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The first round of last year's NBA playoffs featured four upsets in terms of seeding, the most in any season since the league adopted its current 16-team format in 1984. Which teams have the best chance of following in their footsteps this year?
Historically, last season was an outlier. There were no first-round upsets in terms of seeding in 2022, and just two total from 2019 to 2022. However, some of the same factors that produced a topsy-turvy opening round a year ago could be in play again.
With compact standings in the East aside from the top-seeded Boston Celtics, all three other first-round matchups will feature teams separated by no more than three games during the regular season.