The first round of the NBA Playoffs is underway and fans across the country are enjoying postseason basketball. In the Western Conference, the bracket is loaded with four championship contenders that should easily win their first-round matchups. In the Eastern Conference, Cleveland is the odds-on favorite to once again advance to the NBA Finals, while the three other matchups should be highly competitive. Playoff previews for each conference are presented below.
The Western Conference features the NBA’s two best teams (Warriors, Spurs), the reigning MVP (Stephen Curry), two defensive MVP candidates (Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard), and a bevy of talented players (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin). Given the talent of the Top-4 teams in the Western Conference, fans may need to wait until the second round for more competitive matchups, but premiums are still being commanded on the secondary market.
In fact, tickets for Game 2 between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are commanding above-average prices. On TiqIQ, Warriors vs. Rockets tickets for Game 2 at Oracle Arena start at $134. The Warriors continually boast the highest ticket prices on the secondary market and the playoffs are no exception. Plus, the Warriors have the highest get-in ticket price for its respective Game 2. Fans traveling to the game can find great travel deals on Hipmunk. On Hipmunk, flights to Oakland start at $499. Hotels in Oakland start at $68. The second round could feature matchups between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers as well as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Basketball fans are ultimately hoping for a Western Conference Finals match-up between Golden State and San Antonio.
In the Eastern Conference, three of the four first round series should be very competitive. The Indiana Pacers upset the Toronto Raptors in Game 1, so expect a long, competitive series between these two teams. The Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics played a highly competitive Game 1 while the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets should also be locked into a long series. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the odds-on favorite to win the Eastern Conference and shouldn’t have any problem against the Detroit Pistons. Cleveland may go unchallenged in its quest to return the NBA Finals, so expect to see LeBron and Co. playing in June once again.
The NBA Playoffs feature some of the best basketball matchups in the world. Fans may get to enjoy a classic Western Conference Finals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. If Golden State is able to get by San Antonio, an NBA Finals rematch may be looming. For the first time in his career, LeBron James would be playing the role of spoiler in hopes of derailing Golden State’s record-breaking season. Fans attending playoff games should act soon to secure their playoff tickets at the best available ticket prices.
