The NBA playoffs are here once again, only this time LeBron James will be watching from the coach. James and the Los Angeles Lakers did not make the playoffs which means we will see some new faces in the finals. The Golden State Warriors are still a superior team looking to win a third title in a row, however, there is some strong competition to get through first.
This season was an MVP battle between James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to the best record and home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Here is a breakdown of the first round of the playoffs.
Eastern Conference
Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
This is a matchup that everyone should be paying attention to. Sixers center Joel Embiid is currently doubtful for game one due to pain in his left knee. Embiid said it has been a lingering issue since All-Star Break. At today’s practice, Embiid told reporters he had “no idea” if he would be able to play tomorrow. He missed 13 of the team’s final 23 games.
The Brooklyn Nets have turned into quite a good team without any “superstars”. Someone might say that if they did not watch D’Angelo Russell this season who has emerged as an elite guard. Russell had career highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-point percentage this season. This team has turned things around just two seasons after finishing with the worst record in the league.
Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors made big changes this season and they seem to be paying off. Swapping DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and Jonas Valanciunas for Marc Gasol, the Raptors find themselves in the two seed in the East. Toronto is one of the deepest teams in the playoffs, but they were dealt a tough blow today. It was announced today that OG Anunoby will miss two weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.
The Orlando Magic are back in the playoffs after a seven year drought. It is their defense that helped this team return to the postseason. They allow a league-low 10.9 second chance points per game to opposing teams. These two teams split their regular season games and in the two losses, the Magic barely lost. Kawhi had one of his worst games as a Raptor against Orlando. Terrence Ross off the bench has also been a key reason why the Magic are back in the playoffs, after winning 14 of their last 20 games to end the season.
Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics
Everyone is happy for the Pacers making the playoffs, but everyone wishes Victor Oladipo was leading the team. Oladipo has been sidelined since January after suffering a devastating knee injury. Many expected this team to fold after losing their main guy, but the opposite occurred. Bojan Bogdanovic has stepped up and led his this team in scoring since Oladipo went down. The Celtics have to hope the shooter does not get going at all this series. Boston is already without one of their best defenders, Marcus Smart, who suffered a torn oblique muscle.
The Boston Celtics were in the playoffs last season without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Both are healthy and back on the court. Irving, a champion, will draw a lot of attention and the Pacers will try to force him to pass the ball and have the game rely on Jayson Tatum or Al Horford. Myles Turner, the league’s leading shot blocker, will be there in the middle of the paint ready.
Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks
One thing both of these team’s have in common is inexperience. Neither team has been a playoff team in recent memory. The Bucks have made the playoffs, but Antetokounmpo has never made it out of the first round. The Pistons have not won a playoff game in ten years.
This was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s season and he led his team to the best record in the NBA. He might be the best basketball player currently in the NBA. That is up for debate, but one thing that is not is how good this Bucks team is. They will be without their starting shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon. Dealing with right foot plantar fascia tear, he is expected to be out until the second round, if the team were to advance. The team did get Nikola Mirotic back after he missed 11 games after fracturing his thumb.
Don’t expect Detroit to feel bad for Milwaukee’s injuries because they are holding their breath with All-Star Blake Griffin being listed as day-to-day. Griffin who put up a career high 24.5 points per game is dealing with a sore left knee.
Western Conference
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors
The Clippers are the team everyone expected to fall out of the playoffs, but Doc Rivers’ team is back in the postseason. Unfortunately, they play the reigning champions Golden State in the first round. While the Warriors are not invincible, Los Angeles will need to play perfect basketball and hope Golden State’s shots do not drop.
If any team could surprise us, it is definitely the Clippers, who despite trading starters earlier this season, are in the playoffs. This team already surpassed expectations. It is the Warriors with the burden and stress of meeting expectations. The Clippers can just play loose and who knows they could sneak a game on the Warriors court and get them off their game.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have been one of the best teams all season. Jamal Murray, while still young, put up career-high numbers in points, assists, and rebounds per game. Their success is really due to their big man Nikola Jokic who can pretty much do it all. The Nuggets are a tough defending team and has seen their offense struggle especially at the end of the season. The team went 8-6 in their final 14 games and their offense was ranked just 25th during that period.
There is a reason Gregg Popovich has won five championships. Coach Pop knows how to win at this of the year. He probably had something up his sleeve when he got ejected a minute into his team’s game against the Nuggets. The Spurs made a huge change deciding to cut ties with Kawhi Leonard and bring in DeMar DeRozan. At first the pieces did not all seem to fit, but after recording career highs in rebounds and assists, DeRozan and the Spurs seem to have found their groove. This team is extremely efficient, averaging just 12.1 turnovers per game, the lowest in the league.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trailblazers
Russell Westbrook vs. Damian Lillard. Two of the most passionate and athletic guards in the league will face off in a series that will likely come down to which team wants it more. The Blazers were a three seed last year and suffered an embarrassing sweep to the New Orleans Pelicans. Russell Westbrook and Paul George are one of the most talented duos in the league, but have nothing to show for it.
The Blazers are without one of their stars Jusuf Nurkic which means they will have to rely on Lillard and CJ McCollum, who also missed time with an injury, to carry the load for the team. The Blazers did pickup Enes Kanter who has been a solid addition, averaging almost a double double. Kanter, who played for the Thunder, is very familiar with Steven Adams so it will be worth watching that battle in the middle.
Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets
Not much needs to be said about Houston’s plan on offense. James Harden will likely carry the load on that end of the floor after having yet another MVP season. Harden has averaged 33.5 points against the Jazz this season, connecting on 46.6 percent of his field goal attempts. Stopping him is close to impossible and trying to keep up with him seems even harder.
Utah starting point guard Ricky Rubio was hurt during last year’s playoff matchup against Houston, however, he has struggled against them this season. The Jazz did have found a solid rhythm late in the season, winning 13 of their last 16 games this season. Center Rudy Gobert is coming off the best season of his career, leading the league in field goal percentage and recording career highs in points, assists, and rebounds. Houston center Clint Capela also had a solid year, averaging a double-double. He struggled to score against Utah, however, averaging just nine points against them.
