What is the Most Fun Possible NBA Playoff Bracket?

With the calendar turning to March, I can officially say the NBA playoffs start next month! This season has flown by, and while the start of the year started off a bit slow, because of the player movement at the trade deadline, it feels like the interest in the NBA has spiked compared to recent years. Thanks to big moves that have reshaped contenders, we should be in for a very exciting postseason.

Because the playoffs are right around the corner, I thought now would be a wonderful time to share what my ideal bracket would look like. Not only do I believe that this bracket gives us competitive matchups throughout the playoffs, but it also features compelling storylines, which will lead to even more excitement throughout the entire playoffs!

Note: These are not predictions, just my dream scenario for the final playoff bracket

East Playoffs

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Orlando Magic

While it may not have been the most viewed playoff series ever, last year, the Cavaliers and Magic delivered a fairly entertaining seven-game first-round series. Sure, the Cavaliers are much better than they were a year ago, and the Magic haven’t been as good as many of us expected heading into the season, but these rosters are still fairly similar to last year. So while I do think Cleveland would win, Orlando should at the very least go into this series believing they can compete with the Cavs.

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Miami Heat

Some might be tired of seeing these teams play each other in the playoffs, but I admire that we still have teams that straight-up hate each other, like the Celtics and Heat do. Boston would and should win this series, but Miami does not fear them like other opponents could come the East playoffs. This would mark the fourth straight postseason the Heat and Celtics would face each other in.

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks

This would by far be the most fascinating matchup of the Eastern Conference first round, as there would be major questions surrounding the future of the loser of this series. If the Bucks go home in the first round for the third straight, would Giannis Antetokounmpo finally decide it is time to leave Milwaukee? If the Knicks lose, how would the front office manage to cope after seemingly going all-in before this year by acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns prior to the season? I totally could see this one going seven, and for me, it would be a coin flip as to who moves on to the second round.

(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Detroit Pistons

The Pacers and Pistons have a history of fierce playoff battles and are currently headed by two of the top young point guards in the NBA, in Indiana's Tyrese Hailburton and Detroit's Cade Cunningham. A first-round matchup between these two teams would be a throwback to one of the NBA's most heated rivalries from the early 2000s. Not only are these teams fun to watch, but can you imagine how intense the crowds would be if the teams take took part in the "Malace at the Palace" play one another this spring? Sign me up!

West Playoffs

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves

Perhaps the two best young guards in basketball would face one another in this series, as for the first time, we would see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go up against Anthony Edwards in a playoff matchup. Edwards' explosive athleticism and SGA's pure scoring ability would make for an exciting matchup, while Minnesota's big frontcourt would try to match OKC's speed and versatility. Who knows, this might be the beginning of a new rivalry in the Western Conference because both clubs are still so young.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

Talk about must-see television! A Lakers-Mavericks playoff series, coming right after the shocking Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis blockbuster trade last month, has the potential to be the most viewed playoff series in NBA history. The drama of Dončić facing his old team so soon after they moved on, coupled with LeBron James eyeing his best chance at a fifth ring, makes for an intense storyline. Then, there’s Kyrie Irving facing the two teammates he went to NBA Finals with in Dončić and James, while Anthony Davis could feast on the Lakers’ size advantage. I could go on, but you get the picture—we NEED this matchup.

(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors

The last time the Nuggets and Warriors played in the playoffs, Golden State wiped the floor with Denver, winning in five games. Three years later, times have changed. Denver's Nikola Jokić is undoubtedly the best player in basketball, and with him, the Nuggets should be contenders for years to come. On the flip side, this very well could be the final run for the once-dominant Warriors dynasty. Golden State seemed lifeless a month ago, but since the Jimmy Butler trade, they've been on a surge. If they manage to creep up to the six-seed, it means they’re playing great basketball. At the All-Star break, Warriors forward Draymond Green claimed his team would win the championship this year. While I don’t think the Warriors are quite that good, if they can somehow limit Jokić and Stephen Curry continues his tear heading into the playoffs, maybe the Warriors could shock the world.

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Houston Rockets

Two of the grittier teams in the Western Conference would likely have a fairly chippy battle if the Grizzlies and Rockets play each other in the playoffs this year, especially with Houston's Dillon Brooks going up against his old team. The young Rockets, led by Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün, would be keen to make a statement of their own, while Brooks would be aiming to prove a point following a messy exit from Memphis.The young Rockets, led by Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün, would be keen to make a statement of their own, while Brooks would be aiming to prove a point following a messy exit from Memphis. Houston's young, up-and-coming core playing Memphis, who is looking to prove they are still an elite team, could lead to an intense battle.