THE NBA MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT
I am bored, so, here we are.
“What’s the point of doing a hypothetical March Madness tournament with NBA teams when the playoffs are just 20 games away?”
Well, figment of my imagination, there isn’t one. There, I said it. Are you happy?
This is for fun. And yes, I’m making it up as I go. Thank you for asking.
Here’s the idea:
Step 1: Separate NBA teams into two regions (North/South, just because). Regions have nothing to do with actual conferences. Teams are divided based on record. For example, the two teams with the best record right now are the Celtics and Bucks. So even though both are in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics will be the #1 seed in my fictional North Region, and the Bucks will be the #1 seed in the South Region.
Step 2: Since there’s an uneven number of teams to start, the #1 seeds will get a bye, then face the lowest remaining seed in the second round.
Step 3: That’s it? It’ll make sense what I get going, trust me. Just remember, these are single game matchups.
Hoooookay so without further ado, let’s get into the regions/matchups.
ROUND ONE, NORTH REGION:
#1 (First Round Bye): Boston Celtics
It’s nice to be king in my fictional world. Celtics move on to round two on a technicality.
Winner: Celtics
#2 Denver Nuggets vs #15 San Antonio Spurs
Nikola Jokic tallies a first half triple double as the Nuggets easily defeat the Spurs, who are the definition of happy to be here.
Winner: Nuggets 135-96
#3 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #14 Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball keeps things interesting in the first half with 18 points and four threes, but he goes cold in the second as Donovan Mitchell goes for 40 in a comfortable win for the Cavs.
Winner: Cavaliers 120-103
#4 Brooklyn Nets vs #13 Indiana Pacers
Upset alert! The recently revamped Nets struggle to keep up with a fantastic shooting night from beyond the arc for the Pacers, as Buddy Hield goes for 31 points in a close win.
Winner: Pacers 111-108
#5 New York Knicks vs #12 Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron gives all he can, but ultimately misses what would’ve been a game tying three at the buzzer. Jalen Brunson scores 28 and Anthony Davis is thoroughly outplayed by Julius Randle.
Winner: Knicks 104-101
#6 Los Angeles Clippers vs #11 Portland Trail Blazers
Dame does all he can, but sadly, it’s nowhere near enough as the Clippers use a strong third quarter run to pull ahead and stay ahead for a comfortable round one win. Kawhi scores 25 in 29 mins.
Winner: Clippers 127-113
#7 Dallas Mavericks vs #10 Utah Jazz
Utah plays a feisty game, and even takes a double digit lead into halftime, before the Mavericks slowly storm their way back. Luka hits a game winner on the last possession for a very narrow victory.
Winner: Mavericks 99-98
#8 Minnesota Timberwolves vs #9 Atlanta Hawks
Ice Trae makes a reappearance, netting eight threes in total, as the Hawks roll to a surprisingly easy victory in Minnesota. Shortly after the game, Anthony Edwards is reported to be asking out.
Winner: Hawks 113-104
ROUND ONE, SOUTH REGION:
#1 (First Round Bye): Milwaukee Bucks
Rest up boys, your time will come soon.
Winner: Bucks
#2 Philadelphia 76ers vs #15 Houston Rockets
Embiid scores 20 in the first quarter as the Sixers quickly find themselves in the driver’s seat, where they stay for the rest of the game. Jalen Green shoots 6-23.
Winner: Sixers 128-102
#3 Memphis Grizzlies vs #14 Detroit Pistons
The Pistons hang around early with three quick Bojan threes, but the Grizzlies take a double digit lead into halftime and only grow their lead in the second half.
Winner: Grizzlies 119-93
#4 Sacramento Kings vs #13 Orlando Magic
This is the most entertaining matchup of the first round. There are over 30 lead changes throughout the game, as both Franz and Fox total over 30. The Kings win on a Keegan Murray 3 at the buzzer.
Winner: Kings 124-123
#5 Miami Heat vs #12 Chicago Bulls
Jimmy Butler and DeMar Derozan both go for 30 points, but ultimately Bam is too much for Vucevic in the middle and the Heat barely pull away in the final two minutes.
Winner: Heat 106-102
#6 Phoenix Suns vs #11 Toronto Raptors
In a fun, back-and-forth game, both Durant and Booker go for 25+ on over 50% shooting, and the Suns make just enough plays down the stretch to fend off a 35 point game from Siakam.
Winner: Suns 119-114
#7 New Orleans Pelicans vs #10 Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal gives the Pelicans buckets from the jump, but the depth of the Pelicans proves too much as 7 players score in double figures and BI leads the way with 27 on 15 shots.
Winner: Pelicans 123-107
#8 Golden State Warriors vs #9 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder start HOT, shooting over 60% from the floor in the first half and lead by 9 at the break. The Warriors use a strong third quarter to take back the lead and barely hold on for the win.
Winner: Warriors 127-123
ROUND TWO, NORTH REGION:
#1 Boston Celtics vs #13 Indiana Pacers
The Pacers’ Cinderella run does not go very far, as the Celtics easily handle them from the jump. Tatum has 20 at halftime, and the Pacers rarely drop the Celtics’ lead below 20 after the first quarter.
Winner: Celtics 134-109
#2 Denver Nuggets vs #9 Atlanta Hawks
This is a close game throughout, as the Hawks stay hot from beyond the arc and even take a small lead going into halftime. Jamal Murray gets hot in the fourth quarter, and the home crowd provides just enough boost for the Nuggets to move on.
