Showtime.

In-person bracket play for The Tipoff Powered by AT&T is finally here and we’ve been given some fantastic, drama-filled 1st round matchups. This time of the year is always exciting for the league, The Tipoff carries a special weight on the Banner Chain. It denotes the team to beat for the rest of the year, every team to win the tipoff has made the playoffs, so it’s gravity is real. We’ll go through each matchup and I’ll give you my pick for the Final at the end.

BRACKET ROUND MATCHUPS

(5) T-Wolves Gaming vs (4) DUX Infinitos

The first matchup we get in the West is both exciting and confusing. It’s hard to have a good read on either of these teams, so let’s break down what we know. Dux Infinitos: We know that they are a stern defensive team (59.8 Opp. PPG) and they shoot very well from 3 as a team (55.4 3P%). They get a lot of support from their corner shooters, Beezus and Majestic combined for over 20 ppg, but that may end up being a weakness T-Wolves Gaming can exploit. If they can get Dux to play a more isolation based game, they could get them out of their offense early, and get the edge. T-Wolves Gaming: We know that they are insanely efficient (63.8 FG%) and they move the ball as well as any team in the league (17.0 apg). What has defeated them is their lack of focus on defense. Their lapses can turn into huge runs for their opposition, if Seem and Killeyy get on a heater and start knocking down consecutive shots, it could get stick early for Minnesota.

(3) Lakers Gaming vs (6) Bucks Gaming

The Grudge Match. It’s rare that you have real angst among two squads, but it’s also exactly what we want as a viewer. This Lakers Gaming team is not very fond of Bucks Gaming. Regg is the PG they traded away. Tactuk is the ex-coach they never brought back. I’m sure you can use your imagination to figure out why they are a little more amped up than usual to play. For this Bucks Gaming team, they are going to use their immense talent and good vibes to mitigate any bad energy. I think the talent difference between these two teams is a lot closer than what people want to give credit for. People are choosing Lakers Gaming to win the whole thing, let’s see them beat this good Bucks team before crowning them. They have their work cut out for them.

(7) Pistons GT vs (2) Warriors Gaming Squad

We got one playoff re-match pre conference and I think both of these teams are glad to see the other across the stage. Warriors Gaming Squad knows they can beat this team. They did it with the exact same starting 5 about 8 months ago, so I’m sure there isn’t much of an intimidation factor to add in on the Golden State side. There is an offensive issue with this team that we can talk about if it ends up harming them in this tournament, but let’s get to the end first. For Pistons GT, this is a big check up game for them. It’ll be a real test to see just how far away from contention they truly are. It may not be the best idea to take so much from just one game, but with no regular season, this is all we got, and this might be there only chance at getting a crack at Warriors Gaming Squad while they are slightly vulnerable in a best of 1 scenario.

(1) Jazz Gaming vs (8) Mavs Gaming

This matchup is more about the best of 1 format than it is comparing these two teams by stats. Jazz Gaming are the obvious favorite, but the format of the matchup means that may not matter. If Mavs Gaming beat Jazz Gaming and knock them out of this tournament, does that mean Mavs Gaming is better than them? Does that mean Jazz Gaming is no longer contenders? The answer is probably no to both, but the possibility of them losing is on the table. Will it happen? Likely no, Jazz Gaming look like an unstoppable juggernaut. But, in 1 game? Anything is possible.

 

 

(5) 76ers GC vs (4) Raptors Uprising

This is a goodie. Intense matchups at every single position, veterans and big name players on both sides, a true playoff game. This is a big measuring stick game for the Raptors Uprising GC team that has very high aspirations for itself. The players on the team think they are a title contender and with their chaotic style of play, I’m leaning towards believing them. A big win over 76ersGC could give them some huge momentum for the rest of the tournament. A loss will send them back to the drawing board. For 76ersGC, it’s the total opposite. 3 straight losses put this team square under the microscope. What happens if they get 1st rounded? Could we see a trade? Could we see a lineup change? Coach Jeff Terrell won’t sit back and waste a great year from Dre. To me, that means anything is on the table…if they lose, of course.

(7) Heat Check Gaming vs (2) Nets GC

This is quite a different NetsGC team from the one who made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, yet something feels familiar about them. They still have that gritty, figure it out, do anything to win mentality that saw them win 2 straight playoff series, but now with a different cast of characters. They played pretty poorly against Knicks Gaming, but everyone has a bad day…right? This will be our chance to find out. How good is this team really? Especially with a tough task on the other side of the court. Heat Check feels like a team that you don’t want to let get hot, no pun intended. If they can pull of an upset here, I think they have a run in them. I don’t know how far they will go, but if this team gets going from 3 and forces a ton of turnovers like they did against the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai. I feel good about them.

(1) Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai vs (8) Grizz Gaming

The disrespectful thing to do here would be to just pick Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai to win and move on…FINE, I’ll do a whole preview. In all seriousness, how fun would it be if Grizz Gaming won? Like, just think of the drama and the storylines and the chaos that would come from it. A team almost universally disregarded due to a confusing offseason, yet they go on a crazy run and knock out the 1 seed? Poetry. Unfortunately for them, this isn’t the team to do it against. If the Gen.G Tigers defense shows up on Wednesday, this game is in the bag. As with all best of 1s, that’s a big if.

(3) Wizards District Gaming vs (6) Knicks Gaming

I think this is the most interesting series of the 1st round. This is Knicks Gaming’s chance to really take Season 5 by the horns. They get to take on the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year and they get to do it right off the bat. But this also isn’t just any team, it’s the 2-time reigning champion Wizards DG, however this time, there is blood in the water. The Wizards offense is still finding it’s way into gear and while the defense is still stellar, the team seems mortal, for now. Knicks Gaming has to strike now, this is your chance. This is your opportunity to get revenge, move on in the tournament, and start wrenching away control of the Eastern Conference from D.C. Maybe beating Wizards DG puts a small crack in their armor or puts even the slightest bit of doubt in their heads about the 3-peat, but whatever it is, Knicks Gaming almost has to win. If they don’t and they still can’t get past the Wizards, what’s next?

Round 1 is going to be great, but now it’s time for my Finals selection. I’m going to cheat and do 2, one is what I think will happen, the other is the one I want to happen.

What I think: Jazz Gaming vs. Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai

Boring, I know. I just think these are the two best teams in the league currently and usually this tournament ends with the two best teams squaring off. As for a winner, it’s a coinflip for me. I’ll stick with the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai since I picked them to win from the jump and I don’t want to back out on it.

What I want: Warriors Gaming Squad vs. Wizards District Gaming

This is the marquee matchup of the NBA 2K League, in my opinion. We waited all last season for the Finals rematch between these two teams, only for Jazz Gaming to take control of the West. I want more Warriors GS vs. Wizards DG. Even without JBM, the chess match between these two teams defensively is about as good as it gets in the entire esport. The coaching, the star power, the basketball IQ, it’s almost insane to not want to watch these teams play against each other in a high stakes game. We’ll see which one we get, but a matchup of the titans never gets old.