The NBA playoffs are finally here and basketball fans all over Asia are gearing up to follow what should be an intense and unpredictable postseason. To help you track all the action, we’ve put together an easy-to-use, printable bracket that you can use to fill in your picks and follow along as the drama unfolds.
Western Conference First Round
First up in the Western Conference, we have the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers taking on the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers. LeBron James will be looking to lead the Lakers deep into the playoffs, but Damian Lillard and the Blazers could prove to be a tough matchup.
The No. 2 seed Los Angeles Clippers will take on the seventh-seeded Dallas Mavericks in what should be another exciting series. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will look to lead the Clippers to a deep playoff run, but Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis will be looking to pull off the upset.
Over in the third-seeded Denver Nuggets vs. sixth-seeded Utah Jazz matchup, fans will be treated to a battle of two of the league’s most exciting young players in Nikola Jokic and Donovan Mitchell.
Finally, in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup, the Houston Rockets will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in what should be a high-scoring affair. James Harden and Russell Westbrook will be looking to lead the Rockets deep into the playoffs, while Chris Paul will be looking to turn his former team against themselves.
Eastern Conference First Round
In the Eastern Conference, the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks will take on the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be looking to lead the Bucks to their first championship since 1971, but the Magic will be looking to pull off the upset.
The Toronto Raptors, the defending NBA champions, will take on the Brooklyn Nets in the No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup. Despite the loss of Kawhi Leonard and some key injuries, the Raptors have once again proven themselves to be a tough team to beat.
Over in the third-seeded Boston Celtics vs. sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers matchup, fans will be treated to a battle of two of the league’s most storied franchises. Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker will be looking to lead the Celtics to the championship, while the 76ers will be looking to spoil their dreams.
Finally, in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup, the Indiana Pacers will take on the Miami Heat in what should be a closely contested series. Despite the loss of superstar Victor Oladipo earlier in the season, the Pacers have proven to be a resilient team this year.
Semi-Finals
Assuming the favorites advance, the Western Conference semi-finals could feature a battle of Los Angeles, with the Lakers facing off against the Clippers. The Nuggets and Rockets should also make for an entertaining series.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks will likely take on one of the Celtics or Raptors, while the Heat and Pacers could provide an upset or two along the way.
Conference Finals
Assuming the favorites advance, the Western Conference Finals could be one of the most exciting matchups we’ve seen in years, with the Lakers or Clippers taking on the Nuggets or Rockets. Over in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks will likely be favorites to advance to the finals.
The NBA Finals
Assuming the favorites advance to the NBA Finals, the matchup could feature two of the league’s most exciting players, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the Bucks against either LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard.
Of course, in a league as unpredictable as the NBA, anything could happen on the road to the championship. Be sure to fill out your bracket and tune in to all the action as the 2020 NBA playoffs get underway.
