The NBA playoffs are where the top 16 teams in the NBA are put against each other for a chance to win the NBA championship. Teams work hard all year to try and get a chance to play in the playoffs and ultimately a chance at the championship. The NBA regular season is closing and the playoffs will be starting soon which means it is time to start making predictions on who will be in and who will fall short.  At the end of the season, the top six seeds are cemented in the playoffs but the 7-10 seeds play in a play-in tournament to try and secure the seventh and eighth seeds. 

The LA Lakers who were once a 12 seed have now battled back into the top 10 and are fighting for a playoff berth as the season closes. Lebron James and Anthony Davis are leading the way for the Lakers, but ultimately it comes down to if they can stay healthy, NBC Los Angeles said in an article, “Ultimately, the Lakers playoff chances will depend on how many games James and Davis can stay on the court, and how many of the teams in front of them they can beat head-to-head to leapfrog them in the standings.”

One of the biggest buzzes in the NBA lately is the trade of superstar Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, but unfortunately for Durant and the Suns, he has been unavailable most games since the trade due to injuries. If the Suns make a run for their first-ever championship in franchise history, they will need Durant to be healthy. Monty Williams, head coach of the Phoenix Suns, made a statement about Durant saying, “He’s the hardest worker I’ve been around,” Williams said after the trade was finalized. “The love for the game, the approach to the game, getting up early, staying late, all that stuff, even as a young guy, a superstar, he’s always had that approach.” Durant is a superstar in this league and will make the Suns a force to be reckoned with, and we will see if the Suns can make a deep run in the playoffs with Durant. 

The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now and in an article by FOX Sports, they stated, “The Milwaukee Bucks currently sit tied for second on the title odds board at +400. But Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injured wrist could sidetrack the Bucks as they pursue their second title in three seasons.” The Bucks will be a team to watch as we head into the post-season and their success could fall in the hands of all-star and former two-time MVP Giannis Antetokumpo.

As the season comes to an end the battle for the last playoff spots starts. Some teams like the Mavericks, Timberwolves, Thunder, and Jazz will be ones to watch as they all battle for the last playoff spots in the West.