The NBA playoffs have been a rollercoaster of surprises, with recent years proving that anything can happen on the road to the Finals. Despite the common belief that the best team always prevails, the postseason has proven to be anything but predictable.
One trend that has emerged in recent years is the success of play-in teams, who have made deep postseason runs and upset higher-seeded teams. In fact, only one NBA Finals series since 2009 has featured both No. 1 seeds winning their conferences, showing just how unpredictable the modern playoffs can be.
Factors like injuries, shooting variability, and matchup dependencies all play a role in shaping the outcome of the postseason. This has led to a wide range of predictions from experts, with CBS Sports staff all agreeing on a potential 2024 NBA Finals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.
Each writer has their own reasons for picking these two teams, citing players like Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum as key factors in their predictions. They also point to elements like home-court advantage and offseason roster moves as potential game-changers in determining the outcome of the series.
The Celtics are seen as the frontrunners for a championship victory, with their depth and key acquisitions making them the team to beat this season. With each writer weighing different elements of the teams’ performances, statistics, and potential matchups, it’s clear that the stage is set for an exciting and unpredictable NBA playoffs in the coming years.
