The 2025 NBA playoffs are officially underway, and the race to the Larry O’Brien Trophy is wide open. Twenty teams remain in contention, including five that have never hoisted the championship banner. While the Eastern Conference bracket wrapped up on Friday, it took a thrilling overtime showdown between Steph Curry’s Warriors and Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers to settle the West.
Cleveland enters as the East’s top seed following a 64-win campaign, but the defending champion Boston Celtics are hot on their heels. Out West, the playoff picture came down to the wire, with Denver landing a dangerous No. 6 seed, the Lakers holding firm at No. 3, and a battle-tested Warriors team dropping into the play-in tournament to face Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.
Here’s a full team-by-team breakdown of the postseason field, key questions, and what to watch as the first round tips off.
Cleveland Cavaliers – No. 1 Seed, Eastern Conference
Record: 64-18 | Off. Rating: 121.0 (1st) | Def. Rating: 111.8 (8th) | Net Rating: +9.2 (3rd)
Title Odds: +600 | PPG Leader: Donovan Mitchell (24.0)
Cleveland heads into the postseason with the league’s best offense and a top-10 defense — a potent combination that powered them to a dominant regular season. Built around a balanced attack, sharp shooting, and a deep rotation, the Cavaliers embraced a modern, switch-heavy defensive scheme under head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Despite their success, questions linger. Cleveland went just 8-8 in their final 16 games and has shown vulnerability defending bigger wings, which could become a problem in a potential clash with Boston. The midseason addition of De’Andre Hunter was made with that exact matchup in mind.
The Cavs’ playoff fate may hinge on their 3-point shooting. From October through early March, they led the league in accuracy from deep. But since March 11, they’ve plummeted to 19th. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland — who take a combined 16 threes per game — have seen their efficiency dip notably. Cleveland’s margin for error narrows quickly if that trend continues.
X-Factor: Clutch play. Cleveland has been the league’s most efficient team in close games, thanks to Garland and Mitchell, who boast outstanding offensive net ratings in high-pressure moments.
Best Case Scenario:
With depth, elite offense, and postseason legs saved during a load-managed regular season, the Cavaliers have all the tools to make a serious title run. If Atkinson leans more heavily on his stars in the postseason and the outside shooting returns to early-season form, Cleveland could be on track to raise their second banner in franchise history.
