What did we learn from the first round of the NBA playoffs?
by Sam Cox
The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs has brought us jaw-dropping game winners, a surprise elimination, and some all-time great games. LeBron James and Luka Dončić are done for the season, with James already making passive aggressive comments about roster construction.
The Orlando Magic put up a fight against the Boston Celtics, even without Jalen Suggs. The Detroit Pistons pushed the New York Knicks to a hard-fought six games.
The level of physicality across the eight first-round series has been a hot topic, with Jimmy Butler and several others dealing with contact injuries.
Heading into the weekend, six of the eight teams are booked into the next round, so here’s what we’ve learned from the first round so far, and where our top NBA picks stand heading into Round 2.
Orlando isn’t Far Off
Orlando was 21st in regular season net rating in 2025. Their offense was 27th. The defense was elite all year, despite Suggs’ injury, but they couldn’t score enough to earn a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference.
Facing the Boston Celtics in the first round, the Magic could have easily been blown out. Instead, they made the Celtics work hard through five games with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner showing they are unafraid of the bright playoff lights.
Add a healthy Suggs and the Magic aren’t far off being a real contender.
This is the offseason to be aggressive to add a primary shot creator to ease some of the burden on their star wings. Sacrificing a bit of defense for offense will get them in the mix.
End of an Era in Memphis
The Memphis Grizzlies have won one playoff series since 2015. Taylor Jenkins is gone. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane were ineffective against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Ja Morant suffered yet another injury.
More change is surely coming in Memphis. Morant, who looked a future MVP a few years ago, is no longer a top-five point guard. He might not even be top 10 at his position when his lack of availability is accounted for.
Jackson Jr. might be overtasked as a second option on offense if the Thunder series is anything to go by. Bane is a great third or fourth option a true contender.
This iteration of the Grizzlies is stuck in the mud. They have been more cautious than most of their Western Conference peers when it comes to offseason moves, but that has to change this summer or they risk falling from play-in to lottery team with the San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans expected to be stronger in 2025-26.
Another Offseason of Giannis Speculation
The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t won a playoff series since 2022. A total of four postseason games have been won over that period.
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed one of those postseasons, but in the last two, he has been left carrying an overmatched team. Dating back to the 2022 series with the Celtics, the two-time MVP has averaged 32.3 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. Milwaukee has a 3-10 record in that span.
Damian Lillard is likely to miss all of next season after tearing his Achilles. The Kyle Kuzma trade has been an unsurprising disaster. Brook Lopez is clearly way past his best. Milwaukee doesn’t have the assets to retool around Giannis again – even if he doesn’t request a trade, it might be better for the Bucks’ long-term future to deal the greatest player in franchise history.
T-Wolves are Legit Contenders
Anthony Edwards comprehensively outperformed LeBron and Dončić on both ends. Julius Randle exorcised his postseason demons, Rudy Gobert came up with a dominant closeout Game 5, and Jaden McDaniels was phenomenal as a defender and spot-up shooter.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were an elite team over the last couple of months of the regular season. Yes, a favorable schedule was used to downplay their success, but that has worn thin after they blew the Lakers away in five games.
With a considerable rest advantage over the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets before their second-round series, the T-Wolves are poised to return to the Conference Finals. If their defense maintains this level and Edwards continues to perform like an MVP, it would be foolish to write the Wolves off against any opponent.
Cade is Ready
Cade Cunningham was the best player in his series. That’s in a series that included multi-time All-Stars in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson had the Hollywood moment with his dagger three on Thursday, but Cunningham was the superior player throughout the six games between the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks.
At worst, Cunningham should be a Second Team All-NBA selection. He’s got a decent case for the fifth First Team spot. He averaged 25 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 3 steals in the first-round loss to the Knicks.
While the Pistons improved their roster and finally spaced the floor for Cunningham, he was still missing a true second star to help with shot creation. If Detroit checks that box, Cunningham could lead his team on a deep run in 12 months time.
