BBNBA Roundtable: KSR's 2023 NBA Playoffs Preview

Another NBA Playoffs, another stretch of basketball filled to the brim with former Kentucky Wildcats. Over a dozen one-time ‘Cats will take the postseason stage over the next few months, and depending on what happens with Friday night’s final Play-In games, that number could grow to as many as 16.

Before we dive into the Playoffs preview and what the BBN can expect to see, we need to figure out which teams will snag the eight seeds in each conference. A total of five former ‘Cats spread across the four Play-In teams will fight for the chance later tonight to take on their respective conference’s one-seed. The actual Playoffs will begin on Saturday once the Play-In is officially wrapped up.

7:00 (TNT): Bulls @ Heat (Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro)
9:30 (ESPN): Thunder (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Olivier Sarr) @ Timberwolves (Karl-Anthony Towns)

Unfortunately, at least one former Wildcat will have his season come to an end on Friday night. To quickly recap, both the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves looked shell-shocked in their losses from earlier this week, which set up this win-or-go-home scenario. Meanwhile, The Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder appear primed to keep their seasons alive after surviving the opening Play-In round. But in a one-game setting, anything can happen.

Once those games are decided, it’s Playoff time. Not counting the teams contending in the Play-In, Kentucky will have 12 representatives spread across the 14 teams already locked into the top seven seeds.

Denver Nuggets (1) – Jamal Murray
Los Angeles Clippers (1) – Brandon Boston Jr.
Los Angeles Lakers (3) – Anthony Davis, Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt
*Miami Heat (2) – Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
*Minnesota Timberwolves (1) – Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks (2) – Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle
*Oklahoma City Thunder (2) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Olivier Sarr
Philadelphia 76ers (1) – Tyrese Maxey
Phoenix Suns (1) – Devin Booker
Sacramento Kings (3) – De’Aaron Fox, Trey Lyles, Malik Monk

*Denotes Play-In team

Ahead of the Playoffs, KSR’s NBA correspondents have some thoughts on what to expect from our former Wildcats. But first, check out the entire postseason bracket below. A complete schedule for the entire first round of the Playoffs can be found here.

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Which team featuring former ‘Cats has the best chance to win it all?

If you listen to the oddsmakers in Vegas (and, pfft, what do they know?), the Phoenix Suns are the team featuring at least one former Kentucky player that has the best chance to win the NBA title. After sticking it out through a rough first five seasons with a putrid franchise, Devin Booker is now armed with megastars Chris Paul and Kevin Durant and ready to claim the championship Giannis pried away from his hands in 2021. And, at least in my mind, make amends for the 2015 Wisconsin loss too.

However, don’t sleep on Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers. They were my preseason pick to win it, and not unlike the Suns, have a lower seed than they otherwise might due to a string of injuries that kept their stars sidelined.

But as sexy as those picks are, it is hard to ignore the team that topped the extremely talented Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets. Led by potential three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Big Blue Nation-favorite, Jamal Murray, they’ve proven all season long they are a tough team to beat and there is no reason to think that suddenly stops in the playoffs.

I’ll take those three teams versus the field and feel good about it.

— Adam Stratton

Can IQ and Randle bring playoff success to the rabid Knicks’ fanbase?

Immanuel Quickly and Julius Randle know a thing or two about playing for crazy fanbases. From Rupp Arena to Madison Square Garden, few players would envy the spotlight shined on both ‘Cats. Unfortunately, the New York Knicks have not achieved the same success as Kentucky over the past 15 years. In this time frame, the Knicks have won one playoff series (eventually losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals) and missed the postseason 11 times.

MSG will be loaded with New Yorkers hungry for the glory days of Patrick Ewing to return as the Knicks take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 5-seed Knicks will be considered by most to be the underdogs in this series. However, the Cavs do not have the (likely) Sixth Man of the Year in Quickley. IQ averaged 14.9 points per game in the regular season but started to turn it up recently. Quickley went nuclear for 40 points against the Rockets on March 27th.

