NBA Playoffs Start Amid Major Team Changes, Predictions

The NBA Playoffs are set to begin after a turbulent season marked by significant player trades and surprising coaching changes, including the high-profile Luka Doncic move to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets' firing of head coach Michael Malone despite their playoff berth. Doncic will now team up with LeBron James on the Lakers, forming a formidable duo as they face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets will enter the postseason under interim coach David Adelman, following concerns about the team's direction raised by management. In the Eastern Conference, teams like the Orlando Magic are relying on key playoff performers such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to provide the shooting and experience needed for a postseason run. Individual player accolades are also being debated, with strong support for Cleveland's Evan Mobley as Defensive Player of the Year, celebrated for his impact over more media-driven candidates. The chaotic season has set a dramatic stage for what is expected to be an unpredictable and compelling playoff run.