For four straight seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18, the NBA Finals consisted of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors versus LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sure, the storylines were plentiful, but it eventually got a little boring when you could essentially pencil those two teams in at the beginning of the season.
Thankfully, those days are gone, and nothing is more evident of the growing parity in the NBA than this year’s Western Conference playoffs. With the exception of the Minnesota Timberwolves, legitimate title arguments could be made for every single team that qualified.
And oh yeah, that LeBron James guy and the Warriors, they are both around again, but this time in the same conference.
It should be an action-packed Round 1 out West, so without further adieu, here is one burning question heading into each series.
(1) Denver Nuggets vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves
Burning Question: Can the disrespected Nuggets make a statement to the rest of the conference in the opening round?
The Denver Nuggets are the No.1 overall seed in the Western Conference, but somehow it doesn’t feel like they are getting that kind of respect.
Both the fourth-seeded Suns and sixth-seeded Warriors have better current title odds than the Nuggets.
But unlike last year when the Nuggets were bounced in the first round by the Warriors, Denver is at full strength this season. Both Michael Porter Jr. and Canada’s Jamal Murray are ready to make amends for missing the post-season last year. Did we mention the Nuggets still have all-worldly centre Nikola Jokic who is in the running for third-straight MVP this year after nearly averaging a triple-double.
There are no more excuses for the Nuggets. And it would go a long way for them to close out a shaky Minnesota Timberwolves team in quick four or five games.
Let the series drag out to six or seven games, and the other Western Conference contenders will be licking their chops.
Prediction: Nuggets over Timberwolves in five games
Series Schedule:
Game 1: Sunday, April 16 @ Denver, 10:30 pm ET
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19 @ Denver, 10 pm ET
Game 3: Friday, April 21 @ Minnesota 9:30 pm ET
Game 4: Sunday, April 23 @ Minnesota 9:30 pm ET
Game 5: Tuesday, April 25 @ Denver, TBD
Game 6: Thursday, April 27 @ Minnesota, TBD
Game 7: Saturday, April 29 @ Denver, TBD
(2) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
Burning Question: Does the King have another Finals run in him?
LeBron is back in the playoffs after missing out last season and should be extra motivated to add a fifth NBA championship to his resume. But at age 38, does he have the stamina for another long playoff run?
If you look at his regular season, the answer is absolutely yes. In his 20th season, James averaged 28.9 points per game, the fifth-best average of his storied career.
But the playoffs are a different animal, and James has more miles on him than most.
The Lakers also didn’t make it easy on themselves by finishing seventh in the conference and setting up a tough opening matchup against the second-seeded Grizzlies.
Memphis will also most likely come into this series with a chip on their shoulder, as most headlines (like this one) will revolve around the Lakers. Not to mention the Ja Morant and the Grizzlies finished the season with a 110.7 defensive rating, the third-best in the league.
So if LeBron does indeed have another NBA Finals run in him, it won’t be like his previous seasons in the Eastern Conference when he could essentially sleepwalk through the first round.
He will have to be on top of his game from Game 1. And we will likely find out very early on if James and the rest of the Lakers have what it takes to be a serious threat.
Prediction: Lakers over Grizzlies in six games
Series Schedule:
Game 1: Sunday, April 16 @ Memphis, 3 p.m. ET
Game 2: Wednesday, April 19 @ Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 3: Saturday, April 22 @ Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET
Game 4: Monday, April 24 @ Los Angeles, TBD
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26 @ Memphis, TBD
Game 6: Friday, April 28 @ Los Angeles, TBD
Game 7: Sunday, April 30 @ Memphis, TBD
(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
Burning Question: Will the big stage be too much for Sacramento?
Sacramento snapped a 16-year playoff drought after clinching the third seed. It was the longest active drought among teams in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB.
And their reward for such a feat? A date with the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors are also expected to be back to full strength, as Canadian Andrew Wiggins is expected to make his return from a near 10-week absence in Game 1.
But while they still have their doubters, the Kings absolutely deserved one of the top three spots in the conference. They were an offensive juggernaut in 2022-23, finishing with a league-best offensive rating of 118.6.
Led by point guard De’Aaron Fox, who on a number of occasions this season showed he isn’t afraid of the big moment, the Kings will be motivated to prove they belong.
Beating Steph Curry and the Warriors, that would be more than enough to silence even the loudest critics.
Prediction: Warriors over Kings in seven games
Series Schedule:
Game 1: Saturday, April 15 @ Sacramento, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: Monday, April 17 @ Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET
Game 3: Thursday, April 20 @ Golden State, 10 p.m. ET
Game 4: Sunday, April 23 @ Golden State, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 5: Wednesday, April 26 @ Sacramento, TBD
Game 6: Friday, April 27 @ Golden State, TBD
Game 7: Sunday, April 29 @ Sacramento, TBD
(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Burning Question: Do the Clippers have enough fire power to match the Suns without Paul George?
It’s not often that a four versus five matchup puts together two legitimate title contenders, but that’s exactly what you have with this one.
Unfortunately, the matchup has lost a little bit of its lustre due to the injury to Clippers superstar Paul George.
George sprained his knee back on March 21, and has not played since. He is expected to miss the beginning of the series, and could miss the entire series as the team will not rush him back if he is not close to 100 per cent.
It’s a major blow to the Clippers, as the eight-time NBA All-Star is averaging 23. 8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game this season.
The Clippers also have to try and match the fire power of two of the best scorers in the league, in Suns superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
If George doesn’t return, it will most likely take a Herculean effort from Kawhi Leonard if the Clippers are to advance. The good thing for Los Angeles? We’ve seen on many occasions that Leonard is capable of just that.
Prediction: Suns over Clippers in six games
Series Schedule:
Game 1: Sunday, April 16 @ Phoenix, 8 p.m. ET
Game 2: Tuesday, April 18 @ Phoenix, 10 p.m. ET
Game 3: Thursday, April 20 @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET
Game 4: Saturday, April 22 @ Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 5: Tuesday, April 25 @ Phoenix, TBD
Game 6: Thursday, April 27 @ Los Angeles, TBD
Game 7: Saturday, April 29 @ Phoenix, TBD
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.