The Spark Plug ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Pjt2Lo98lw

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 14, 2023

Julius Randle will hope to join Quickley on the quest to end Cleveland’s season. However, Randle sprained his ankle against Miami on March 29th and has not returned to action. The two-time All-Star’s health is crucial in this series as the Cavs boast one of the best frontcourts in the East. Evan Mobley and Jarret Allen can cause havoc for any frontcourt, especially if Randle is watching from the bench.

As much as I love Mr. IQ and Julius, the Cavs will win this series in 6 games.

— Brady Byrdwell

Can Anthony Davis will the Lakers to a Playoff Run?

It looked extremely unlikely earlier this season when players such Matt Ryan (not the football player) and Max Christie were getting real runs for LA’s premier team (although the Clippers have won 11 in a row against the crosstown rivals), but this Lakers team, following the deadline acquisitions of Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley and D’Angelo Russell, have a real shot at making a legitimate playoff run.

After surviving one of the wonkiest games of all time against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Play-In Tournament, LA has set itself up for a date with the gritty two-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. This is good news for Anthony Davis, as the 2012 College Basketball Player of the Year and April’s Western Conference Player of the Month has feasted on them this season. In two matchups against the Grizz this year, Davis averaged 29 points and 20.5 rebounds against one of the best defensive teams in the league.

Davis’ All-Star snub to Jaren Jackson Jr. will undoubtedly provide a little extra fire in the big man. Jarred Vanderbilt continues to show why he is one of the best defensive players in the NBA and Wenyen Gabriel continues to contribute solid minutes off the bench. This one could go either way, but the victor may just be the favorite to represent the West in the NBA Finals.

"[The Lakers] are going to the Finals this year, on the back of Anthony Davis."

👀 @KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/1EX40TM3mR

— First Take (@FirstTake) April 7, 2023

— Daniel Hager

Can the young Kings squash the Warriors’ rebellion?

Despite being the No. 3 seed in the brutal Western Conference, the Sacramento Kings are the underdogs. In fairness, the team’s 6-seed opponent is no slouch. The Golden State Warriors are the defending champions, returning 2022 NBA All-Star Andrew Wiggins just in time for the playoffs.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, the Kings don’t seem to mind a challenge.

“We don’t give a f*** who’s over there,” Fox said after pulling out a grueling win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 24.

We can assume Fox’s mindset hasn’t changed, and for good reason. Backed by fellow ‘Cats Malik Monk and Trey Lyles, Fox averaged 25 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season. Moreover, Fox finished his dominant campaign with the highest clutch win probability factor in the league.

Despite the team’s obvious talent, they lack postseason experience. Fox and Monk have never competed in the playoffs while Trey Lyles has little experience. Worse, in the Kings’ four regular-season matchups with the Warriors, they went 1-3.

The odds aren’t behind the Kings, but BBN is.

— Grant Grubbs

The man in the Valley has company

I would say the likes of Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton, and Chris Paul are pretty good company. While Devin Booker is outnumbered by Paul’s All-Star game appearance or Durant’s championships, the former ‘Cat is still the heartbeat and face of the franchise. Those are some strong shoulders that carry the weight of the world. If not the weight of the world, at least the weight of the Valley.

The Phoenix Suns open its postseason campaign with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns come in as the four-seed and will get homecourt throughout the series. The five-seeded Clippers start off a foot behind considering Paul George is still sidelined with a knee injury and doesn’t have a timetable for his return. Advantage Suns, if it wasn’t already.

Focusing on Mr. Booker now, this is a man who averages 27.8 PPG. He’s battled injuries this year but has continued to show his scoring prowess. Booker has two 50-plus scoring nights this year. This is a man who has playoff experience; heck, he even has Finals experience with a core that was based around Ayton and Paul. What happens now? Well, the Suns added Kevin Durant before the trade deadline. Booker is now surrounded by one of the best passing point guards of the generation in Paul and one of the best scorers of all time in Durant. Take that in for a second.

Despite all that, Booker continues being the man in Phoenix. There very well could be a “Phoenix Big 4”, but it all starts with D Book. He’s the one who’s been there the longest. This Suns team might not have the chemistry they want, but they can learn, especially if PG-13 is out for this first-round series. If the West runs through Phoenix, it also runs through Devin Booker.

— Ian Alvano