After a seven-month grind of surviving
injuries, COVID-19 protocols, and the nutrition of one of the most competitive
seasons in recent memory, we are now on the precipice of the most wonderful
time of the NBA season, the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The best players competing at
the highest level on the biggest stage to win the Larry O’Brien trophy. In the
Eastern the reigning champions from the “Deer District” begin their quest for their
second straight title, while the team they took down for that title hopes their
best season in terms of wins in franchise history will be their guiding light
towards their first title in their history. The boys New York’s other borough;
from the “City of Brotherly Love;” and South Beach hope are three teams that
stand in the reigning champions path towards their dreams of repeating. In the
West, the squads from the opposite end of the Golden Gate Bridge in California;
from the Colorado Rockies; from Beale Street; and Salt Lake City, UT hope this
is their year to be the last team standing. That is what we will dive into in
the 2022 J-Speaks 2022 NBA Playoff Preview.
Eastern Conference
(1) Miami Heat versus (8) Atlanta Hawks
(52-30) (43-39)
Season-Series won by Heat 3-1
Playoff History: ATL def. MIA 1994 East First-Round 3-2
ATL def. MIA 2009 East First-Round 4-3
In this meeting of Southeast Division rivals,
one team will be looking to recapture the Magic they had in the postseason in
2020 that got them within two wins of their fourth NBA title in franchise
history. The other will be recapture the mojo that had them within two games of
reaching last season’s Finals.
Two years ago, the Miami Heat in the restart
in Orlando, FL made it to the 2020 Finals and put up a magnificent fight
against the Lakes before falling in six games. Last spring, the Heat’s playoff
run was a short one as they were swept by the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee
Bucks, who they took down in the 2020 East Semis in five games.
Despite have to deal with injuries and
COVID-19 protocols, the Heat put together another great season that had them reach
the No. 1 Seed in the East for the fourth time in franchise history.
The core pieces that got the Heat to The
Finals two season back were good as ever in regular season when they did play
in All-Stars Jimmy Butler (21.4 ppgt, 5.9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.6 spg, 48.0 FG%) and
Bam Adebayo (19.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 55.7 FG%). Leading candidate for Kia Sixth Man
of the Year Tyler Herro (20.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 44.7 FG%, 39.9 3-Pt.%) and
fellow sharp-shooter Duncan Robinson (10.9 ppg, 37.2 3-Pt.%).
The Heat also added championship experience
back in offseason to their roster in Kyle Lowry (13.4 ppg, 7.5 apg, 4.5 rpg,
37.7 3-Pt.%), P.J. Tucker (7.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 48.4 FG%, 41.5 3-Pt.%), and
Markieff Morris (7.6 ppg, 47.4 FG%).
With the injuries and aforementioned health
and safety protocols that head coach Erik Spoelstra’s team sustained during the
regular season, which opened up opportunity for the rest of the roster to step
up.
The minutes earned by Max Strus (10.6 ppg,
44.1 FG%, 41.0 3-Pt.%), Caleb Martin (9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 50.7 FG%, 41.3 3-Pt.%),
Gabe Vincent (8.7 ppg, 36.8 3-Pt.%), and Dewayne Dedmon (6.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 56.6
FG%, 40.4 3-Pt.%).
When the Heat have been at their best this
season, they have defended at a prominent level, especially at the three-point
line where opponents only connected on 33.9 percent of their triple tries. That
is the result of their ability to be able to switch off ball screens and get
out to opposing shooters, while having one of the best rim protectors in the
paint in Adebayo.
"Everybody has to be ready and on moment's notice," Coach Spoelstra said. "Thankfully, everybody has gotten opportunities to really contribute and feel comfortable about their role and they know where they can bring value."
The Heat were also one of the top
three-point shooting team in the league at 37.9 percent because of prolific
shooting ability of Herro, Strus, Vincent, Lowry, and Martin.
While the East’s top seed went 3-1 against
their First-Round opponent during the regular-season in the Atlanta Hawks, the
boys from the ATL bring one of the most prolific scorers and playmakers in the
league that had them at the doorstep of The Finals a season ago.
Despite a disappointing regular-season
after losing in the East Finals in six games to the aforementioned champion
Bucks, the head coach Nate McMillan's team is back in the Playoffs because of their All-Star floor
general Trae Young (28.4 ppg-4th, NBA, 9.7 apg-3rd NBA,
46.0 FG%, 38.2 3-Pt.%), who posted career-highs across the board.
Young led the NBA in total points (2,155)
and total assists (737), joined Hall of Famer Nate “Tiny” Archibald (1972-73)
as the only two players in NBA history to lead the NBA in total points and assists
for a single season.
As he did in the 2021 postseason where he
took on the two most hostile crowds in the NBA in New York and Philadelphia
fans, Young was at his best in the 2022 East Play-In Tournament.
He had 14 of his 24 points in the third
quarter along with 11 assists in the Hawks 132-103 win on Wednesday night versus
the Charlotte Hornets on ESPN, overcoming eight-point first half on 3/13
shooting.
Young took it to another level in the
Hawks come from behind 107-101 two nights later at the Cleveland Cavaliers, clinching
the No. 8 Seed. Young had 32 of his 38 points in the second half with nine
assists on 13/25 shooting, including 4/11 on his threes.
To put into perspective how good was Young
was in the second half at the Hawks, he scored or assisted on 43 of the Hawks
56 second half points.
"I didn't see any panic in his play," Coach McMillan said of Young's performance at Cavaliers. "Playing in big moments like this, he doesn't shy away from it. He looks forward to playing in games like this and being on this stage."
Young will surely have the undivided
attention of the Heat defense, especially of Lowry, who will make it his business
to try to stay in front of Young.
When the Heat try to take away as many of
Young’s scoring chances, it will be up to him to continue to put his teammates
in position to make shots like they showed in the two Play-In games as they did
in the regular-season where they averaged a league-best seven players averaging
10 points or more.
That cast of Hawks scoring threats
consists of Bogdan Bogdanovic (15.1 ppg, 36.8 3-Pt.%), DeAndre Hunter (13.4
ppg, 37.9 3-Pt.%), Kevin Huerter (12.1 ppg, 45.4 FG%, 38.9 3-Pt.%) and Danilo
Gallinari (11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 38.1 3-Pt.%).
The Hawks chances of pulling the upset
against the Heat did not get any easier as they will be out starting center
Clint Capela (11.1 ppg, 11.9 rpg-4th NBA, 61.3 FG%) who hyperextended
his knee in the Hawks’ win at the Cavaliers after rookie Evan Mobley rolled
into his left knee after he was hard fouled by Capela.
