NBA Playoffs Getting Intense

Date: Wednesday May 10, 2023

Writer: Anthony Iles

The quarterfinals matchups in the NBA Playoffs are intense. So far, it has been a good NBA playoffs this season,

In the Eastern Conference we have the #5 New York Knicks vs #8 Miami Heat and #2 Boston Celtics vs #3 Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat are up 3 games to 1 on the Knicks. If the Heat close out their game vs Knicks tonight they will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. I think the experience of the Heat will help them accomplish that. It is nice to see the Knicks finally make the playoffs but if you are a Knicks fan you must be disappointed they have fallen down 3-1. The Celtics vs 76ers is a close matchup with 76ers leading the series 3-2. They play Thursday night. If the Celtics win they will force a game 7 vs 76ers. If the 76ers win they will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

In the Wester Conference we have the #7 Lakers vs #6 Warriors. The Lakers have taken charge of the series and lead 3-1. They play tonight. If the Lakers win they will make it to the Western Conference Finals. If the Warriors can lock don on defense in the 4th quarters of these games they would be ties 2-2. The defending champs need to play their A game to get the W and get the series to 3-2 and add pressure on the Lakers. The other matchup is the #4 Suns vs #1 Nuggets. Denver leads this series 3-2. The Suns have had their opportunities but every other game they give it away. They play tomorrow night and will need the W to force game 7. Based off how the series is going so far, the Suns will win to get to game 7.

This is an exciting week for these playoffs. Every team remaining except for the Celtics and Warriors have a “UK” player on their playoff roster:

Knicks: PF Julius Randle & SG Immanuel Quickly

Miami: PF Bam Adebayo & PG Tyler Herro

Boston Celtics: 0

76ers: PG Tyrese Maxey

Lakers: PF Jarred Vanderbilt & C Anthony Davis

Warriors: 0

Denver: PG Jamal Murray

Suns: SG Devin Booker

*Other notable NBA teams having UK players that were in the playoffs were:

Timberwolves: C Karl-Anthony Towns

Thunder: PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & C Olivier Sarr

Kings: PG De’Aaron Fox; PF Trey Lyles; & SG Malik Monk