The NBA (and NHL) playoffs start today! As usual, I wanted to take a quick look at each matchup through a lens of their records and net, offensive, and defensive ratings, per NBA.com.
#1 Celtics (64-18, +11.7, #1 O, #2 D) vs. #8 Heat (46-36, +1.8, #21 O, #5 D)
Celtics in 5.
#2 Knicks (50-32, +4.9, #7 O, #9 D) vs. #7 76ers (47-35, +3.1, T-#13 O, #11 D)
Knicks in 6.
#3 Bucks (49-33, +2.6, #6 O, #19 D) vs. #6 Pacers (47-35, +2.9, #2 O, #24 D)
Pacers in 6.
#4 Cavaliers (48-34, +2.5, #16 O, #7 D) vs. #5 Magic (47-35, +2.2, #22 O, #3 D)
Cavs in 6.
#1 Thunder (57-25, +7.3, #3 O, #4 D) vs. #8 Pelicans (49-33, +4.6, #11 O, #6 D)
Thunder in 6.
#2 Nuggets (57-25, +5.5, #5 O, #8 D) vs. #7 Lakers (47-35, +0.6, #15 O, #17 D)
Nuggets in 5.
#3 Timberwolves (56-26, +6.3, #17 O, #1 D) vs. #6 Suns (49-33, +3.1, #10 O, T-#12 D)
Suns in 6.
#4 Clippers (51-31, +3.4, #4 O, #16 D) vs. #5 Mavericks (50-32, +2.1, #8 O, #18 D)
Mavs in 7.
