Well, its finally here – the 2019 NBA playoffs – and there are s few unfamiliar names in there and for the first time in more years than most can remember a certain LeBron James will be watching rather than taking part. In the West, the Denver Nuggets are back in the postseason after a 5-year absence, while the Clippers who scraped in as No8 seeds have only missed one playoff since 2011-12. The Nuggets have never won a Championship and probably won’t have a better chance than this.

In the East the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic & Brooklyn Nets are the new faces with three times Champions the Pistons only making their second appearance in 10 seasons, while Orlando who has never won the Final will be hoping to at least get past the 1st round – something they last achieved back in 2009-10. The Brooklyn Nets similarly have never won the title but did pick up a couple of ABA championships back in the 1970s.

Anyway, it does look like a particularly open year this time and some will say a nice change from seeing Golden State v Cleveland take 5!

The opening games are all scheduled for this weekend and staggered so the ardent couch potatoes can watch games all day. Should be fun.

Eastern Conference:

Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Detroit Pistons (8)

Game 1: Pistons at Bucks, Sunday, April 14

Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)

Game 1: Magic at Raptors, Saturday, April 13

Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)

Game 1: Nets at 76ers, Saturday, April 13

Boston Celtics (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)

Game 1: Pacers at Celtics, Sunday, April 14

Western Conference:

Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8)

Game 1: Clippers at Warriors, Saturday, April 13

Denver Nuggets (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)

Game 1: Spurs at Nuggets, Saturday, April 13

Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)

Game 1: Thunder at Trail Blazers, Sunday, April 14

Houston Rockets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)

Game 1: Jazz at Rockets, Sunday, April 14

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