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NBA Playoffs 2024: 5 Biggest Storylines & Burning Questions Heading into Round 1
Written by: Devon Platana
Last Updated:
Read Time: 8 minutes
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Before getting to the biggest storylines ahead of the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs, be sure to check out BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the NBA postseason to the NHL playoffs and everything in between.
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It’s the most exciting time of the year to be a basketball fan as the 2023-24 NBA playoffs are set to begin this weekend. It’s the start of a journey for the 16 postseason-bound teams as they compete round-by-round to find out who’ll hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.
The #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel open up SATURDAY with Game 1's ALL DAY on ESPN and ABC! pic.twitter.com/8FpwWSg6Ez
— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2024
As usual, the NBA postseason will be last with big-time storylines whether it concerns individual players or entire teams. It’s safe to say that we’re in for an exciting time over the next couple of months.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five biggest NBA storylines heading into the 2023-24 playoffs.
2024 NBA Championship Odds Ahead of Playoffs
The following NBA Championship odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday, April 19.
- Boston Celtics (+140)
- Denver Nuggets (+350)
- Dallas Mavericks (+1400)
- LA Clippers (+1400)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+1400)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+1600)
- Milwaukee Bucks (+1600)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+1800)
- Philadelphia 76ers (+2000)
- Phoenix Suns (+2200)
- New York Knicks (+3500)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+5000)
- Indiana Pacers (+7500)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+8000)
- Sacramento Kings (+8000)
- Miami Heat (+10000)
- Orlando Magic (+15000)
- Chicago Bulls (+25000)
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5 Biggest 2023-24 NBA Postseason Storylines
1. Will the Nuggets Repeat as Champions?
Out of all of the potential storylines in this year’s NBA playoffs, many basketball enthusiasts are wondering the same thing: can the Denver Nuggets win back-to-back championships?
After joining the NBA way back in 1976, the Nuggets finally won the first championship in franchise history last spring, defeating the Miami Heat in five games to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Unsurprisingly, Nikola Jokic was named the 2023 NBA Finals MVP after averaging 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
Can Nikola Jokic lead the Nuggets on another NBA Championship run?
While some teams suffer from a championship hangover, that hasn’t been the case for the Nuggets. Denver finished the 2023-24 campaign with the second-best record in the Western Conference (57-25) mostly due to Jokic, once again, playing at an MVP-like level. As a result, the Nuggets own the second-best championship odds (+350) on BetOnline ahead of the NBA playoffs.
Having said that, winning back-to-back titles won’t be easy. Since 2000, there have only been three instances where a team has won multiple titles in a row:
- Los Angeles Lakers: 2000, 2001, 2002
- Los Angeles Lakers: 2009, 2010
- Golden State Warriors: 2017, 2018
In other words, the Nuggets shouldn’t expect to breeze to their second championship in a row. Contenders out West (Thunder, Mavericks, Clippers, etc.) won’t go down without a fight, nor will teams like the Celtics and Bucks if they make it to the Finals.
Still, Denver has proven that it shouldn’t be underestimated. If opponents continue to doubt them, don’t be surprised if Jokic & Co. adds a second ring to their collection.
2. Will the Lakers Get Revenge?
Speaking of the Nuggets, their opponents in the opening round are none other than the Los Angeles Lakers. Darvin Ham’s team enters the NBA playoffs as the No. 7 seed after thwarting the New Orleans Pelicans in a Play-In Tournament showdown.
One thing that is motivating the Lakers this postseason is revenge. After overcoming the Grizzlies and Warriors last postseason, the Lakers faced the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. Things didn’t go Los Angeles’ way as Denver won all four games while outscoring the former by an average of 6.0 points per game.
Unfortunately, the Lakers’ woes against the Nuggets bled into the 2023-24 campaign. The upcoming playoff opponents squared off three times during the regular season, resulting in a trio of victories for Denver as Jokic’s team won by at least eight points each time.
Even though the Nuggets have now won eight straight meetings against the Lakers, they aren’t letting it go to their heads. Even head coach Michael Malone said that Denver’s winning streak “doesn’t mean anything. This is a different team, a different series.”
Regardless of how good the Nuggets are, Malone is right to think that way. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are two of the NBA’s best players and can take on any team when they’re firing on all cylinders. Time will only tell if their full effort this time around produces better results.
3. Are the Celtics Legit?
The Boston Celtics finished the 2023-24 NBA regular season as the best team in the league, sitting atop the standings with a 64-18 record — the fourth-most wins in franchise history. This impressive performance has led to the C’s being the +140 odds-on favorite to win this year’s NBA Finals.
