The stage is set for the 2025 NBA Playoffs and there are a multitude of intriguing storylines (and question marks) to watch in both conferences. Have we officially seen the end of the Super Team era? Will a new post-season hero emerge from the younger stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Donovan Mitchell?
To help get you ready for tip-off this weekend, Sportsnet’s NBA experts share their picks on every opening round series and offer up predictions for the NBA Finals, the eventual league champion and who will be named Finals MVP.
What do you think is the most intriguing storyline heading into the NBA Playoffs?
Michael Grange (Senior Basketball Insider): If I’m picking just one, it is: will the NBA’s parity era continue? From 1979-80 through 2017-18, 37 of the 40 available championships were shared between just eight teams — Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Warriors, Heat, Rockets, Pistons and Bulls. Repeats and three-peats were almost expected. Since the Raptors won in 2018-19, there has been a different champion every season.
Matt Bonner (Raptors TV + radio analyst): I’m sure most people are going to say the Lakers or whether can Boston repeat, but for me, I really want to see if Kawhi Leonard can stay healthy this postseason. If so, how far can the Clippers go?
Eric Smith (Raptors radio play-by-play): Are the Thunder ready to take it to the next level? They had an incredible regular season. They’re deep and can play, collectively, on both ends — and Shai will likely be named MVP. But winning in the post-season — winning it all — is a different beast. They’ve been building and learning but are they now ready for that final step? We’re about to find out.
Savanna Hamilton (Raptors sideline reporter): A major storyline heading into the 2025 NBA Playoffs is whether both No. 1 seeds — OKC and the Cavaliers — can live up to the hype when it counts most. For the Thunder, it’s about maintaining consistency on the biggest stage, while for the Cavs, it’s about proving they’re legit championship material.
Donnovan Bennett (Sportsnet producer + writer + host): Can small markets win big? Cleavland and Oklahoma City are No. 1 seeds! It might be an NBA Finals ratings nightmare, but it could also be a sign of the times. When the NBA instituted crippling tax aprons in their most recent CBA, it was to make sure you couldn’t spend your way to a championship. Now, two ownership groups who have been frugal and two front offices who have built through the draft might demonstrate that the Super Team era in the NBA is over.
Kai Gammage (NBA contributor on sportsnet.ca): Luka’s first Lakers playoff run. We’ve all seen how much Luka elevates his game come playoff time, but the lights on him have never been brighter — between his new NBA Finals prestige and the sky-high expectations that come with donning the purple and gold. If he’s in rhythm, performing acts only he can on the biggest stage possible, and if he can help LeBron win another ring, he’ll cement himself as the face of the league.
Zulfi Sheikh (NBA contributor on sportsnet.ca): Top-end talent still has the most say in the NBA, and this year’s playoffs will have plenty of it. But which era of stars will reign supreme? Yesterday’s ageless wonders in LeBron James and Stephen Curry (and now a healthy Kawhi Leonard) don’t appear ready to go away just yet. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum have been there and done that, but could use more hardware to build their legacies. Or is it time for the folks in their prime — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell and Luka Doncic — to join the above names with at least one title on their resume? And last, might youngsters like Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Alperen Sengun and Paolo Banchero go out there and announce that the future is now?
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Which first-round series are you most looking forward to + why?
Grange: You have to go West here, as the East is a bit short on built-in drama, at least in the first round. With the exception of the 1-v-8 match-up in the West, all three of the other series have the potential to go long. Picking one? I’ll go with Rockets-Warriors, a 2-v-7 matchup that is a pure toss-up.
Bonner: I’m excited for the Lakers-Wolves series. I want to see if this Lakers team is for real or not.
Smith: Rockets vs. Warriors. Overall, I love the idea of the play-in tournament — keeping many teams and most games competitive right down to the final days of the season. But if there’s one flaw: It’s Golden State, for example, being a 48-win team and having to ‘earn’ a spot in the post-season. They’re good, and they’ve been very good since the addition of Jimmy Butler. That’s not a No. 7 seed I’d wanna play against! This series should be a dog fight.
Hamilton: All eyes have to be on the Lakers vs. Timberwolves showdown, where the stakes are higher than ever. The playoffs bring a new level of pressure for LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and it’ll be fascinating to see how their playstyles mesh under the spotlight. With Luka now facing off against Anthony Edwards — the rising star he eliminated in last year’s Western Conference Finals — there’s no shortage of drama in this matchup.
Bennett: Rockets vs. Warriors. No Western Conference franchise has gone toe-to-toe with the Warriors more during their championship window than the Rockets. Now they’ve rebuilt and returned to the NBA Playoffs while the Warriors are looking to hold on to their championship window. Houston is younger, bigger, more physical and athletic and just happen to be led by a coach and antagonist who enjoy going at Curry. We could see the end of one era and the beginning of another. Or, the Warriors owning the Rockets in the spring once again.
Gammage: Nuggets vs. Clippers. The Clips have been on an absolute roll heading into the playoffs, winning eight straight behind the massive contributions of Kawhi and Harden. They look like the dark horse out West. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are in limbo after firing head coach Mike Malone, but Jokic is still Jokic. Both teams match up well, and the contrast of styles and meeting of the minds between the stars should be something to behold.
