG%, 17.4 3PT% in a first-round series loss to the Suns. There’s a tendency to settle for jump shots from Kuzma. He must attack the basket relentlessly, and look to drive-and-kick to shooters when Indiana’s defense collapses.
#3 Knicks vs. #6 Pistons – NYK Mikal Bridges
The Pistons have a built-in x-factor in Sixth Man of the Year favorite Malik Beasley. Without Beasley’s shooting, the Pistons can stagnate offensively. Defenses can converge on Cade Cunningham if Detroit’s jumpers aren’t falling. On the Knicks side, though, Mikal Bridges will be under the microscope. It took five first-round picks to pry Bridges away from the crosstown Nets. He’ll likely be the primary defender on Cunningham. If Bridges struggles in that matchup, we may see Knicks HC Tom Thibodeau pivot to OG Anunoby as Cade’s primary defender. Could that mean Bridges sees his playing time cut if he’s also not producing offensively?
#2 Celtics vs. #7 Magic – ORL Cole Anthony
This is a difficult matchup for the Magic who took care of business in the play-in tournament. Orlando’s top-ranked defense matches up well against Boston’s elite offense. However, the Celtics also boast a strong defense while the Magic struggle to score. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will get plenty of opportunities, but a third option is needed. Reserve guard Cole Anthony is the team’s best bet. He poured in 26 points in the win over Atlanta to secure the No. 7 seed. Anthony can get hot in a hurry and has never shied away from the spotlight.
#1 Cavaliers vs. #8 Heat – CLE De’Andre Hunter
De’Andre Hunter has fit in seamlessly with the Cavaliers since joining at the trade deadline. But, the playoffs are a completely different environment. The Cavs are coming off a disappointing postseason run which was ended in five games by the eventual champion Boston Celtics. Now, they enter as the No. 1 seed and hold home-court advantage throughout the entire Eastern Conference Playoffs. Hunter has been scoring at a high level as a Cavalier, but they’re going to ask him to do even more as they progress further. We’ll see how he responds in his first playoff games with his new club.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#4 Nuggets vs. #5 Clippers – LAC Norman Powell
Heading into this series, the matchups for both sides are fairly cut and dry. Especially for when Denver defends Los Angeles. The Nuggets are going to play their starters heavy minutes. Nikola Jokic and Ivica Zubac will guard one another. On the perimeter, Denver will likely start with Christian Braun on James Harden while Aaron Gordon guards Kawhi Leonard. That leaves either Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr. on 22 PPG scorer Norman Powell. Powell must dominate that matchup. A scoring surge from Powell could force Denver to utilize Peyton Watson or even Russell Westbrook to matchup better defensively. If that’s the case, Denver’s offense will suffer and play right into the Clippers’ hands.
#3 Lakers vs. #6 Timberwolves – MIN Rudy Gobert
The Lakers start a traditional center in Jaxson Hayes, but HC JJ Redick prefers to go small. He’s deployed lineup configurations that include Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, or Jarred Vanderbilt at center. Rudy Gobert taking advantage of smaller lineups will be key to Minnesota’s success. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year dominating the glass on both ends of the floor could shift the series entirely. Additionally, in those situations, Gobert is going to be forced to guard on the perimeter. We saw what Luka Doncic did to Minnesota’s defense last year when he was in Dallas. If Gobert is flailing on defense, the Timberwolves may have to counter with a smaller lineup of their own.
#2 Rockets vs. #7 Warriors – HOU Jalen Green
Jalen Green has a chance to make a statement in this series. Houston is entering their first-round matchup against the Golden State Warriors as a sort of “underdog”. While the Rockets hold home-court advantage, they won just four more games in the regular season than a Warriors team that was surging to end the year. HC Ime Udoka employed a brilliant gameplan the last time these two teams faced off, holding Stephen Curry to just three points on 1-of-10 shooting. The Rockets defense is legit, but they’ve faced their fair share of struggles on the offensive end. Green is the team’s leading scorer (21.0 PPG) and their most gifted shot maker. He’s going to be asked to take and make difficult shots all series long. A strong series from Green could be enough for Houston to topple the star-laden Warriors.
#1 Thunders vs. #8 Grizzlies – OKC Jalen Williams
The Thunder are going to need a big postseason from All-Star Jalen Williams if they want to win a title. With MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drawing so much attention, Williams will have plenty of opportunities as a scorer and playmaker. In their series loss to Dallas last year, Williams failed to make a significant impact. However, that was just the second playoff series of his young career. He’ll have a better idea of how to attack certain coverages this time around. Williams playing well in OKC’s opening-round series should set the tone for the rest of the playoffs.
