Doncic Wolves and Jokic are 1-to-4! The five major hit points in the Western Conference playoffs, are there any suspense in the championship?

With the end of the NBA regular season game, the first round of the Western Conference playoffs and the playoffs were settled.

The Lakers and Nuggets will play against the Timberwolves and the Clippers at home, while the Warriors, Grizzlies and other teams will need to compete for the final ticket through the playoffs.

This article will deeply analyze the strength, historical confrontations and key variables of each team, presenting fans with the ultimate preview of a Western Conference chaos.

1. The focus of the first round: The "destiny duel" between the Lakers and the Timberwolves

1. The regular season confrontation was evenly matched, but the Lakers "evolved" into X-factor

This season, the Lakers and the Timberwolves won two wins each in four matches, which seemed to be evenly matched, but the Lakers completed a qualitative change after introducing Doncic on the trading deadline.

The two sides hit the last confrontation, and the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 111-102, and the first three confrontations occurred before the transaction, with limited reference value.

Doncic's joining not only provides the Lakers with a top-level ball-holding core, but his dominant performance against the Timberwolves last year (averages 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists per game) also gave the Lakers a psychological advantage.

2. Star showdown: Doncic + James vs Edwards

Timberwolves core Edwards averaged 28 points + 5 assists this season, but his playoff experience and hard-solving ability are still insufficient.

In contrast, the Lakers, the dual-core driving of Doncic and James is unsolvable, supplemented by high-quality puzzles such as Reeves and Finney Smith, and the lineup depth and key ball ability are obviously superior.

It is worth mentioning that Vincent, who is on the Lakers' bench, has recovered recently, and his defense and three-point ability during the Heat may become the key to suppressing the Timberwolves' substitute.

3. Does a historical confrontation mean that the Lakers advance?

The two teams met twice in the playoffs (the first round in 2003 and the Western Conference Finals in 2004), and the Lakers swept and advanced.

Despite the change of time, the Lakers' home advantage (for the first time since the 2019-20 season) and Doncic's "wolf-black" attributes are still regarded by the outside world as a weather vane for the series.

Forecast: Lakers 4-2 Timberwolves

(Reason: The star level and experience gap are significant, and Edwards alone can hardly match the Lakers' firepower)

2. Nuggets vs. Clippers: The game between grudges and "home court advantage"

1. The ultimate test of Jokic and Kajiao

The Nuggets and Clippers ranked fourth and fifth in the Western Conference this season, and both teams are known for their balanced offense and defense.

Jokic (25+12+9 per game) will be the main line of the series.

However, the Nuggets have recently exposed the problem of insufficient lineup thickness and rely too much on Jokic and Murray's performance; the Clippers are more integrity thanks to Harden's connection and Westbrook's substitute firepower.

2. "Psychological Warfare" of Home Advantage

Although the Nuggets have nominal home advantage, the Clippers, as a city team, may actually gain more support from Los Angeles fans.

In addition, the Clippers locked in fifth place with 8 consecutive victories in the final stage, and their morale was in full swing; the Nuggets defeated the Rockets in the final battle was a little relaxed, and their condition was doubtful.

Forecast: The Clippers 4-3 Nuggets

(Reason: The Clippers' lineup depth and experience in the final stage are better, Jokic may be unable to support it)

3. Life and death battle in the play-offs: The Warriors are caught in the "youth storm", and the Kings Mavericks compete for talent

1. Warriors vs. Grizzlies: The veteran giants vs. the new strong team

Warriors lost to the Clippers overtime and fell to seventh, and will face the Grizzlies at home in the first round of the play-offs.

Curry's "new and old point guard showdown" with Morant is eye-catching, but the Warriors' weak inside (countdown in rebounding league per game) may be defeated by the Grizzlies' impact.

In addition, the Warriors have 1 win and 3 losses against the Grizzlies this season, and their psychological disadvantages are obvious.

2. Kings vs. Mavericks: Fox and Doncic's "successor" battle

The Kings ranked ninth with Fox's speed and Sabonis' high position support, while the Mavericks relied on the growth of new stars Hardy and Gway to enter the play-offs. The two teams have different styles: the King is good at playing fast attacks, while the Mavericks rely on outside shooting. If the Mavericks' three-pointer bursts out, they may be able to play the following obstacles.

Playoff promotion forecast

Warriors win the Grizzlies (experience and home advantage)

Mavericks win the Kings (outside firepower determines the victory or defeat)

Final promotion: Warriors, Mavericks

4. Western Conference pattern outlook: Lakers' "Happy Half Zone" leads to the Western Conference Finals?

If the Lakers break through the first round, the potential opponents (Rockets/Warriors/Grizzlies) in the second round will not pose a threat.

The Rockets are young and inexperienced, the Warriors are aging in core, and the Grizzlies are restrained by the Lakers style.

The Western Conference Finals is likely to be against the Thunder or the Clippers. Although the former has the first record, he relies on Alexander's single core, and if the latter advances, it may be the last to be strong.

Many media believe that the Lakers are in the "happy half zone", and their lineup depth, star quality and schedule difficulty are better than other championship teams.

If Doncic stays healthy, the Lakers are expected to win the championship again since 2020.

5. Fans are hotly discussed: Have the Lakers locked in the championship?

Regarding the situation in the West, social media sparked heated discussions:

Supporting party: "Doncic + James is an unsolvable combination, and there is no opponent in the Lakers in the half area!"

Questioning party: "The Clippers and the Nuggets are really strong teams, and the Lakers have to peel off even if they pass the Timberwolves!"

Neutral party: "Everything depends on health, the playoffs are always the ending of injuries."

Conclusion

The 2025 Western Conference playoffs are destined to be recorded in history. The grudge between the Lakers and the Timberwolves, the game between the Nuggets and the Clippers, and the speed of life and death in the playoffs have been weaved together into a basketball feast..

No matter who the final championship is won, fans can look forward to a playoff journey full of suspense and passion.