Since we are in the “FT spot” of the playoffs, we can only reminisce about last year’s and relish what’s to come this year. The NBA playoffs never fail to deliver drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments, and 2022 was no exception.
From stunning upsets to record-breaking performances, the postseason had it all. Who could have predicted that the Golden State Warriors would add another championship to their dynasty? Or that the Brooklyn Nets, with their star-studded lineup, would be swept out of the first round. And let’s not forget about Luka Doncic’s game 7 heroics or the Los Angeles Lakers’ disappointing season.
The NBA 2022 playoffs were nothing short of pure hoops. You had to be there when Curry was consistently hitting the “Night-Night” celebration night after night. But with the highlights I’m about to provide, you can have an easy layup of it all (the easiest pass since Magic Johnson’s no-look pass to Michael Cooper in the ’87 Showtime Lakers).
Let’s take a closer look at some of the noteworthy storylines and standout performances that certainly made the 2022 playoffs a must-see event.
Play-In Tournament Wonders
The road to the NBA playoffs is always full of surprises, and with the introduction of play-in-bounds, teams from 6-10th seed now have a chance to make the playoffs. In 2022, four teams – the Nets, Hawks, Pelicans, and Timberwolves – managed to secure spots in the play-in tournament after thrilling matchups. Let’s not forget Pat Bev’s emotionally savage moment against his former Clippers (you’d think he just won the Chip…only Play-in Lol)
The Cavaliers, Hornets, Spurs, and Clippers, on the other hand, failed to qualify, effectively ending their playoff hopes. What was even more amazing was that all the teams that made it through the play-in tourneys did not advance past the first round (perhaps none of them deserved the spot afterall!)
The play-in tournament has undoubtedly added a new level of excitement to the NBA postseason, giving teams more chances to make a late push for the playoffs. With the current regular season ending, we are looking forward to the intensity and drama that the play-in tournament will bring, as teams compete tooth and nail for a spot in the playoffs. (My/Your favorite teams could fall into the lucky few…)
The Lakers 2022 Playoffs Ruins. Completely Fall short of Play-In Tournament
Lakers have had a spooky run in the recent years since their Bubble chip back in the never-to-forget COVID season (one many people consider to be a fluke run, but Hey, it’s 17 championships forever sealed in the history books and your opinion sadly does not matter.)
Despite losing in the first round of the 2021 playoffs to the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers did not make the playoffs in 2022. In fact, they did not make the Play-in tournament to reflect how bad they were last year. As a fan, finishing 11th was a disappointing season to watch, but there is some hope this year with clutch additions to the team. (Fingers crossed for what is to come in this year’s Playoffs picture – stay tuned for our next episodes).
The Nets’ Super Team Falls Short: Can a Trio of Stars Really Win a Championship?
PSG MNM, Nets KHK trio got me asking these questions – Do you really need a trio of stars? Well, you need a balanced team roster to supplement the individual brilliance of your stars which these teams lack.
The Nets were swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics (A shocking 4-0 sweep and the only one that happened throughout the 2022 Playoffs). For fans that are not familiar with B-ball jargon, think of swept as a term used in sports to describe a team losing every game in a playoff series without winning any. “Maybe MUFC fans can relate (7-0L to Liverpool gives a taste of what a sweep feels like). I’m taking a dig at myself, LMFAO.”
Okay, enough straying. The Nets were considered one of the strongest teams in the league, so their sweep was both unexpected and disappointing for their fans. Injuries and Kyrie’s backdrama were huge factors, but that isn’t reason enough to be…. (I’m not saying that word again).
But now the Nets trio are all separated, the “Scary Hours” era is over. We can only be on the lookout for their individual run in this year’s playoffs; maybe we’ll know the real culprit (Haha!)
Luka’s Game 7 Heroics Propel Mavericks Past Suns in Thrilling Series
In a back-and-forth series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns, it all came down to a decisive game 7. That’s when superstar Luka Doncic put on a show (beyond his usual stellar performance) and led the Mavericks to victory.
This particular series was one for the ages for me as it produced some of the best quotes of the entire payoffs, “Everybody tough when they up” and my personal favorite: “Chris Paul shoots a deep 3 to cut the lead down to 42.”
The former was when the Suns had an early 2-0 lead, which made fans and analysts alike believe that they were going to sweep but Hooker Doncic and his pack had other plans for them. The Mavericks went on to tie the game, setting up a Game 7 where we got the latter quote as CP0 attempted to statpad in the Suns’ blowout loss.
This game may have sparked a rivalry between these two franchises, as Luka and Booker have had a few clashes since. Only time will tell if we get another playoff matchup with them this season. One thing remains: Luka and the Mavericks had the Suns glazing for the sunset in that Game 7 playoff series.
Celtics continue their Stunning Run After Game-7 Win Over Bucks Reaching The Finals
The Celtics’ 7-game series win over the Bucks was one of the most impressive feats of the 2022 NBA playoffs, with the stellar Boston team demonstrating their resilience to reach the finals. Giannis (25 points, 20 rebounds in 43 minutes) gave his all, but Jason and Jaylen (two of the league’s best dynamic duos) were too much for the Bucks to handle, scoring 42 points combined. Grant Williams, Smart, and Al all contributed to the decisive Game 7 victory.
From the Nets sweep to Game 7 against the Bucks, to a relatively easy ECF win against the Heat, The Greens deserved every accolade for completing their incredible journey to the championship finals (But GSW had other plans for them).
Warriors Keep Their Dynasty Alive With Another Championship Win. Curry Night-Night Unleashed!
The 2022 playoffs concluded with the best team matchups from each conference squaring off. With an easy victory over the Mavericks in the WCF, the Dubs claimed the Dub against the Celtics in a thrilling finals series.
- NBA Finals Game 1, Boston Celtics 120, Golden State Warriors 108. (Celtics led 1-0)
- NBA Finals Game 2, Golden State Warriors 107, Boston Celtics 88. (Series tied 1-1)
- NBA Finals Game 3, Boston Celtics 116, Golden State Warriors 100. (Celtics led 2-1)
- NBA Finals Game 4, Golden State Warriors 107, Boston Celtics 97. (Series tied 2-2)
- NBA Finals Game 5, Golden State Warriors 104, Boston Celtics 94. (Warriors led 3-2)
- NBA Finals Game 6, Golden State Warriors 103, Boston Celtics 90. (Warriors win the series 4-2)
After a brief lull in 2020 and 2021, the Golden State Warriors bounced back in a big way in the 2022 NBA playoffs. Led by superstar Stephen Curry, the team added another championship to their already impressive dynasty. With Curry’s scoring prowess and a strong supporting cast, the Warriors proved they are still a force to be reckoned with (2023 back-to-back? Only time will tell!).
In the end, Curry completed the Go-to-Sleep against virtually all the top prospects in the league (from Ja’- Jokic – Luka – to Tatum). Really crazy! (His fans deserve all the sleep, for now)
So there you have it, the 2022 playoffs in all its excitement and drama. The 2023 playoffs are expected to be just as thrilling, with many sizzling matchups already in sight. The West is a bit rocky, but the East is looking strong, with several top teams vying for the championship title. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the coming months (oh snap, just days ahead!)
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Penning the Playbook 