The NBA regular season is a crucial time for NBA teams to secure home-court advantage and clinch the top seeds for the postseason. The NBA playoffs is where the magic happens as top teams go neck-to-neck in fierce showdowns, with one goal in their mind: to claim the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. While most fans are set on Warriors vs. Cavaliers: Part 4 in the NBA Finals, other teams in both the Eastern and Western Conference has shown that they are formidable enough to knock down the Cavaliers and Warriors, making this post-season the most binge-worthy postseason yet.Â
Let's take a look at eight match-ups in each conference and their series outlooks, as the NBA post-season begins Saturday afternoon.Â
Eastern ConferenceÂ
Toronto Raptors (1) vs. Washington Wizards (8)
Game 1 — Wizards at Raptors, Saturday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2 — Wizards at Raptors, Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
Game 3 — Raptors at Wizards, Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 4 — Raptors at Wizards, Sunday, April 22 at 6 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary) —Wizards at Raptors, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Raptors at Wizards, Friday, April 27 (TBD)Â
Game 7 (if necessary) — Wizards at Raptors, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
Season series:Â Tied 2-2
Series outlook:
Toronto put themselves in a great position this postseason, finishing the regular season with a 59-23 record, ranking 4th in scoring and 2nd in blocks. However, Toronto losing 10 straight Game 1’s in the playoffs could hold them back against the fledgling Wizards. The Wizards need to make a push this post-season after losing 14 of the last 21 games, struggling without their star point-guard John Wall. In order to win the series, Kelly Oubre Jr., Bradley Beal and the bench need to step it up and be present in order to beat the Raptors.Â
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (7)Â
Game 1 — Bucks at Celtics, Sunday, April 15 at 1 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2 — Bucks at Celtics, Tuesday, April 17 at 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 — Celtics at Bucks, Friday, April 20 at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 — Celtics at Bucks, Sunday, April 22 at 1 p.m. (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Bucks at Celtics, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Celtics at Bucks, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Bucks at Cetlics, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Season series:Â Tied 2-2
Series outlook: The Boston Celtics started the season hot winning the first 16 games of the season, with young athleticism and greatness from Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Without Irving and Marcus Brown for the remainder of the postseason, the Celtics will have their hands full with the Bucks led by juggernaut Giannis Antetokounmpo, looking to advance in the first round for the first time (0-2 so far). Â
Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Miami Heat (6)
Game 1 — Heat at 76ers, Saturday, April 14 at 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2 — Heat at 76ers, Monday, April 16 at 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 — 76ers at Heat, Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. (TNT)
Game 4 — 76ers at Heat, Saturday, April 21 at 2:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Heat at 76ers, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — 76ers at Heat, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Heat at 76ers, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Season series:Â Tied 2-2
Series outlook: Philadelphia has been one of the hottest teams in the league, winning their last 16 games, clinching the 3rd seed with a 52-30 record, the best since 2000.Â
While Embiid might not be able to play in the opener due to orbital fracture in his left eye, the 76ers keeps on rolling with the greatness of Ben Simmons, and comeback of rookie Markelle Fultz, who fits in well with the lineup. Projected to get to the Eastern Conference Finals, the 76ers must keep their greatness intact against Hassan Whiteside and the Miami Heat.
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)
Game 1 — Pacers at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 15 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC)Â
Game 2 — Pacers at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 — Cavaliers at Pacers, Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 — Cavaliers at Pacers, Sunday, April 22 at 8:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Pacers at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Cavaliers at Pacers, Friday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Pacers at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
Season series:Â Indiana won 3-1
Series outlook: Lebron James is no stranger to memorable playoffs match-ups against  the Pacers, but his team will have to face a whole new Pacers led by guard Victor Oladipo. The Cavs overall have struggled this season, but with additions of Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. they have gotten back to their old selves as one of the best teams in the East. The emergence of the Pacers and re-emergence of the Cavs will make an intriguing series.Â
Western Conference
Houston Rockets (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8)
Game 1 — Timberwolves at Rockets, Sunday, April 15 at 9 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2 — Timberwolves at Rockets, Wednesday, April 18 at 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 — Rockets at Timberwolves, Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 — Rockets at Timberwolves, Monday, April 23 at 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Timberwolves at Rockets, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Rockets at Timberwolves, Friday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Timberwolves at Rockets, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
Season series: Rockets won 4-0Â
Series outlook: Houston’s offensive prominence is still alive, ranking 2nd in scoring and effective field goal percentage. However, they need to step up their defense against the Timberwolves and defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau to prevent the possibility of being out the first round.Â
Golden State Warriors (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)
Game 1 — Spurs at Warriors, Saturday, April 14 at 3 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2 — Spurs at Warriors, Monday, April 16 at 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 — Warriors at Spurs, Thursday, April 19 at 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 4 — Warriors at Spurs, Sunday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Spurs at Warriors, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Warriors at Spurs, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Spurs at Warriors, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Season series:Â Golden State won 3-1
Series outlook:Â
Despite losing 10 of their 17 last games and the absence of Steph Curry in the first round, The Warriors still have their three big players in Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. As long as the Warriors limit their turnovers early in the game, the Warriors should get past the Spurs just fine. While the Spurs to some might have no chance against the Warriors, they are the fourth-best defensive team and Gregg Popovich is capable of coming up with any game plan to take down the Warriors.Â
Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (6)
Game 1 — Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Saturday, April 14 at 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2 — Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 17 at 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 — Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Thursday, April 19 at 9 p.m. (NBA TV)
Game 4 — Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Saturday, April 21 at 5 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)
Season series:Â Tied 2-2
Series outlook:
Portland has been an underdog all season, beating the Utah Jazz to clinch the 3rd seed. Portland, which is ranked 9th in defensive rankings, can have a great advantage against the Pelicans that’s still experimenting with the duo of Anthony Davis and Demarcus Cousins.
Oklahoma City Thunder (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)
Game 1 — Jazz at Thunder, Sunday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 2 —  Jazz at Thunder, Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m. (NBA TV)
Game 3 — Thunder at Jazz, Saturday, April 21 at 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 — Thunder at Jazz, Monday, April 23 at 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Jazz at Thunder, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Thunder at Jazz, Friday, April 27 (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Jazz at Thunder, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)
Season series:Â Oklahoma City won 3-1Â
Series outlook: Russell Westbrook continues to be a great player, now having a second straight season averaging a triple double. Ranking 10th in defense, the Thunder have to make the right stops to Utah, ranked 2nd in scoring defense. Utah still needs to score and Dovovan Mitchell, projected to be Rookie of the Year, needs to be the same star-caliber player in the big moments.Â