With the conclusion of the play-in tournament being today.
That means that the actual NBA playoffs are right around the corner.
Playoff basketball is what every true fan gets excited for after watching the regular seasons for months.
This season was obviously a strange one.
From hardly any fans to players missing time due to health and safety protocols, this season had so many ups and downs.
However, we are ready to witness great and intense basketball for the next two months.
The first round of the playoffs is where a lot of fun takes place.
There are more than two games on throughout the day and you get to focus on so many different matchups.
It almost has a first weekend of March Madness type of feel to it.
The more basketball, the better.
Now it is time to analyze the first round and see what could happen.
Between even matchups, rivalries, and grudge matches; the first round is set to be a treat for the fans.
There are three series that the public should be anticipating.
1. Bucks (3rd Seed) Vs Heat (6th Seed)
The rematch of the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks is a highly anticipated bout.
We get a Heat and Bucks rematch in the first round 👀
Who you got? pic.twitter.com/bMhqeWLqmH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 17, 2021
In the bubble playoffs, the Heat were able to upset the one seeded Bucks in five games.
There was that questionable foul call on Giannis Antetokounmpo at the end of game two, which took out all of the air from the Bucks.
Then Giannis got hurt; and we knew from there the series was over.
Now, it is time to see if the Bucks can finally break through.
They added Jrue Holiday to help their playoff chances and this is the best way of testing it out.
The Heat are coming into the playoffs hot.
They are 22-14 since the all-star break.
This is going to be an interesting matchup with the defending Eastern Conference champs and the team that is still trying to find that next level.
2. Clippers (4th seed) Vs Mavericks (5th Seed)
Speaking of rematches, here is another one.
Who ya got? Previewing Clippers vs. Mavericks https://t.co/t6nIISVWYZ pic.twitter.com/lAUJZqgC2i
— theScore NBA (@theScoreNBA) May 19, 2021
The Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks met last season in the first round.
The series, at the time, was surprisingly competitive.
Luka Doncic hit the crazy game winner in game 4.
The Mavericks looked like they had a real chance until Kristaps Porzingis got injured and missed the rest of the season.
The Clippers are different this year with a brand new head coach and a different mentality.
Paul George has been playing great all year long and we all know about Kawhi Leonard‘s playoff performances.
The Clippers three-point shooting has been phenomenal this season and is their biggest weapon coming into this first-round matchup.
This rematch can be an interesting one for sure.
3. Phoenix Suns (2nd Seed) Vs Lakers (7th Seed)
In most cases, we do not pay too much attention to the 2-7 matchups in the playoffs.
However, this one is totally different.
We haven't seen this in the modern era of the NBA ⬇️
The 7th-seeded Lakers (-300) have opened as a big favorite against the 2nd-seeded Suns (+240) 👀 pic.twitter.com/bfoSp6haEV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 20, 2021
The defending champion, Los Angeles Lakers, fell to a play-in game appearance after injuries sidelined Lebron James and Anthony Davis.
The Phoenix Suns are back in the playoffs for the first time in a decade; and have a legit shot at winning a title.
Their biggest problem is having to go through the champs in the very first round.
The media world believes that the Lakers will easily win, since they are healthy once again and have Lebron; who has never lost in the first round before.
Can the Suns upset the defending champion, Lakers?
NEXT: 2 Rockets Who Will Not Be On The Team Next Season
