thelesterlee
The 2024 NBA Playoffs start on April 20th. Ten days. Let’s talk about some of the biggest storylines heading into the postseason. The Western Conference is STACKED. Who in the East can take out the Boston Celtics? Joel Embiid tore his ACL and is just back playing basketball a month later like his knee isn’t mush.
Here are the 7 biggest storylines heading into the 2024 NBA Playoffs:
1. Is this the end of Steph/Klay/Draymond era?
In 2009, Steph Curry was drafted by the Golden State Warriors to play alongside Monta Ellis—who thought Monta Ellis was the best basketball player in the NBA, Corey Maggette—nicknamed Big Porn because yes, he scores but it doesn’t look good and Stephen Jackson—who was in a public war with the organization.
In 2012, the team drafted Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. 12 years and 4 NBA Championships later and we may be at the finish line of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.
Draymond Green seems to have overstayed his welcome in the Bay. Every night, Draymond strangles an immigrant or spits in a referee’s face and this current team isn’t talented enough to overcome his mental lapses.
Klay Thompson has improved his shooting as the season has gone on but I no longer assume a wide-open Klay Thompson jump shot is going on. Usually when he shoots, my eyes shift to see which players could get his rebound.
Klay is a free agent this summer. Draymond Green is one outburst away from being traded to the Beijing Ducks or becoming a full-time podcaster.
This is the last time we’ll see these 3 Golden State legends play basketball together. We should all take a moment to appreciate them as they get run out of the gym as soon as the playoffs start because they have no chance of getting out of the first round. Shit, there’s like a 99% chance LeBron James and the Lakers Old Yeller them in the play-in.
2. Who will Doc Rivers inevitably throw under the bus?
Death.
Taxes.
Doc Rivers’s team suffering an embarrassing playoff elimination followed by a press conference where Doc sets blame on someone else’s shoulders, dodging any and all responsibility for his team’s failures.
Last week, the Bucs lost to the Wizards, the worst team in the NBA. After the game, Doc blamed the travel crew. My man threw the fucking bus under the bus.
NO ONE IS SAFE.
The Milwaukee Bucks are going to lose in the playoffs. They are old and do not have enough talent to compete.
Doc Rivers will get an opportunity to say something weird when they lose.
Who will be his target? Giannis for not being a good enough leader? Dame Lillard for not playing defense? Brook Lopez for reading too many comics on the team plane?
3. How will these new NBA officiating changes affect the Knicks?
We all noticed the refs decided to stop calling fouls, right? On Tuesday night, the Boston Celtics had zero (0) free throw attempts. Adam Silver watched these guys break the record for most points scored in the All-Star game and turned the foul sliders all the way down.
This is a blessing and a curse for the Knicks.
Defensively, the Knicks just typed the zero-damage cheat code into the Gameshark. New York has a top-10 defense this season. Most of their defensive advantage comes from fouling so often, they dare the refs to blow the whistle every single play which would ruin the game. If the refs aren’t calling fouls anymore, Isaiah Hartenstein and OG Anunoby will put players through a folding table like The Dudley Boys.
However, their offense is hyper-dependent on Jalen Brunson getting into the paint and drawing fouls. A couple weeks ago, Jalen scored 61 points with only 6 free throw attempts against a Spurs team that ranks 4th in fouls committed. Brunson was getting powerbombed into the stanchion every other drive and the refs looked at him like he was pathetic.
4. Who from this next generation will rise to the top?
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic are an under-the-radar team going into the playoffs and Magic fans should appreciate this because as a Knicks fan, I learned how much better life was before Stephen A. Smith was fumbling over the players’ names or WNBA players gang-jumped Jalen Brunson to say he couldn’t win a championship because he’s so teeny weeny.
Magic fans, enjoy being under the radar. The radar sucks.
Banchero has a chance to establish himself as one of the best players in the league. He’d have to at least make it to the second round because no one is watching their first-round series airing at 2pm on VH1 Classic.
Tyrese Haliburton had All-NBA buzz earlier this season before suffering an injury and missing too many games to qualify for awards which for some reason, removed him from the national conversation.
He scored 30 points in 31 minutes against the Raptors on Tuesday night. He could be the best point guard in the NBA and a playoff run will determine that.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander might win the MVP award this year and we’ve never seen him in a playoff series as the no. 1 scoring option. I’d like to see what SGA looks like in a battle with Devin Booker or Luka Doncic with all eyes on them.
Anthony Edwards and Zion Williamson are already super popular stars amongst NBA fans but a playoff run could make them household names in a way where like, your mother knows who Anthony Edwards is.
5. Can the Clippers overcome James Harden
James Harden doesn’t *always* suck in the playoffs but he does, it will be glaring and jaw-dropping. Harden is the only player who could win an MVP award leading the NBA in both points and assists, playing all 82 regular games only for the playoffs to start and he looks like he’s never played basketball before and isn’t interested in the sport at all.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Kawhi Leonard is the best basketball player I’ve ever watched. His postseason performances tattooed that status into my brain. We are about to witness an insane combination of a 2-time Finals MVP and one of the most clutch players in NBA history team up with a guy who gets vertigo as soon as he sees the NBA championship painted on the floor.
6. Is it Luka Doncic time?
We all agree Luka Doncic is one of the best basketball players on the planet and being the best comes with championship expectations.
I personally don’t necessarily care if Luka wins rings. I’d honestly be more excited to see Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies win a ring because of the amazing celebration content we’d get all summer. Ja’s going to be arraigned. But I don’t care if Luka has a bunch of titles on his resume. I don’t work for ESPN. It’s not important.
However, I love watching him play and would look at him sideways if the Mavericks don’t get out of the first round. If he’s one of the best, he needs to prove that in the most important games of the year. Go out there and beat Kawhi Leonard, coward. You’re as good as Jokic and Giannis? Beat them.
7. LeBron James vs. The Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets can become this generation’s Steph Curry and the Warriors. But I don’t feel like that’s super interesting until you pair it with LeBron James trying to sneak a final championship in the waning years of his career only to once again bump his head against a mult-time MVP and his perfectly crafted roster like he did with Golden State and even the Spurs.
Random Stray Thoughts
- The Boston Celtics almost made this list but I couldn’t say their story is one of the ‘biggest’ going into the 2024 NBA Playoffs. If anything, it’s the most boring. You traded Marcus Smart (Chameleon) for Jrue Holiday (Charizard) and added a 7-foot-3 All-Star who averages 20 points a game and shoots 37% from 3. They’ve spent all season beating up the Eastern Conference so if they make the Finals, duh. It’ll be the most boring champion of the last decade.
- Donovan Mitchell’s future is on the line. Or at least, he’s pretending like it is. Donovan isn’t staying in Cleveland, regardless if they win a championship this season. He wants to play in New York. He’s going to be on the Nets. Cleveland could sweep every round and Donovan will request a trade. But I love when athletes plant these stories like winning will keep him in Ohio.
- The Phoenix Suns are trash and have no place taking up any oxygen in playoff discussions. Kevin Durant is washed. It’s over.
What’s the biggest storyline heading into the 2024 NBA playoffs? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.
