For the first time since 2010, LeBron James was eliminated from the playoffs by a team in his own conference.  And with that tens of thousands, nay millions of LeBron haters, rejoiced for the king was dead and their own petty biases would no longer be challenged by his proving them wrong nearly every time.  Soon after, they realized they didn’t even know what to pay attention to anymore now that he was no longer involved.  But fear not, here’s a look at where the playoffs stand and what storylines might catch your fancy.

The unofficial and never a consensus title of Best Basketball Player Alive is up for grabs.  If Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, or Giannis Antetokounmpo win the NBA Finals MVP award, they will stake a major claim to being the best in the world right now.  And if Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid bests them all, who are we to deny them?

The future of the NBA is in good hands.  Whether it’s the sincere grit of President David Palmer or the voodoo shenanigans of one Pedro Cerrano, you can trust in what Dennis Haysbert says.  You’ve already heard of Damian Lillard (who’s hoping change does a body good) but let me introduce you to Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, and Ja Morant.  Not to overlook 22 year old Luka Doncic who might be better than them all. 

Injuries are a tragic situation but also a part of sport. Nothing you can really do about it but lament what could have been.  And trust me, that won’t get you anywhere.  Perhaps there are those that secretly appreciate the irony of these masters of flopping truly getting hurt.  I don’t know what the best solution for the injuries may be but I can almost assuredly tell you it would be nonsense to think, “Well, players were just tougher back in my day.”

With the Lakers out of the mix and the Clippers struggling mightily, the West is wide open.  Even though he himself has been hampered by injury, this might be Chris Paul’s best chance to reach an NBA Finals, a career-crowning achievement that should erase all doubt that he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game.  On the other side of the bracket, Utah and Mike Conley Jr (also hurt) see a path to their own title that would bring great pride to an area that really is obsessed with the Jazz (jazz on the other hand?.....).  

In the East, it’s all about if anyone can take down Brooklyn.  James Harden went down 43 seconds into Game 1 with a hamstring injury and his return status is yet to be determined.  Brooklyn is facing the team that perhaps gives it the most match up trouble in Milwaukee.  Elsewhere in the East, the Atlanta Hawks are rising behind trash-talking extraordinaire Trae Young. They face the No. 1 seed Philly Sixers who do not know what they’ll get from their MVP finalist Joel Embiid who suffered a small meniscus tear on May 31.  But Embiid gets the stakes and played Game 1, an impressive Hawks win despite a furious comeback from Philadelphia.