The NBA regular season has concluded. The top six seeds in each conference will now enjoy a week off as they begin preparing for what they hope will be a championship push. However, eight teams, four in each conference, are fighting for playoff contention.
The NBA play-in tournament has been a massive success in recent years. And now, basketball fans look set to enjoy another round of high-stakes basketball before the postseason truly gets underway.
Let’s look at some storylines hovering over each Eastern Conference play-in game.
Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat
Bulls
- The Bulls have lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 and 2024 play-in tournaments. Billy Donovan’s team will undoubtedly be looking to get into the win column.
- Josh Giddey and Coby White have been sensational, both collectively and individually, since the All-Star break. If the Bulls’ guard duo can continue their hot streak, Chicago could secure a vital win.
- Lonzo Ball’s absence due to a wrist injury will force Matas Buzelis into a more significant role. As a rookie, seeing how he shoulders the additional burden will be interesting.
- Nikola Vucevic’s floor spacing could cause serious issues for Miami’s defense. On offense, Donovan could be tempted to stick with a five-out approach.
- Giddey is entering restricted free agency this summer. Can he drive up his league-wide value?
Heat
- Miami’s primary shortfall is at the guard position. Outside of Tyler Herro, Erik Spoelstra has no one who can consistently break down half-court defenses.
- What version of Andrew Wiggins will Miami get? If he’s at his best, he could be a catalyst during the postseason, like he was for the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
- Miami’s bench unit has become a rare bright spot this season. Can the Heat win the ‘non-starter minutes’ to keep the game close heading into the clutch?
- Spoelstra is arguably the best coach in the NBA. Can he work his magic again, or is the roster too depleted?
- Knowing the Heat will likely be busy in the offseason, will they still prioritize making the postseason or have one eye on the summer throughout the game?
Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks
Magic
- Can Paolo Banchero take the next step in his development and prove himself as a playoff force?
- Will Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s presence elevate the Magic and make his summer addition worthwhile?
- How much does Jalen Suggs’s season-ending injury hamper Orlando in a playoff setting?
- Orlando is dead last in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting just 32.2% of their attempts. Will the Magic’s limited success on the perimeter be a defining factor?
- Atlanta is fifth in the NBA when shooting from the corners. Can Orlando control the baseline without compromising its overall defensive approach?
Hawks
- Orlando is not only a poor perimeter-shooting team but also has a poor perimeter defense, allowing opponents to shoot 37.3% from deep. Can Trae Young take advantage by getting hot early and setting the tone?
- How much will trading De’Andre Hunter impact the Hawks now that they’re facing a team with two borderline elite forwards?
- Can Dyson Daniels create enough mayhem that Orlando struggles to get into its offensive sets or sequences?
- Do the Hawks have enough strength in depth to overcome a physically gifted Magic team?
- Atlanta went 2-1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. Could they have extra motivation to beat Orlando, hoping to derail the top seed in the Eastern Conference?
