The 2021 NBA Playoffs start this week. The format has yet again changed (look, they gotta do something to get the Warriors into the postseason), but I don’t care about that, as there are exciting-but-flawed teams in both conferences that should make this a wild postseason regardless of who plays whom.
The notable change to this year’s playoffs was the addition of play-in games (plural) in both conferences. The top 10 teams in each conference make the postseason this year, and the top 6 in each conference are in the normal bracket which starts play on May 22. Teams 7–10 have to fight their way in, though. Teams 7 and 8 play each other, with the winner getting the 7-seed. Then Teams 9 and 10 play each other, with the loser eliminated and the winner playing against the loser of the 7/8 game, with the winner of that game getting the 8th seed in the playoffs.
Confused and/or bored?
TL;DR: The bottom 4 teams out of the 10 playoff teams in each conference must play extra games.
The conference seeding was wild this year. The West features the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns in the top 2 spots, and the East has the Sixers and the Nets. Raise your hand if you saw that coming (then put your hand down, because you’re lying).
The Lakers and Celtics dealt with a ton of injuries and squeaked into the postseason, and two Beef favorites, the Wizards and the Trailblazers, have flawed teams that are fun as hell to watch. (I am incapable of objectivity when assessing Dame Lillard and Russ Westbrook teams. And I’m fine with that –Ed.)
Now let’s get to those staff picks! Picks for the rest of the playoffs will be made on Friday, May 21.
Eastern Play-in Games: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Charlotte Hornets (#10) at Indianapolis Pacers (#9), 6:30 PM, TNT
(The winner of this game goes on to face the loser of the 7/8 game for the 8-seed in the Playoffs starting on May 22.)
Matt Rob: I haven’t rooted for the Hornets since the days of Larry Johnson. I’m not about to start now. Pacers
Natalie: I’ve not watched that many games, but my understanding is that the Pacers are a little better. Pacers
Washington Wizards (8) at Boston Celtics (7), 9:00 PM, TNT
(The winner of this game is the 7-seed in the Playoffs, starting on May 22)
Matt Rob: I’m not sure how Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal manage to coexist, and I don’t really care. They are the kind of go-for-broke players that I adore, the kind who will go 1 for 13 from the 3-point line and still manage to get 30 points because they made 20 foul shots. Or they’ll have 15 assists and 10 points. I find the Boston Celtics to be boring (other than Marcus Smart) and tedious: it’s just an entire team of 6-foot-8 guards who clearly idolized Kobe plus a random concrete block at center. My brain says that the Celtics are better but this is sports. Logic is not welcome here. Wizards
Natalie: I just want the Wizards to win because as a yinzer I can’t in good conscience root for any team from Boston. I also really like Westbrook. Wizards
Western Play-in Games: Wednesday, May 19, 2021
San Antonio Spurs (10) at Memphis Grizzlies (9), 7:30 PM, ESPN
Matt Rob: It pains me to say so, but the Spurs have been off-balance for about four years (yes, since Zaza Pachulia undercut Kawhi Leonard in the playoffs and wrecked a phenomal Spurs season). I want them to win, but I don’t see a good matchup for them anywhere in the playoffs, so I’m just ripping the bandage off now. Grizzlies
Natalie: I’ve not seen the Grizzlies play. I love Pop but he needs to get a haircut… my god. The Spurs need to get their stuff together and I want them to win, but I don’t think that they will. Grizzlies
Golden State Warriors (8) at Los Angeles Lakers (7), 10:00 PM, ESPN
Matt Rob: Defending champs and a legendary franchise playing against a dynasty in its last days. Can I root for a tie? But seriously, the Lakers, if healthy, are significantly better than the Warriors. I imagine that the Lakers win this game despite something like 55 points from Steph Curry. Lakers
Natalie: This is a hate-watch for me. I think that the Lakers are gonna have trouble with their tall lineup guarding Steph. I don’t like Steph. Go Lebron. Lakers
Eastern Play-in, 7/8 Loser vs. 9/10 Winner: Thursday, May 20, 2021
(The winner of this game gets the 8-seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs)
Matt Rob: I picked the Celtics to lose the 7/8 game and the Pacers to win the 9/10. I don’t see how the Celtics, even depleted as they are, can possibly lose this game. I pick the Celtics to get the 8-seed in the playoffs. Celtics
Natalie: I think that the Celtics are the better team, and they are not fun to watch. On the plus side, I love the floor of their arena. Celtics
Western Play-in, 7/8 Loser vs. 9/10 Winner: Friday, May 21, 2021
(The winner of this game gets the 8-seed in the Western Conference Playoffs)
Matt Rob: This is Warriors versus Grizzlies for me. I think that the Grizzlies are fun and high-flying, and they’ll get picked apart by the Warriors, who will take the 8-seed in the playoffs. 🙁 Warriors
Natalie: Maybe the Grizzlies will get lucky and the Warriors will be tired or something. Warriors
Identical picks. LOL. See yinz on Friday for the rest of the playoff picks, which should be more varied!