The first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs is nearly complete, with an exciting second round on deck.

With most matchups wrapping up quickly, the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs has nearly concluded, immediately giving way to second-round action starting tonight (Saturday, June 5th). The way things have shaken out so far already means that we will have some fresh faces in on the Conference and NBA Finals action.

Following an injury to Anthony Davis, LeBron James’ Lakers got bounced in the first round for the first time in his career (15 playoff appearances in 18 seasons). This means that we will have the first Finals since 2010, which does not feature LeBron James or Steph Curry. Let’s break down the action.

Western Conference

One of the teams responsible for keeping Steph Curry’s Warriors out of the Playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies fought hard. Still, they ultimately fell to the Utah Jazz, who displayed why they own the league’s top regular-season record.

Utah will go on to play the winner of the Clippers and Mavericks in the second round. LA and Dallas are on their way to the only game seven of the first round following a monster performance by Kawhi Leonard to keep his team alive. Game sevens are always a blast - the match will take place in LA this Sunday (6/6). The away team has won every time in this series so far.

The winner of the Jazz and DAL/LAC will face either the Denver Nuggets or Phoenix Suns. Denver dispatched Portland despite Damien Lillard’s best efforts. Outside of Lillard, bonehead plays and poor shooting plagued the Trailblazers, and Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are too good to let that slide.

For Phoenix, advancing meant defeating the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers. Love him or hate him, LeBron James has been a dominant force in the league for nearly two decades, and this Suns squad has now proven that they belong as contenders. This is the first time in Chris Paul’s 16 seasons that he faced off with LeBron. With Paul’s steady leadership and a talented young core, these Suns are forreal.

Eastern Conference

Out East, none of the first-round series went past five games. Milwaukee delivered the only sweep of the first round, schooling the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler's competitiveness could not make up for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance. The Bucks seem like they are playing their best ball at just the right time.

Milwaukee will face the Brooklyn Nets, who are lauded as the most talented team in the league, having just dispatched the Boston Celtics. The question with Brooklyn is whether or not they have had enough time to mesh as a true championship team. Their three-man-core of Durant, Irving, and Harden has only played so many games together, so this will be a fun matchup against the battle-tested Bucks.

The top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers put the Wizards away, but not without paying a price; Joel Embiid suffered a “small lateral meniscus tear” against Washington and is listed as day-to-day. The Sixers did well with their MVP candidate sidelined this season but are certainly hoping he can give it a go in the next round.

Philly will play Atlanta, who toppled the New York Knicks with surprising ruthlessness. No Embiid could lean the scoring advantage in the Hawks’ favor, but the difference in experience means Philly should stay afloat regardless.

Tune in and remember to keep checking back here and on The Basketball Movement’sTwitter as we keep up with the action!

With the Play-In Tournament wrapped up, the 2020-21 NBA Playoffs can officially begin.

Compared to the previous NBA Playoffs format, a change this year was having a Play-In Tournament for lower-seeded teams from the regular season. In each conference, the teams with the 7th and 8th best records play for the right to the 7-seed. Another game is played between teams with the 9th and 10th best record, with the winner playing the loser of the 7th-seed game for a chance for the 8-seed.

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It was an interesting but perhaps muddled way to allow for an additional chance for these teams in a slightly shortened season (72 games vs. a standard 82).

In the Eastern Conference, the Pacers sent the Hornets home night one while the Celtics trumped the Wizards behind 50 points from Jayson Tatum. In the game for the 8-seed, Washington bounced back, beating down the Pacers to clinch their spot.

The Western Conference Play-In saw the Grizzlies send the Spurs home, and the Lakers secure the 7-seed with an impressive win over Steph Curry and the red-hot Warriors. In the 8-seed game, Memphis outlasted Golden State in overtime and sent the MVP candidate Curry packing.

The brackets are finally set on both sides, and the 2021 NBA Playoffs are set to officially get underway. Intriguing matchups are everywhere you turn in the first round as these best-of-seven-game-series begin.

Eastern Conference

For their valiant effort in the Play-In, the Celtics won the honor of facing the Brooklyn Nets, who may be the most talented team in the Playoffs. Boston may be in trouble without injured breakout star Jaylen Brown.

Washington will be similarly rewarded, now with the chance to face the Philadelphia 76ers and MVP candidate Joel Embiid. This will be a scrappy series (and an entertaining one with Embiid and Westbrook feuding in the past), but Philly should have no problem moving on if they can avoid injuries.

Reigning Eastern Conference Champions, the 6-seeded Miami Heat will take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, who have a chip on their shoulder after being knocked out by the Heat a season ago. This has the potential to be one of the most competitive matchups of the first round.

In the 4/5 game, the surprising New York Knicks will take on the talented young Hawks. Either of these teams advancing past the first round would be a big step for their franchise, so this will be a fresh, interesting matchup.

Western Conference

In the Western Conference, the 1-seed Utah Jazz may actually have their hands full with the Grizzlies, who are riding the high of beating out the Warriors. The Jazz boasts the NBA’s best record for a reason though and their collective playoff experience should be enough to carry them through.

The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will face the Phoenix Suns, who have exceeded expectations this year after adding Chris Paul. Now healthy and rolling, the Lakers are a tough matchup for the young Suns to see in the first round, but if they come out on top, they will have proven that they can win it all.

Dallas did well to work its way up to the 5-seed but still have plenty to prove. They will get that opportunity right away, facing a Clippers team that is still loaded. Paul George has something to prove in these playoffs, and Kawhi Leonard has already established that he is a postseason monster. Do not underestimate these guys.

After a bit of an injury-plagued season, Portland should be back in a position to score with anybody. They are hoping everything will click at just the right time. For Denver, Nikola Jokic is an MVP favorite, and the injury loss of Jamal Murray only allowed for the ascension of Michael Porter Jr. They are battle-tested and prepared for anyone.

The full first-round schedule can be found at NBA.com

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