Your Ultimate Guide to the 2022 NBA Playoffs Tree and Bracket Results

As a lifelong basketball enthusiast who's been analyzing playoff brackets since the Jordan era, I can confidently say the 2022 NBA postseason delivered one of the most unpredictable championship runs I've ever witnessed. I still remember watching the early rounds unfold with my notebook in hand, tracking how each series developed with that familiar mix of professional analysis and pure fan excitement. The tournament structure had maintained its traditional conference-based format, but what made this particular playoffs special was how frequently teams defied expectations - much like that Adamson game I once covered where a seemingly insurmountable lead completely flipped in the final frames.

When the playoffs commenced on April 16th, 2022, few could have predicted we'd eventually see Golden State reclaim the throne after their two-year hiatus from championship contention. The Western Conference bracket initially suggested a potential Phoenix repeat, given their stellar 64-18 regular season record. I had Phoenix penciled in for at least the Conference Finals myself, but watching Dallas dismantle them in that stunning Game 7 blowout reminded me why I love this tournament format - it doesn't matter what you did in the regular season when you're facing elimination basketball. The Mavericks' comeback from that 2-0 series deficit against Phoenix was particularly impressive, showcasing Luka Dončić's generational talent in a way that reminded me of those classic playoff performances from legends like Bird or Magic.

Over in the Eastern Conference, Miami's early exit surprised many analysts, including myself. I'd projected them to reach the Conference Finals, but Boston's defensive intensity throughout their bracket run proved too formidable. The Celtics' path to the Finals was particularly brutal - they had to get through Kevin Durant's Nets, the defending champion Bucks, and the top-seeded Heat. What impressed me most was how Boston managed to win three consecutive Game 7s, a testament to their mental toughness and coaching staff's preparation. Their series against Milwaukee was arguably the best of the entire playoffs, with that epic Game 5 comeback victory serving as the turning point that ultimately propelled them to the Finals.

The championship series itself provided fascinating strategic matchups that I found myself analyzing late into the nights. Golden State's experience versus Boston's youthful energy created a compelling dynamic that went back and forth through the first four games. What ultimately decided the series in my view was Golden State's superior depth and Stephen Curry's transcendent Game 4 performance - that 43-point masterpiece might go down as one of the greatest Finals performances I've ever seen. When the Warriors finally closed it out in Game 6 with that 103-90 victory, it felt like the perfect culmination of a postseason filled with unexpected turns and memorable moments.

Reflecting on the complete bracket results months later, what stands out to me is how the 2022 playoffs reinforced the importance of peaking at the right moment. Teams like Phoenix and Milwaukee had stronger regular seasons, but the Warriors demonstrated that championship DNA matters when the pressure intensifies. The tournament format, while sometimes criticized for its predictability, once again proved capable of delivering drama and upsets that keep fans like myself constantly engaged. As I look ahead to future playoffs, the 2022 bracket will remain in my mind as a perfect example of why we can never take any lead for granted - whether it's in a single game or throughout an entire playoff run.