There is something about the first round of the NBA Playoffs that no other sport can match. It is a combination of the hope that MLB Opening Day brings, the intensity of hockey’s postseason and the unpredictability of March Madness all rolled up in the storyline-driven setting that only basketball offers.
Sure, upsets are usually few and far between but that also means they actually matter. It also does little to diminish the atmosphere these games are played in. Fans believe their team can win. Top-seeded sides also have a history of dropping a game or two to the seventh and eighth seeds. This adds an extra layer of drama.
Of course, some of that drama is contrived. A lot of the top seeds have long had their playoff spots locked up and were simply playing out the string while trying to avoid injury. By the time the NBA Playoffs start, they aren’t particularly focused. Usually, it takes a game or two for them to adjust.
This is also why the Conference Semifinals and Finals tend to be less interesting than the first round. The best sides have clicked into high gear by that stage and are more capable of boat racing inferior opponents. Sure, you get a moment everyone in a while, but many series end 4-0 or 4-1. There is a much more business-like vibe as the postseason progresses.
However, the best thing about the First Round of the NBA Playoffs is that it’s rambunctious. It is the basketball equivalent of giving a seven-year-old a bunch of Pixy Stix. Everyone is just going balls to the wall, and it makes for compelling viewing.
The atmosphere in most arenas is off the charts as fans are happy games matter. Teams and players with nothing to lose aren’t afraid to get chippy. Meanwhile, good sides are more likely to lose their composure after the relatively low stakes of the regular season. You never know what you will get.
The First Round of the NBA Playoffs is volatile, beautiful and the best part of the basketball calendar. There is nothing quite like them in all of sports.
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