NBA Playoffs: Celtics-Bucks headlines 5 matchups that would be intriguing

A Clippers-Thunder matchup in the 2024 NBA playoffs would be wrought with juicy storylines.

Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.

The NBA playoffs are officially a month away. What would be your dream postseason matchup?

Steve Aschburner

Celtics-Bucks. OK, so any intra-Eastern Conference series might project as a mismatch given the Celtics’ dominance thus far. But the reset button of the playoffs and what likely would be Round 3, the East finals, could have them on more even footing by then. We even get a preview tonight from TD Garden (7:30 ET, ESPN).

And let’s face it, this popped into everyone’s head back on October 1, the day Portland re-directed former Bucks guard Jrue Holiday to Boston. The proud Holiday, a painful give by Milwaukee in its surprise trade for Damian Lillard, likely has been dreaming of this series all season.

Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be at their 1-2 combo best by then and Khris Middleton should be healthy — or bust. With an NBA Finals trip on the line, this would be must-see.

Brian Martin

Nuggets-Suns. Phoenix was the only team to beat Denver multiple times during the Nuggets’ 2023 title run. Thanks to a pair of epic games by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant — combining for 86 points in Game 3 and 72 in Game 4 — the 2023 Western Conference semifinals were tied after four games.

After adding Bradley Beal, Phoenix now has three dynamic scorers to throw at Denver in hopes that two, if not all three, can catch fire together and outscore the Nuggets four times in a best-of-seven series.

One problem: we have yet to see this matchup. Booker missed Phoenix’s win earlier this month, while Booker and Beal were sidelined in Phoenix’s loss in December. Hopefully, we see both teams fully healthy in their final regular-season meeting next Wednesday and get a playoff rematch of them, too.

Shaun Powell

Clippers-Thunder. There’s a time-honored sports tradition where players muster a bit more energy against a team that traded them or dumped them or, for whatever reason, parted with them. With that said, I give you Clippers vs. Thunder — also known as the “Hey, Remember Me?” series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against a Clippers team that sacrificed him after signing Kawhi Leonard because Leonard didn’t think he was ready? James Harden against a Thunder team that refused to pay him what he wanted (which broke up three future MVPs with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook)? Paul George against a Thunder team that … well, OK, Paul George asked out, so no animosity here, but still.

Given that the Clippers are win-now and OKC is built for a longer haul but positioned to win now, this would be interesting. And entertaining.

John Schuhmann

Wolves-Suns. With all the star power and given such contrasts in styles, any matchup of the top 10 teams in the West should be terrific. The Suns are particularly fascinating because they’re all-in for a championship, but have had a disappointing regular season. Their stars are all under contract for at least two more seasons, but Kevin Durant is 35 years old and Bradley Beal has struggled to stay healthy.

The Wolves are under some pressure because of how expensive their roster will be next season. This is also their best opportunity to get the franchise’s first series win since 2004. On the floor, you have the team that leads the league in pull-up 2-pointers (the Suns) vs. a Kia Defensive Player of the Year favorite (Rudy Gobert) who would prefer to remain in the paint and protect the rim. Plus, it would be interesting to see if the Suns played some small ball with Durant at the five.

Michael C. Wright

Celtics-Nuggets. You’ve got the defending champs led by reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and a proven playoff performer in Jamal Murray matching up against Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and a Celtics team that has dominated the 2023-24 regular season.

Boston boasts plenty of big-time postseason experience. But Tatum is starting to carry the reputation of a player that falters on the big stage. Can he finally get over the hump? Can the Celtics’ guard duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White lock down Murray?

Can the resurgent Kristaps Porzingis handle Jokic? Is Denver’s roster deep enough to withstand the Celtics over a seven-game series? The Nuggets defeated Boston twice this season. So, the Celtics won’t need motivation for what would be a hard-nosed dogfight.