NBA Notebook: Can Dillon Brooks propel the Grizzlies into the playoffs?

The 2021 NBA Playoffs are underway, and while some purists have dismissed the play-in tournament, it's been an exciting development that changes the dynamics of the best postseason of any professional sport.

As we look forward to the first round, let’s take a look at the biggest stories of the week from around the league.

The 76ers are ready to make some noise in the playoffs

The Philadelphia 76ers successfully earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 49-23 record. Injury woes to the favored Brooklyn Nets made their path to the top seed easier, but their good fortune shouldn’t take away from the accomplishment and threat they pose to the rest of the conference.

At +300 to win the Eastern Conference, the 76ers offer the most value on that side of the bracket. In their first round they get to face either Washington or Indiana, both teams that have clear weaknesses. In the second round, the 76ers would benefit from facing Atlanta or New York, both of whom would be significant underdogs.

A trip to the NBA Finals isn't assured, but with the most efficient defense in the conference and two All-Stars, the Sixers are an intriguing bet at good odds.

Dillon Brooks was the difference-maker against the Spurs

The Memphis Grizzlies successfully defeated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday evening to keep their season alive, and in true Memphis fashion it was a team victory with multiple players contributing in meaningful ways.

That said, former Pac-12 Player of the Year Dillon Brooks was the difference-maker. In a stretch midway through the fourth quarter when things were close and the Spurs took their first lead since the opening bucket of the game, Brooks scored on four straight possessions to put the Grizzlies on top for good.

Brooks was also a lockdown defender, keeping Spurs star DeMar DeRozan off-balance and under constant harassment. Brooks, at his best, is an underrated star that can truly take over the game on both sides of the court and offers a fantastic compliment to Ja Morant for this Memphis squad.

What will the Nets look like?

Despite the significant fanfare, media attention, and betting favoritism, nobody really knows what the Brooklyn Nets at their best will look like. With the "Big 3" of James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving having played less than 10 games together, cohesion is presumed to be lacking.

However, all three are veteran NBA stars, and the pieces might just fall into place without needing a lot of reps. The Nets will enjoy a shorthanded Boston Celtics squad missing Jaylen Brown in the first round, but it will finally present us our first look at what this Nets team at full strength can be.

Did the Clippers duck the Lakers?

There was a lot of talk on Twitter in the final week of the season as the Los Angeles Clippers seemed to purposely lose games to find themselves in a better position to avoid the Los Angeles Lakers.

While player health was the expected justification for the bench-heavy rotations, the common sense analysis suggests ulterior motives. This begs the question if such tactics should be permitted, and what kind of pride a franchise and its players have if they’re willing to execute such a strategy.

But at the end of the day, a team has to do what is best for that team, and if the Clippers landed on an end-of-season tactic that gives them a better chance at a championship, we must acknowledge the gamesmanship and move on.

Nikola Jokic is the undisputed MVP

Steph Curry ended the season on fire, and at any given moment can be the most dangerous player on any court, but the MVP award is a body of work honor given to a phenomenal contributor on a winning team.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic checks every box needed to earn that recognition, and after averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals, Jokic is your deserving 2021 NBA MVP. Congrats to a big man who makes the game better, and entertains us every time he laces 'em up.