The 2020-21 NBA Playoffs are fast approaching. From what we know about 2019-2020, the playoffs will bring with them a frenzy of activity in the NBA Top Shot marketplace for some Moments, while other Moments may become stagnant.
This season, it all starts with a new wrinkle: the Play-In Tournament for the 7-10 seeds. Let’s take a look at how Moments could be affected during this NBA Playoff season, which is just over a month away.
The NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament
The new Play-In Tournament is being tested on a trial basis by the NBA for the upcoming 2020-21 NBA playoffs. During these few days in-between the NBA regular season and the official start of the playoffs, Play-In Tournament games between the 7 to 10 seeds will garner all the attention of NBA fans and the NBA Top Shot marketplace.
Let’s take a moment to look at the current NBA standings and how this tournament may impact Eastern and Western Conference playoff seedings, and additionally which players might become more visible in the NBA Top Shot marketplace due to these games.
NBA Top Shot Moments to Watch During the Play-In Tournament (if it started today)
Eastern Conference: Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, Julius Randle
Western Conference: Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Ja Morant
Above are the key players on teams that could potentially finish with the seventh- or eighth-highest win percentage in each conference. The teams in this range would clinch a spot in the playoffs with one win during the Play-In Tournament. Note the New York Knicks at 80-1 and the Dallas Mavericks at 20-1 have the best odds of these teams to win their conference championship.
Eastern Conference: Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic
Western Conference: Steph Curry, Draymond Green, DeMar DeRozan, Keldon Johnson
Above are key players on teams that could potentially finish with the ninth- or tenth-highest win percentage in each conference. Based on the Play-In rules, these teams would need two consecutive wins during the Play-In Tournament to secure a playoff spot. The only teams in this range that have better than a 75-1 chance to win a conference championship are the Indiana Pacers at 35-1 and the Golden State Warriors at 60-1.
Top Shot Lessons from the 2019-2020 NBA Playoffs
Andy Chorlian (@andy8052), who owns one of the most valuable NBA Top Shot accounts according to MomentRanks’ Top Shot account rankings, recently provided some context as to how the NBA Top Shot market reacted during last season’s NBA playoffs.
We can learn a lot by digging into last season’s playoffs.
Lesson #1
Takeaway: Marketplace prices of Moments from players who dominate games in the playoffs will be discernible. Expect to see a spike in the marketplace trading volume of good players when their teams win a big playoff game or series.
Lesson #2
Takeaway: Be cautious that the liquidity of Moments from players who are not in the playoffs will likely be lower while the NBA Playoffs carry on. Picking up players on good teams can give your Top Shot Moments higher upside during the NBA Playoffs. Making bets on players on teams you think will make it far in the playoffs can have a short-term payoff.
Lesson #3
Takeaway: Last year during the NBA Playoffs, Tyler Herro’s NBA Top Shot Moments traded at a significantly higher volume each time the Miami Heat clinched a playoff series. Taking risks on these impact players on teams you think can make it far could end up paying off for you if you’re looking to flip Moments.
New Moments during the NBA Playoffs
In the recent Office Hours, Top Shot Community Lead Jacob Eisenberg guaranteed that Playoff sets are coming. Last year, during Series 1, we saw Top Shot release sets around: Conference Semifinals, Western Conference Finals, Eastern Conference Finals, and The Finals.
With that in mind, we know good players on good teams will continue to garner attention and have more Moments minted of them as the playoffs continue. Here’s a list of players who could have a noticeable impact on the 2020-21 NBA Playoffs and see a plethora of new NBA Top Shot Moments in the process.
The top four teams in the Eastern Conference are the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, so other players outside of those above who could contribute to long playoff runs amongst these teams are: Joe Harris, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, Seth Curry, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.
The top six teams in the Western Conference are the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. Complementary players that could impact a deep playoff run amongst these teams: Rudy Gobert, Jordan Clarkson, DeAndre Ayton, Montrezl Harrell, Carmelo Anthony, Jusuf Nurkic, Michael Porter Jr, and Aaron Gordon.
If you’re considering playoff odds, these are the players that you should be considering stocking up on before we hit playoff games.
Looking Ahead to the NBA Playoffs on Top Shot
The 2020-21 NBA Playoffs officially starts on Saturday, May 22, and any one of the players mentioned above could produce multiple epic playoff Moments. So expect to see a lot of new playoff-related content and more NBA Top Shot playoff packs confirmed coming again this year.
It’s only a matter of time before players make outstanding plays the biggest stage in basketball, and we see their Moments come to life on Top Shot.