After 82 regular season games to skim the troops, the NBA enters its money-time with the start of the playoffs.
After an unprecedented play-in phase – yes, it's complicated to find your way around -, 16 teams are in the final phase from April 16.
Who will be champion in June to succeed Milwaukee?
Very clever who can predict it: “A lot of things can happen because for the first time in a long time, we are unable to say what the poster for the final will be, notes Rémi Reverchon, the voice of the NBA on Be IN Sport which broadcasts the entire end of the season across the Atlantic.
To the west, Phoenix seems to be one step ahead of the others, but to the east, it's a nameless mess.
There are 6 teams that can go to the final.
I am obviously thinking of Milwaukee which can succeed itself, Brooklyn which remains a mystery.
There are also Boston, Miami, teams that have lots of stars and play good basketball.
This is all very exciting.
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For us on this side of the Atlantic, the question that matters is whether a Frenchman can be crowned NBA champion in 2022. Can there be one to succeed Axel Toupane crowned at the end of the bench there? a year with the Bucks?
They are only six with him to have had this privilege: Tony Parker (4 titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014), Ian Mahinmi (2011), Rodrigue Beaubois (2011), Ronny Turiaf (2012) and Boris Diaw (2014 ).
This year, there can only be one: Rudy Gobert.
All the others fell by the wayside, starting with the two other pillars of the Olympic champion Blues: Nicolas Batum with the Los Angeles Clippers and Evan Fournier with the New York Knicks.
Read alsoThe confessions of Rudy Gobert
So, Rudy Gobert, who has been playing in the NBA since 2013, can he be crowned in a few weeks for the first time?
Possible but it seems very complicated: “The Jazz are not favorites at all, continues Rémi Reverchon.
In their western conference, there is a big monster called Phoenix and two other smaller monsters: the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies.
With the Jazz, Rudy is below.
He is therefore starting from afar to seek the final.
Especially since, to go to the end, he will necessarily have to hit one or two of these teams on his way.
Frankly, I wouldn't bet my house on Rudy's appearance in the NBA Finals.
However, it would be 100% deserved.
But I'm not sure I'm betting my PEL either on him getting there with Utah.
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“We have big goals”
Before thinking of a final, the Salt Lake City team, which has been playing in the playoffs since 2017 but has not passed the conference semi-final, must pass in the first round, the obstacle of Dallas and Slovenian prodigy Luka Doncic.
“Individually and collectively, in the NBA, everything is played on the play-offs, recognizes the pivot of the Blues as part of a charity event.
We have no floor, no ceiling.
We have big goals.
We know where we want to go.
We are aiming for the final, we want the title.
But for the moment we are only interested in game 1 of the first series against Dallas.
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It's already an indigestible first obstacle to swallow before possibly challenging Phoenix, the best team of the season.
Not easy for a Utah team which is coming to the end of the cycle: "When it's over, we have leaders who will ask themselves questions and make decisions", continues the native of Saint-Quentin who has not yet taken decision on his participation with the Blues at the next Euro next September in Germany.
He thinks first and only of the playoffs.