The NBA's inaugural play-in tournament served its intended purposed: it became the topic of league-wide chatter the last month of the season and then produced some compelling games.
But the real playoffs begin on Saturday. Can the Los Angeles Lakers repeat as champions? The Utah Jazz finished with the league's best regular-season record. Does that mean they are ready to make a run to their first title? And what to make of the Nets? Can former champions Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving deliver a championship for Brooklyn?
We asked our NBA experts from around the USA TODAY network for their safe and bold picks for the Eastern and Western conference finals as well as the NBA Finals. Some of their answers may surprise you.
Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: Sixers over Bucks
The Sixers finally breakthrough “The Process” and get to the NBA Finals with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
Bold pick: Heat over Sixers
The defending conference champion Heat and Jimmy Butler can get on a roll and win the East.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Jazz over Lakers
The Jazz have the NBA’s best record, the No. 4 offense, No. 3 defense, stars, depth and coaching.
Bold pick: Nuggets over Jazz
Niklola Jokic carrying Denver to the NBA Finals with Jamal Murray injured would be an amazing story.
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Jazz over Sixers
The No. 1 seeds from each conference haven’t met in the Finals since 2016.
Bold pick: Bucks over Clippers
There would be some wild upsets to get to his point, but both of these teams have the talent to make it that far.
Mark Medina, USA Today
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: Nets over 76ers
Even with injuries, little defense and minimal on-court time, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving are way too talented.
Bold pick: Knicks over Nets
The Knicks have now lived up to what the NBA has always wanted them to be – a championship team instead of a laughing stock.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Clippers
The L.A. rivalry finally happens in a playoff setting, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis reaffirm why the Lakers still rule over this city.
Bold pick: Suns over Jazz
Chris Paul finally shows he can stay durable during the playoffs while leading an inexperienced Suns team to a place it has never been since Charles Barkley squared off against Michael Jordan.
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Nets
In what will be a ratings draw because of the teams’ market and star power, LeBron James wins an NBA title over Kevin Durant for the first time since the Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder nine years ago. A young Durant learned about LeBron’s greatness early in OKC.
Bold pick: Nuggets over Heat
No longer content with just being the feel-good story in the NBA bubble, the Nuggets win an NBA title over a returning Finals team by leaning on the league’s best all-time passing big man (Nikola Jokic).
Matt Eppers, USA Today
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: Sixers over Nets
Philadelphia is one of the few teams with the defenders to throw at Brooklyn’s trio of stars, and Joel Embiid should wreak havoc inside against the Nets frontcourt.
Bold pick: Heat over Sixers
Miami would have to run an absolute gauntlet, but with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo leading the way, the defending East champs have the mettle to do it.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Clippers
We finally get the Staples Center series after the teams circled each other for two seasons, with the Lakers reminding the Clippers what’s what in Los Angeles.
Bold pick: Nuggets over Jazz
Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. have elevated their games without Jamal Murray. If they continue, they can carry the Nuggets to a surprise run to the conference finals.
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Sixers
Points will be at a premium between the league’s top two defenses, and the Lakers have more reliable scorers around stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Bold pick: Nuggets over Bucks
There’s no reason to believe Nikola Jokic won’t continue posting absurd numbers, with the presumptive MVP putting the Nuggets on his back for an improbable title run.
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: Sixers over Nets
Joel Embiid difference maker inside versus Brooklyn’s Big 3.
Bold pick: Hawks over Nets
Nate McMillan pulls off improbable coaching run with Trae Young catching fire.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Clippers
LeBron James, Anthony Davis win Game 7 late to top super talented Clippers.
Bold pick: Suns over Mavericks
Phoenix makes it back to finals for first time in 1993 in fending off Luka Doncic, Mavs.
Can the Suns put up a fight against the Lakers?
SportsPulse: Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic breaks down a first-round series between the Suns and Lakers and what Phoenix has to do to upset L.A.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Sixers
Los Angeles repeats as NBA champions.
Bold pick: Suns over Bucks
With Chris Paul leading the way, Phoenix captures first NBA title after 11-year playoff drought.
Marla Ridenour, Akron Beacon Journal
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: Nets over 76ers
True test of the importance of defense as Nets’ loaded offense puts it all together after injury-plagued season.
Bold pick: Bucks over Knicks.
