The NBA's conference semifinals represent an escalation in both stakes and quality of competition. Nobody expected the play-in teams -- outside of the Golden State Warriors-- to compete for the 2025 title.

First and foremost, the teams/players involved need to have faced off more than twice, preferably with numerous matchups in a short, defined time period. Bulls-Jazz, Mavericks-Heat and Spurs-Heat were some fantastic Finals matchups, but each of them only happened twice, so they're out.

Well, we've now played three days and five games worth of second-round basketball, and the higher seed hasn't won a game yet. The Cavaliers have lost both of their home games agai