The NBA Playoffs are just over a month away, and with about 20 games left in the season, playoff spots, seeds and, of course, revenue are on the line for organizations with plausible aspirations of continuing its weekly regimen past mid-April.

However, that reward of reaching the postseason can result in nothing more than a four-game fling before the brooms are brought out. Even an extended run into the conference finals assures nothing more than a physical grind for the players and a sleep-deprived intellectual marathon for coaching staffs as both delve into myriad techniques, methods and remedies to prevent a physical breakdown as the human body is pushed to the limit over the months-long slog of the postseason.

However, the tests of bodily capabilities extend beyond that of team personnel; fans are also subjected to the drudgery of the NBA postseason while attempting to remain mentally sane. That preservation of cerebral stability can be difficult when a Pacers-Nets series goes seven games in the first round, inspiring fans to gouge their eyes out, and further delays the aesthetically pleasing matchups down the road that

So, for the sake of intrigue and sparing NBA fans from cases of apoplexy, let’s look at the playoff matchups to root for in the last 20 odd games of the regular season.

Eastern Conference:

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls

Storylines: LeBron’s history with the Bulls. Rematch of last year’s conference semifinals. Coaching microscope on Hoiberg and Lue. Jimmy Butler vs LeBron. Pau vs K Love for crippling defense trophy. Derrick Rose injury due to Delly.

LeBron’s history with the Bulls has included its fair share of dust ups and physical altercations, which is always intriguing, but it just won’t be the same without Tom Thibodeau and renowned LeBron agitator Joakim Noah. Still, this matchup offers the media assault that surely awaits shortcomings on the part of Fred Hoiberg’s X and Os as well as big man pairings. And Kevin Love’s subpar defense is equally unlikely to go unscathed.

With both teams possessing a deep rotation of bigs, basketball traditionalists who still find delight in antiquated two-big lineups may be in for a euphoric experience, however, don’t expect to see Channing Frye and Nikola Mirotic do much more than chill at the 3-point line with the exception of some exaggerated pump fakes on the part of Mirotic.

Those crunch time isolations though may be brutal enough to long for a postseason that includes the beloved Stan Van Gundy or the amusing Randy Wittman.

Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat

Storylines: Conference semifinals feel. Herky-jerky drives and post up jumpers from Dwyane Wade and DeMar DeRozan. Dwayne Casey’s hot seat in Toronto. Drake in Miami. Fan base comparisons. Hassan Whiteside’s maturity on the big stage. Luis Scola and Amare Stoudemire starting a 2016 playoff game. Kyle Lowry vs Heat defense. Potential Chris Bosh homecoming. J Johnson duel.

We need at least one first round series that has the vibe of at least a semifinals matchup, and much to Dwayne Casey’s dismay a Raptors-Heat clash would give us one. Despite his strongest coaching effort yet in the regular season, another first-round playoff exit could simultaneously act as Casey’s exit from Toronto.

This series promises for some interesting crunch time lineups on both sides as Luis Scola and Amare Stoudemire will be mummified by game’s end and unable to participate. Small ball lineups centered around the bouncy Whiteside and Bismack Biyombo would be a subtle case of must-watch basketball.

Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers

Storylines: Larry Bird’s Boston homecoming. Brad Stevens’ Indiana homecoming. Offensive contrast. Turnovers and fast breaks. How many people defend Paul George? Defensive switchability.

The Bird and Stevens homecomings present an interesting opposing-crowd dynamic, but the intrigue won’t prolong, and at some point the actual basketball comes into play when talking about appeal. The series brings forth an evaluation of a star-driven offense and one which prizes consistent player and ball movement. Relying heavily on the individual creativity of Paul George and tunnel vision of Monta Ellis, the Pacers have assisted on just 53.9 percent of their made field goals, he fifth lowest mark in the NBA. The Celtics, on the other hand, without individual creators aside from Isaiah Thomas, assist on 62.5 percent of its field goals, the third highest rate in the league.

This is the Eastern Conference, however, and these two teams will embellish in their conference association by forcing fans to suffer through ugly stretches of play on the offensive end. Alas, there is a remedy—appreciate the defensive efforts and the tidy mechanics of switching these teams employ across the board.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets

Storylines: Provides a break for fans. NBA TV bound. Coach’s series. Al Horford free agency. Steve Clifford's defensive system vs Mike Budenholzer's offensive system. Basketball appreciation time with Paul Millsap and Nicolas Batum. Kemba Walker as a crunch-time guy.

There is life outside of basketball, and fans sometimes need a break from the postseason grind to engage in other copacetic activities. This series provides the perfect outlet because, well, are you really excited to watch a Hawks and Hornets matchup. Kevin Love isn’t. The series has all the makings of being regularly slotted into NBA TV’s programming schedule.