That leaves second-year big Onyeka Okongwu
and 32-year-old Gorgui Gieng, who averaged 8.4 minutes on the season to take on
Heat’s Adebayo in the paint.
The Hawks have been without fellow starter
John Collins (16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 52.6 FG%, 36.4 3-Pt.%), who been out since
Mar. 11 with a knee/finger injury and veteran reserve Lou Williams due to a
back injury.
The Hawks might the best player on the
floor of this upcoming series against the Heat. But the three-time NBA
champions will have the more talented team that has too many sharp-shooters; a
commitment to the defensive end; and the hunger to win a title after coming up
short two springs back.
Prediction:
Heat in five games.
(4) Philadelphia 76ers versus (5) Toronto
Raptors
(51-31) (48-34)
Season-Series won by Raptors 3-1
Playoff History: PHI def. TOR 2001 East Semifinals 4-3
TOR def. PHI 2019 East Semifinals 4-2
Season-Series 76ers versus Raptors By
Numbers
PHI
TOR
106.3 PPG 109.0
45% FG% 43.6%
40.2% 3-Pt.% 38.3%
39.5 RPG 46.8
24.8 APG 21.8
The Philadelphia 76ers flamed out in the
2021 playoffs falling in seven games to the eventual East runner-up in the
Atlanta Hawks in East Semifinals. They entered the 2021-22 season with no
takers for one-half of their All-Star duo, which led to the worry they were wasting
a stellar season by the main half of their All-Star duo. At the Feb. 10 trade
deadline, the Sixers not only found a taker for their disgruntled star guard
they managed to acquire a former league MVP.
As they begin their quest for their first
title in nearly four decades though, there are a lot of questions that still
remain about their title chances, especially against their First-Round opponent
that had their number this regular season.
The 76ers enter their fifth consecutive
playoff appearance under the microscope in a big way.
All-Star center Joel Embiid (30.6 ppg-Led
NBA, 11.7 rpg-5th NBA, 49.9 FG%) put together the finest season of
his eight-year NBA career and is a leading candidate for league MVP. His season
is how the Philadelphia 76ers overcame the distraction of Ben Simmons and
managed to stay afloat in the East. But there were still questions on whether
they had enough to compete for a title.
At the Feb. 10 trade deadline, the 76ers
hoped they answered that question by acquiring from the Brooklyn Nets 2018 Kia
MVP James Harden (22.0 ppg, 10.3 apg-2nd NBA, 7.7 rpg w/Nets &
76ers) along with veteran forward Paul Millsap in exchange for Seth Curry,
Andre Drummond, a 2022 and a 2027 First-Round picks.
Things got off swimmingly for 76ers
following the trade going 5-0 with Harden in the lineup. Many were comparing
the pairing of Embiid and Harden to the dynamic duo of Hall of Famers Shaquille
O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant.
While the 76ers went 14-7 with Harden, who
averaged 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 7.1 rebounds in the lineup and 19-9
overall since the trade, they were growing pains for sure with the fact that
their roster depth took a hit. They went just 7-6 against teams that made the
Playoffs or the Play-In Tournament with Harden in the lineup mainly because
Harden has had his struggles in terms of scoring from the field, where he shot
in total just 41.0 percent and just 33 percent from three-point range during
the regular season.
That also included a combined 8/24
shooting in two losses to the 76ers First-Round opponent in the Toronto
Raptors-more on them coming up.
Along with having to deal with their
opponent and the problems that they bring to this playoff tilt, the 76ers have their
own individual and personal playoff demons to deal with.
Three seasons back in the 2019 East Semis,
the Raptors broke the 76ers hearts when eventual 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard
took a fallaway baseline jumper and bounced on the rim about 10 times before it
dropped at the final buzzer and sent the 76ers home for that season. It was
such a crushing blow that Embiid was seen heading back to the locker room in
tears.
Embiid knows that the hopes and dreams of
76ers holding the Larry O’Brien trophy rest on his shoulders and he has to
display his dominance starting against Raptors.
“Obviously, the goal is to win a
championship. But we got to reach an even higher level,” Embiid said. “I feel
like we haven’t played to our best basketball yet.”
Then there is the playoff failures of head
coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers, who the last three times his team led a series 3-1
one they lost, with the latest one happening in his final season as head coach
of the Los Angeles Clippers when they lost in the West Semis to the eventual
West runner-up Denver Nuggets in seven games. That led to him and the
organization parting ways and him landing with the 76ers a season ago.
“This is going to be tough sledding for
everybody,” Coach Rivers said of the upcoming NBA Playoffs. “Now we all see it.
The East is stack. Who do you want to play? None of them.”
Then there is Harden, who has gone in his
time with the Houston Rockets and the Nets is a dismal 1-7 in his last eight
elimination games, shooting just 30 percent from the floor.
There is no question that the 76ers need
Embiid and Harden to be at the top of their respective games if they hope to
get past this opening-round series and to hopefully The Finals.
They will also need the supporting cast of
Tyrese Maxey (17.5 ppg, 48.5 FG%, 42.7 3-Pt.%), Tobias Harris (17.2 ppg, 6.8
rpg, 3.5 apg, 48.2 FG%, 36.7 3-Pt.%), Georges Niang (9.2 ppg, 40.3 3-Pt.%),
Forkan Korkmaz (7.6 ppg), Danny Green (5.9 ppg, 38.0 3-Pt.%), and Mattise
Thybulle to play their roles as close to perfection if the 76ers can get passed
the opening-round and beyond.
To put how important the 76ers’ role
players will be in this series against the Raptors, the 76ers were outscored
61-36 in the 21 minutes Embiid was on the sidelines. In the 2019 East Semis
against the Raptors, they were outscored by 109 points in the 99 minutes that
Embiid was on the bench.
That is the minus part of the Harden deal
is that they had to give up their understudy to Harden and their best perimeter
shooter in Curry. While DeAndre Jordan, who the 76ers claimed off waivers in
March can provide minutes for them on the court, he does bring that consistency
on the glass that Drummond brought.
“It’s not a given that you’ll always be on
a good team. You have to take opportunities like this and run with it,” Maxey
said.
The 76ers opponent though in the Raptors
enters this First-Round tilt very confident they can pull off the upset.
After two seasons of basically playing
home games because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and a 14-17 start to
this season, the Raptors got things back on track going 34-17 since the close
of 2021, which included a 7-2 mark against the Top 4 squads in the East (Heat,
Bucks, Celtics, and 76ers), including taking down their First-Round opponent
twice in that span (93-88 at 76ers Mar.
20 and 119-114 versus 76ers Apr. 7).
