NBA playoff winners and losers from the first round: Celtics and Warriors soaring
The dust has settled on the first round of the NBA playoffs. While individual games and moments were thrilling, things played out largely as they should. The better seed won every series, and none went the distance to a Game 7.
With the best teams advancing, the second round promises to ratchet up the excitement even further. In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat face the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics play the defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks.
In the Western Conference, the league-best Phoenix Suns play the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies face the Golden State Warriors.
Before the conference semifinals begin, let's take stock of what we've seen so far and break down the biggest winners and losers from the first round of the NBA playoffs:
Winner: Celtics
The Celtics have arguably been the most impressive team of the postseason so far after smothering the Nets in a sweep. Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart leads an elite defense that's as good as any in recent years, and Jayson Tatum proved he belongs on the highest tier of NBA superstars after getting the better of Kevin Durant on both ends of the floor.
Winner: Warriors
The Warriors are healthy and back in championship form. With the veteran core of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson leading the way and a group of talented young role players, Golden State staked its claim as the team to beat in the West. Jordan Poole has been a breakout star and helps give the Warriors a level of versatility that harkens back to the "death lineups" of title years past.
Loser: Nets
A season of dysfunction for the Nets ended in disaster with a first-round sweep against the Celtics that exposed Brooklyn's roster limitations and lack of scoring depth behind Durant and Kyrie Irving. Ben Simmons did not play after seemingly endless reports of his imminent return. Now the Nets enter the offseason with question marks about Irving (he can become a free agent), Simmons and the right path forward.
Winner: Grizzlies
The breakout team of the regular season continued its rise as the young core won its first playoff series together. It wasn't always pretty, but the Grizzlies showed their resilience to get by the Timberwolves. With their confidence and swagger now soaring, Ja Morant and company have the look of a team that isn't interested in waiting its turn to compete for a championship.
Loser: Sixers
It's hard to call them a loser after winning their series in six games, but the Sixers might be in the weakest position of any team heading into the second round. Star center Joel Embiid has a torn ligament in his thumb and now a facial fracture that leaves his availability for the series against Miami uncertain and Philadelphia's championship hopes in serious jeopardy. Without Embiid, the pressure is on James Harden.
Loser: Bulls
Chicago's resurgent season sputtered to a close when mounting injuries were too much to overcome against Milwaukee. The injury woes overshadow some big potential issues facing the Bulls. Zach LaVine is a free agent and in line for a max contract worth over $200 million. Are the Bulls convinced he can be the best player on a title contender and prepared to make that kind of financial commitment?
Winner: Jalen Brunson
After his best season as a pro, Brunson has been even better in the playoffs, and his next contract just keeps getting larger. Brunson averaged 27.8 points to help the Mavericks beat the Jazz and carried the scoring load for Dallas in the first three games while star point guard Luka Doncic was out with a calf injury. An unrestricted free agent this summer, Brunson has played himself into a potential nine-figure deal.
Loser: Jazz
The Jazz were under pressure in these playoffs and did little to convince observers their ceiling can get any higher with the current group led by Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Things have been tenuous between the two stars in recent years, and big changes could be coming in Utah that include splitting up the duo. Coach Quin Snyder has also been rumored as a candidate for other jobs.
Winner: Pelicans
New Orleans bowed out in six games to top-seeded Phoenix but laid the foundation for a promising future with its upstart performance. Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum give the Pelicans two go-to scorers who can create their own shot. Herb Jones was one of the league's best perimeter defenders as a rookie. Bringing back Zion Williamson to that core could make the Pelicans a formidable contender next season.
Winner: Anthony Edwards
Edwards was one of the breakout stars of the regular season, and he introduced himself to a national audience as the Timberwolves gave the second-seeded Grizzlies all they could handle. In his first career playoff series, Edwards averaged 25.2 points on 45.5% shooting from the field and 40.4% from 3-point range while establishing himself as the emerging face of an up-and-coming Minnesota franchise.
Loser: Injured stars
Injuries always have an impact on the playoffs, but they've had medical staffs working overtime so far this year. And they've hit some of the league's top players. Phoenix's Devin Booker and Dallas' Luka Doncic returned after missing time in the first round, but Philadelphia's Joel Embiid, Milwaukee's Khris Middleton and Miami's Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry are all dealing with injuries that could severely hamper their teams' title prospects.
Loser: Hawks
The Hawks were one of the more disappointing teams in the regular season after last year's run to the East finals. They got back to the playoffs through the play-in but fell flat as the Heat stifled Trae Young and company. Atlanta is now at a bit of a crossroads entering the offseason. Do the Hawks run it back or try to consolidate some of their pieces to trade for a bigger name to pair with Young?
Follow Matt Eppers on Twitter @meppers_.