Every year the NBA postseason stretch seems to have its fair share of exciting moments and shocking upsets.
After second-seeded Boston lost their star player Kyrie Irving due to a season-ending knee injury, the Eastern Conference was shaken up.
Toronto has the top spot for the first time in franchise history and the Sixers won 17 straight games. Pretty exciting for a conference that typically defers to the West.
The playoffs began two weeks ago, and so far the top four teams in the Eastern Conference are a combined 11-7. Philadelphia is the first to clinch a series win as they beat Miami 104-91 to win on Tuesday night.
Cleveland forward LeBron James, a former NBA Finals MVP, has averaged 32.5 points per-game, 11.8 rebounds per-game and eight assists during the team’s series against Indiana. Over the past four post-seasons, when James scores 30 or more points in a game, the Cavaliers are a combined 26-5.
As for the Western Conference, after winning 14 out of their 17 remaining regular season games, Houston finished with the best record at 65 wins, and is playing Minnesota. Houston can wrap up that series on Wednesday night.
New Orleans’ center Anthony Davis leads the league so far in the playoffs in terms of points per-game with 33. He’s also the leader in blocks per-game and field goals.
Over the past nine NBA Finals, the Western Conference has won the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy six times. The last time the Eastern Conference has won three or more consecutive championships was from 1996-98, done by Michael Jordan’s Bulls.
If Cleveland and the Warriors meet again this June, it’ll be the first time that the same two teams square off four years in a row in the Finals.
If Philadelphia goes the distance, it will not only end their 25 year championship drought, but tie them with Chicago for third-most championships. Boston holds the record and, if they win it all, would push them two championships ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for most rings, with 18.
Minnesota, New Orleans, Indiana, Toronto and Utah are all without championships, as the Pelicans, Timberwolves and Raptors are the only teams without a Finals appearance.
Will unfamiliar teams like Toronto run away with it? Can anyone keep up with Golden State and their fast-paced offense?
The remainder of the post-season should be a fun roller coaster ride for NBA fans.
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