The first round of the NBA playoffs is underway, and game two of all of the series have concluded. Through outstanding plays, questionable choices and broken predictions, here are my thoughts on the first round of the playoffs so far.
Thunder v. Grizzlies
I doubt anyone predicted the eighth seed winning this matchup, and the Thunder have matched that prediction, dominating game one. Rarely do we witness playoff losses by 51 points, but that is what happened. Honestly, it’s hard to think of much else; this is a straightforward series for Thunder. Even when MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a subpar game, as seen in game one, his teammates can step up—Thunder in four.
Rockets v. Warriors
I hoped the Rockets would take this seven-game series by forcing turnovers. However, game one stunned me, as both teams were held under 100 points, though Steph Curry dominated at the Toyota Center. In game two, Jaylen Wells went off, as Curry and Draymond Green combined for 11 turnovers. The unfortunate injury to Jimmy Butler may dictate the rest of this series, but there’s still potential for either team to win. I’m predicting the Rockets winning in seven.
Lakers v. Timberwolves
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this series because the Lakers can get in their way sometimes, but if the Wolves play like they played in game one, I believe they can make a run to the Western Conference Finals again. Of course, more than anything, Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards cannot be the only Timberwolves in double-figures as far as points go. It was that way in game two, and there has to be more offense involved, especially from their other unit. On the Lakers’ side, I believe that aside from all the star noise that Luka Doncic and LeBron James bring, their role players will play a big part in this series, particularly Austin Reaves and the leap he’s taken as of late. The Wolves winning in seven games seems to be the most likely scenario.
Clippers v. Nuggets
Watching this series has been peak cinema. Russell Westbrook giving all his experience in game one and Kawhi Leonard’s comeback in game two were pure cinema, and I’m excited for what the rest of this series holds. The Clippers won this mainly because I don’t trust the Nuggets, especially after firing their head coach and their previous losses against teams like the Wizards, which lacked notable offense from anyone except Jokic. Still, I could be wrong—Clippers in seven.
Cavaliers v. Heat and Celtics v. Magic
Ty Jerome stepped up in game one, and the Cavs continued to dominate throughout the game. Both the Cavaliers and the Celtics are well-rounded teams similar to the Thunder, and as Jaylen Brown proved in game two, even without their big names, they’ve still got it. However, since this is the NBA, I gave the Heat and the Magic a little more leeway: Celtics in four and Cavs in five.
Knicks v. Pistons
Before the series started, I found it pretty crazy that many NBA media pundits had the Pistons beating the Knicks in five games. After game one’s 21-0 run sparked by Cam Payne, I was pretty confident- but as always with the Knicks, there’s the thought in my mind: what if they fumble? Game two was that worst fear. Jalen Brunson’s hero ball antics reminded me of earlier years when the team did not have one of the best shooters of all time in Karl Anthony Towns. The outcome of this series depends on whether the Knicks win game three. If they do, it’s a Knicks in six or seven series. If they don’t and then lose game four, Tom Thibodeau will have to win three games in a row to prevent elimination. If the Knicks go out in the first round, they will be ridiculed to the ends of the earth.
Pacers v. Bucks
I never was a fan of the Kyle Kuzma trade, but to see my fears realized as he replaced the Tony Snell stat line was funny, but also somewhat horrifying, to say the least. I don’t think the Pacers will sweep the Bucks, but if the Bucks lose game three, nothing’s off the table at his point. The Pacers also eliminated the Bucks last year, and I want to hold out hope for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the crew—Bucks in six.