The NBA common season has concluded. The highest six seeds in every convention will now get pleasure from every week off as they start making ready for what they hope will probably be a championship push. Nevertheless, there are additionally eight groups, 4 in every convention, which can be nonetheless combating for playoff rivalry.
The NBA play-in match has been an enormous success in recent times. And now, basketball followers look set to get pleasure from one other spherical of high-stakes basketball earlier than the postseason really will get underway.
With that mentioned, let us take a look at a number of the storylines hovering over every Western Convention play-in sport.
Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks (Wednesday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Kings
- The Kings eradicated the Golden State Warriors in the course of the 2024 play-in match. They’ll now be seeking to do the identical to the Dallas Mavericks.
- Sacramento has rather a lot to show after firing Mike Brown this season. Brown had overseen the most effective durations in latest Kings historical past earlier than being dismissed.
- After buying and selling away De’Aaron Fox on the Feb. 6 commerce deadline, all eyes will probably be on Zach LaVine and his means to steer the Kings as the first scorer on the roster.
- DeMar DeRozan’s debut season with Sacramento has underwhelmed. The veteran ahead might redeem himself with an enormous efficiency.
- Sacramento is 3-0 in opposition to the Mavericks this season.
Mavericks
- Dallas is with out Kyrie Irving, who suffered a season-ending ACL harm earlier this 12 months. Irving’s harm was a hammer blow to the group.
- This would be the Mavericks’ first playoff (play-in) sport since buying and selling Luka Doncic. The fan morale is extremely low; a loss might pile the strain on Dallas’ entrance workplace.
- Anthony Davis has been adjusting to life in Dallas underneath tough circumstances. He isn’t Doncic, and the fanbase might develop pissed off with him if he would not showcase his All-NBA upside in opposition to an inconsistent Kings group.
- The Mavericks had been NBA Finalists final season. The truth that they’re within the play-in match a 12 months later is indicative of a tricky season on the courtroom.
- Klay Thompson is coming into his first playoff run whereas not sporting a Warriors jersey. His ground spacing will probably be integral to the Mavericks’ possibilities of success. The Kings rank last within the NBA for defensive 3-point subject objective share.
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies (Tuesday, April 15 at 10 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV/Max)
Warriors
- Jimmy Butler has vital expertise in play-in match video games and is a confirmed winner in knock-out conditions. He provides the Warriors a dimension they had been missing this time final season.
- The Warriors’ late-game execution has been a problem all season, and it allow them to down once more in opposition to the LA Clippers on Sunday, April 13. Steve Kerr will probably be hoping the Grizzlies do not pressure a good sport within the clutch.
- Jonathan Kuminga’s lack of taking part in time on Sunday is an enormous matter of dialog amongst Warriors followers. It will likely be fascinating to see whether or not Kerr and his teaching employees belief the explosive ahead in such a high-stakes sport. Their choice will inform us rather a lot about Kuminga’s upcoming restricted free company.
- The Warriors are 23-7 with Butler within the rotation.
- Golden State has received three of its 4 video games in opposition to the Grizzlies in the course of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Grizzlies
- Memphis made the shock choice to fireplace Taylor Jenkins with simply weeks left earlier than the playoffs. Can they nonetheless navigate the play-in match with all of the upheaval behind the scenes?
- Ja Morant continues to get himself into hassle. First, it was hand gestures denoting a gun, after which a grenade. Can he keep on the courtroom for his group’s most essential sport of the season?
- Does Memphis have the expertise and need to match the Warriors? Butler, Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced will all be coming to grab a victory.
- Golden State’s lack of dimension has typically been a problem this 12 months. Can Zach Edey stamp his authority on the sport early and management the boards?
- Will the younger Grizzlies strategy the sport with urgency, understanding they are going to have one other shot to qualify attributable to ending with the eighth seed?
