We've previewed the Play in round; let's now move to the bracket proper with Region 1 - and the top overall seed in the tournament, the 2017 Golden St Warriors.
1. 2017 NBA CHAMPION GOLDEN ST WARRIORS v. 16. PLAY IN WINNER
(67-15)
-It's the 2nd GSW title of this run; Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are 28 years old and they'll face either the '93 Rockets or the '68 Lakers to kick off the First Round
8. 2005 DALLAS MAVERICKS v. 9. 2008 CEN DIV CHAMP DETROIT PISTONS
(58-24) (59-23)
-26 year old Dirk Nowitzki leads a Mavs squad that lost in the West Semis; as the better seed, they'll host each game of this best 2 of 3 series against a Pistons team that lost in the East Finals; Rip Hamilton's 29, Chauncey Billups 31.
5. 2015 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS v. 12. 1992 PHOENIX SUNS
(56-26) (53-29)
-29 year old Chris Paul and 25 year old Blake Griffin lead the Clips, who fell in the West Semis; against a Suns team that also lost in the West Semis. Kevin Johnson is 25; Jeff Hornacek 28.
4. 1980 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 13. 1950 EAST CHAMP SYRACUSE NATIONALS
(60-22) (51-13)
-Our second World Champion in Region 1 - 32 year old Kareem Abdul Jabbar and a 20 year old rookie Magic Johnson lead the Lakers. They'll host a Syracuse team that went 51-13 in the regular season and lost in the NBA Finals. Dolph Schayes is 21 years old.
3. 2010 SE DIV CHAMP ORLANDO MAGIC v. 14. 1989 ATLANTA HAWKS
(59-23) (52-30)
-24 year old Dwight Howard and 33 year old Vince Carter lead a Magic squad that reached the East Finals; they host a Hawks team that fell in the first round of the playoffs. Dominique is 29 and Moses Malone's 33.
6. 1963 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 11. 1997 ATL DIV CHAMP MIAMI HEAT
(58-22) (61-21)
-It's the 3rd NBA Champ in the bracket; Red Auerbach's Celtics who knocked off the Lakers in the Finals. Russell's 28, Havlicek's 22, Sam Jones 29 and Bob Cousy is 34. They host a Heat squad that made it to the East Finals; Tim Hardaway is 30, Alonzo Mourning's 26.
7. 1973 WEST CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 10. 2004 CEN DIV CHAMP INDIANA PACERS
(60-22) (61-21)
-60 regular season wins for this Laker team that lost in the NBA Finals; Wilt's 36, West is 34, Gail Goodrich leads these Lakers in scoring, he's 29. Pat Riley's coaching the '97 Heat and coming off the bench for these Lakers. They'll host the Pacers; Reggie Miller is 38, Metta World Peace (24) and Jermaine O'Neal (25) lead this club in scoring. The Pacers reached the East Finals.
2. 2004 SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. 15. 1997 HOUSTON ROCKETS
(57-25) (57-25)
-We've already seen 3 Spurs squads in the Play In round; here's one more. This one reached the West Semis. Tim Duncan's 27; Tony Parker's 21, Manu Ginobli, 26. And 2 Rockets teams are in the Play in Round - this one lost in the West Finals - Olajuwon's 34, so is Clyde Drexler - and Charles Barkley's 33.
