The NBA regular season is over, but the playoff standings are not really decided, and six play-off games will be needed to know who will advance. However, the NBA's official website has begun to predict and conduct a comprehensive analysis of the four sets of matchups in the first round that have been determined: the Suns and Mavericks are all on the line, and the Bucks are going to play seven
Regular season matchup: Clippers 2-1 P
Predicted score: Clippers 2-4 Mavericks
In previous years, the Clippers and Mavericks have faced each other twice in the playoffs, with the Clippers advancing by scores of 4-2 and 4-3, respectively. But time has passed, and the current Mavericks are not what they used to be, Doncic has grown to an MVP level, and the Mavericks are now strong. This round of the series can be said to be star-studded, Doncic, Irving, George, Westbrook, Harden, Leonard, a total of 47 All-Star selections, 2 MVPs, 6 scoring titles, can be said to be the most watched game in the first round.
We all know that Coach Lu is a top master tactician, but no matter how good the tactics are, the players need to execute them in place to be effective, Doncic has too high a ball quotient, strong scoring ability, and can easily crack various defensive strategies. And now the Mavericks also have Irving and Washington and Gafford who are also difficult to be restricted.
The Mavericks made a trade in the middle of the season, and Gafford and Jones and Washington gave the team a new style of play, but it will be tested in the playoffs. The biggest problem for the Clippers is health, with Harden and Leonard both injured. After the All-Star break, the Mavericks performed significantly better than the Clippers, winning by 8.4 points per 100 possessions, and on the defensive end, they improved to the fifth level in the league.
Regular season head-to-head: Timberwolves 0-3 Suns
Predicted score: Timberwolves 2-4 Suns
In the regular season, they were swept by the Suns, losing by a total of 47 points, and it can be said that the Suns completely suppressed the Timberwolves in terms of lineup configuration and style of play. The Suns have a big 3, and Nurkic on the inside, and the biggest advantage of the Timberwolves may be 1 more home, but the official website predicts that they will be eliminated in 6 games, which means that the home court advantage is gone.
Although the Suns made the playoffs at the whistle, they cannot be measured by rankings, after all, there are several games that have been lost, such as by the Spurs 3 times. Although the team's bench strength is a shortcoming, in the playoffs, it usually relies on the strongest 5 players to play the world, and the main team may have to play 40 minutes. The Suns have significantly more stars, and the Timberwolves are actually only Edwards at the same level as them.
Towns returned from injury, but the massive injury of a torn meniscus will certainly still have an impact, and he has only rested for 18 games, and only if he can't play 100 percent, the Timberwolves' offense will be weakened. Gobert can book this year's Defensive Player of the Year and is a guarantee for the Timberwolves' record. But for the Suns, it could be the key to opening up the offense. The Suns have at least three players who can train Gobert and pull him to the perimeter to play alone, resulting in the Timberwolves' defense becoming ineffective.
This season, the Timberwolves have been very good at limiting opponents' restricted areas to score and three-point shots, but the Suns' Big Three are all good at mid-range shooting, and they are very strong in one-on-one singles. And Reed or McDaniels, can they restrain Durant?
Regular season: Bucks 1-4 Pacers
Predicted score: Bucks 4-3 Pacers
The regular season played 5 games, which was 1 more than usual because of the midseason, and the Bucks played very hard, and even had to rely on Brother Alphabet to score 64 points to win 1 game. However, the last time the two teams met was in January, and after that, the lineup changed significantly, so the reference value is limited.
Antetokounmpo suffered a strain in the final few games of the regular season and could miss part of the playoffs, which would be extremely beneficial for the Pacers. Both teams are strong offensive and weak defensively, but the Bucks are missing a 30-point per game scoring point like Brother Alphabet, and the offense will inevitably be frustrated, and the defense will be more unmotive. Of course, Haliburton's form is nowhere near as good as it was at the start of the season. If Brother Alphabet can come back in time and play in the first game, then the series has a chance to end quickly, if Brother Alphabet has to wait until the team is behind to come back, then the official website predicts that they will have to play a tie-break to advance.
Regular season matchup: Cavaliers 2-2 Magic
Predicted score: Cavaliers 3-4 Magic
The Cavaliers took the initiative to pick an opponent and chose the Magic team, but it was not a very good choice. The Magic's defense is third in the league, which would make it more difficult for the Cavaliers' already weak offense. Banchero's inside matchup with Morris/Allen will determine the course of the series, and it's clear that Banchero has the better talent. The Cavaliers' health was an issue, with Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley all missing multiple games during the regular season. And the Magic's backcourt offense is not very good, and it is likely to be blown up. The Cavaliers' playoff experience is actually not much more than that of the Magic, and only Mitchell has played more playoff games alone.