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The 2020 NBA playoffs are almost here. Once the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies face off to determine who’ll be the final playoff team in the Western Conference, things will be as close to normal as they can be in 2020: 16 teams (eight from each conference) playing best-of-seven series to determine an NBA champion.

Everything you need to know about the first bubble playoffs will be right here from now through the middle of October, when instead of getting ready for the 2020-21 season, we’ll be crowning this season’s champion (good news: they won’t have to travel far for a celebratory parade at Walt Disney World Resort).

o Everything to know about the teams that can win the title
o Finding the biggest flaw with every NBA playoff lock
o Zach Lowe’s 10 Things: Michael Porter Jr. and a power rising in the East
o NBA play-in prediction: Why the Grizzlies have a chance to beat the Blazers
o Experts’ picks: Predictions for the play-in and every first-round series

Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access.

BPI series odds: MIL (95%) | Caesars betting odds: MIL -15000

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1:51

Kendrick Perkins cites the Bucks’ poor defense as why they have been the most disappointing team in the NBA bubble.

  • Game 1, Aug. 18: Magic vs. Bucks | 1:30 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 2, Aug. 20: Magic vs. Bucks | 6 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 3, Aug. 22: Bucks vs. Magic | 1 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 4, Aug. 24: Bucks vs. Magic | 1:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 26: Magic vs. Bucks | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 28: Bucks vs. Magic | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 30: Magic vs. Bucks | TBD

o How to beat the Bucks: Three ways to topple this juggernaut
o Magic’s Mo Bamba leaves bubble for post-coronavirus evaluation, to miss playoffs
o How Markelle Fultz finally found his place in the NBA

BPI series odds: TOR (86%) | Caesars betting odds: TOR -5000

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0:51

Jay Williams reacts to the Raptors’ win vs. the Lakers over the weekend and explains why their defense can fuel them to another NBA title.

  • Game 1, Aug. 17: Nets vs. Raptors | 4 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 2, Aug. 19: Nets vs. Raptors | 1:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV

  • Game 3, Aug. 21: Raptors vs. Nets | 1:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV

  • Game 4, Aug. 23: Raptors vs. Nets | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 25: Nets vs. Raptors | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 27: Raptors vs. Nets | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 29: Nets vs. Raptors | TBD

o Start considering the Raptors real NBA title contenders
o Zach Lowe on the most exciting nerd thing in the NBA

BPI series odds: BOS (71%) | Caesars betting odds: BOS -460

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1:03

Kendrick Perkins and Paul Pierce agree the 76ers won’t go far in the playoffs because of the injuries to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

  • Game 1, Aug. 17: 76ers vs. Celtics | 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 2, Aug. 19: 76ers vs. Celtics | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 3, Aug. 21: Celtics vs. 76ers | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 4, Aug. 23: Celtics vs. 76ers | 1 p.m. ET on ABC

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 25: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 27: Celtics vs. 76ers | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 29: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD

o The Celtics will go as far as Brown and Tatum carry them
o What to expect from the Sixers with Ben Simmons out

BPI series odds: MIA (57%) | Caesars betting odds: MIA -300

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3:00

Jimmy Butler sits down with Rachel Nichols to discuss his beef with T.J. Warren and the Pacers, as well as his confidence that the Heat can take home the championship.

  • Game 1, Aug. 18: Heat vs. Pacers | 4 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 2, Aug. 20: Heat vs. Pacers | 1 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 3, Aug. 22: Pacers vs. Heat | 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 4, Aug. 24: Pacers vs. Heat | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 26: Heat vs. Pacers | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 28: Pacers vs. Heat | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 30: Heat vs. Pacers | TBD

o Miami made the Jimmy Butler gamble that Chicago never could
o Why some NBA coaches love the new casual look — and some don’t

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BPI series odds: LAL (86%)

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1:46

Stephen A. Smith expresses his concerns with the Lakers’ defense and is confident they won’t beat the Clippers playing like that.

  • Game 1, Aug. 18: POR/MEM vs. Lakers | 9 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 2, Aug. 20: POR/MEM vs. Lakers | 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 3, Aug. 22: Lakers vs. POR/MEM | 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC

  • Game 4, Aug. 24: Lakers vs. POR/MEM | 9 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 26: POR/MEM vs. Lakers | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 28: Lakers vs. POR/MEM | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 30: POR/MEM vs. Lakers | TBD

o Predicting LeBron James’ future titles and NBA legacy
o How Year 2 of LeBron and the Lakers turned into a roller coaster

BPI series odds: LAC (65%) | Caesars betting odds: LAC -460

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2:15

David Jacoby questions the Clippers’ durability in the bubble, but Jalen Rose is adamant that, despite the setbacks, the Clippers will win the West.

  • Game 1, Aug. 17: Mavericks vs. Clippers | 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 2, Aug. 19: Mavericks vs. Clippers | 9 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 3, Aug. 21: Clippers vs. Mavericks | 9 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 4, Aug. 23: Clippers vs. Mavericks | 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 25: Mavericks vs. Clippers | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 27: Clippers vs. Mavericks | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 29: Mavericks vs. Clippers | TBD

o Sources: Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell expected to be eligible for Game 1 vs. Mavericks
o Lou Williams says opponents should beware of motivated Montrezl Harrell
o Playoff Luka: What to expect in Doncic’s first NBA postseason

BPI series odds: UTAH (51%) | Caesars betting odds: DEN -230

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1:55

Kendrick Perkins thinks Donovan Mitchell should not go anywhere because he has the chance to be the No. 1 option on a highly successful Jazz team.

  • Game 1, Aug. 17: Jazz vs. Nuggets | 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 2, Aug. 19: Jazz vs. Nuggets | 4 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 3, Aug. 21: Nuggets vs. Jazz | 4 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 4, Aug. 23: Nuggets vs. Jazz | 9 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 25: Jazz vs. Nuggets | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 27: Nuggets vs. Jazz | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 29: Jazz vs. Nuggets | TBD

o Michael Porter Jr. and eight more breakout players in Orlando
o Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and the rift between them

BPI series odds: HOU (66%) | Caesars betting odds: HOU -170

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2:25

Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins take issue with Max Kellerman picking Luka Doncic over James Harden.

  • Game 1, Aug. 18: Thunder vs. Rockets | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 2, Aug. 20: Thunder vs. Rockets | 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 3, Aug. 22: Rockets vs. Thunder | 6 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • Game 4, Aug. 24: Rockets vs. Thunder | 4 p.m. ET on TNT

  • Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 26: Thunder vs. Rockets | TBD

  • Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 28: Rockets vs. Thunder | TBD

  • Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 30: Thunder vs. Rockets | TBD

o Chris Paul, the Thunder and the best lineup you don’t know about
o How Russell Westbrook’s injury changes the Rockets’ playoff chances

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