The offseason was short (again). The regular season drama was high (also again). And LeBron James missed the playoffs for only the fourth time in his 19-year career.
Welcome to the 2021-22 NBA postseason.
As the first round begins Saturday, there are storylines aplenty as 16 teams vie for the Larry O'Brien Trophy over the next two months. Here are five things to keep an eye on.
Can James Harden shake his playoff demons?
No bigger spotlight shines on a player in the coming weeks than Harden. It’s hard to tell if he has more to gain than to lose, but the weight is heavy — for himself and the Philadelphia 76ers.