Leading the way for the Raptors is Pascal
Siakam (22.8 ppg-Led team, 8.5 rpg, 5.3 apg, 49.4 FG%) and Fred VanVleet (20.3
ppg, 6.7 apg, 1.7 spg, 37.7 3-Pt.%), the two remaining mainstays from their
2019 title team.
Siakam, who has had his issues at times
both in terms of his play and focus on the hardwood put it all together this
season and VanVleet has transitioned well into being the leader of this group
in place of longtime lead guard Kyle Lowry, now with the Miami Heat.
The Raptors also have a solid ensemble
cast alongside VanVleet and Siakam in top candidate for Kia Rookie of the Year
in Scottie Barnes (15.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 49.2 FG%), OG Anunoby (17.1 ppg,
5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 36.3 3-Pt.%), Gary Trent, Jr. (18.3 ppg, 38.3 3-Pt.%), Chris
Boucher (9.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 46.4 FG%).
“I’ve always been a winner. I’ve really
don’t look for individual stats. I really just try to do those key things on
the floor to really just help our team win,” Barnes said to ESPN’s Malika
Andrews on the Apr. edition of “NBA Today” on why he should be Kia Rookie of
the Year.
Head Coach Nick Nurse’s squad plays with
an aggressive attitude on both ends of the floor and because of that attitude have
put the clamps down on many opposing team’s effectively running their offense.
While they may be a small team in terms of
average height and weight, the Raptors have seven of their nine players in
their man playing rotation that are 6-foot-7 or taller with really lengthy
wingspans.
That has allowed Coach Nurse to employ
lineups that at times do not have either of their true guards Trent, Jr. or
VanVleet on the court. There are times they have started Siakam at center and
run the offense through him at the top of the key where finds a way to score by
taking the person guarding him off the dribble to score or to make a player for
his teammate.
In the four games against the Sixers, the
Raptors committed five fewer turnovers (47-42) and grabbed 29 more offensive
rebounds (57-28) than the Sixers.
In the four-game season series, the
Raptors outrebounded the 76ers by an average of 46.8-39.5, including 14.3-7.0
on the offensive glass. That resulted in the Raptors attempted 54 more field goals than the Sixers (367-313).
The Raptors when they faced the 76ers
during the regular season never had their full compliment of players because of
injury or health and safety protocols. VanVleet and Anunoby each missed three
of the four meetings and Siakam and Barnes each missed one game in the season
series. The Raptors however went 2-1 against 76ers without VanVleet and
outscored the 76ers by 11 points with Siakam or Boucher as their biggest person
on the hardwood.
Siakam should really have his way in this
series in Games 3 and 4 because the Sixers’ Thybulle because he is unvaccinated
will not be able to play at the Raptors, which will play a crucial role in how
this series swings depending on what happens in Games 1 and 2 at 76ers.
Checking Embiid and Harden is a tall task
for any team. But the Raptors feel with their size, length, and their ability
to switch on all screens away from the ball and on the ball.
In the Raptors most recent win versus the
76ers in the early aforementioned early part of April, they forced 17 turnovers
that led to 25 points. They also outscored the 76ers in that contest 46-32 in
the paint despite the visiting Sixers going 19/36 from three-point range.
The key for the Raptors more than anything
is keeping Embiid and Harden off the foul line where they respectably averaged
11.8 and 8.3 attempts on the foul line during the regular-season.
In their four-game season series, the
76ers outscored the Raptors in points combined on threes and made free throws
436-425.
“I know it’s going to take every single
guy we put on the floor in a team defensive capacity to defend this team,”
Coach Nurse said of defending the 76ers.
He added about defending Embiid, “We
played him as hard as we probably could play him the last time and he still got
30 points. That’s what it is when your guarding a guy like that. And we’ve just
got to make it a hard 30.”
About Harden, Coach Nurse called him “one
of the greatest scorers in the game,” who plays well out of the pick-and-roll,
and whose developed a good chemistry with Embiid.
The key Coach Nurse said of defending Harden
as well as Embiid is that his team has to make both All-Stars “work” for their
points.
While the Raptors have maybe the ensemble
in this series, the 76ers have the better player(s) in Joel Embiid and James
Harden. The 76ers also have the most to lose if they falter in this series. The
Raptors have had a great season making the playoffs for the eighth time in the
last nine seasons and will give the 76ers a battle.
“It’s going to be so good for our team to
see us play,” Coach Nurse said about the nation seeing his squad play this postseason.
“No matter what happens, we’re going to learn a lot about who we are and what
we’ve done and where we’re going. I suspect this is a good brand of playoff
basketball that we’re playing in the regular season. And we’ll find out. But I
suspect it is.”
Prediction:
76ers in six games.
(2) Boston Celtics versus
(7) Brooklyn Nets
(51-31) (44-38)
Season-Series won by Celtics 3-1
Playoff History: NJN def. BOS 2002 East Finals 4-2
NJN def. BOS 2003 East Semifinals 4-0
BKN def. BOS 2021 East First-Round 4-1
It is not that all surprising that the
squad from New York’s other borough is squaring off in the postseason again
with the boys from “Beantown” in the postseason. The stunner is that the roles
are reversed to where it is the boys from “Beantown” who have the higher seed
and that the squads from New York’s other borough that needed to go through the
Play-In Tournament just to qualify for the Playoffs.
The Celtics struggled out of the gate
under new head coach Ime Udoka with an 17-19 mark entering the new year and
were 20-21 (No. 10 East, six games behind the then No. 2 Seeded Brooklyn Nets)
and 25-25 after 50 games following a 108-92 loss at the Atlanta Hawks on Jan.
28.
Good health, the understanding of roles,
and a serious commitment to the defensive end is why the Celtics finished this
regular-season 26-6 (best in NBA), including 12-4 their final 16 games of regular season. In those finals 16 games, the Celtics held those 16 opponents to an averaged of 106.1 points, holding five of those opponents under 100 points.
The Celtics finished 2021-22 regular
season ranking No. 1 in points allowed at 104.5, opponent’s field goal
percentage at 43.3 percent and three-point percentage (33.9 percent); No. 2 in
blocks shots per game (5.8); and No. 7 in rebound differential at +2.3.
"I think nine years of being an assistant, and making the playoffs every year, and playing in a few championships in high-pressure situations has prepared me for this," Coach Udoka, who was an assistant coach with Spurs, 76ers and Nets, making the playoffs every year said of his team having six days off in preparation for Game 1 versus Nets. "I think the team is ready as well."
One of biggest questions throughout for
the Celtics was could All-Star Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who play major
roles in getting the Celtics to the Conference Finals in the East three-times
in four years prior last season. It had gotten to the point that many in NBA circles felt one of the two needed to be dealt to get more effective
players into the fold.
