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The NBA 2020 Restart

The Warriors injury-riddled 2019-20 season mercifully came to a conclusion with a 21-61 record, the worst in the NBA. Klay Thompson never appeared, and after Curry returned in March, saw sporadic playing time down the stretch as the Warriors focused on development rather than success.

They enter the offseason as one of the league’s most intriguing teams. Owning a top-five lottery pick and a $17.2M trade exception, the Warriors have made it clear they intend to compete again in 2020-21.

Around the NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers powered their way to the top seeds in the NBA, finishing with 66 and 56 wins, respectively. The Memphis Grizzlies outlasted New Orleans, Sacramento and Portland to snag the eighth seed with a 40-42 record.

The Jazz earned the NBA’s three seed and a first round matchup with Denver. Oklahoma City snagged the four seed and will host Houston in the first round. Dallas rounded out the West playoffs at seven.

In the East, the Bucks stumbled down the stretch, finishing the 63 wins and the top seed in the East. Boston outlasted Toronto to earn the two seed by two games, and the Heat rolled to 53 wins and the fourth seed. Philadelphia got things rolling late and jumped to the fifth seed to face the Heat, while the Pacers dropped to six. Brooklyn edged the Magic for the seven seed by one game.

Award Season
Giannis dominated his way to the MVP, finishing the year with 28.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 5.8 APG. Giannis also earned Defensive Player of the Year.

Ja Morant eased his way to the Rookie of the Year, while Bam Adebayo was named Most Improved Player. Montrezl Harrell outlasted his L.A. running-mate to be named Sixth Man.

2020 NBA Playoffs

First Round

Los Angeles Lakers 3, Memphis 2
The Lakers manage to sneak by the Grizzlies playing without LeBron James, who missed the entire series with a broken hand

Los Angeles Clippers 3, Dallas 0
Luka and the Mavs had no answer for Kawhi and PG and the Clippers easily roll into the Western Conference Semis.

Utah 3, Denver 1
The Jazz, on the back of a dynamic play from Donovan Mitchell, down the Nuggets.

Oklahoma City 3, Houston 0
Chris Paul and company get the last laugh, dismantling the Rockets small-ball attack and sending Russ and Harden home with nothing to show.

Milwaukee 3, Orlando 2
After stumbling down the stretch, the Bucks’ struggles carried over to the playoffs as they get a five-game scare from the Magic.

Boston 3, Brooklyn 2
Without KD or Kyrie, the Nets put up a fight, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the Celtics’ depth.

Toronto 3, Indiana 0
The defending champions are demanding respect, and if they don’t get it they’ll earn it. Quick work of the Pacers is doing that.

(5) Philadelphia 3, (4) Miami 2
The lone upset of the first round, the Sixers shock Jimmy Butler and the Heat in the first round.

Conference Semifinals

Los Angeles Lakers 4, Oklahoma City 1
Still without LeBron, the Lakers move through the Thunder with relative ease on the back of Anthony Davis to return to the Western Conference Finals

Los Angeles Clippers 4, Utah 2
The Clippers set up what everyone wanted, an all-L.A. conference final as they knock out the Jazz in six hard-fought games.

Milwaukee 4, Philadelphia 1
The Bucks end any talks from the Sixers about how had it not been for a lucky Kawhi bounce, they could’ve been in the NBA Finals.

(3) Toronto 4, (2) Boston 0
Toronto remains unbeaten in the playoffs and is as hot as ever as they set up a rematch with Giannis in the Conference Finals.

Conference Finals

Los Angeles Clippers 4, Los Angeles Lakers 1
LeBron returned in Game 3 of the WCF with the series tied at 1, but could do nothing to slow both Kawhi and PG. The Clippers make their first Finals appearance and take down the King in the process.

Toronto 4, Milwaukee 0
The Raptors prove the critics wrong yet again. They run a perfect Eastern Conference slate and yet again dismantle Giannis and the Bucks when it matters most. The Bucks head into an offseason with Giannis staring down a potential extension and no NBA Finals to show.