The NBA Playoffs are underway, and you probably forgot about the fact that some families were already quarreling. They were quarreling about who to root for when a family member faces another family member in the postseason. Actually, there were already two instances of this scenario happening this year, and a few more could occur if everything falls into place. Let us recap all the family feuds that were possible before the postseason began.
Rivers-Curry Clash
The Philadelphia 76ers eliminated the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, and it is safe to say that things probably got weird between the Rivers family and the Curry family. Coach Doc Rivers of the Sixers had to coach against Brooklyn’s Seth Curry, his son-in-law. Even before the series started, Rivers admitted that talking about the situation with family was kind of awkward.
Alexander Clash
Another family that had to face some awkwardness was the Alexander family. When the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Play-In Tournament, it was really a battle between two cousins. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker faced each other, but it was the Timberwolves, Nickeil’s team, that earned the right to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Was Shai secretly rooting for the Nuggets so his cousin would get eliminated too?
Lopez Clash
The Milwaukee Bucks could face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, and if that happens, we get to see a Lopez rivalry. We are talking about Robin Lopez (Cavaliers) and his twin brother Brook (Bucks) facing each other in an epic battle. This is an exciting match, but fans should know that Cleveland is currently having a hard time beating the New York Knicks and might be eliminated soon.
Holiday Clash
Jrue Holiday of the Bucks could be seeing his brother too. It is highly unlikely, though because that would mean that the Atlanta Hawks would have to beat the Boston Celtics. Aaron Holiday of the Hawks is Jrue’s brother, but they might have to wait until the offseason before planning any family reunion. At this rate, the Bucks meeting the Hawks in the Playoffs is an impossible scenario. The Bucks, who are down big in their series against the Miami Heat, might not even make it out of the first round.
Another Curry-related Clash
Stephen Curry had a chance to face his brother Seth but only if the Golden State Warriors and the Nets met in the Finals. That won’t be happening, of course, with the Nets being eliminated. Curry could still see his brother-in-law, Damion Lee if the Warriors face the Phoenix Suns out in the West. Lee married the sister of Stephen, which makes him a member of the Curry clan. As long as they will have long NBA careers, members of the Curry clan will have a lot of opportunities to face each other in the postseason.
McDaniels Clash
Jaden and Jalen McDaniels will no longer have the chance to face each other in the Playoffs. Jaden, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, injured his hand and was ruled out of the Playoffs, while Jalen, a Sixer, is currently busy with his team’s Playoff plans. Even if both players were healthy, the only way the brothers would meet in the Playoffs is by going to the NBA Finals. We already know that the Timberwolves had no chance of escaping the first round.
Griffin Clash
Assistant coach Adrian Griffin (Toronto Raptors) already lost the opportunity to face his son, AJ Griffin of the Hawks, in the postseason. That happened when the Raptors were eliminated in a thrilling game by the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament. The younger Griffin might be eliminated, too, if his team can’t find a way to fight off the heavily-favored Celtics.
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