NBA Playoffs: 9 Reasons to Get Pumped for Highest-Level Hoops

An exceptionally fun, exciting and just generally stupendous NBA regular season ended on Wednesday night. Cue sad faces all around, sports fans.

But — happy faces, you guys! — the NBA playoffs start this weekend. That means basketball is about get even better, and soon enough we'll forget the regular season that was because this year's playoffs should. Be. Awesome.

We'll spare you the basics — you can find first-round match-ups and schedules here — and get into what's really real. Here below are our top nine reasons anyone with even a passing interest in basketball should be pumped for the 2014 NBA playoffs. Read more...