The end of the NBA regular season came to a close on April 13, and three days later, the postseason began.

Surprise, surprise.

The Golden State Warriors (73-9), led by point guard Steph Curry, and Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25), led by forward Lebron James, are the top seeds in the Western and Eastern conferences, respectively.

The same two teams battled it out in the NBA finals last year, with the Warriors winning their first NBA title since 1975.

Will the two teams see each other again in the finals?

For a while, it was all but certain.

According to Odds Shark, up until April 25,  Golden State held the betting favorite -150, followed by the San Antonio Spurs at +375 and Cleveland at +400.

The next team in line for the title is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are far from likely contention at +1,000.

Since the Warriors were the heavy favorites to repeat as champions and the Cavaliers are the only Eastern Conference team ranking in the top 5 favorites, it was looking like a rematch of last year’s series was the popular consensus.

The Warriors did what no one thought was possible and beat the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls NBA all-time best record of 72-10.

If anyone doesn’t have them pegged to be repeat NBA champions, or at least contenders, your sanity may be in question.

I’m talking to you, Charles Barkley.

This season for Golden State has been one of epic proportions. The Warriors broke numerous long-held NBA regular season records, including most wins (73), most road wins (34), best start (24-0), most three-pointers in a season (1,077) and most three-pointers in a half (15).

In addition, the Warriors are also the first team in history to never lose to the same team twice in a season or lose back-to-back games in a season.

This is largely thanks to the hot hand of Curry, who also broke his own previously held league record for most threes in a season (402) and most consecutive games with a three made, which is at 152 games and counting.

Curry is also the first player in NBA history to record a shooting percentage above 50 percent for field goals, 40 percent for three-pointers and 90 percent for free throws (.504/.442/.934).

After winning his first MVP last season, he should be the unanimous winner this season.

But after game four of the first round against the Houston Rockets, everything changed for Dub Nation.

Right before halftime of the April 24 game, Curry took an awkward fall on the slick hardwood floor and layed there in anguished pain.

He left the game right away, and an MRI the following day showed that it was a grade one MCL sprain. This is just about the most mild injury to the knee one can sustain.

Regardless, the absolute earliest the superstar could return to the court is midway through the next round.

After news broke of Curry’s  injury, Golden State suddenly fell from heavy favorites in Vegas to second behind the San Antonio Spurs in betting odds.

Regardless of Curry’s injury, no one should  count out the Warriors.

Golden State came out from halftime after his injury and dropped 41 points on the Rockets in the third quarter.

In addition, should the Warriors play their rival LA Clippers in the second round, they’d be playing a team plagued even more with injuries. The Clippers’ two top scorers, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, are both out with recent injuries.

Should the two teams see each other in the second round, it will be a battle of the benches. The series will be determined by who is able to fill in the points that will be missing by the three injured stars.

Can the Warriors compensate for Cuury’s absence on the court? Will he return in Round 2? Can they find success after?

Only time will tell.