Story highlights
- Once again, the loaded Warriors are the team to beat in the West
- The Celtics edged the Cavaliers for the top seed in the East
(CNN)The NBA playoff picture is set, but not much has changed from a year ago.
Similar questions remain: Can anyone stop the Golden State Warriors? And can the Cleveland Cavaliers get back to the NBA Finals?
NBA playoffs
For updates, stories, video and features about the NBA playoffs go to cnn.com/nba
The NBA playoffs start Saturday. Sure, LeBron James and the Cavaliers are the defending NBA champions, and they're a favorite to return to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year.
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But the talk all season has been about the super team assembled in the Golden State, having added Kevin Durant to an already-loaded roster with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
A year after notching an NBA record-setting 73 regular season wins, the Warriors are once again at the top of the Western Conference. As in 2016, Golden State has home-court advantage for the postseason.
Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
If you were a member of the NBA champion Boston Celtics during the 1983-84 season, this diamond cloverleaf ring might look familiar. Here's a look at some other NBA title rings from the past 40 years.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
The Los Angeles Lakers' ring in 1985 featured a diamond basketball to resemble the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
In 1987, the Lakers marked their fifth Los Angeles title with five diamonds on the front of the ring. Note the name Johnson on the side -- this was the ring for Lakers star Magic Johnson.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
The ring for the 1989-90 Detroit Pistons featured a large diamond surrounded by 20 smaller diamonds. On the side of the ring are the words "back to back" -- signifying the team's consecutive championships.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
The Chicago Bulls' ring in 1993 featured a jewel-encrusted red bull. Note the name Jordan -- as in Bulls iconic guard Michael Jordan -- on the side of the ring.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
The Houston Rockets' ring in 1994 featured the Rockets logo, 14 diamonds and the words "Clutch City" on the side. It was their first of back-to-back titles.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
During the 1995-96 season, the Chicago Bulls set an NBA record by winning 72 regular-season games. They went on to win the title and this ring, which signifies the franchise's fourth championship.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
Ever seen spurs made of diamonds and gold? You have now. This ring comes from the San Antonio Spurs' championship season in 1998-99.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
Triangles were the theme of the Los Angeles Lakers' championship ring in 2001-02. The triangles signify the team's third consecutive world title -- and they're also a nod to the team's "triangle" offense.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
In 2003, the San Antonio Spurs won their second league title.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
This ring was created for the Detroit Pistons' championship in 2004.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
Here's Shaquille O'Neal's championship ring that he earned with the 2005-06 Miami Heat. It was the franchise's first title.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
Boston Celtics fans might like these championship baubles that were made in 2008 for the team's "Big 3": Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
This 2009 championship ring includes the Lakers' logo and the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
The Dallas Mavericks won all the marbles in 2011. Here are three of their championship rings from that year.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
Norris Cole shows off the championship ring he won with the Miami Heat in 2014.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
Here's the ring Stephen Curry -- No. 30 -- won for his contribution to
the Golden State Warriors' championship in 2015.
the Golden State Warriors' championship in 2015.
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Photos: The evolution of the NBA title ring
In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated their first NBA championship with this ring featuring the team logo.
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The Warriors also have Durant, who had missed 19 games because of a sprained medial collateral ligament and bone bruise in his left knee, back for the postseason. But even if he wasn't available, the 2016 runners-up and 2015 champs are still title favorites.
Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Isaiah Thomas has been the driving force for the Boston Celtics, the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed going into the NBA playoffs. The point guard might only be 5-foot-9, but he finished the regular season as the league's third-leading scorer (28.9 points a game). What might be even more amazing was that Thomas was picked dead last -- 60th overall -- in the 2011 NBA Draft. Here are some more NBA superstars who weren't high draft picks.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Tony Parker, left, and Manu Ginobili celebrate after the San Antonio Spurs won the 2003 NBA Finals. Both Parker and Ginobili were draft steals who came from outside of the United States. Ginobili, an Argentine, was taken 57th overall in 1999. Parker, a Frenchman, went 28th overall in 2001. The two have won four championships with San Antonio and are likely Hall of Famers.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Golden State's Draymond Green was taken in the second round, 35th overall, in 2012. Many viewed him as undersized for the power forward position. But he's already become one of the league's best defensive players, making two All-Star teams and leading the league in steals this season. He was a major contributor to the Warriors' title in 2015.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Speaking of defense, there aren't many better at it than the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan. Jordan, like Green, was chosen No. 35 in the draft. And like Green, he made the league's All-Defensive Team in 2015 and 2016. Jordan also led the league in rebounding in 2014 and 2015.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Dennis Rodman, perhaps the greatest rebounder in NBA history, went 27th overall in the 1986 NBA Draft. He played college at Southeastern Oklahoma State, a small NAIA school.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Joe Dumars played with Rodman on the Detroit Pistons team that won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. Dumars made six All-Star teams during his Hall of Fame career. Not bad for a guy taken 18th overall out of McNeese State.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
OK, the 13th overall pick isn't exactly a low draft pick. But considering it was Kobe Bryant -- one of the league's greatest players of all time -- you have to consider it one of the biggest draft steals in league history. Bryant was taken by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night in 1996. He spent 20 seasons with the Lakers, winning five NBA titles and making 18 All-Star teams.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Steve Nash was drafted just two picks after Bryant in 1996. He became one of the league's best-ever point guards. Nash made eight All-Star teams in his career, and he was also the league MVP in 2005 and 2006.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
The Utah Jazz got two Hall of Famers in back-to-back drafts. Karl Malone, left, was the 13th overall draft pick in 1985. John Stockton, right, was the 16th overall pick a year earlier. The two were perennial All-Stars who played together for nearly their entire careers. They also starred on the iconic "Dream Team" -- the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in 1992.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, another member of the 1992 "Dream Team," was the 14th overall pick in 1983. He made 10 All-Star teams and won a title with Houston in 1995. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Alex English, right, was a prolific scorer who made eight All-Star teams in his Hall of Fame career. He was drafted 23rd overall in 1976.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Dennis Johnson won three NBA titles in his Hall of Fame career: one with Seattle and two with Boston. The point guard, one of the best defensive players of his era, was drafted 29th overall in 1976.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Nate "Tiny" Archibald was taken 19th overall in 1970. Three seasons later, he led the league in points and assists. Archibald made six All-Star teams and won a title with Boston in 1981. He made the Hall of Fame in 1991.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Jimmy Butler has blossomed into one of the league's best players since Chicago took him 30th overall in 2011. He's made the All-Star team the last three seasons and become one of the league's best defensive players.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Philadelphia took Maurice Cheeks with the 36th pick in 1978. The point guard won a title with the Sixers in 1983 and finished his career as the league's all-time leader in steals. He also averaged nearly seven assists a game, and Philadelphia retired his number.
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Photos: Low draft picks who became NBA superstars
Kawhi Leonard was taken 15th overall in 2011. Indiana traded him to San Antonio on draft night, and he's become yet another steal for the Spurs. He was MVP of the NBA Finals in 2014, and he's made the last two All-Star teams.
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"It's more subdued this year, more businesslike," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday. "It's similar to two years ago in terms of the way the season ended. We had the 1-seed locked up for the last week or two seasons ago, and we were able to kind of decide how we wanted to go into the postseason. The difference was, now, we've been doing this for a few years. That year, it was brand new. There was a freshness about it. This year, it's more businesslike."
Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
The Boston Celtics celebrate after winning the NBA championship in June 2008. It was the 17th title for the Celtics -- the most in league history. Take a look back at some of the greatest records set in the NBA Finals.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most NBA titles (player): Bill Russell, seen here with legendary coach Red Auerbach, won 11 titles in his 13 NBA seasons. The big man won all of them with Boston, starting in 1957 and ending in 1969.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most career points in the NBA Finals: Nobody's scored more than Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West, who put up 1,679 points over nine NBA Finals. West and the Lakers usually ran into the buzz saw that was Boston in the 1960s, but they did win a title in 1972. Fun fact: The NBA logo is a silhouette of West.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most points per game in an NBA Finals series: Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles during his career. But "His Airness" might have been at his peak in 1993, when he averaged 41 points in a six-game victory over Dan Majerle and the Phoenix Suns.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most points in an NBA Finals game: The Lakers' Elgin Baylor scored 61 points during a Finals game against Boston on April 14, 1962. The Lakers won that game but went on to lose the series in Game 7, pictured here.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most common matchup in the NBA Finals: The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have played each other 12 times in the Finals. The Celtics won the first eight meetings, but the Lakers broke the streak in 1985 and 1987, pictured here. The teams also split a pair of Finals in the 21st century. While the Celtics have a league-best 17 titles, the Lakers are right behind them with 16. The Chicago Bulls are the next closest at six.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most Finals MVP awards: Michael Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player for all six Finals he played in. The Bulls guard holds his 1998 award here next to head coach Phil Jackson.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most 3-pointers made in an NBA Finals game: Golden State's Stephen Curry hit nine 3-pointers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals. He had 33 points as the Warriors took a 2-0 series lead over Cleveland.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most assists in an NBA Finals game: The Lakers' Magic Johnson had 21 assists in Game 3 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Boston won the Finals that year, but Johnson and the Lakers got their revenge one year later.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Lowest-seeded team to win it all: The 1995 Houston Rockets -- led by future Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon -- were the Western Conference's sixth seed when they went on to win the title. The Rockets also won the championship in 1994.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most blocks in an NBA Finals game: Dwight Howard blocks a shot by the Lakers' Pau Gasol during the 2009 NBA Finals. It was one of nine blocks the Orlando center had in Game 4.
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Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest records
Most steals in an NBA Finals game: They called him "Big Shot Bob" for his clutch shooting, but Robert Horry was a fierce defender as well. Horry had a record seven steals in Game 2 of the 1995 NBA Finals. Horry won seven titles during his career: two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the San Antonio Spurs. Only one other player -- John Salley -- has won NBA titles with three different teams.
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Golden State isn't the only obstacle for the Cavaliers to overcome. The Boston Celtics edged Cleveland for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and having home-court advantage could be pivotal should the two teams face each other in a best-of-seven series in the Eastern Conference finals.
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And lately, Cleveland hasn't rocked. The Cavaliers have a 10-14 record since March 1.
Still, James said following practice on Thursday, the Cavaliers "have a good chance to win it all."
"I think through everything that went on with our team, we're in a position where we can do something special," James said.
Here is the list of the first round playoff matchups -- which are in a best-of-seven series format:
Eastern Conference:
- No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
- No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers
- No. 3 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks
- No. 4 Washington Wizards vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference:
- No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers
- No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies
- No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder
- No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
Can anyone make waves in the West against Golden State? The Spurs, led by Kawhi Leonard, are 2-1 against the Warriors this season. It's the 20th consecutive season San Antonio has reached the playoffs. Should the Rockets and Warriors reach the Western Conference Finals, Golden State had a 3-1 edge against Houston in the regular season.
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It's also noteworthy that two MVP frontrunners will collide in the first round: Rockets guard James Harden and Thunder point guard -- and triple-double machine -- Russell Westbrook. A triple-double is notching 10 or more in three different statistical categories -- typically points, rebounds and assists. This season, Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
On April 9, Westbrook recorded his 42nd triple-double, breaking Oscar Robertson's 55-year-old record for most triple-doubles (41) in a season. Westbrook also averaged a triple-double in the regular season, which previously had only been done by Robertson.
Harden, meanwhile, led the league with 11.2 assists per game and averaged 29.1 points per game, second only to Westbrook.
Make no mistake: Everyone is chasing Golden State. And for the third year in a row, a Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals is a real possibility. Will it happen again? Stay tuned.