Bucks better constructed for a 2021 run; Giannis plays like an MVP on a nightly basis.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Jazz
Jazz led the league in 3-pointers made and attempted, but that doesn’t hold up against Lakers’ stifling defense.
Bold pick: Suns over Clippers
Despite their lack of playoff experience, Suns Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton come of age under Chris Paul’s direction.
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Lakers over Nets
As the play-in game against Warriors showed, Playoff LeBron hasn’t lost his magic. Still in prove-it mode with James Harden and an NBA title.
Bold pick: Jazz over Bucks
Disrespected Jazz have a perfect blend of offense and defense and a throwback style that emphasizes balance and teamwork.
J. Michael, Indianapolis Star
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: 76ers over Nets
7-game series with the better defensive team winning.
Bold pick: Bucks over Sixers
The difference between flaming out and making the finals is Jrue Holiday.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Clippers over Suns
Chris Paul is the best MVP candidate but L.A. still has the two best players
Bold pick: Jazz over Nuggets
The two teams that hardly anyone will pick to advance but Utah has the shooters, creators and on big defensive game-changer.
Which Western Conference team faces most pressure to make deep run in NBA playoffs?
SportsPulse: Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic breaks down why the Clippers are feeling the pressure to win a championship in these NBA playoffs.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Nets over Clippers
Big 3 is greater than Big 2, and Brooklyn's depth gives them more paths to victory.
Bold pick: Sixers over Suns
It's not about who has had the best season over 72 games as much as who is playing their best basketball now.
Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: Nets over 76ers
Even at half (or third) strength these two were the best of the East and it makes too much sense to see them square up at full capacity in the East finals.
Bold pick: Bucks over 76ers
The bold thought isn’t just the Bucks beating the 76ers, but in believing they will beat Miami and Brooklyn on the way as well.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Jazz over Suns
Top seeds typically represent make the conference finals, and they typically advance – and these two teams have been the best of the West all year.
Bold pick: Clippers over Lakers
These teams weren’t at full strength all season but the playoffs allow them to find a groove, and perhaps the Lakers run out of gas.
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Jazz over Nets
This iteration of the Nets reminds of the first of the “big three” in Miami, too talented to not make the Finals but a more solid team beats them for the championship.
Bold pick: Bucks over Clippers
The Bucks reshaped the roster and changed their offensive and defensive schemes in a shortened offseason, and it pays off on the 50th anniversary of their first championship.
EVAN BARNES, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Eastern Conference finals
Safe Pick: Bucks over 76ers
Jrue Holiday’s two-way play is the final piece the Bucks need to finally break through to the Finals
Bold Pick: Nets over 76ers
If the Nets’ “Big 3” stays healthy and the chemistry peaks, they’ll overcome defensive concerns and be the last East team standing
Western Conference finals
Safe Pick: Lakers over Jazz
All depends on LeBron James’ ankle but the Lakers’ experience/team defense is hard to bet against
Bold pick: Jazz over Nuggets
Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley get healthy and Utah rides its volume shooting/defense to celebrate its final Finals trip since 1998
NBA Finals
Safe Pick: Lakers over Bucks
A healthy James and Anthony Davis celebrate one more title despite Giannis Antetokounmpo having an 2001 Allen Iverson-like impact in the Finals.
Can the Nets live up to the hype in the NBA playoffs?
SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down two teams at the top of the Eastern Conference who are under pressure to make a deep run in the NBA playoffs.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Bold Pick: Nets over Jazz
Despite all the question marks, the Nets hit a perfect storm of health, offensive balance and wash.
Berry Tramel, Oklahoma City Oklahoman
Eastern Conference finals
Safe pick: Nets over Sixers. Brooklyn has the offense. Philly has the defense. Offense wins these days.
Bold pick: Bucks over Sixers. Jrue Holiday is a difference-maker for Milwaukee. The Bucks traded a deep roster for a deep star roster.
Western Conference finals
Safe pick: Jazz over Lakers. Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles and Donovan Mitchell give the Jazz enough offense, and Utah plays a little defense, too.
Bold pick: Lakers over Jazz. Should my safe and bold be swapped? A 7-seed never has won the West, but this 7-seed has LeBron and Anthony Davis.
NBA Finals
Safe pick: Nets over Jazz. Brooklyn has become Golden State East. The team everyone loves to hate, but mostly unbeatable.
Bold pick: Bucks over Lakers. Fifty years after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar plants a title flag in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo does the same.
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