Tatum (26.9 ppg-7th NBA, 8.0
rpg, 4.4 apg 45.3 FG%, 35.3-Pt.%) and Brown (23.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 47.3
FG%, 35.8 3-Pt.%) proved they can co-exist at the two best players on the
Celtics, with Tatum taking the lead role as the top dog offensively and Brown
being the 1-A right behind him.
“For me, anytime you have two elite
high-level players, you just have to figure how to make it work,” Coach Udoka
said to Andrews on the Mar. 4 edition of ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Tatum and Brown.
“They had different roles in the past. You’ve had where it’s Kemba [Walker],
Kyrie [Irving], Gordon Hayward, [Terry] Rozier, Isaiah Thomas. You go down the
list, they’ve had a lot of other veterans with them. Now, it’s all on their
shoulders to some extent. You’ve put in certain pieces around them. But the
bulk of the minutes, bulk of the plays and everything will be run for these
guys. And so, it was different for them to be in that position. They one thing
I said was everybody talk about breaking them up would love to have any of
these two in a heartbeat.”
Better health as well as better continuity
on both ends made the Celtics role players better like Defensive Player of the
Year candidate Marcus Smart (12.1 ppg, 5.9 apg, 1.7 spg), starting center
Robert Williams (10.0 ppg, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 bpg-2nd NBA, 73.6 FG%),
Al Horford (10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 46.7 FG%), and in-season acquisitions in middle
of February in Derrick White (13.2 ppg, 4.9 apg w/Spurs & Celtics) and
Daniel Theis (8.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, w/Rockets & Celtics).
“Once we got healthy, we were able to get
the chemistry going between guys because now guys on the floor were able to
play with one another,” Smart said to ESPN’s Malika Andrews on the Celtics 26-6
finish to the season on the Apr. 4 edition of “NBA Today.” “Who can see where
guys were going to get their shots from and where guys need to be at certain
times of the game. So, being healthy helped that a lot.”
The main thing that Tatum and Brown got
better at is being able to make plays for their teammates through better reads
when they are doubled or not. They also took better pride in their individual
defense, which in terms made the Celtics better on that end of the floor as a
whole.
“It’s been amazing. It’s been great. It’s
been fun watching those guys grow,” Smart said to Andrews on the growth of
Tatum and Brown on both ends of the floor. “Just their emphasis on, you know,
their desire to get better like each and every day. They talk about it and they
go out there on the court and they’re trying the things they talk about getting
better. They’re working on bouncing out of double teams. Finding their reads
when they got that slight window to make a move for themselves and to find
others.”
The Celtics opponent in the Brooklyn Nets
has been dealing with adversity for this entire season. They did not have
perennial All-Star Kyrie Irving (27.4 ppg, 5.8 apg, 46.9 FG%, 41.8 3-Pt.%) to
start this season because of his refusal to comply with NYC vaccine mandate,
which led him to being away from the team the first 45 games of this season.
Kevin Durant (29.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 6.4 apg,
51.8 FG%, 38.3 3-Pt.%) missed 27 games on the season, including a 21-game
stretch after an MCL sprain in his left knee. The Nets, who were 23-9 to start
the season, were 5-16 in the games Durant missed because of his knee injury and
8-19 overall without Durant in the lineup. They went 14-15 with Irving first
returned as a part-time player playing in just road games and then returned to
full-time status when the NYC vaccine mandate was lifted in late March by New
York Mayor Eric Adams (D).
Last season, the Nets were a big three
with Durant, Irving, and James Harden, who came over in a trade from the
Rockets. Harden never played up to his capabilities for the entire season with
the Nets before he was dealt to the 76ers at the Feb. 10 trade deadline along
with Paul Millsap for three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, Seth Curry (15.0 ppg,
48.7 FG%, 42.2 3-Pt.%), Andre Drummond (7.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 57.0 FG%), who
averaged 11.8 points, 10.3 rpg, 61.0 FG% in 24 games with Nets, and 2022 and
2027 First-Round picks.
Head coach Steve Nash’s squad really did
not get things together until towards the end of the regular-season when they
really needed to be at their best just to earn home court in the Play-In
Tournament winning their final four games of the regular-season and going 6-4
their final 10 games of the regular season.
The Nets punched their playoff ticket by
taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Play-In Game 115-108 to earn the No.
7 Seed in East led by the 34 points and 12 assists on 12/15 shooting from
Irving and a stellar all-around game from Durant with 25 points, 11 assists,
five boards two steals, and three blocks. Drummond chipped in with 16 points
and eight rebounds, while his backup Nic Claxton had 13 points, nine rebounds,
and five block shots.
The Nets enter this series against the
Celtics as a dangerous squad because of they will have to two most potent
scorers on the floor in Durant and Irving, who also understand what this time
of the year is being former champions, with Durant owning two titles to his
credit with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Irving while with the Cavaliers hit
the shot in the 2016 Finals to earn the Cavaliers their lone NBA title in
franchise history.
“For us, we can come up with every excuse
in the book in the world of what happened this season. So many different that
transpired, ups-and-downs and we’re finally here and able to perform with one
another for the first time in a high tense environment such as the playoffs,”
Irving said in his pregame presser before the Nets win versus Cavaliers on
Tuesday night. “It’s a great challenge and I’m looking forward to it and I know
our guys are too.”
For the Nets, as important as it will be
for them to get consistent performances from Durant and Irving, which they will
barring injury, it comes down to if they can consistently defend the Celtics
and if they can get contributions from the previously mentioned Curry,
Drummond, Claxton (8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 67.4 FG%), Patty Mills (11.4 ppg, 40.0
3-Pt.%), Bruce Brown (9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 50.6 FG%, 40.4 3-Pt.%), and Goran
Dragic, who just came back from being in health and safety protocols.
In the last nine games, Durant has
averaged 41.3 minutes per game. Even with how great that he is and has talked
about wanting to be on the floor at all times, him playing 40-plus minutes and
not wearing down, especially that he has to also guard Jayson Tatum is asking
for a lot. But Durant is up for the challenge, just as he has said he has been
up for whatever has been thrown at him this season and in his brief time with
the Nets.
“I figure my best way to lead is by
example. I want to inspire my teammates how I approach the game. How I play.
How much I care about it and hopefully it rubs off on them,” Durant said about
his way of leading his teammates on YES Network’s recent episode of “The
Bridge.”
“To see what we went through this year was
a shock t a lot of people on the outside. But when you come inside our locker
room, we conduct business just the same no matter what. Guys are professionals,
veteran guys in that locker room been doing it for a long time. So, no matter
what’s thrown at us, we know how to operate.”
Then there’s the defensive side of the
ball for the Nets which has always been their question mark all season.
