After 24 weeks of NBA action, fans will be thinking of the word “parity” or any synonym of that word. The competitive balance among the teams, especially in the Western Conference, is quite new and refreshing. Normally, at this time of the year, teams would already know where they would end up in the Playoff standings. That is no longer the case right now.
Let us see what the final week of the regular season has to offer.
April 4: Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid did not face Denver’s Nikola Jokic last week, so we missed out on what would have been an epic MVP battle. Now we have to hope that he plays when the Sixers host the Celtics. If Embiid plays well and ends up beating a top-three team in the East, that will surely do wonders for his MVP bid.
April 5: Los Angeles Lakers @ Los Angeles Clippers
For this game, we have to take down the famous “Battle of Los Angeles” sign and replace it with one that says “The Battle for Playoff-positioning.” By the time this game day arrives, there’s a big chance both teams can control and choose their first postseason opponent. They better be careful, though. Losing on purpose to gain a favorable opponent in the next matchup could backfire.
April 6: Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns
This game has an exciting wave of talent on defense and offense that will keep fans on their feet. Kevin Durant and Chris Paul are no longer the young kids on the block, so we have to enjoy watching them play as much as we can. Look for the younger stars in Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, and Jokic to keep this game entertaining.
April 7: Chicago Bulls @ Dallas Mavericks
There is something about Patrick Beverley‘s confidence and Kyrie Irving‘s confidence that fits well with their respective teams. So don’t sleep on the Bulls and the Mavericks yet. As of March 31, these two teams were still in contention for the last Play-In Tournament spot of their own Conference. In other words, this matchup will instantly become a “do-or-die” game.
April 9: Last Day
That’s all, folks. It is time to say “goodbye.” The last day will feature all 30 teams. For some fans, it will be the end of the road, and they will be watching their favorite team play game number 82. For others, it will be the start of the “real” season, and they will be gearing up as their team prepares for the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
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