The newly implemented NBA Play-In Tournament has been quite a hot topic as of late. Some big names in the NBA world have spoken in support of the play-in, and some big names in the NBA world have spoken against the play-in. Some question the fairness and process of it, but regardless of the hate, the play-in tournament will be happening preceding this season's playoffs. This article will break down my full predictions of the play-in tournament outcomes in each conference, with my detailed analysis of each matchup. This article will be the first of many, in which I break down each stage of the playoffs. The posting schedule throughout the playoffs will be as followed:

Play-In Preview
1st Round Preview
Semifinals Preview
Conference Finals Preview
Finals Preview

For reference, the play-in tournament works like this:

#9 seed plays #10 seed
#7 seed plays #8 seed
Winner of #7 v #8 earns the #7 seed
Loser of #7 v #8 plays winner of #9 v #10
Winner of the loser of 7/8 v the winner of 9/10 earns the #8 seed

📸 courtesy of nba.com — 📸 courtesy of nba.com

The 2021 Play-In Tournament will feature the following games:

(East) #7 Boston Celtics v #8 Washington Wizards
(East) #9 Indiana Pacers v #10 Charlotte Hornets
(West) #7 Los Angeles Lakers v #8 Golden State Warriors
(West) #9 Memphis Grizzlies v #10 San Antonio Spurs

So, without further ado, let's get into the previews!

Eastern Conference Play-In: #9 IND v #10 CHA

📸 courtesy of Fansided - At The Hive — 📸 courtesy of Fansided - At The Hive

This is, in my opinion, one of the more underratedly exciting games out of the 4 play-in games this season. We get to see rookie LaMelo Ball attempt to prove his skill outside of the regular season, against a sneakily versatile Indiana Pacers squad. Charlotte's roster is one of the youngest in the NBA, so I am looking forward to seeing how these youngsters do in their first venture towards the postseason. For Indiana, I want to see how their top dogs can take control to make a playoff berth possible for this team. Overall, I think this game has the potential to be a very close one, which is always exciting when both teams have something to play for.

Prediction: Pacers Win 119-108

Game MVP: Domantas Sabonis (31 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST)

Biggest Disappointment: Devonte' Graham (7 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST)

My official prediction for this game has the Pacers winning with a big outing from Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis is an incredibly versatile big, and I don't think that Charlotte has anyone to slow him down.

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Eastern Conference Play-In: #7 BOS v #8 WAS

As a diehard Celtics fan, I am very uncertain about this game. I am glad, however, that the loser of this matchup will go on to play the winner of the Pacers v Hornets matchup because if Boston loses, I feel comfortable going against either Indiana or Charlotte. Washington is one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, and Boston has looked so lazy and listless on the court this season, so I think that Washington's star duo of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal will most likely torch the Celtics. I see Boston making a run late, and cutting the lead to under 5 points, but falling just short (Celtics fans know this scenario all too well)

Prediction: Wizards Win 126-123

Game MVP: Bradley Beal (43 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST)

Biggest Disappointment: Kemba Walker (11 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST)

I don't see Boston taking this one, and I think that (sadly), Kemba Walker continues his poor postseason play from last year's bubble playoffs. This (among other factors) leads to Washington punching their ticket to this season's playoffs, and slotting them in a 1st round matchup with the Brooklyn Nets.

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Eastern Conference Play-In Final Game: #7 BOS v #9 IND

📸 courtesy of celticsblog.com — 📸 courtesy of celticsblog.com

This season, Boston and Indiana have looked pretty evenly matched. Boston won the season series 2-1 between these two squads, but every game was decided by 6 points or fewer. But, Boston will be without star wing Jaylen Brown, who is out for the remainder of the season after having surgery to repair an injury in his wrist. But, I think that Boston can still pull out a narrow victory (no bias ;)

Prediction: Celtics Win 114-110

Game MVP: Jayson Tatum (39 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST)

Biggest Disappointment: Caris LeVert (10 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST)

Throughout this season, Jayson Tatum has shown the ability to show up when he needs to, and flip a switch and enter a beast mode in situations of need. I see him flipping that switch with Boston's season on the line.

