Nightmare Matchups for Projected 2024 NBA Playoff Teams
The 2024 NBA playoffs are quickly approaching, and we are getting a better idea of potential first-round matchups.
Every playoff team has at least one nightmare opponent for a number of reasons. This could stem from poor play during head-to-head meetings this season, tough individual matchups, previous playoff history or a number of different X-factors.
Our projected playoff teams will be provided by B/R’s recent bracket predictions, which are based on current record, remaining strength of schedule and a number of other areas.
These are the squads all 16 projected postseason teams should want to avoid.
At 54-14 overall and running away in the East with a 10-game lead over the second-place Milwaukee Bucks, there’s really no one to fear in the conference for the Celtics.
Even the Miami Heat, which knocked Boston out in the East finals last year, are 0-3 against the Celtics this season.
If Boston does advance to the NBA Finals, the Nuggets are the one team they should not want to see. The champions have handed the Celtics two of their 14 total losses this season and are the only team to go undefeated against them (minimum two games).
Jayson Tatum averaged just 18.5 points on 37.8 percent shooting overall and 23.1 percent from three while Jaylen Brown only connected on 18.8 percent of his triples in the two meetings as well.
With no real challenge in the East, the Celtics should hope anyone besides Denver comes out of the West.
While the Pacers won’t strike fear into the hearts of a lot of teams, this is one group the Bucks will probably want to avoid in the first round.
Even with a bonus game thanks to the In-Season Tournament, Milwaukee still mustered just a single win against the Pacers in five meetings. Indiana torched the Bucks for an average of 129.5 points per game in the four victories, and Milwaukee’s defense isn’t getting any better (113.4 rating after the All-Star break, 20th overall).
Tyrese Haliburton has lit up the Bucks overall, averaging 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 11.0 assists (against just 1.4 turnovers) and 1.2 blocks in the five games.
