The initial week of the 2025 NBA playoffs has concluded, offering compelling contests. The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder swept the 8th seed Memphis Grizzlies in the West. In the East, the four highest seeds are close to advancing. The #1 Cleveland Cavaliers might sweep the #8 Miami Heat soon, while the #2 Boston Celtics and #3 New York Knicks are poised to eliminate the #7 Orlando Magic and #6 Detroit Pistons, respectively. The #5 Milwaukee Bucks face a tough fight against the #4 Indiana Pacers after Damian Lillard`s severe Achilles injury.
The Western Conference has proven more competitive. The #4 Denver Nuggets and #5 LA Clippers are locked in a close series, featuring an overtime game and Aaron Gordon`s game-winning dunk. The future of the #7 Golden State Warriors is unclear due to Jimmy Butler III`s injury. The #3 Los Angeles Lakers are trying to recover from a 3-1 deficit against the #6 Minnesota Timberwolves after a recent loss. The first week delivered superstar plays and tense finishes. Our NBA experts discuss their main observations and what`s coming next.
What`s next for the Bucks after Damian Lillard`s Achilles injury?
With Milwaukee trailing the series 3-1 and facing two potential road games, Damian Lillard`s Achilles rupture means he`s out for the remainder of the playoffs and potentially longer. Coach Doc Rivers must prioritize finding a defense-first lineup for Game 5. The Pacers have consistently scored efficiently (over 120 points per 100 possessions) in their victories. A possible adjustment is starting Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr. alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Porter Jr. is crucial for offense, having averaged 15.3 PPG and 5.0 APG late in the season. Looking ahead, Lillard`s injury complicates the Bucks` offseason. They lack cap flexibility and will likely face the luxury tax if Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis opt in and Lopez is re-signed. Porter Jr. is expected to decline his minimum option. With only non-Bird rights, Milwaukee may have to choose between using their midlevel exception for Porter or signing a new point guard. The key question is Giannis Antetokounmpo`s confidence in the team`s championship prospects. A third straight first-round exit and Lillard`s uncertain return make them seem less like title contenders for 2025-26. (Commentary by Kevin Pelton)
The Cavaliers are up 3-0 and the Celtics are leading 3-1 in their respective series. Is this the Eastern Conference finals matchup?
It`s premature to count out the Indiana Pacers, who lead the injured Milwaukee Bucks 3-1. Indiana ended the season strongly (14-4), and Tyrese Haliburton appears healthy, which continues in the postseason. The Pacers can match Cleveland`s size and spread the court. While the Boston Celtics are favored against the Knicks (having swept them 4-0 in the regular season), and the Cavaliers are playing well against Miami, don`t overlook a potential matchup with Indiana. The Cavaliers` team certainly won`t. (Commentary by Brian Windhorst)
Which team in the East needs to make the biggest mid-series adjustment?
The Detroit Pistons have performed capably enough against the Knicks that they could have been leading the series 3-1. However, their youth and poor decision-making have cost them, resulting in a 3-1 deficit instead. A major issue in Game 4`s close contest was their 19 turnovers, identical to Game 1. These lost possessions significantly impact the game, especially since the Pistons are missing Isaiah Stewart`s rebounding and struggle with inconsistent outside shooting (35.2% from three). Detroit hasn`t managed more shot attempts than New York in any game, which isn`t a recipe for victory. To improve ball handling, Detroit might benefit from relying more on Dennis Schroder, potentially alongside Cade Cunningham, and doing so earlier in games. (Commentary by Chris Herring)
What do the Warriors need to do to win Game 4 and take a 3-1 lead back to Houston?
Jimmy Butler`s return would be a significant boost for Golden State. He`s listed as questionable, having had five days to recover from a deep gluteal contusion sustained in the first quarter of Game 2. Even without “Playoff Jimmy,” the Warriors have a winning strategy based on their 104-93 Game 3 victory. Stephen Curry needs to lead the team as he did with 36 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds in that game. He also needs support, which came in spurts from Buddy Hield (17 points, five 3-pointers) and Gary Payton II (16 points) as Houston focused on Curry. Defensively, controlling Jalen Green is key; in the Rockets` two losses, he scored only seven and nine points, hindering other scoring options. (Commentary by Ohm Youngmisuk)
After firing their coach and getting swept in the first round, what is the offseason plan for the Grizzlies?
The Grizzlies` immediate priority is securing their future by signing Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama to contract extensions. Following that, they must establish a clear direction and commit to it. In recent seasons, they`ve experimented with various offensive strategies under three different coaches, leading to confusion and inconsistency. To compete in the tough Western Conference, they need to build a strong, consistent identity. (Commentary by Ramona Shelburne)
The Lakers-Timberwolves series will come down to: _____?
The deciding factor in the Lakers-Timberwolves series appears to be depth. Minnesota`s bench significantly outscored Los Angeles` reserves 25-6 in Game 4, building on a +42 advantage through the first three games. Lakers coach JJ Redick resorted to playing only five players for the entire second half on Sunday, benching Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jordan Goodwin, who were part of the usual second unit. This bench disparity is partly due to team construction. Redick doesn`t seem confident in Alex Len as a backup center and is reluctant to play Jaxson Hayes based on the series trend. Meanwhile, Minnesota has received crucial contributions from Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid, complementing the strong performances of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. (Commentary by Dave McMenamin)
What is the biggest surprise in the first round of the Western Conference series so far?
A significant surprise in the Western Conference has been the rapid decision by both Lakers coach JJ Redick and Nuggets coach David Adelman to rely almost solely on their top five players when facing a 2-1 deficit on the road. Adelman`s hand was somewhat forced by Russell Westbrook`s foot injury, which kept him out of Game 4, but Denver`s bench minutes on Saturday (25.6) were among the lowest in the last two decades. Redick took this a step further on Sunday, becoming the first coach in the play-by-play era (per Elias Sports Bureau) to use only five players for an entire second half without substitution. (Commentary by Kevin Pelton)
Which team in the West has the best chance to knock off the Thunder?
The LA Clippers, currently competing against the Denver Nuggets for the opportunity to play the top-seeded Thunder, possess the qualities needed to challenge Oklahoma City. Having won 20 of their last 25 games, the Clippers boast an elite defense and a superstar in Kawhi Leonard, capable of being the top performer in any series, even against likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Recent additions like Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. could lead the defensive effort against Gilgeous-Alexander. While he can`t be entirely stopped, the Clippers could make him work hard for every point. (Commentary by Tim MacMahon)
