In 2024, I started the tradition of sharing my NBA Playoff bracket as part of the NBA Playoff Best Ball process. There is a lot more to the Playoff Best Ball process than simply picking the guys from the teams who advance, but it is a heckuva good start if you can do it.
Last year, we just about perfectly nailed it with our 2024 bracket. Got the Mavs to the finals (over the Nuggets) against the Celtics, and the Knicks and Pacers matchup in the East before being knocked off by the C’s.
*If you’re playing NBA Playoff Best Ball on Underdog, you’re going to want to check out this detailed strategy guide for 2025 drafting, including conference breakdowns, positional nuances, rankings and player/team combos.*
However, one thing to note for 2025 is that it is WIDE open compared to last year. Maybe I was overconfident in teams like the Mavs, Pacers and Knicks or overconfident in my disdain for the Bucks, Sixers, etc., but last year was a bit smoother in the bracketing process. The Celtics were essentially inevitable in the East last year, and the West, while still very strong, was not quite to this level of super high end teams. The Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Rockets, and T’Wolves are all more dangerous (imo), and the Thunder have taken a big leap.
*If you want to see a breakdown of each team, and how to approach them for Playoff Best Ball drafting purposes, we’ve got you covered here.*
Nonetheless, it’s time to pick a bracket since we have reached the end of the regular season. I will update if there are any notable changes from the play-in games this week, but I don’t suspect that should change anything here (which may be a surprise with the Warriors).
My 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
Eastern Conference
Round One
Cavs over Bulls
Pacers over Bucks
Knicks over Pistons
Celtics over Magic
Conference Semifinals
Cavs over Pacers
Celtics over Knicks
Conference Finals
Celtics over Cavs
Western Conference
Round One
Thunder over Kings
Clippers over Nuggets
Timberwolves over Lakers
Rockets over Warriors
Conference Semifinals
Thunder over Clippers
Timberwolves over Rockets
Conference Finals
Thunder over Timberwolves
NBA Finals Matchup
Celtics vs. Thunder
Notes:
As I mentioned, this is wide open, but mostly in the West. I am pretty pro-Pacers, and if Jaylen Brown’s knee does not look better after the rest and injection he received, then I think the Celtics are vulnerable, both against Indy, but very much against the Cavs. However, at this moment, I am going to work under the assumption Jaylen is fine, and I will stick with the Celtics out of the East.
In the West, if the Warriors can win against Memphis to secure the 7 seed, I imagine a lot of people (especially those at ESPN) are going to pick the Warriors. They have Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green against a young, upstart Rockets squad that no one ever really hears about or believes in, despite being the 2 seed in a loaded Western Conference. I am a diehard Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler fan, but I personally believe the Rockets physicality, defense, and athleticism is actually the worse draw for the Dubs than the Lakers. I’m not even seeing the Rockets are better than the Lakers, simply that the Lakers are extremely slow footed, without any real perimeter defenders. The Warriors switching defense without a traditional center is a thorn for Luka, while the Rockets have arguably the single best defender in the NBA for Curry in Amen Thompson. Should be a great series, but I lean Rockets.
I am betting against this version of the Nuggets with all the organizational chaos, especially with the Clippers in their current form. I don’t know if it will last, but Kawhi Leonard is playing like elite Kawhi right now, and the Clippers are scary good. Lastly, I am fully buying this Minnesota team right now. They have their apex predator star in Anthony Edwards, they’re healthy, and their collection of role players gives them so much lineup flexibility they have not had in the past. Gobert is likely having nightmares about Luka, but this Minnesota team has enough different ways it can play against the Lakers who, obviously have the high end talent, but I think they’re lacking the right collection of pieces around Luka/Lebron (and Reaves).
*Make sure to check out our NBA Playoff Best Ball rankings, which will be updated throughout the week as the results of the play-in are finalized.”