While they ranked 20th on the
season defensively, they were ranked No. 12 their final 17 games of the
regular season going 12-5 in those games. They were able to get away playing
defense for half the game against the Cavaliers. That will not due against a
Celtics’ team that will not cut the mustard, especially when it comes to
checking Tatum and Brown.
This is where the absence of Simmons, who
has yet to make his Nets debut because of a back issue that required an
epidural. He would have been assigned to either Tatum or Brown. Without
Simmons, the Nets as a collective will have to take it up a couple of notches
at that end of the court if they want to make a major title run this
postseason.
“I truly believe the spirit of the
game is all about us working as one from
the coaches to the trainers to the front office to the players,” Durant said.
“We all have to be on the same page if we ant to compete and be successful in
this league.”
One area that will display the kind of
togetherness either the Nets or Celtics have this series is how they performed
at clutch time (score within five points the final five minutes.”
The Celtics produced an East-best 18 wins
by 20 points or more (tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for the most in NBA) in
the regular-season. Three of those wins came in the first three meetings
against the Nets (123-104 in Boston Nov. 24, 2021; 126-91 Feb. 8 at the Nets on
TNT; and 129-106 at the Nets Feb. 26 TNT).
Only the Indiana Pacers mark of 11-34 at
clutch time was worse than the 13-22 mark by the Celtics this past
regular season.
Tatum shot just 2/25 on threes in the
clutch (the worst mark amongst 74 players that attempted at least 15 threes at
clutch time), while Smart was an abysmal 5/17 (29 percent) from two-point range
at clutch time.
The Celtics in the 26 years of clutch data
has been tracked in the NBA, they had the third biggest differential between
their percentage of wins in non-clutch games (.809; 38-9 record) and their
winning percentage in clutch games (13-22 mark; .371).
While the Nets were 22-20 in clutch games
this season, the Celtics won the only head-to-head meeting where the game was
within five points the last five minutes, which the Celtics pulled out 126-120 versus the Nets Mar. 6 on
ABC.
The Nets will have the best players on the
hardwood in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and there will be times they will
dazzle offensively with no stopping them. The Nets have shown the ability to
win on any opposing team’s home court, displayed by their wins at Milwaukee
Bucks, 76ers and top seeded Miami Heat post All-Star break.
In the playoffs though, the teams that
advance each round understand that being able to consistently get stops,
especially in the last five minutes of game is vital. That is what the Celtics
have displayed since the start of the new year. Head coach Ime Udoka has
demanded it and the stars players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have
followed suit as has the rest of the team. That mindfulness on that end of the
floor is what will get the Celtics passed the Nets for the first time the
playoff history between these two squads.
Prediction:
Celtics in seven games.
(3) Milwaukee Bucks versus (6) Chicago
Bulls
(51-31) (46-36)
Season-Series won by Bucks 4-0
Playoff History: MIL def. CHI 1974 West Finals 4-0
MIL def. CHI 1985 East First-Round 3-1
CHI def. MIL 1990 East First-Round 3-1
CHI def
MIL 2015 East First-Round 4-2
Six seasons back, it was the boys from the
“Windy City” that were the top dogs in this I-94 rivalry where the fans would
turn out at the opposing home team’s arena. This series has had a complete 180
turn with the boys from the “Deer District” are the superior squad now, not to
mention a defending champion, whose had the number of their cross-state rivals,
who have struggled to close out the regular season, and look primed for more
misery this playoff series.
The Chicago Bulls have been one of the
NBA’s surprises in the early part of the season, making their first playoff
appearance since 2017 has turned very sour.
Injuries to Lonzo Ball (knee), second-year
player Patrick Williams (wrist), plus Zach LaVine (knee) and Alex Caruso
(wrist) at various time in the regular-season really sabotage the Bulls early
season success.
They were in Top 3 in the East with a
39-21 before a 7-15 conclusion took them from the top to the No. 6 spot in the
East, exposing their flaws that were covered up by their strong start from
their lack of size in the front court; a weak bench; and ranking at the bottom
of the league in rebounding at No. 28 overall.
When the Bulls were rolling, they were making
their hey at the offensive end. While they finished right around the middle of the NBA pack averaging 111.6 points
(13th) and assists per game (23.9), the Bulls were No. 3 in field
goal percentage (48.0 percent); and No. 4 in three-point percentage (36.9
percent).
The Bulls offensively were led by
offseason acquisition in All-Star DeMar DeRozan (27.9 ppg-5th NBA,
5.2 rpg, 4.9 apg, 50.4 FG%), who proved that in an NBA that puts emphasis on
three-pointers and getting to the basket, he showed that you can be just as
prolific at the offensive end by scoring from the mid-range while also
consistently getting to the foul line.
DeRozan was exceptional scoring wise
against the Bucks averaging 31.1 points in the four-game season series, but his
accuracy from the field went from 50.4 percent to 47.9 and his shot attempts
went up from 20.2 to 24.3 field goal attempts.
If the Bulls have any plans on being
competitive against the Bucks, they will need Zach LaVine (24.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg,
4.5 apg, 47.6 FG%, 38.9 3-Pt.%), who will see his first playoff action in his
career, and Nikola Vucevic (17.6 ppg, 11.0 rpg-8th NBA, 47.3 FG%) to
bring it on both ends, especially without Lonzo Ball, who will miss out on his
first playoff appearance due to knee surgery. The Bulls went 24-23 without Ball in lineup on season.
Ball absence means the likes of Coby
White, the aforementioned Williams (9.0 ppg, 52.9 FG%), rookie Ayo Dosumnu (8.8
ppg, 52.0 FG%, 37.6 3-Pt.%), Alex Caruso (7.4 ppg) and Javonte Green (7.2 ppg,
4.2 rpg, 54.2 FG%, 35.6 3-Pt.%) have to make serious contributions on both
ends.
"We have to maintain a high level of competitive fight," Coach Donovan said of how he wants his team's approach against the defending champion Bucks. "They're champions for a reason. They're battle-tested. They've been through this, and I mean we will have to play very, very good basketball on both ends of the floor."
The Milwaukee Bucks back in 2015 against
the Bulls were in their infancy of becoming the team that they are now and
their leader now a two-time league MVP and Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was
making his postseason debut against the Bulls.
Antetokounmpo (29.9 ppg-2nd
NBA, 11.6 rpg-6th NBA, 5.8 apg, 55.3 FG%) averaged 11.5 points,
seven rebounds and 1.5 blocks in that series defeat ever since then he has been
a consistent 20/10 (points/rebounds) performer in the postseason and in the
Bucks run to their second title in franchise history in 2021 played to a level
that even had some of the greats in NBA circle amazed by his averages of 30.2
points, 12.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
“You don’t get to your full potential when
you worry about the wrong things, you know,” Antetokounmpo said when it comes
to his feelings about individual accolades like winning scoring titles and a
third possible Kia MVP. “And really, I’m obsessed with basketball. I really
want to be the best that I can be and, you know, I’ve shown it time-and-time
I’m about that.”
