A Complete Guide to Understanding the 2022 NBA Playoffs Bracket and Matchups

2025-11-20 09:00

I still remember the chill that ran down my spine when I saw the final Western Conference standings last April. As a lifelong NBA fan who’s followed the league through multiple eras, there was something uniquely compelling about how the 2022 playoff picture had shaped up. I was sitting in my favorite worn-out armchair, laptop balanced on my knees, scrolling through the official bracket while my coffee went cold. The matchups felt like they’d been crafted by some basketball deity with a flair for drama—the Warriors returning to relevance, the Suns chasing redemption, and the young Grizzlies squad crashing the party. It was during that quiet morning ritual that I decided I needed to create what would become my personal passion project: A Complete Guide to Understanding the 2022 NBA Playoffs Bracket and Matchups.

What struck me most wasn't just the star power, but how these teams were constructed. Watching the Celtics' dramatic turnaround from a mediocre 18-21 start to finishing the regular season 33-10 reminded me of something I'd once heard coach Leo Austria say about team construction. He'd mentioned that his past San Miguel teams didn't have similar challenges since there were players on his previous squads that were role players. That observation resonated deeply as I analyzed the 2022 playoffs. The Celtics had somehow transformed from a collection of talented individuals into a cohesive unit where everyone embraced specific roles—something Austria's championship teams had mastered. Marcus Smart becoming a true point guard, Derrick White accepting his defensive specialist role off the bench, even Al Horford morphing into this ageless defensive anchor—it was a masterclass in role acceptance that you rarely see in today's superstar-driven league.

The Western Conference first-round series between Memphis and Minnesota had me practically glued to my screen for six chaotic games. I've always had a soft spot for teams that play with what my grandfather would call "controlled chaos," and my goodness, those Grizzlies embodied that spirit. Ja Morant's 38-point explosion in Game 2 remains etched in my memory—the way he floated those impossible layups against three defenders made me jump off my couch so violently I nearly spilled beer on my neighbor's dog. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards was putting on a show for Minnesota that made me believe we were witnessing a future superstar in real time. The series averaged 228.5 combined points per game, which frankly sounds made up when you consider today's defensive schemes, but there it was—basketball in its purest, most exhilarating form.

Then there was the Phoenix-Dallas series that completely shattered my bracket predictions. I'd confidently told anyone who'd listen that the Suns were winning it all after their 64-18 regular season, only to watch them crumble in spectacular fashion in Game 7. I'll never forget the sinking feeling watching Luka Dončić dismantle the NBA's best regular-season team while Devin Booker shot 3-for-14 in what might have been the most disappointing elimination game I've witnessed since the 2016 Warriors. The Mavs won by 33 points in Phoenix—a margin that still doesn't feel real when I type it. It was a brutal reminder that regular season success means absolutely nothing when you're facing a generational talent in peak form.

What made creating A Complete Guide to Understanding the 2022 NBA Playoffs Bracket and Matchups so fascinating was tracking how championship DNA manifested differently across teams. The Warriors' core of Curry, Thompson, and Green had been through every possible playoff scenario, while Boston's stars were experiencing the conference finals for the first time. That experience gap became painfully evident during Game 1 of the Finals when the Celtics committed 18 turnovers despite winning—a stat that hinted at underlying issues that would eventually cost them the championship. I found myself thinking back to Austria's wisdom about role players during those moments. The Warriors had Andrew Wiggins embracing the toughest defensive assignments while contributing efficient scoring, and Gary Payton II providing explosive energy off the bench—perfect examples of players who understood exactly what their team needed from them.

The Finals themselves provided the perfect climax to this playoff journey. I attended Game 4 in Boston with my brother, watching from the nosebleeds as Curry dropped 43 points to essentially save Golden State's season. The atmosphere was electric in a way that television simply cannot capture. When the Warriors completed their gentleman's sweep in Game 6, I felt this strange mix of satisfaction and melancholy—the journey I'd been documenting since April was over, and what a journey it had been. From that initial bracket exploration in my armchair to watching confetti fall in Boston, the 2022 playoffs delivered everything a basketball romantic could want: legacy-defining performances, shocking upsets, and reminders that basketball remains the ultimate team sport. Looking back, I realize my guide wasn't just about explaining matchups—it became a love letter to the beautiful chaos that makes playoff basketball the greatest theater in sports.