2022 NBA Playoffs First Round Preview

A small glimpse into all eight first round matchups, plus predictions.

These 2022 NBA Playoffs are full of intrigue. Realistically, there are about seven teams who should believe that they can win it all in June. Two of those teams play in round one, and the collision course matchups will soon follow. That’s what makes this year so fun! Monster semi-finals and conference finals match-ups are waiting to be seen. We’ve got to get through the first round first, so let’s take a look.

Western Conference

(1) Phoenix Suns (64-18) vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans (36-46)

Phoenix feels like a team of destiny (and revenge) as they should be prohibited favorites to come out of the West. Their offense is a machine that doesn’t change for any opponent and they have a bunch of competitors on defense, along with a defensive player of the year candidate in forward Mikal Bridges.

New Orleans, originally the nine seed, creeped into the playoffs following wins over the Spurs and Clippers in the Play-in tournament. Props to first year coach Willie Green for rallying a team that started 1-12 to now a team who’s looking to build off of this season.

Matchup wise, New Orleans just isn’t deep enough to contend with Phoenix’s talent over the length of the series. To be fair, not many teams are.

Prediction: Suns in 4.

(2) Memphis Grizzlies (56-26) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36)

These two rosters are mirrors of each other. These are the top two teams in scoring (Minnesota one, Memphis two) and both are top five in pace. Memphis led the league in steals (9.8) and blocks (6.5) all while missing star guard Ja Morant for 25 games. Memphis feels like a contender right now while Minnesota is a year away or so.

Prediction: Grizzlies in 5.

(3) Golden State Warriors (53-29) vs. (6) Denver Nuggets (48-34)

All signs point to Warriors guard Stephen Curry returning from a foot injury to play in game one, and we finally get to see him, guard Klay Thompson, and forward Draymond Green play significant playoff minutes together. Just like the good ol’ days. If you haven’t seen much of guard Jordan Poole, you’ll be in for a treat.

It’s almost laughable that the Nuggets made it to 48 wins this year, because everyone outside of Center Nikola Jokic, that roster is below average, at best. There’s a reason why Jokic will win his second consecutive MVP and let’s just enjoy his greatness as long as we’re able to see him on the floor this season.

Prediction: Warriors in 6. 

(4) Dallas Mavericks (52-30) vs. Utah Jazz (49-33)

It seems unlikely that Dallas superstar guard Luka Doncic plays in game one due to a calf injury sustained in the last game of the regular season, and that throws a loop in this entire equation.

Utah’s main core of guard Donovan Mitchell, Center Rudy Gobert, and Head Coach Quin Snyder seem to be on its’ last legs. At least one of those seems to be on the way out this off-season, if not two. All that is on top of this teams’ seemingly lack of mental toughness in close games and overall, just doesn’t look like they have fun playing together. 

Dallas’ supporting cast is more connected with the likes of guard Jalen Brunson, forwards Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dwight Powell just to name a few, but this series will come down to how many games Doncic is forced to miss before he comes back, presumably at less than 100%.

Prediction: If Luka misses just one game, Mavericks in 6. If Luka misses more than one, Jazz in 6. 

Eastern Conference

(1) Miami Heat (53-29) vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks (43-39)

After the Miami Heat tried to fight each other on March 23rd in a frustrating loss against an undermanned Golden State Warriors, they rallied to win six of their last seven to gain momentum heading into this postseason. Guard Jimmy Butler and Center Bam Adebayo can carry this team on both sides of the ball, while guard Kyle Lowry brings additional leadership and playmaking that will make them a tough out versus anyone they face.

Atlanta, like New Orleans, started as a nine seed and won two games in the Play-in tournament (Charlotte, Cleveland) to enter this postseason. I would imagine guard Trae Young sees a lot of Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, along with a bunch of traps on pick and roll offense.

Prediction: Heat in 5.

(2) Boston Celtics (51-31) vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets (44-38)

A titanic first-round matchup. Boston has the best record in the East since January 1st and is simply blowing teams out. Guard Marcus Smart is a Defensive Player of the year candidate/favorite, leads their defense, and will see plenty of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this series.

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has to be at least the second-best player in this series for them to win. For Brooklyn, I’m looking at Bruce Brown, their 6’4 do-all-the-dirty-work forward to not only spread the floor offensively but to be a pest and a difference-maker on defense.

There have been rumblings we could see both Nets guard Ben Simmons and Celtics center Robert Williams return from injury this series, only adding to the drama.

Prediction: Nets in 7.

(3) Milwaukee Bucks (51-31) vs. (6) Chicago Bulls (46-36)

Chicago started out red hot to begin this season with a 26-10 record. Since then, they’re 20-26 and without guard Lonzo Ball, simply aren’t a good team on either side of the court. Guards Demar Derozan and Zach Lavine play too much of a ‘my turn, your turn’ offense where it’s very predictable on how to stop them.

Milwaukee is on a mission to repeat as NBA champions and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has another postseason to show why he’s the best player in the world. Milwaukee is too balanced offensively with guards Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, along with them being able to switch defensively, thanks in part to the greatness of Antetokounmpo. I don’t see this series being very close. 

Prediction: Bucks in 4.

(4) Philadelphia 76ers (51-31) vs. (5) Toronto Raptors (48-34)

There are no amount of words that can explain the giddiness that I feel when just thinking about this series.

It will be war. 

For Philadelphia, Toronto has no real answer for center Joel Embiid over a seven-game series.

On the other hand, Toronto has a multitude of wings for guard James Harden to make his life difficult, whose performances to end the season has already been much to be desired.

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam has played out of his mind the last couple of weeks, but their offensive consistency may come down to guard Fred Van Fleet, who’s been battling knee issues, and rookie Scottie Barnes, whose incredible consistency on both ends has him in the Rookie of the Year race.

Oh, and it may be Doc Rivers’s last time coaching for the 76ers, as Toronto coach Nick Nurse is on another level compared to Rivers’ old school lineups. Their chess moves against each other could very well swing this series that should be very close.

Prediction: Raptors in 7.

Enjoy the first round as much as I will!