The NBA postseason got underway this week with the NBA Play-In Tournament, one of the many experiments by the league to find ways to up viewership. There are a few things NBA fans, however, aren’t enjoying about this new format. For starters, there are simply too many teams making the postseason. In what other league do teams with losing records compete for a championship? Play-in tournament included, 20 of the 30 teams in the league make it into the playoffs. It just feels watered down. The next issue arises in the matchups, you will get one of two scenarios that are both negatives for viewers. You either get a blowout like we saw Wednesday night in the 19-point blowout in the Heat vs. Bulls game, or you get a thriller like the OT finish in the Heat vs. Hawks game, leaving fans wishing that series was just more than one game.
But now, we are past the play-in’s and onto the real thing. Many intriguing matchups across the league this weekend, one of which being the Timberwolves facing off with the star-studded Lakers.
If you are a fan of the NBA, you will remember where you were when the news broke of Luka Doncic inexplicably getting traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. The only comparison I could make in NFL terms would be the Bills trading Josh Allen for Kirk Cousins, it just made no sense. But the powers at be now see the Lakers as the three-seed with a 50-32 record hosting Minnesota in what should be one of the closer series across the league.
The Timberwolves sit at 49-33 as the six-seed, and aren’t lacking in the “superstar” department either. Anthony Edwards has elevated himself to one of the elite players in the NBA, and was “must-see TV” since the day he played his first collegiate game at Georgia. Minnesota plays a fun brand of basketball, and it all starts with Edwards.
Most of the first round matchups in the NBA postseason aren’t that exciting. Most series ending 4-1, and that one win usually comes when the team is facing a do-or-die game. That comes from what I mentioned before, there’s too many teams in the playoffs. However, this Lakers vs. Timberwolves matchup doesn’t fit that mold. This series could go 7 games, and will likely have thrillers all the way throughout. In the regular season series between these two, both went 2-2 with the T-Wolves outscoring LA 427-372. Again, this series should have you getting the popcorn ready.
The series tonight tips off at 7:30 CT on ABC.
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