University Southern California Trojans
#USCtotheNBA Playoff Preview
April 12, 2018 | Men's Basketball, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The 2018 NBA Playoff bracket is set, and three USC alumni have the chance to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
DeMar DeRozan and the Toronto Raptors have locked up the No. 1 seed in the East. The Raptors finished the regular season with a record of 59-23 to set up a first-round matchup with the eighth-seeded Washington Wizards.
DeRozan leads the Raptors in minutes played (33.9 per game) and scoring (23.0 PPG), and ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference in scoring this season.
After being swept in the second round last season, DeRozan and the Raptors are looking to make waves this postseason. Their first game is Saturday, April 14, at 2:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.
On the other side of the bracket, USC alum Nick Young and the fan-favorite Golden State Warriors earned a 2-seed.
In his first season with the reigning NBA champs, Young has averaged 7.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game. The Warriors finished the regular season at 58-24, and will head into their first-round matchup against the always dangerous No. 7 seed San Antonio Spurs. Their series kicks off on Saturday, April 14, at 12 p.m. PT on ABC.
Two Trojans could face off in the Western Conference Finals, but it would take a serious first-round upset.
USC alum Taj Gibson and the Minnesota Timberwolves earned the last playoff spot in the West and will face the No. 1 seeded Houston Rockets in the first round.
Gibson made a huge defensive play in last night's de facto play-in game to help clinch the T-Wolves' first playoff berth since the 2003-04 season.
Gibson started all 82 games in his first season in Minnesota, helping the team go 47-35. He averaged 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds while playing 33.3 minutes per game.
The Rockets host the Timberwolves for the first game in the series on Sunday, April 15, at 6 p.m. PT.
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DeMar DeRozan and the Toronto Raptors have locked up the No. 1 seed in the East. The Raptors finished the regular season with a record of 59-23 to set up a first-round matchup with the eighth-seeded Washington Wizards.
DeRozan leads the Raptors in minutes played (33.9 per game) and scoring (23.0 PPG), and ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference in scoring this season.
After being swept in the second round last season, DeRozan and the Raptors are looking to make waves this postseason. Their first game is Saturday, April 14, at 2:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.
On the other side of the bracket, USC alum Nick Young and the fan-favorite Golden State Warriors earned a 2-seed.In his first season with the reigning NBA champs, Young has averaged 7.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game. The Warriors finished the regular season at 58-24, and will head into their first-round matchup against the always dangerous No. 7 seed San Antonio Spurs. Their series kicks off on Saturday, April 14, at 12 p.m. PT on ABC.
Two Trojans could face off in the Western Conference Finals, but it would take a serious first-round upset.
USC alum Taj Gibson and the Minnesota Timberwolves earned the last playoff spot in the West and will face the No. 1 seeded Houston Rockets in the first round.
Gibson made a huge defensive play in last night's de facto play-in game to help clinch the T-Wolves' first playoff berth since the 2003-04 season.
Gibson started all 82 games in his first season in Minnesota, helping the team go 47-35. He averaged 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds while playing 33.3 minutes per game.
The Rockets host the Timberwolves for the first game in the series on Sunday, April 15, at 6 p.m. PT.
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