The defending champs could be dethroned, and never discount the Lakers and Warriors’ superstars waiting for a chance to pounce.

It's playoff time. The two teams that I think are on a collision course to meet in the NBA Finals aren't the top seeds in either conference. Rather, I think the Boston Celtics and

Denver still has the best player in the world in Nikola Jokić. With a exception of a down postseason from his running mate in 2024, Jokić and Jamal Murray are among the league's bigger playoff risers. And the Nuggets ending the season 3-0 under their interim coach could be more than the typical "new coach bump."