“I’m not about scoring championships; I
could care less. I’m not about MVP, I can care less. I just want to be the best
player I can be and wherever that takes me, I’m okay with that.”
“So, if I keep worrying about if I can win
the scoring champ and what I’ve done in past and who I’m—no it takes me away
from the goals AI really want to accomplish.”
While the Bucks have not played to the
standard they did in the past three seasons, they still positioned themselves
at the end of the season to be at the top of the Eastern Conference, which is
where they finished.
Injuries, health, and safety protocols,
and with the personnel being different this season, head coach Mike
Budenholzer’s squad used this season to make sure they were healthy and prime
to defend their title this spring.
When Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton (20.1
ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.4 apg, 37.3 3-Pt.%), and Jrue Holiday 18.3 ppg, 6.8 apg, 4.5
rpg, 1.6 spg, 50.1 FG%, 41.1 3-Pt.%) were on the floor together, the Bucks were
38-11, including 22-3 mark since February (13-20 when 1 or 2 or all of three
were out).
The Bucks were also 15-6 post All-Star
break despite ranking No. 18 in opponent’s field goal percentage and No. 28 in
opponent’s three-point percentage since late February.
Having Brook Lopez back from back surgery
that cost 68 games following the season opener should sure up the paint specifically
for the Bucks, which will allow Antetokounmpo to make his presence felt at
every angle of the floor defensively.
The Bucks defense though relies on
Holiday, who is one of the best on-ball, off-ball defenders in the league who
can check multiple positions.
"More is on the line," Holiday said about the Bucks pursuit of their second straight title. "Some teams probably feel like they have to prove themselves. Other teams are tyring to protect what they have. It's just, the intensity is expanded, and I don't know, people want to win. We're competitive so everything is a different level."
The Bucks though are good on both ends of
the floor because of the supporting cast and not that the likes of Bobby Portis
(14.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 46.6 FG%, 35.8 3-Pt.%), Pat Connaughton (9.9 ppg, 45.8 FG%,
39.5 3-Pt.%) Grayson Allen (11.1 ppg, 44.8 FG%, 40.9 3-Pt.%), George Hill, and
Wesley Matthews are healthy, that gives the Bucks opponent’s even more to worry
about.
Simply put the Bucks were dominant against
the Bulls in four-game season series outscoring them 116.3 to 101.5;
outshooting them 50.1 percent to 43.1 percent; and outrebounding them to the
tune of 50.8 to 41.0.
The two things that could prolong this
series if the Bucks are not careful is their propensity to take way too many
threes and letting bad blood between the teams get in the way of the task at
hand.
The Bucks were the only team this season
ranked in the Top 8 in both three-point percentage (36.6 percent: 6th
NBA) and in percentage of their shots that came from three-point range (43.0 percent-6th
NBA). Only the Dallas Mavericks to a greater percentage of their shots from
outside the painted area.
During their four-game season series, the
Bucks dominated the Bulls in the paint to the tune of 231-153 (a 19.5 point per
game difference) in the restricted area or at the foul line.
Then there is the so-called
extracurriculars between the two teams that stems from Antetokounmpo tackling
then Bulls player Mike Dunleavy, Jr. into the stands in the 120-66 Game 6
clinching win in 2015, which sent “The Greek freak” to the showers early in the
loss. In a game earlier this season at Fiserv Forum, Allen broke the wrist of
Caruso thanks to a mid-air Flagrant 2 foul that cost the Bulls guard 22 games
and the Bulls were never same without him on the floor.
The Bulls in the regular season went 2-21
against the Top 4 teams in both the Eastern and Western Conference. They have
had a great season and have made themselves relevant again in NBA after a
handful of disappointing seasons. Asking them to take down the Bucks,
especially when they have not all season is a tall order.
Prediction:
Bucks in four games.
Western Conference
(1) Phoenix Suns versus (8) New Orleans Pelicans
(64-18) (36-46)
Season-Series won by Suns 3-1
Playoff History: First postseason meeting
While this No. 1 versus No. 8 tilt in the
West Playoffs might feel like a mismatch on paper and the top seeded boys from
the “Valley of the Sun” appear to have all the makings of this being a sweep,
their opponent’s from “The Big Easy” are eager to show what they did in the
Play-In Tournament that they are not just happy to be in the postseason for the
first time in nearly a handful of seasons.
Last year, the Phoenix Suns had a dream
season making it to The Finals for the first time since 1993. They led 2021 Finals over the Bucks 2-0, before losing the final four
games of the series and saw their championship dreams end in six games.
Past teams that fell in The Finals the
next season have had their struggles putting it all together for another run at
the title the next season. The Suns used that failure as fuel to help them to
register a franchise-record 64 wins this past regular-season.
One stat shows the kind of concentration
the Suns had during 2021-22, they were a perfect 47-0 when leading after three
quarters, joined the 2017-18 LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers and the
2019-20 LeBron James, Anthony Davis led Los Angeles Lakers as the three teams
the last 68 seasons to go undefeated when leading after three quarters. The
Suns win total when leading after three quarters, where quarter stats began
being tracked since 1954, is the most among the three squads.
The Suns though want what the Lakers
earned two seasons back in the restart in Orlando, FL, a title.
The Suns also led the NBA in games leading
by double-digits (54-5). They had the top mark after trailing by double-digits
(17-18); and the best mark in clutch games (33-9), which was also the fourth
best mark in the 26 seasons where clutch data is available.
Head Coach and the National Basketball
Coach Association’s Coach of the Year Monty Williams’ team continuance of what
took place in the 2020 restart in Orlando, where they went a perfect 8-0 and
just barely missed that postseason is because of “The Point God” Chris Paul
(14.7 ppg, 10.8 apg-Led NBA, 1.9 spg-2nd NBA, 49.3 FG%), who
continues to defy Father Time and his backcourt mate fellow All-Star Devin
Booker (26.8 ppg-8th NBA, 5.0 rpg, 4.8 apg, 52.2 FG%, 45.2 3-Pt.%),
who without question should be a top candidate for Kia MVP.
"Man, I think we gotta take it one day at a time," Paul told reporters earlier in the week about the team's quest for their first tile in franchise history. "We talk about it took us a whole year to get back to this point so now I think the question is, 'What we going to do with this opportunity."
