The 2023 play-in tournament is set to take place April 11-14, just two weeks away. The Eastern Conference is full of powerhouses, with the Western Conference extremely tight. Let’s take a look at the play-in picture as of today.
Eastern Conference
(9) Toronto Raptors vs. (10) Chicago Bulls: Chicago is just half a game behind Toronto, and I believe they will beat them in a series. Neither team has looked like a playoff-caliber team, but we have seen the Bulls win some big games this season. This has much to do with their stars, Demar DeRozan and Zach Lavine. DeRozan is averaging 25 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists this season. Lavine averages 25.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. I think Chicago’s roster has much more experience than Toronto, which will give them the edge.
(7) Miami Heat vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks: Miami has not had an ideal season, but I think the fire and style of play that brought them to the Eastern Conference Finals last season will get them the win against Atlanta. Miami had not made many roster changes from last season until Kevin Love’s recent addition. I think he can come into his role in Miami and play well among Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and the rest of the Heat roster. A win in this series would earn Miami the 7th seed in the playoffs. They would then face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks: If things go as I expect, look for Chicago and Atlanta to play for the eighth seed. Atlanta may not have an excellent record but don’t underestimate the Hawks. Trae Young has been averaging 26.6 points per game, 3.1 rebounds, and ten assists per game. He could easily keep this scoring up and ramp it up for the postseason. That said, he will need teammate Dejounte Murray to come alive scoring. This will probably be a long series, but I still give the Bulls the edge. As the eighth seed, Chicago would face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.
Western Conference
(9) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (10) Oklahoma City Thunder: These two teams have the same record, so they must battle it out to advance in the tournament. I have been preaching about the value of experience, but I think OKC (the less experienced team) will outplay the Lakers and take the series. LeBron James and Anthony Davis returned from injury on Sunday, March 26, and while the strength of this duo is undeniable, the Lakers have not had much success this season. The Thunder is a young but extremely talented team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had a standout season, averaging 31.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
(7) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans: I do not doubt Minnesota will take this series. Karl Anthony-Towns recently returned from injury, adding even more size to this roster alongside Rudy Gobert. The Wolves have seen this impact in rebounding battles, but KAT is also a big man who can hit threes, which makes him extremely hard to defend. Anthony Edwards has also had a big season, averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. New Orleans’ Zion Williams is averaging 26 points, seven rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game but has struggled to stay healthy. He is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, and without him, I do not see how New Orleans can win. If this series goes as I expect, Minnesota will be the seventh seed and face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Without Zion, these teams seem to be a fair matchup. Oklahoma City may not have the best record, but this team is exceptionally talented. It will take some time to build up to a playoff-caliber team, especially when you look at some of the super teams in this league. The Thunder have a lot of upcoming draft pics, but I think they need a strong veteran to elevate this team. However, I still believe OKC will take the series and the eighth seed with it. They will then face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
