NBA Playoffs 2018: Power ranking the first round matchups

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 4: Close up view of the NBA Playoffs logo before the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7 of 8

2. No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34) vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz (48-34)

All the hubbub will surround star rookie Donovan Mitchell and human adrenal gland Russell Westbrook. And rightly so, they’re two of the most exciting players the league offers. Westbrook’s a walking triple-double and might be the most physically transcendent guard we’ve ever seen. Mitchell exploded onto the scene this year as a rookie, filling nearly every team that passed on him in the lottery with regret. He averaged 20.5 points for a team devoid of a true scoring option in the wake of Gordon Hayward’s departure.

Do I want to watch Westbrook meet Rudy Gobert at the mountaintop and try to dunk the French Rejection into oblivion? Absolutely. Do I want to see Mitchell run a pick-and-roll to get Carmelo Anthony switched onto him so he can cross over the former Knick off this spatial plane? Yes, please inject that straight into my veins.

But the marquee matchup of the series is an inconspicuous one. It’s more than just players going against each other, it puts two entire countries at odds. Oklahoma City versus Utah comes down to New Zealand versus Australia. Steven Adams against Joe Ingles could put a strain on Trans-Tasman relations altogether. It’s the greatest conflict between the nations since the First Taranaki War. This is bigger than basketball, I just hope no political ramifications fall out because of it. Let’s not think about that, just put this on loop in the background and enjoy the series.

Prediction: It’s as evenly-matched as we can get. In Russ I trust. Thunder in six.

Game 1 between the Thunder and Jazz will be at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 15. TNT will have the national telecast from Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.

Home/NBA Playoffs