Western Conference play-offs: what's at stake and the Africans to watch

While the race for regular-season MVP has featured pretty much the same players in recent years (Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo), the same cannot be said of the race for the title. The NBA has never been so unpredictable and wide open.

Denver, top seed but not favourites

Denver, who had the best record in the Western Conference, are not necessarily favourites to reach the Finals. Despite having two-time MVP Nikola Jokic in their ranks, the Nuggets were running on fumes late on. While the Joker still makes everything look easy on the court, his team does not have much margin over its rivals. They simply made the most of other franchises' ‘’misfortunes’’ to find their own ‘’good fortune’’. But they will need to be extremely solid and focused just to get past the Wolves of Karl Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. In great form, that trio can upset all the predictions in this first round of the NBA play-offs.

Lakers and Golden State, same struggle

Champions in 2020 and 2022 respectively, the Lakers and the Warriors have endured an extremely difficult six months of competition, hampered by recurring injuries to key players. Both franchises battled right to the end to secure their play-off spot. But no team is happy to draw them, because at full strength and injury-free, they are openly targeting the NBA title.

The Kings (3rd), back in the play-offs after 17 years away, would indeed have preferred to avoid Golden State (6th) in this 1st round. Brilliant during the regular season, will the duo of DeAaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis maintain their offensive efficiency in post-season games, which are often very tight? Will Sacramento's defence, at times porous, be able to withstand the hot streaks of the Splash Brothers? Those are the keys to this tie.

Memphis (2nd) also have no easy ride against Lebron James and company, who came through the play-in to claim 7th place. The Grizzlies are hard to read. Ja Morant and his team-mates are capable of putting together wild winning streaks, but also of stringing together a run of poor performances.

Josh Okogie, the African to watch in the West

NBA champion in 2022 with the Warriors in his first season, Congolese player Jonathan Kuminga did not play much in the play-offs. This year, the forward, who started several regular-season games in the starting 5, should get a little more court time in the post-season, especially as Andre Wiggins should be the Warriors' 6th man.

The African most eagerly awaited in this conference is undoubtedly Josh Okogie, the Suns' Swiss army knife. The Nigerian forward has been in Phoenix's starting 5 since February, and it is well deserved. As well as consistently guarding the opposition's best scorer, the 24-year-old very often chips in offensively. He is capable of punishing opponents from three-point range. Monty Williams will need his intensity to try to shut down the Clippers' two biggest threats: Kawhi Leonard and Paul Georges, if the latter returns.

NBA Play-offs Eastern Conference: what's at stake and the Africans to watch

The bracket is set.

PLAYOFF HOOPS BEGIN IN 12 HOURS 🍿

Nets-Sixers | Game 1 | 1pm/et on ESPN#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/bsFcixAXF2

— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2023