NBA Playoffs Deliver Early With Game 7 Drama, Strong Ratings

Out and Uncertain

For the teams that have already been eliminated, the offseason questions have already begun, especially for those who were expected to make a deep run.

• Nuggets: According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets will listen to offers for everyone on their roster other than Jokic. That means All-Star Jamal Murray, who has three years, $161.4 million left on his contract after this season. Head coach David Adelman, who joined the team late last season, is reportedly safe.
• Rockets: Houston has “no plans” of moving on from head coach Ime Udoka or GM Rafael Stone, according to Yahoo Sports. The question is whether the team will keep Kevin Durant—and if they do, will they try to acquire another star to pair alongside him.
• Celtics: Boston overachieved this year in what appeared to be a gap year after shedding $300 million in projected salary. But after being upset by the Sixers in the first round, Boston will have to find ways to retool around their two stars—particularly by bolstering a frontline that was exposed by Embiid.
• Magic: Orlando nearly brushed off a disappointing regular season by upsetting the No. 1 seed Pistons in the first round. Instead, they blew a 3–1 lead. Head coach Jamahl Mosley will be on the hot seat after the team finished at the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency despite sending four first-round picks to Memphis for Desmond Bane.
• Raptors: Toronto exceeded expectations this year, but it’s unclear if their core’s ceiling is higher than an early playoff exit—and most of their cap space is tied to their starting five next year. Their offseason question: Will they try again with the same group?

Strong Ratings

The league announced Thursday that the first round of the playoffs was averaging 3.91 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video, the league’s highest viewership in 33 years. The success comes after an opening weekend that was the second-most-watched since 2011.

It should only go up once the final opening-round viewership is announced, especially given three Game 7s, which are known for bringing in increased viewership.

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