The dream postseason matchup for each potential NBA playoff team
By Evan Kelly
Western Conference:
1 vs 8: Nuggets vs Mavs
Nikola Jokic and the defending champs vs. Luka Doncic and a talented Mavericks team would be a treat for basketball fans around the world. Jokic and Doncic are two of the greatest talents the league has ever seen and are more than capable of taking over an entire series. Watching these two duel over a seven-game series would be great for the game.
The Nuggets will likely enter the playoffs as the favorite to come out of the Western Conference, regardless of where they finish in the standings. They have earned the benefit of the doubt following last year's dominant postseason run. While they have appeared to coast for stretches of the season, Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the rest of the Nuggets are more than capable of defending their title.
Look no further than last month's matchup against the Celtics, where the Nuggets became the first team all season to win in Boston. This team has championship DNA and there is no reason to think they won’t find another gear come April.
While the Mavericks have had an up-and-down season, they suddenly boasted a very talented and very deep roster following the trade deadline. After acquiring Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, the Mavs have legit pieces surrounding Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
While they would be heavy underdogs in this series, Luka and Kyrie are two proven playoff performers and could certainly make things interesting. And while there is no answer for Jokic, 48 minutes of Gafford and rookie Derrick Lively will at least make things tough for the defending Finals MVP.