Starting a post to provide people a space to chat through Round One of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Eight series and most of them are pretty compelling matchups. I’m even interested in seeing the Hawks take on the Knicks, and I can’t remember the last time I was invested in a series featuring Atlanta.
We’ve got ascendant teams like the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns. We have the playoff mainstays like the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers.
After a season of watching the 20-win Pistons, I’m excited to watch endless amounts of competitive basketball. Round one of the playoffs doesn’t always feature that, though. Many of these matchups can be pretty one-sided.
Did the play-in tournament ensure the best of the worst among the playoff contenders made it? Is the quality team-building of most of these franchises, stretching back several years, evening the playing field? Have injuries brought down some of the best teams to be worried about their first-round opponents? Lets find out!