However, a Hawks-Hornets matchup would meet the adoration of basketball savants. Mike Budenholzer’s offensive system versus Steve Clifford’s defensive coaching acumen could extract subtle giggling from those who appreciate the recondite intricacies of the game. Guys like Paul Millsap, Nicolas Batum and Al Horford are the ideal candidates to headline such a series from a player standpoint. But don’t feel guilty at all about missing this entire series. Go live your life instead and direct odd glances at those wierdos having an orgasm over an Al Horford screen.

Western Conference:

Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Storylines: Dame vs Steph. Heat-check potential. Off-the-dribble 3s. Steve Kerr and Terry Stotts’ offensive wizardry. Small ball lineups. McCollum vs Klay. Passing bigs. Noah Vonleh helplessly trying to navigate the Warriors’ offense. Mo Speights and Meyers Leonard heat checks.

This would be must-watch TV! Steph Curry and Damian Lillard have implemented 30-foot bombs as a regularity on their shot charts with the potential of a single made shot escalating into a 50-point extravaganza, forcing even the most casual of fans to take to Twitter to express their witnessing of astronomical shooting feats.

But this series extends behind Curry and Lillard’ evolutionary launching from distance; it’s a visual delight to watch constant-motion and off-ball screening of Terry Stotts’ and Steve Kerr’s offenses. Each unveils a plethora of different sets and actions with a multitude of players filling varying responsibilities and roles. The passing work of Mason Plumlee and Andrew Bogut at center offers a retrograde aspect to offense few teams possess, and Plumlee-led fast breaks are a sublime viewing experience.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks

Storylines: Duncan vs Dirk in basketball sense. Duncan vs Dirk in fashion sense. Pop vs Carlisle. Icy coach’s interviews. Mavs offense-Spurs defense and the battle of the 3. Zone defense. Pudgy point guard memories with Raymond Felton and Patty Mills. David West and Zaza Pachulia scuffles. JaVale McGee. Kawhi takeover potential.

The Tim Duncan-Gregg Popovich and Dirk Nowitzki-Rick Carlisle success pairings have endured through some incredible things- The Roaring 20s, WWII, the Apollo Mission, the George Bush presidency, the next George Bush presidency, the 2008 financial crisis and Leo winning an Oscar. Each has represented a basketball kinship worth truly celebrating, but nothing lasts forever; it’s important to savor it perhaps for the last time.

However, there are other subplots here as well relating more to the on-court product. The Mavs are sixth in the league in 3-point attempts per game, but the Spurs’ historically great defense exists on the backbone of shutting teams off from beyond the arc, as they allow a league-low 19.3 attempted 3s per game. Somehow, I’m confident the Spurs’ defense won’t be flummoxed by J.J. Barea/Raymond Felton-engineered pick-and-rolls and yield a plethora of catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts.

Also, expect Carlisle to unravel his patented zone defense to spare Dirk the crisping he received in last year’s postseason as he helplessly attempted to keep pace with pick-and-rolls. Pop actually threw out a sample of his own zone defense in the Spurs’ clash with the Warriors earlier this season, and if he wants to fine tune the strategy for a potential conference finals matchup, this could serve as an experimental platform.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets

Storylines: James Harden vs Sam Presti. Russ vs Patrick Beverley. Low IQ basketball. “Billy Donovan-Corey Brewer reunion: Remember college?” Crunch-time offense. Facial hair. Steven Adams-Dwight Howard tussles and techs. Potential offseason breakups. Josh Smith vs Dion Waiters brick-laying competition.

If you love low-IQ basketball, defensive miscommunications, bland crunch-time offense and long-term drama, this series is freaking perfect! The only thing that could make it better is if Javale McGee and Swaggy P joined Waiters and J Smoove to form a squad that would have T-Swift and the gang smitten.

However, for all those periods of transmogrifying basketball, Harden, Westbrook and Kevin Durant will produce an overwhelming number of moments in which the only explanation for such capabilities to manifest in humans is through the direct blessing of a deity.

As another side, the battle for best facial hair between Harden and OKC’s Mario Brothers is absolutely epic.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Storylines: Recent playoff history. Z-Bo vs Blake. Lance and Matt Barnes torturing Doc. Jeff Green torturing Doc. Mike Conley free agency. Mario Chalmers vs CP3.

The Clips and Grizz have a long history together, and it isn’t one that resides in the category of fondness. In the past, these series have bordered on a transformation from a basketball game into a wrestling match, or in the case of Blake and Z-Bo from a wrestling match into a basketball game.

Doesn’t it just seem inevitable Matt Barnes hits 60 percent of his 3s, Lance becomes a serviceable offensive creator and Jeff Green becomes the second-most impactful J. Green in the series as you ponder why Doc is still the Clippers’ GM. Then you realize, the owner thought this was a good idea and everything makes sense again.