How do you feel about the NBA? Personally, I can't say I'm the biggest fan, but I certainly enjoy watching cities and my friends get excited about their teams having a chance to take home the championship. That's the weird thing about sports and any competition: so many compete for only one winner to take home everything. I think that's wild. You have to be the best of the best or you'll go home empty-handed. That's surely the nature of competitiveness, and that's what we're looking at as 16 NBA teams fight for the one victory. 

Catch me up

If you don't keep up on current basketball affairs, worry not, my friend. I'll catch you up so you'll have something interesting to talk about the next time you're with your friend who is obsessed with the Boston Celtics. You'll get some major points by bringing up any of the talking points I'll list below. 

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans 

• Devin Booker, who is dating Kendall Jenner, is one of the better players for the Suns. He got hurt a couple games ago, and the Suns, who were the best team in the league coming into the playoffs, are struggling against a not awesome Pelicans team. 
  
• Simply say something like, "Whatever happened to that one guy named Zion? Is he still in the league?" They'll talk for hours and you'll get points for that.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz 

• Luka Dončić plays for Dallas and is one of the best players in the league. You could make a joke about why Dallas loves incredible European basketball players. 
• Mention how Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert seem to not like each other on and off the court. These two play for the Jazz, and ever since Gobert was the first domino to fall for the massive COVID outbreak back in 2020, Mitchell has looked to be annoyed with his teammate. 

Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets 

• Bring up how the "Splash Brothers" (Steph Curry and Play Thompson on the Warriors) have added another incredible shooter to their team, Jordan Poole, and the weird coincidence that his last name is a body of water. 

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 

• When the party needs a talking point, begin a philosophical debate on how would win in a fight: a small pack of timberwolves or a grizzly bear? 
  
• Ask your NBA friend, "Did Ja Morant truly deserve the MIP award this year?" 
  

Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks 

• Begin a debate on whether or not Trae Young should stick around on the Hawks after this season or if he'd be better off going somewhere else. 
  
• Ask your NBA friend what the Heat need to do differently this playoffs to bring home the championship--something they failed to do in 2020 against the Lakers
  

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors 

• Talk about the three MVP finalists and debate as to who deserves it most! Nikola Jokic plays for the Nuggets, Joel Embiid plays for the 76ers, and Antetokounmpo plays for the Bucks. All are awesome and massive. 
  

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls 

• One of the more exciting players in the NBA for the last couple years is Alex Caruso. He plays for the Bulls. When the Bulls and Bucks met in the regular season a couple months ago, Grayson Allen for the Bucks fouled Caruso hard and caused him to fall awkwardly on his hand. He fractured his wrist because of it. In the playoffs just a few days ago, he may have received a concussion as well. Poor dude.

 Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets 

• Talk about how awkward it would be if two of the best players to ever play the game, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, got swept in the playoffs, which may potentially happen tonight. 
  
• Bring up Ben Simmons and whether or not he is "the" most selfish professional athlete to ever exist. 
  
• Mention how Jayson Tatum is slowly by surely establishing himself as a star in the NBA.