8P9S Roundtable: 5 bold predictions for the 2022 NBA Playoffs

Which team is the most likely to underachieve in the 2022 NBA Playoffs?

Kyle Pring: The Dallas Mavericks. Luka Doncic‘s last-minute injury against the Spurs casts some cloud on their chances not only at the title but more importantly, in their first-round series against Utah.  Even if he returns, a Doncic not at full strength could prove to be insufficient to lift a rather hit-and-miss supporting squad, especially if the Jazz catch fire from three, remain healthy, and Mitchell comes out firing in what figures to be a defining postseason for Utah.

Zach Pearson: In the last three seasons, the Utah Jazz have lost in the first round two of three times and haven’t made it past the conference semi-finals since 2006-07. To end their season, they won just four out of ten games and their defense outside of Rudy Gobert is questionable. The Jazz might catch a break if Luka Doncic is to miss any time with his calf strain, but I don’t see a deep run with this team.

Rhett Bauer: Relative to expectations I’m going to say the Brooklyn Nets, simply because they (for some reason) opened up as the favorites against the Celtics. I don’t think anyone expects the Jazz to go deep or they would be my pick!