Ty Previews the 2022 NBA Play-in Games
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I will be doing a full NBA playoff preview when it is fully set. Which leads me to today's piece. Since the NBA playoffs will not be starting until later this week, I will do a preview and prediction for the four play-in games that will be happening tomorrow and Wednesday.
I love the play-in tourney. This was a wildly successful idea. I cannot wait until it becomes a permanent fixture. It makes the first few games so exciting to watch. I think it is the absolute best. I'll start with the East.
The 7-8 features the Brooklyn Nets facing the Cleveland Cavs. This would be a much more fun game if Cleveland was at full health. Unfortunately Jarrett Allen isn't likely to play, and that will be the ultimate downfall for the Cavs. They need his rim protection. Evan Mobley is good. He will be the ROY. But he is not ready to be a full time rim protector yet. Darius Garland is good, but Kyrie Irving, whom I loathe, is more prepared for this stage. Kevin Love has been great, but he is a zero on defense. And Caris Levert is trying to come back from yet another injury. Oh, and the Nets have a fully healthy KD. As much as I'd love to see the Cavs win, and they could, I just do not think it will happen. KD is too awesome, the Cavs are not full and the game is in Brooklyn. The Nets will win and clinch the 7 seed.
The 9-10 game is going to be a score fest. The Hornets and Hawks do not play a whole lot of defense, but man oh man do both teams score. The Hornets love to run up and down the floor and bomb threes. LaMelo Ball finds open guys, Miles Bridges is a better creator and Kelly Oubre is a microwave off the bench. As for the Hawks, Trae Young is wonderful. He is an offensive wizard. Clint Capela is an excellent rim runner and rebounder. Bogdan Bogdanovich is a scorer off the bench. Deandre Hunter is a solid three and d guy. The Hawks have scorers. They also have more experience. And they have been on fire lately. The Hornets are on the come up, but not yet. The Hawks will win this game.
With the Cavs getting beat, and the Hawks beating Charlotte, that means they will face off for the 8 seed. I would love to see the Cavs win this game and make the playoffs, but they will not. They just do not have enough guys, and no one to fully protect the rim. And the Hawks are on a bit of a tear lately. They will grab that 8 seed and make a return trip to the playoffs.
Now we head to the West.
The 7-8 game is going to be fun and I have an interest since the winner will be facing the Grizz in round one. The Timberwolves are the 7, and they are a very good offensive team with a somewhat serviceable defense. KAT has also taken a leap. So has Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves are young, but they are confident. The Clippers found a way to get in without Kawhi all year and with PG missing more than half the season. The utility guys have made the most of the season and Ty Lue has coached one hell of a year. And, as much as I'd hate to see the Clippers in round one, I do think that will be the Grizzlies first round opponent. I think the Clippers, with all the veteran leadership, will find a way to grind this game to a halt and win.
The 9-10 game features the Spurs and Pelicans. This game will be a ton of fun to watch for the young talent on both squads. I think neither one of these teams thought they'd be here, but they are and they have a game to play. I like what the Pelicans have done this year too. They started real slow, 3-16, but they have found a way to turn it around somewhat. And I think the CJ McCollum trade was great. The Spurs probably had no desire to be here, but they found a way. And they are getting their guys back. Dejounte Murray is back. Josh Primo is healthy. Devin Vassell is playing well. This Spurs team is young and they are playing with house money, and I think they will win this game. The Pelicans are very inconsistent and the Spurs have the best coach to ever coach in the NBA. He will devise a game plan to find a way to win.
So that leaves us with the Spurs and Timberwolves fighting for the 8th spot. The Spurs have had an odd and fun year, but this is where it all ends. The Timberwolves are a better team and they really, really, really want to get in the playoffs. That is not to say the Spurs don't, but the Timberwolves need to get in the playoffs. And they will and their reward will be the best team in the NBA.
So I have the Nets as the 7 and Hawks as the 8 in the East. In the West I have the Clippers as the 7 and the Timberwolves as the 8. Again, I love this play-in tourney and I cannot wait to watch. Bring it on.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.