Neither the Heat nor Suns have it easy

The Hawks and Pelicans believe

TrueHoop’s NBA playoff preview: The East. The West. The Raptors vs. 76ers. The betting markets. The podcast.

BY DAVID THORPE

Having already won two tough elimination games this week, Brandon Ingram, Jose Alvarado, and the Pelicans arrive in the playoffs feeling good. HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES

Think about how eight-seeds used to make the playoffs—usually at the end of a disappointing month or two. Very often they were fourth-seeds with broken dreams.

The play-in tournament has obliterated that psychology. To make it to the eighth-seed now, you have to effectively win back-to-back Game 7s against quality opponents. The Pelicans and Hawks arrive with the mentality of warriors. I’ve always believed what happens in one round can matter in another. The best possible preparation for a tough opponent is winning a hard fought series against another. 

It’s unlikely any 8-seed wins a series. But the Hawks and Pelicans will make it interesting.

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