It’s hard to find any flaws in Boston’s game. They’re near the top of the Association in most statistics, including points for (2nd), points against (5th), field-goal percentage (8th), threes made (1st), three-point percentage (2nd), rebounds (2nd), turnovers (1st), blocks (T-1st), and point differential (1st).
That’s without mentioning the All-Star-type players their roster is filled with. A lineup that consists of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday can go toe-to-toe with any roster.
Can the Celtics’ stars pull off a championship run?
But even with as stacked as they are, some fans are still wondering if the Celtics can go all the way.
After all, Boston has a recent history of coming up short of its championship aspirations. Since the 2016-17 campaign, the Celtics have reached the Eastern Conference Finals five times but only advanced to the championship round once, losing in six games to the Warriors in 2022.
Obviously, this year’s team is different now that Porzingis and Holiday are in the mix. But that still doesn’t change how the Celtics have a lot to prove when it comes to establishing themselves as championship contenders rather than pretenders.
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NBA Best Bets and Picks Tonight
Looking to get in on even more NBA betting storylines? Check out our NBA Picks page for consensus picks and odds for every 2023-24 playoff game.
You can also check out:
- NBA betting odds
- NBA news, futures betting, and best bets predictions
- How to bet on the NBA
- 2024 NBA MVP Odds & Picks
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More 2023-24 NBA Postseason Storylines
4. Can the Bucks Survive Life Without Giannis?
The Milwaukee Bucks begin their NBA playoff journey with a first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately, the Bucks face an uphill battle as star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss the start of the series with a calf strain.
Although the Bucks still have the likes of Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, life without Giannis is less than ideal — regardless of how long it lasts. The eight-time NBA All-Star is Milwaukee’s best player, having led the team in points (30.4), rebounds (11.5), steals (1.2), and field-goal percentage (61.1%) during the regular season.
The Bucks’ winning percentage has dropped to 38.5% in the last 13 games that Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed.
Having said that, the Bucks tend to play worse when the “Greek Freak” misses time. Milwaukee owns a 5-8 SU record in the last 13 games that Giannis has missed, which includes dropping four of five since March 20.
Being without their top player is bad enough on its own, but it’s even worse given the Bucks’ recent struggles against the Pacers. Milwaukee dropped four of five 2023-24 regular-season matchups against Indiana (including two at Fiserv Forum), allowing a whopping 128.8 points per game.
It’s safe to say that the Bucks need the likes of Lillard and Middleton to step up until Giannis’ return. Otherwise, Milwaukee’s NBA postseason run may end as quickly as it began.
5. Will the Thunder’s Rise Continue?
Does everyone remember when the Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the NBA’s biggest laughing stocks? After all, it was only in 2021 and 2022 that the Thunder recorded 22- and 24-win campaigns, cementing themselves as one of the league’s basement-dwellers.
But things changed in 2023 when the Thunder won 40 games and even qualified for the NBA Play-In Tournament. While that postseason run didn’t go their way, they came back stronger than ever for the 2024 campaign, finishing atop the Western Conference with a 57-win performance, marking their best win total since 2012-13 (60).
Will the Thunder continue to take things to the next level?
The Thunder’s success wouldn’t have been made possible without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-like play. The 25-year-old phenom is averaging 30.1 PTS/5.5 REB/6.2 AST with .535/.353/.874 splits and has been one of the most consistent players throughout the year.
Having said that, Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t been doing it all alone. Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Lu Dort are all having great campaigns, too, and will only get better with age.
With the Thunder being so young, though, it isn’t surprising that many NBA enthusiasts wonder how far they can go in the playoffs. The NBA postseason is a completely different beast and OKC’s roster is largely devoid of playoff experience. It’s going to take a big effort for them to shut up the doubters.
Nevertheless, the Thunder have been proving their naysayers wrong throughout the season and I won’t be surprised if that happens again in the playoffs.
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NBA Playoffs 2023-24 FAQ
When are the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs?
- The 2023-24 NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 20, and should be wrapped up by Sunday, June 23.
Where are the 2023-24 NBA Finals?
- The location of the 2023-24 NBA Finals will be determined once there is only one team remaining from each conference in the playoffs.
How can I watch the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs?
- Every game of the 2023-24 NBA postseason will be airing on ABC, TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV.
Where can I bet on the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs?
- Basketball bettors can wager on this year’s NBA playoffs and championship odds on the majority of online sportsbooks, including the following that Betting News highly recommends:
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Devon is a Master of Journalism graduate who joined the sports betting world in 2020. His favorite leagues to cover are the NHL, NBA and NFL, and has a soft spot for fantasy football specifically. Outside of sports, he enjoys the finer things in life like pasta, live music and getting even more tattoos.
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