Gotta give Hollywood credit score for sparing no expense when it got here to the shiny new pink carpet for its gala occasion Sunday evening.
The Academy simply may have saved a couple of bucks by borrowing the used one the NBA rolled out for the Celtics within the playoffs final season.
Hey, no disrespect supposed for the champs. They had been clearly the NBA’s finest in 2024, no matter who wearing clowns’ outfits within the different locker room.
However suffice it to say: If a group of lightweights from inside the convention and the opposite’s fifth-best crew present up once more this postseason, any of this 12 months’s contenders would take it.
Talking of the potential banner-raisers, solely six stay who ought to concern themselves with clearing out area within the rafters. The Celtics’ competitors within the East will come from the Cavaliers and Bucks, whereas the West consultant beneath the NBA’s brightest lights this 12 months will likely be both the Thunder, Nuggets or Lakers.
Every should try and keep away from each other for so long as attainable within the postseason, which supplies the ultimate six weeks of the common season not less than a sliver of significance.
Right here’s why all six will likely be doing a little scoreboard-watching …
CAVALIERS
You heard it right here first… OK, for the one hundredth time: The Cavs is not going to beat the Celtics in a playoff sequence this Might.
Yeah, all of us noticed the Donovan Mitchell present final week. Spectacular, however missing his shadow – Jrue Vacation, who watched from the sidelines.
Keep in mind Kyrie Irving’s efficiency in final 12 months’s Finals? After all you don’t. Vacation made him disappear in a show certainly worthy of Jayson Tatum’s 4 MVP votes.
Mitchell should come up huge in opposition to the Celtics, and that’s not going to occur if Vacation is wholesome. So the Cavs have to wish for a Bucks-Celtics matchup in Spherical 2 and hope Vacation tries to take a cost on Giannis.
CELTICS
Mar 2, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown (7) dribbles down the court docket defended by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) throughout the first half at TD Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Pictures The Knicks had been constructed to beat the Celtics. Epic fail. If Boston attracts New York within the second spherical of the playoffs … marvel if the Academy rents out its carpet.
The Celtics go to New York in April. It will behoove them to depart Vacation and Jaylen Brown behind whereas encouraging Tatum to shoot much more than normal.
If the distinction between the Knicks and Bucks of their battle for the No. 3 seed is one sport at season’s finish, it might be smart for the Celtics to have dictated the order.
I do know what you’re pondering: Boston has swept three straight from Milwaukee this season, so why does it matter? Nicely, as a result of the video games have gotten progressively nearer, and the addition of Kyle Kuzma forces Tatum to have to protect anyone, and that’s a recipe for inexperienced catastrophe.
BUCKS
Feb 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates a three-point basket with ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and ahead Kyle Kuzma (18) within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Discussion board. Obligatory Credit score: Benny Sieu-Imagn Pictures The Bucks most likely don’t belong on the listing, however not less than they’re intriguing. Giannis ensures it.
However presuming the Bucks end fourth within the East, their possibilities of making a run by Indiana, Cleveland and Boston are Packers-like. At the least the basketball cousin has a playoff-tested quarterback.
A Bucks-Celtics matchup would imply loss of life to each, however it might make for good TV. The loser of that slugfest would get a much-deserved fishing journey. The winner … properly, they higher hope the Knicks await.
THUNDER
Mar 2, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder ahead Ousmane Dieng (13) dunks in entrance of San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) within the second half at Frost Financial institution Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Pictures You may be asking: Why no point out of the primary spherical within the East? Suffice it to say: In the event that they submit a complete wins prop on seeds 5-8, and it’s larger than 3 1/2, take the beneath.
No such boat races within the West, and that’s to the Thunder’s profit. They’re younger; the Nuggets, Pacers, Mavericks … properly, nearly everyone else isn’t.
That’s a bonus in Spherical 3, however not in Spherical 1. So beware, OKC.
Alas, it’s Spherical 2 that the brand new youngsters on the block want to fret about. The Thunder can’t beat the Lakers and Nuggets – or Nuggets and Lakers – in consecutive sequence. So just like the Cavaliers with the Celtics and Bucks, the highest seed wants a Lakers-Nuggets loss of life match whereas they mop up on – hopefully – the Grizzlies or the Rockets.
NUGGETS
Feb 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Denver Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic (15) will get able to drive to the basket in opposition to the Detroit Pistons within the first quarter at Little Caesars Area. Obligatory Credit score: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Pictures I’m undecided anyone’s beating Luka’s Lakers, which places the Nuggets in an attention-grabbing spot.
If the Lakers seem headed to the No. 2 seed, the Nuggets must ask themselves: Do we actually need to bust our butt to complete third, solely to attract LeBron & Co. in Spherical 2?
Just like the Knicks with the Celtics within the East, Denver’s possibilities of returning to the Finals after final 12 months’s hiccup enhance considerably the longer they’ll keep away from the Lakers. So if Nikola Jokic and each expertise north of Dario Saric should be rested not less than as soon as per week from right here on out to guarantee a fourth-place end, then that’s the way in which it’s going to must be.
The Nuggets can beat the Thunder. It’s so simple as this: In a traditional Immovable Object vs. Irresistible Power showdown, Denver has extra succesful our bodies (led by Russell Westbrook, Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson) to throw at OKC’s one-man gang than the Thunder must battle Denver’s huge galoot.
LAKERS
Feb 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (23) defends LA Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard (2) throughout the first quarter at Crypto.com Area. Obligatory Credit score: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Pictures I significantly doubt the Lakers really care who’s subsequent up on their path to the championship. However keep in mind, this crew is taking part in Jaxson Hayes at heart, which implies they’ll’t be too snug with seeing Nikola Jokic.
Or Alperen Sengun or Jaren Jackson Jr. or Rudy Gobert or Domantas Sabonis or … you catch my drift. As you might need seen on the Lakers’ good run of late: Nothing has come straightforward.
Surprisingly, given the addition of Luka No-D Doncic, the Lakers have been fairly adept at defending the ring for the reason that All-Star break. That’s unhealthy information for the Thunder, as most of L.A.’s prime defenders are size-SGA.
That’s why the Thunder must be rooting for Lakers-Timberwolves within the first spherical. Then Lakers-Nuggets in Spherical 2.
If that occurs, then it’s anyone’s sport … relying upon how the seedings shake out and what number of groups comply with the sage recommendation provided right here.
If not, everybody’s taking part in for second.