The Suns also have another blossoming star
in center Deandre Ayton (17.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 63.4 FG%), who will get paid this
offseason, especially if he has another excellent postseason run. Kia Defensive
Player of the Year candidate Mikal Bridges (14.2 ppg, 53.4 FG%, 36.9 3-Pt.%).
The Suns also have a plethora of key role
players who like their aforementioned main four stars do whatever it takes to
win without the recognition in Jae Crowder (9.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Cameron Johnson
(12.5 ppg, 46.0 FG%, 42.5 3-Pt.%), and Paul’s understudy Cameron Payne (10.8
ppg, 4.9 apg).
One major reason the Suns felt they wore
down against the Bucks in 2021 Finals was their lack of depth, especially in
the pivot beyond Ayton.
That is why this offseason, the front
office led by General Manager James Jones went out and brought in JaVale McGee
(9.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 62.9 FG%) and Landry Shamet (8.3 ppg, 36.8 3-Pt.%), and
in-season signed Bismack Biyombo (5.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 59.3 FG%), and acquired at
the trade deadline Torrey Craig (6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg 45.0 FG% 27 games w/Suns) and
Aaron Holiday (6.8 ppg, 3.4 apg, 44.4 3-Pt.% 22 games w/Suns) at Feb. 10 trade
deadline respectably from Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards.
With the new additions coupled with the core already in place, the Suns enter this postseason ready to prove to the remaining nonbelievers that what they did last year and to this point this season is the real deal.
"A lot of people call us a fluke and we heard the same noise last year," Ayton said. "And all it does is amp us up."
Bridges echoed those same sentiments saying to Arizona Sports, "We're built for this moment. We love to play, we love to hoop and we want to win."
"I get the pressure part obviously because everybody expects us to win but we expect to win too, so we got high expectations for us."
The Suns opening-round opponent, the New
Orleans Pelicans reached the Playoffs for the first time since 2018 in the most
unthinkable of fashions.
Their star player in All-Star Zion
Williamson had surgery on his foot that kept him out this entire season. They
got off to a 1-12 and were 3-16 after their first 19 games of this season.
It is not the best of situations for a
first-year head coach in Willie Green to be in. But the Pelicans did not have
just any head coach. They had a leader that was on the best coaching staffs in
the league like the Warriors and Green was on the Suns staff last season that
made it to The Finals.
As important as Green’s steady hand was in
guiding this young Pelicans squad, they their key players step up like All-Star
Brandon Ingram (22.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.6 apg, 46.1 FG%), who has improved as a
go-to scorer, leader, and better defender. Jonas Valanciunas (17.8 ppg, 11.4
rpg-7th NBA, 54.4 FG%), who was acquired in the offseason from the
Grizzlies in exchange for Steven Adams had a career season and provided versatility
and an inside presence on both ends.
The biggest reason for the Pelicans
resurgence where they went 33-30 their final 63 games of the regular-season was
the acquisition of CJ McCollum on Feb. 8 from the Portland Trail Blazers
(22.1ppg, 5.1 apg, 46.0 FG%, 38.8 3-Pt.% w/Trail Blazers & Pelicans), who
gave them veteran leadership, outside shooting, and poise under pressure.
To put the impact into clearer context
that McCollum had on the Pelicans, they were 22-32 prior to his arrival. They
were 14-14 to finish the regular season.
What has also been on display during the
Pelicans resurgence is the growth of their younger players that will be big
parts of their future in rookies Herbert Jones (9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.7 spg, 47.6
FG%), who has shown he is going to be an All-Defensive team candidate for years
to come. Fellow rookie Trey Murphy III, who has shown the potential to be a
three-D guy when he earns minutes. Jaxson Hayes (9.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 61.6 FG%),
who has understood that playing with energy, running the floor, rebounding and
being disruptive on defense will get you consistent minutes. Jose Alvarado, who
went from an unknown to just signing a standard NBA contract a couple of weeks
back. Then there’s Valanciunas’ understudy Willie Hernangomez (9.1 ppg, 6.8
rpg, 52.0 FG%), who has shown as an occasional starter or off the bench that
registering a double-double is something that should not surprise people.
The Pelicans got halfway to punching their postseason ticket by winning their Play-In tilt 113-103 versus the San Antonio
Spurs on Wednesday night on ESPN, led by McCollum who scored 27 of his 32
points in the first half, finishing 12/23 from the field, including 3/5 from
three-point range with seven assists and six rebounds. Ingram had 27 points,
five boards and five assists on 11/19 shooting, while Valanciunas had 22 points
and 14 rebounds. Jones had 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two
blocks.
They earned their first postseason ticket with a come from behind win
105-101 Friday night on TNT once again displaying the kind of grit that got them out of their
aforementioned 1-12 hole to start this season.
After leading by 16 points at one time in
the opening half, the Pelicans fell behind by as many as 13 points, getting
outscored 38-18 in the third quarter to go from leading 56-46 at the half to
leading 84-74 after three quarters. They outscored the Clippers 31-17 in the
final period coming back from a 13-point deficit grabbing the lead for good
with 4:30 left in the fourth period behind a 10-0 that put them up 101-94.
Ingram led the way with 30 points, six
boards and six assists on 14/21 shooting. McCollum had 19 points and Larry
Nance, Jr., who came over in the trade from the Trail Blazers with McCollum had
his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 16 rebounds off the
bench. Murphy III also chipped in off the bench with 14 points and five boards
on 4/6 from three-point range.
"Our guys are great," Coach Green said of his players. "That's how you withstand tough times, with character. We have extremely high-character individuals in our organization. It's been a joy to go after it with them."
The Pelicans though have a tall task in
trying to take down the Suns. But they did win one of the four meetings. In
that 117-102 win at the Suns on Feb. 25, the Pelicans took control of things
outscoring the Suns 42-31 in the third quarter. McCollum led the way with 32
points and six rebounds on 11/18 from the field and 8/11 from the foul line.
Ingram had 28 points, five rebounds and seven assists on 10/11 from the charity
stripe and Valanciunas had 18 points and 17 rebounds.
For Ingram, the 24-year-old who came to the Pelicans two off-seasons back as part of the Anthony Davis trade will be making his postseason.
"I've never had a winning record. I've never been to the postseason so to get a chance to showcase my talent on the biggest stage is beautiful," Ingram to the "Inside the NBA" on TNT crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal after the win versus Pelicans on Friday night.
Foer Green, the other advantage he had
going into this series against the Suns is his insight into Coach Williams’
schemes and tendencies on certain plays having been on his staff the previous
two seasons. Also, he also coached against Paul when he was Coach Kerr’s staff
during the Warriors’ 2018 West Final and 2019 West Semis tilts against the
Rockets.
