One of the wildest first rounds in recent memory has wrapped, and the NBA playoffs are onto the conference semifinals.
In the East, all four series were competitive, with three going to a Game 7 and two featuring comebacks from 3–1 series deficits. Even the Knicks, who put pedal to the metal in winning the final three games against the Hawks, were down 2–1 early on in the series.
The Western Conference was a bit chalkier, with the top-seeded Thunder and Spurs running through their series, though Victor Wembanyama's Game 2 concussion injected a bit of drama for San Antonio against the Trail Blazers. The Timberwolves, down Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo for much of their series, gritted out a six-game series upset of the Nuggets, eliminating Nikola Jokić and Co.
Here is how Sports Illustrated's NBA staff ranks each team entering the conference semifinals.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
In a clean four-game sweep of the Suns in the first round, the Thunder looked like the same team that ran through the rest of the NBA during the regular season—in both good and bad ways.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played like the reigning MVP, with 33.8 points per game in 35.7 minutes per night. The team's defense was suffocating, forcing Phoenix to turn the ball over 64 times in four contests. The top-tier role players dotting the roster all stepped up at different moments and continued to solidify OKC's place as the most well-rounded contender remaining in the field.
Unfortunately, just like in the regular season, Jalen Williams got hurt. The 25-year-old, who starred during the Thunder's championship run last year, missed all but 33 games of the regular season before suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Game 2 against the Suns. His team took care of business anyway and Williams has enjoyed plenty of time to rest before Monday night's Game 1 against the Lakers, but his questionable availability persists as one of the only holes to poke in the Thunder's championship case. Even so they've earned the right to be seen as favorites entering the second round.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs entered this postseason aiming to prove youthful exuberance trumps inexperience. So far, so good.
San Antonio's young superstar, Victor Wembanyama, enjoyed a strong debut in his first playoff showing, a five-game series win over the Trail Blazers despite a Game 2 concussion derailing his experience for a bit. While he faded a bit offensively after a stellar Game 1 in that department his defense never wavered as the Defensive Player of the Year controlled the game completely with his ability to shut down the paint—he racked up 16 blocks and led the Spurs to a 102.2 defensive rating, second-best among playoff teams so far.
That could mean a regression to the mean is coming. But the Spurs are still a terror of a defensive team that can dominate opponents on that end to such a degree that what happens offensively doesn't matter. The Thunder are the only other team in the field that can boast such a high floor/ceiling combo.
3. New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks looked like a true Finals contender in their final three wins over the Hawks.
Early on in their series against the Hawks, the Knicks were one of a few high seeds that seemed to be in jeopardy, leading to plenty of angst around up-and-down forward Mikal Bridges, coach Mike Brown and plenty of others around the franchise.
And then New York responded by looking like the best team in the East for three games, winning games four through six by 16, 29 and 51 points. That dominant stretch has the Knicks believers thinking big things are ahead.