The NBA Playoffs wrapped up in June, and there is no doubt that it was thrilling! The playoffs are played between the best 16 of the league’s 32 teams each year, picking eight from each conference. 

The eight teams in each conference are ranked from 1-8 depending on how well they played during the season. The first round of the playoffs consists of four seven-game series in each conference, where the first team to win 4 games wins the series and moves on to the second round.

In the Eastern Conference, the results were as follows: the 1-seed Boston Celtics defeated the 8-seed Miami Heat in five games, the 2-seed New York Knicks beat the 7-seed Philadelphia 76ers in six games, the 6-seed Indiana Pacers upset the 3-seed Milwaukee Bucks in six games, and lastly the 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the 5 seed Orlando Magic in seven games. 

In the Western Conference, the series went as follows: the 1-seed Oklahoma City Thunder swept the 8-seed New Orleans Pelicans in four games, the 2-seed and 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets beat the 7-seed Los Angeles Lakers in five games, the 3-seed Minnesota Timberwolves swept the 6-seed Phoenix Suns in four games, and the 5-seed Dallas Mavericks upset the 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers in six games. 

In the second round, the Celtics beat the Cavaliers in five games, the Pacers beat the Knicks in seven games, the Mavericks beat the Thunder in six games, and the Timberwolves dethroned the reigning champion Denver Nuggets in an intense seven games. 

In the conference finals, the Boston Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in four games, and the Dallas Mavericks upset the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. 

The 2024 NBA Finals were played between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. 

The main storyline of this series was Mavericks veteran guard, and former Celtic Kyrie Irving coming back to the TD Garden. There is no love lost between the Celtics fan base and Irving and there have been multiple incidents between Irving and Celtics fans since Irving left the Celtics for the Brooklyn Nets. 

These incidents include a fan throwing a water bottle at Irving on May 30th, 2021 following the playoff game between the Celtics and the Nets at TD Garden, and Irving stomping on the Celtics logo at half court in the TD Garden following the same May 30th game. Irving stomping on the logo has become a famous image among avid basketball fans. Many think this fueled the Celtics and lead to Kyrie Irving having a losing record against the Celtics since this incident.    

The Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in a stunning 5 game series, which makes my prediction from June 17th correct! Jaylen Brown won the finals MVP averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists, and pieces like Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis added significant support. Luka Doncic was the catalyst for the Mavericks team, but ultimately they didn’t have enough firepower to beat the loaded Celtics team.

There is no doubt that the 2024 NBA Playoffs were one to remember, and as the 2025 season quickly approaches, it is shaping up to be a special new season in the NBA.