The 2nd round of the NBA playoffs got underway today and we were treated to some quality performances all around.
Giannis stepped into TD Garden in Boston and stole game 1 of the series against a red hot Celtics team.
Giannis was nothing short of brilliant, going off for 24 Points, 13 Rebounds and 12 Assists.
The Greek Freak had the Celtics on the back foot early, and with another stellar performance from Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis, this team still believes they can make a championship run without the services of Khris Middleton!
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown weren’t at their best for the Celtics today, but they’ve been far too good in the playoffs to drop a 2nd at home to start this series.
This series has 7 games written all over it!
Series Prediction: Boston 4-3
Memphis and Golden State treated us to a classic today, with Ja Morant missing a lefty layup to win on the buzzer.
Morant had a near triple-double of his own, going for 34 Points, 9 Rebounds and 10 Assists.
It’s a play Morant would make 9 times out of 10, and he also missed the alternative to that play, with a lob to the cutting Brandon Clarke there for the taking.
Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane had a bad night from behind the arc, shooting 3-13 combined.
Luckily for them, Jaren Jackson Jr. was there to pick up the slack, chipping in with 33 points and 10 rebounds of his own (6-9 from 3).
The biggest talking point out of this game will be the Draymond Green ejection.
There was a clear wind-up and a jersey pull down on Clarke, but you get the feeling his reputation got him tossed. A flagrant 1 would have been fair enough!
Jordan Poole moved back to the bench and continued his dominant postseason, going off for 31 points on 12-20 from the field (5-10 from 3), as well as 8 rebounds and 9 assists.
If Golden State were to win the NBA Finals, Poole may have his name on that Finals MVP trophy at this rate!
Series Prediction: Golden State 4-2
Miami was boosted with the news Joel Embiid is set to miss an extended period with an orbital fracture.
It’s a huge blow for the 76ers, as his match up with Bam Adebayo would have gone a long way to deciding the series.
Philly will need the old aggressive James Harden back in this series to have any chance, as, without Embiid, the 76ers don’t have any low post threat.
Miami has injury concerns of their own, with Kyle Lowry missing some time with a hamstring injury and Jimmy Butler missing game 5 of the Atlanta series with knee soreness.
Butler is due back in Game 1 of the series, but there are doubts about Kyle Lowry.
Without Lowry, there are no excuses for James Harden anymore.
He was brought to Philly to still be a key piece in winning a championship, and without Embiid, the scoring load falls to him and Tyrese Maxey!
Series Prediction: Miami 4-1
Lastly, the Phoenix Suns go head to head with the Dallas Mavericks in what should be an exciting series.
Dallas has turned into one of the best defensive teams in the league and will need to be at their very best if they want to stop one of the highest-scoring teams in the league.
Chris Paul shouldered the load in Devin Booker’s absence against a gallant Pelicans team, and continued to do so in Game 6 with Booker back, going off for 33 Points and 8 Assists.
Given Golden States' recent dominance in the playoffs, everyone has seemingly forgotten just how good Phoenix were in the regular season, and a potential Western Conference Finals match up with each other has NBA fans licking their lips!
Luka Doncic may have something to say about that, as the Mavs guard was at his brilliant best disposing of the Utah Jazz in round 1.
Doncic missed the first 3 games of the series, but Jalen Brunson stepped up in his place and has the Mavs quietly confident they can knock the Suns off and cause a Round 2 upset!
This series will be one for the basketball purists!
Series Prediction: Phoenix 4-2
- Bauky