A Clippers-Thunder game in the 2024 NBA playoffs would be marked by juicy storylines.
Periodically, NBA.com editors will offer their thoughts on key storylines or hot topics around the league.
THE NBA Playoffs are officially a month away. What would be your dream playoff game?
Steve Aschburner
Celtics-Bucks. OK, so any intra-Eastern Conference series could be considered a mismatch given the Celtics’ dominance thus far. But the reset button on the playoffs and what would likely be the third round, the East Finals, could then put them on equal footing. We even get a sneak peek tonight of TD Garden (7:30 a.m. ET, ESPN).
And let’s face it, that came to everyone’s minds on October 1, the day Portland redirected former Bucks guard Jrue Holiday to Boston. The proud Holiday, a painful giveaway from Milwaukee in its surprise trade for Damian Lillard, has probably dreamed of this series all season.
Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will then be at their best in their 1-2 combo and Khris Middleton should be healthy – or bust. With a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, this would be a must-see.
Brian Martin
Sun Nuggets. Phoenix was the only team to beat Denver multiple times during the Nuggets’ 2023 title run. Thanks to a pair of epic plays from Devin Booker and Kevin Durant – combining for 86 points in Game 3 and 72 in Game 4 – the 2023 Western Conference semifinals were tied after four games.
After adding Bradley Beal, Phoenix now has three dynamic scorers to throw at Denver in hopes that two, if not all three, can ignite together and beat the Nuggets four times in a best-of-seven series.
One problem: we haven’t seen this match yet. Booker missed Phoenix’s win earlier this month, while Booker and Beal were sidelined during Phoenix’s loss in December. Hopefully we’ll see both teams fully healthy in their final regular season meeting next Wednesday and also get a rematch in the playoffs.
Shaun Powell
Clippers-Thunder. There’s a time-honored sports tradition of players mustering a little extra energy against a team that traded them, dumped them, or for whatever reason parted ways with them. With that said, I present to you Clippers vs Thunder – also known as “Hey, Remember Me?” series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. a Clippers team who sacrificed him after signing Kawhi Leonard because Leonard didn’t think he was ready? James Harden against a Thunder team that refused to pay him what he wanted (which broke three future MVPs in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook)? Paul George against a Thunder team that… well, OK, Paul George asked out, so no animosity there, but still.
Given that the Clippers are win now and OKC is built for longer term but positioned to win now, this would be interesting. And entertaining.
John Schumann
Sunwolves. With all the star power and considering such contrasts in styles, any matchup between the top 10 teams in the West should be great. The Suns are particularly intriguing because they are all-in for a championship, but have had a disappointing regular season. Their stars are all under contract for at least two more seasons, but Kevin Durant is 35 and Bradley Beal has struggled to stay healthy.
Wolves are under some pressure due to the high price of their squad next season. It’s also their best opportunity to earn the franchise’s first series win since 2004. On the field, you have the team that leads the league in pull-up 2-pointers (the Suns) against a favorite Kia Defensive Player of the Year (Rudy Gobert) who would prefer to stay in the paint and protect the rim. Additionally, it would be interesting to see if the Suns played small ball with Durant at the five.
Michael C. Wright
Celtics-Nuggets. You have the defending champions led by reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and a playoff-proven player in Jamal Murray, taking on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and a Celtics team that dominated the 2023-24 regular season.
Boston has plenty of playoff experience. But Tatum is starting to carry a reputation as a player who falters on the big stage. Will he finally be able to overcome this obstacle? Can the Celtics guard duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White lock down Murray?
Can the resurgent Kristaps Porzingis handle Jokic? Is Denver’s squad complete enough to resist the Celtics over a seven-game series? The Nuggets have beaten Boston twice this season. So the Celtics won’t need any motivation for what would be a tough dogfight.