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Western Conference Play-In: #9 MEM v #10 SAS

(📸 courtesy of Fansided - Pounding The Rock) — (📸 courtesy of Fansided - Pounding The Rock)

I absolutely love this matchup. Two young and sneakily underrated teams known throughout their team history for grittiness and grind-it-out play, I can't wait to see which team moves a step closer to the #8 seed. Ja Morant will have to prove he can elevate himself and his teammates in must-win situations. I am excited to see how the Spurs' perimeter defense will affect Morant's play, seeing as Dejounte Murray and Derrick White are two very solid matchup options for San Antonio to try out on Morant. But, this game will really come down to the x-factors on either team (such as Dillon Brooks for Memphis or Lonnie Walker IV for San Antonio). If those players can win their matchups and provide sufficient relief for the centerpieces of their respective teams, this will be a very difficult game.

Prediction: Spurs Win 112-107

Game MVP: DeMar DeRozan (29 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST)

Biggest Disappointment: Ja Morant (14 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST)

I love the defensive quickness that Dejounte Murray brings to the table, and I think that his stoutness on the perimeter clogs Morant's drives, and if Morant gets past him, Jakob Poetl (a massively underrated defensive big) can use his great verticality to try to block off Morant's nifty finishing.

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Western Conference Play-In: #7 LAL v #8 GSW

(📸 courtesy of The Ringer) — (📸 courtesy of The Ringer)

This is the matchup that everyone is insanely hyped for. Steph Curry versus LeBron James (and Anthony Davis) in a one-win and play-in game? What NBA fan wouldn't be excited for that? Curry has been absolutely otherworldly this season, almost solely carrying this lackluster Warriors squad to the play-in, putting up MVP-caliber numbers. The Lakers would be a top seed in the West this year if not for injuries to both James and Davis, which sidelined both of them for extensive periods of time. Since whichever team wins this matchup is immediately slotted into the #7 seed, Curry, James, and Davis will be playing their absolute hardest, which will most definitely lead to a fireworks-filled game. I can't wait to see these powerhouse players duke it out in an absolutely must-win game.

Prediction: Lakers Win 120-109

Game MVP: LeBron James (30 PTS, 10 REB, 11 AST)

Biggest Disappointment: Andrew Wiggins (9 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST)

Throughout this entire season, the Lakers have been a top defensive team in the league, despite not having James and Davis for considerable stretches. I think that, while Curry will be spectacular, the rest of GSW's squad won't be able to maneuver past LAL's stifling defense. Wiggins will be hit with a barrage of contests from Laker wings, causing him to have a disappointing game. And because Wiggins will most likely be matched up against LeBron James, there's no stopping King James in a must-win game, so Wiggins won't even have a positive defensive impact.

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Western Conference Play-In Final Game: #8 GSW v #10 SAS

(📸 courtesy of The Mercury News) — (📸 courtesy of The Mercury News)

Across the three-game season series between these two teams, Golden State won two out of the three matchups that these squads had. Both of GSW's wins were by at least 20 points, and the only loss was by just 5 points. The Spurs have good enough guard defense to slow down Ja Morant, but I just can't see Dejounte Murray and Derrick White doing enough to stop Stephen Curry when Curry's season is on the line.

Prediction: Warriors 119-110

Game MVP: Stephen Curry (40 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST)

Biggest Disappointment: DeMar DeRozan (15 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST)

The factors that helped San Antonio get by Memphis won't be enough to stop Chef Curry at his hungriest, so I foresee GSW sneaking into the Western Conference playoffs at the #8 seed.

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NBA Playoff Time is just about my favorite time of year, so I look forward to bringing you this series of playoff stage previews and breakdowns throughout the rest of this postseason! Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for the rest of these previews/breakdowns!