Three great playoff games get underway Saturday, with so much at stake for all of these teams, and games that may very well decide the fate of their playoff lives this season.
Atlanta v New York: (Series Tied 1-1)
If watching the opening two games of this series didn’t get you excited about having the Garden absolutely rocking, then you’re very hard to please!
What an amazing atmosphere one of the world’s most famous arenas gave us for the first two games of this series, a series which has shown us will be an extremely physical contest.
Old school basketball is well and truly back with the Knicks, and this team isn’t backing down from anyone (and don’t their fans know it), as Derrick Rose led them to a huge victory in Game 2, tying the series and sending us back to Atlanta with it all to play for in Game 3.
Trae Young was public enemy number 1 in New York, but he will be back to having plenty of home court support, as he will look to get his Hawks back on track with a big win on Saturday.
On paper this Hawks team is far more talented. But if basketball were played on paper this season, the Knicks wouldn’t be where they are right now!
Expect another dog fight over the next couple of games, and you wouldn’t be surprised if we go back to New York in Game 5 dead locked again at 2-2.
Boston v Brooklyn: (2-0 Brooklyn)
With all due respect to Boston, not a whole lot really needs to be said about this series.
The Nets are just that much better than them, and with no Jaylen Brown in the line-up, it’s hard to see this Boston team taking a game off Brooklyn.
Brooklyn will want to waste no time playing games in this series, with matchups against the Bucks and Philly potentially to come, finishing off their lowly ranked opponents will be a top priority to get as much rest as possible.
Look for Kyrie to have a big night back in Boston, along with Harden and Durant looking to stamp their authority early, and finish this series off in convincing fashion.
Dallas v LA Clippers: (2-0 Dallas)
2-0 Dallas?!
Dallas took the opening two games from the Clippers in their building, as Luka Doncic once again showed the boys from LA he means business!
So much was talked about these Clippers heading into the playoffs, intentionally dropping their final 2 games to the lowly ranked Houston Rockets and OKC Thunder, to avoid the Lakers until the Conference Finals and fall into 4th.
That’s a lot to take in only to be swept in the opening round of the playoffs!
Put simply, this is a must win for the BOTH teams in this game tomorrow, as Dallas will want to continue to kick their opponent while they’re down (with the rest of the social media world), while the Clippers will be toast if they fall down 3-0 to a Dallas team brimming with confidence.
Less flexing and laughing for this Clippers team and more focusing on finishing off games wouldn’t hurt!
It’s sure to be a huge Saturday of hoops with a lot on the line!
Bauky