Sheikh: Clippers vs. Nuggets. The 4-v-5 matchups often project to go long but this one feels especially primed for seven games. There are so many questions surrounding the matchup. Can Jokic continue to carry the immense offensive load required to win (and not give it back defensively)? Will Kawhi stay healthy and contribute for a full series? Will playoff Jamal Murray make an appearance? Can a pair of former teammates, now on opposite sides — Russell Westbrook and James Harden — still contribute to winning basketball in the post-season? Which side wins out: Denver’s No. 4-ranked offence or L.A.’s No. 3 defence? So many questions waiting to be answered.
Round 1 predictions: Eastern Conference
(1) Cavaliers vs. (8) Heat
Grange: Cavaliers in 6
Bonner: Cavaliers in 4
Smith: Cavaliers in 5
Hamilton: Cavaliers in 5
Bennett: Cavaliers in 4
Gammage: Cavaliers in 5
Sheikh: Cavaliers in 5
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Magic
Grange: Celtics in 6
Bonner: Celtics in 5
Smith: Celtics in 4
Hamilton: Celtics in 5
Bennett: Celtics in 7
Gammage: Celtics in 4
Sheikh: Celtics in 5
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons
Grange: Knicks in 5
Bonner: Knicks in 6
Smith: Knicks in 5
Hamilton: Knicks in 6
Bennett: Knicks in 7
Gammage: Knicks 6
Sheikh: Knicks in 6
(4) Pacers vs. Bucks
Grange: Pacers in 7
Bonner: Bucks in 7
Smith: Bucks in 7
Hamilton: Bucks in 6
Bennett: Pacers in 6
Gammage: Bucks in 6
Sheikh: Pacers in 6 … 7 if Damian Lillard plays
Round 1 predictions: Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Grizzlies
Grange: Thunder in 4
Bonner: Thunder in 5
Smith: Thunder in 5
Hamilton: Thunder in 5
Bennett: Thunder in 4
Gammage: Thunder in 4
Sheikh: Thunder in 4
(2) Rockets vs. (7) Warriors
Grange: Rockets in 7
Bonner: Rockets in 7 (Hardest pick!)
Smith: Warriors in 7
Hamilton: Warriors in 6
Bennett: Warriors in 7
Gammage: Warriors in 6
Sheikh: Warriors in 6
(3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves
Grange: Lakers in 7
Bonner: Lakers in 6
Smith: Lakers in 6
Hamilton: Lakers in 6
Bennett: Lakers in 6
Gammage: Lakers in 6
Sheikh: Lakers in 6
(4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers
Grange: Clippers in 6
Bonner: Clippers in 5
Smith: Nuggets in 7
Hamilton: Nuggets in 7
Bennett: Clippers in 7
Gammage: Clippers in 7
Sheikh: Clippers in 7
One player you expect to have a breakout in the NBA Playoffs?
Grange: Jalen Green (Rockets). it’s a risky pick as consistency isn’t exactly Green’s specialty, and Amen Thompson’s defence on Steph Curry might end up stealing the show, but Green is one of the most electric talents in the game when he’s on, and the Warriors don’t have the perimeter stopper or the rim protection to solve him if he gets on a roll.
Bonner: Austin Reaves (Lakers). He’s been balling down the stretch of the regular season and plays with the kind of fearlessness and physicality you need to be successful in the playoffs.
Smith: Jalen Williams (Thunder). I may be cheating a bit by selecting him because he averaged over 21 points per game this season and was an All Star, but I’m still going with Williams. Again, having a great regular season is one thing, but doing it in the playoffs is a different animal. I think he’s got what it takes to not skip a beat. And while opposing teams do their best to stop or limit Shai, Williams will have every opportunity to continue to flourish!
Hamilton: Christian Braun (Nuggets). He’s in the conversation for Most Improved Player for a reason. Braun does a bit of everything, posting career highs in rebounds and assists while doubling his scoring average from last season. He’s been capitalizing on fast-break opportunities and making smart reads when defences focus too heavily on Jokic and Murray.
Bennett: Malik Beasley (Pistons). He might not be in the playoffs very long but, man, more casual fans will know his name. Many would be surprised to know Beasley hit more three-pointers this season than Curry and was just one behind Anthony Edwards with 319. Replays of his shimmy dance post three-pointer and the fact that many are about to watch the fun Pistons for the first time will make Beasley a fast fan favourite.
Gammage: Chet Holmgren (Thunder). Though he hasn’t really lived up to his billing as the Thunder’s second star due to injuries this season, his talent is apparent. Disregard his frame, Holmgren has the attitude and ferocity built for playoff hoops. And with Isaiah Hartenstein alongside him, Holmgren won’t have to worry too much about the glass, allowing him to instead focus on contributing in help defence and rim protection on one end and scoring on the other.
Sheikh: Cade Cunningham (Pistons). After leading the Motor City to a 30-win jump and their first playoffs since 2019, the 23-year-old is primed for a post-season breakout under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. He averaged 30.8 points and 8.3 assists on 65.7 per cent true shooting against the Knicks this year, and the Pistons will need a lot more of that to pull off a first-round upset.
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