We made it. After 175 days and 1230 games we have finally made it to the Play-In Tournament. Where Seeds 7-10 in each conference play to try and get into the playoffs. The Number 7 and 8 seeds will play and the WINNER gets the 7th seed. The LOSER goes ahead and plays the WINNER of the 9-10 game. So, the 9-10 game is an elimination game while the 7-8 game is not an elimination game. Does that make sense? Here is a breakdown and prediction of each game.
7. Nets vs 8. Cavaliers, Tuesday 7:00 on TNT
In the first play-in game the 44-38 Nets take on the 44-38 Cavaliers. These 2 teams played on Friday, a 118-107 Brooklyn win. The Cavaliers have a lot of injuries, including one to All-Star center Jarrett Allen, while the Nets have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on their team. If Cleveland is going to win they will need big games out of Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, and Evan Mobley. The Nets also do not play good defense so that part should not scare Cleveland, but containing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is not something I envision them doing.
My Pick: Nets
Cleveland has not played good basketball ever since losing Jarrett Allen. The Nets have arguably the best player in the NBA and another guard who can score whenever he wants. Even though Brooklyn does not play enough defense, the Cavs do not have the horses to match up with the Nets offensively.
7. Timberwolves vs 8. Clippers, Tuesday 9:30 on TNT
In the second game on Tuesday the 46-36 Timberwolves take on the 42-40 Clippers. The 6th rated Timberwolves offense against the 8th rated Clippers defense will be fascinating to watch. Can the Clippers bigs contain Karl-Anthony Towns well enough to make the Wolves wings and guards to be the guys who make enough plays to win, which against the length the Clippers have will be a challenge. On the other side, do the Wolves have enough defensive players to find ways to stop guys like Paul George and Reggie Jackson? Will George have a game where the Timberwolves are searching for answers?
My Pick: Timberwolves
I think that Karl-Anthony Towns is too much for the Clippers to handle and has a monster game. The Wolves having Patrick Beverly is a big deal as he can guard Reggie Jackson instead of if the Clippers still had him, they traded him in the offseason, he would guard D’Angelo Russell. I think Anthony Edwards gives the Wolves enough offense to try and keep up with Paul George that the Wolves win this game.
9. Hawks vs 10. Hornets, Wednesday 7:00 on ESPN
LaMelo Ball vs Trae Young in an elimination game is going to be must-see TV. The Hawks were expected to be a top contender in the East coming into the season, but that has not happened. In what turned out to be an extremely deep Eastern Conference, the Hawks are 43-39 and need 2 wins to make the playoffs. The Hornets are a good team, winning 43 games in the East is usually good enough to make the playoffs, but this year it wasn’t and they are facing an Atlanta team that was in the Eastern Conference Finals last season on the road, without one of their best players in Gordon Hayward.
My Pick: Hawks
I just do not think the Hornets 22nd ranked defense will be able to hang with the Hawks 2nd rated offense. Charlotte does not have anyone to guard Trae Young and will not be able to outscore the Hawks because Atlanta has so much offensive firepower.
9. Pelicans vs 10. Spurs, Wednesday 9:30 on ESPN
The race for tenth in the West became whoever sucked the least, and then the Spurs started to play good basketball winning 7 of 8 to clinch a play-in spot. The Pelicans have been a .500 team on the season since starting 1-12, and have been just over .500 since starting 3-16. New Orleans have a more talented roster, even with missing Zion Williamson, with C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram as their 2 leading scorers, while San Antonio is going to want to muck the game up and try and make it a dog fight, something that I am not sure the Pelicans are ready for.
My Pick: Pelicans
I wanted to pick the Spurs but I just think the Pelicans are too talented. Having McCollum, Ingram, and Jonas Valanciunas on their team gives New Orleans the edge in talent against a Spurs team that has been subtracting talent over the last year for future assets.
If you are wondering, the results of these games would lead to, Hawks at Cavaliers and Pelicans at Clippers on Friday (I would pick the Hawks and Clippers). The postseason has arrived and the Play-In Tournament should be fun to watch, people who don’t like it are super weird, and let’s all sit back and enjoy the next 2 months. Also, there being no games on Thursday is a crime.
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