Winner: Nuggets 117-114
#3 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #7 Dallas Mavericks
Donovan Mitchell takes this game personally, continuously cooking Luka on offense. Mitchell scores 34 and Cleveland is able to fend off a late fourth quarter Kyrie threes to walk away with the W. The end score looks closer than the game ever was.
Winner: Cavaliers 108-102
#5 New York Knicks vs #6 Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi defers to Paul George early on, but George struggles, going 2-9 from three in the first half. The Clippers, miraculously, go into halftime only down five. Kawhi takes over in the second half, at one point scoring 13 straight for his team, in route to a convincing win.
Winner: Clippers 121-108
ROUND TWO, SOUTH REGION:
#1 Milwaukee Bucks vs #8 Golden State Warriors
Like last game, the Warriors start cold. Unlike last game, they aren’t able to shake it. Giannis gets whatever he wants as Steph drops 37, including 8 threes, but watches as the rest of his team shoots 6-31 from beyond the arc.
Winner: Bucks 127-118
#2 Philadelphia 76ers vs #7 New Orleans Pelicans
In a surprisingly low scoring game, Embiid and BI trade baskets down the stretch. A clutch Harden 3 from the top of the key is the dagger, as the Sixers are able to do just enough to hold off the Pelicans. CJ struggles from the field, shooting 4-18.
Winner: Sixers 98-94
#3 Memphis Grizzlies vs #6 Phoenix Suns
This game is chippy, early. Brooks and CP3 draw a double technical in the first quarter. KD takes things personally, at one point hitting a heavily contested turn around baseline jumper in Brooks’ face. Ja is amazing from start to finish, but the Suns pull away in the final few minutes after JJJ fouls out.
Winner: Suns 124-120
#4 Sacramento Kings vs #5 Miami Heat
In a higher-scoring game than some imagined, both teams go for 60+ in the first half before defense tightens up in the third quarter. Tyler Herro gets hot, dropping in 6 threes (including three on three straight possessions), and a bad De’Aaron Fox pass seals it with a minute left.
Winner: Heat 109-105
ROUND THREE, NORTH REGION:
#1 Boston Celtics vs #6 Los Angeles Clippers
In one of the best games of the entire tournament, the two teams with the two best wing duos go head to head all game, with the lead never stretching beyond eight for either team. Kawhi hits a shot with 2.4 seconds left to put the Clippers ahead, but Jaylen Brown scores on a layup as time expires to give the Celtics an extremely close win.
Winner: Celtics 113-112
#2 Denver Nuggets vs #3 Cleveland Cavaliers
Nikola Jokic gets whatever he wants from the floor, shooting 13-18 in the game and scoring 38 points, but it’s Donovan Mitchell again with two late threes down the stretch to help the Cavs pull ahead and hold on in an upset win.
Winner: Cavaliers 114-108
ROUND THREE, SOUTH REGION:
#1 Milwaukee Bucks vs #6 Phoenix Suns
In a finals matchup from two years ago, the Suns prove to be too much for Giannis to handle, as Middleton goes completely cold in a must win game. Durant scores 32 on 14 shots, and Chris Paul has 17 assists as the Suns cruise relatively easily in a revenge win.
Winner: Suns 121-109
#2 Philadelphia 76ers vs #5 Miami Heat
The Heat refuse to die. After Philly goes up six with 40 seconds left, Jimmy Butler quickly makes a layup to cut the lead to four. Embiid looks like he’s fouled on a shot attempt, but doesn’t get the call as Herro comes down, hits a three, and makes it a one point game. The Heat foul Harden, who misses his first free throw, and Caleb Martin (great name) hits the game-winning three as time expires.
Winner: Miami 101-100
SEMIFINALS, NORTH REGION:
#1 Boston Celtics vs #3 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs miraculous run finally comes to an end, as the Celtics start hot from beyond the arc and stay hot throughout the game. Mitchell finally has an off game, and by the time he finds his stroke in the fourth quarter, it’s too late.
Winner: Celtics 123-114
SEMIFINALS, SOUTH REGION:
#5 Miami Heat vs #6 Phoenix Suns
In yet another surprisingly close game, the Heat give the Suns all they can handle through 3.5 quarters. Jimmy and KD get into it and have to be separated late into the fourth quarter. KD uses that fire to hit a tough contested three from the wing after the Heat cut the lead down to one with a minute left, and Miami misses their next shot as the Suns slowly pull away with free throws in the final possessions. No one shakes hands after the game.
Winner: Suns 105-101
NBA MARCH MADNESS FINALS:
North Region #1 Boston Celtics vs South Region #6 Phoenix Suns
Some might call it a Cinderella run, but the Suns expected to be here from the moment they saw how the bracket shook out. Jayson Tatum, who has been awesome all tournament for the Celtics, struggles mightily (again) on the big stage, and his opponent, Durant, does not. The Suns take a double digit lead into halftime, and despite Jaylen Brown making some insanely difficult shots to keep it close, the Suns are able to do just enough in the fourth quarter to close Boston out and walk away as champions. The Celtics are left to pick up the pieces after yet another disappointing Championship loss, and KD gets his win without Steph.
Winner: Suns 109-103