The Pelicans deserve all the respect in
the world for what they were able to do to make it back to the playoffs without
their star player in Zion Williamson. With the roster they have and bringing
him back into the fold next season should get Pelicans fans geeked up for what
the future holds if Williamson can come back healthy.
Even with all the intel head coach Willie
Green may have on his former employer and their lead guard Chris Paul, the Suns
are just too superior and have the eye of the tiger to make it back to The
Finals and win it all. The Pelicans will not go quietly but their prospects of
pulling off an upset are very small.
Prediction:
Suns in four games.
(4)
Dallas Mavericks versus (5) Utah Jazz
(52-30) (49-33)
Season-Series tied 2-2
Playoff History: DAL def. UTA 1986 West First-Round 3-1
DAL def. UTA 2001 West First-Round 3-2
There are times in a period for a team
where they are at a crossroads in terms of whether or not there are positioned
to compete for a championship. If they have the right mix of players that can
go the distance and become that last team standing. This First-Round tilt
between the boys from Salt Lake City, UT, and the boys from “Big D.” represents
such a series at least in the case for the lower seed.
For the Dallas Mavericks, they produced
their first 50-plus since the 2014-15 NBA campaign and earned their 15th
50-plus win season in franchise history. Their 20-7 finish to the
regular season put them in position to be as high as the No. 3 Seed if the
Warriors had fallen at the New Orleans Pelicans last Sunday evening, which they
did not.
The Mavericks were entering this
postseason with a lot of momentum, until their All-Star Luka Doncic injured his
left calf in the early part of the second half in their 130-120 victory in
their regular-season finale versus the San Antonio Spurs (34-48).
The Mavericks said on Tuesday that Doncic,
23 that an MRI confirmed the diagnosis of their All-Star.
“He’s in great spirits today,” Mavericks
head coach and Hall of Famer Jason Kidd said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’ll
see how he feels tomorrow. I think we’ll prepare with him and we’ll also
prepare without him.”
If Doncic is out for any period of time,
the Mavericks lose the third leading scorer in NBA (28.4 ppg), not to mention
their leading rebounder (9.1) and assists man (8.7-5th NBA), who
shot 45.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range.
The two-time All-Star was the only player
on the season averaging at least 28 points, eight assists and eight boards per
game. Since the turn of the calendar to 2022, Doncic was averaging 31.6 points,
10.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists at home entering the team’s aforementioned
season-finale versus Spurs.
Without Doncic that puts the spotlight on
the likes of Jalen Brunson (16.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 50.2 FG%, 37.3 3-Pt.%), Spencer
Dinwiddie (13.7 ppg, 5.2 apg w/Wizards & Mavericks), Dorian Finney-Smith
(11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 47.1 FG%, 39.5 3-Pt.%), whose averaged 14 points since
February, Dwight Powell (8.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 67.1 FG%), Reggie Bullock (8.6 ppg, 36.0
3-Pt.%) and Maxi Kleber (7.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg) to step up collectively.
Highest Percentage Of Team’s Points Scored
Or Assisted On This Season
Trae Young (ATL): 41.4 percent
Luka Doncic (DAL): 36.4 percent
Nikola Jokic (DEN): 36.4 percent
DeMar DeRozan (CHI): 33.5 percent
“We’ve been in this situation 17 times,” Mavericks
head coach Jason Kidd, whose squad went 8-9 during the regular season without
Doncic. “There isn’t any excuse. He [Doncic] is not playing. So, we have to go
out there and execute the game plan and be ourselves.”
“We don’t have anyone who can be Luka. And
we truly believe in that locker room if everyone plays their role, that can put
us in a position to hopefully win.”
One player who has benefited from Doncic’s
ability to draw the defense is Dinwiddie, whose acquisition from the Wizards at
the Feb. 10 trade deadline along with Davis Bertans for Kristaps Porzingis
rejuvenated the Mavericks, especially his ability to make shots at clutch time.
Just as the Celtics and the Nets, who had their hearts broken by a
three-pointer off his hands off a pass from Doncic off a double team.
The one saving grace for the Coach Kidd’s
team entering this series without Doncic is that they have played consistent
defense this season.
The Mavericks ranked second in the league
in points allowed (104.7) and No. 4 in opponent’s three-point percentage.
For the Jazz, who are seriously favored to
win this series without Doncic enter the playoffs with a 4-7 mark their final
11 games of the regular season, which included blown leads of 25 points in a
121-115 loss Mar. 29 at the Clippers and 21 points in a 111-107 loss at Golden
State Warriors Apr. 2.
The Jazz entered the new year with a 26-9
mark on the heels of a 6 and 8-game winning streaks. They went 23-24 in 2022.
Compiled a 17-23 mark in clutch games.
Despite their rough finish, the head coach
Quin Snyder’s squad for the sixth straight season made the playoffs behind
their dynamic All-Star duo of Donovan Mitchell (25.9 ppg-9th NBA,
5.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 44.8 FG%, 35.5 3-Pt.%) and three-time Kia Defensive Player of
the Year Rudy Gobert (15.6 ppg, 14.7 rpg-Led NBA, 2.1 bpg 71.3 FG%), who
quietly had the best season of his eight-year career.
The supporting cast from a season ago is
still intact with Bojan Bogdanovic (18.1 ppg, 45.5 FG%, 38.7 3-Pt.%), Jordan
Clarkson (16.0 ppg), Mike Conley (13.7 ppg, 5.3 apg, 40.8 3-Pt.%), and Royce
O’Neale (7.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 45.7 FG%, 38.9 3-Pt.%), with the exception of Joe
Ingles, who was dealt in February. They also have new additions in Hassan
Whiteside (8.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 65.2 FG%), Rudy Gay (8.1 ppg, 34.5
3-Pt.%), Danuel House, Jr. (6.8 ppg, 41.5 3-Pt.%), and Juancho Hernangomez.
The Jazz the continuity of their core
players mixed in with their new additions feel they can get them over the hump this postseason after a
pair of painful postseason exits in 2020 First-Round versus the Denver Nuggets
in seven games after leading 3-1 and in the West Semis versus the Los Angeles
Clippers losing Game 5 and 6 without Kawhi Leonard.
Jazz Playoff Results Since 2017
2017 Lost West Semifinals
2018 Lost West Semifinals
2019 Lost First-Round
2020 Lost First-Round
2021 Lost West Semifinals
2022 ???
“When you’re looking at pressure, we’re
not worried about what we can do. I think for us we’re worrying about ourselves
and how we can be the best team possible Games 1, Game 2 and all the way
throughout the series,” Mitchell, who has registered four 40-plus games in the playoffs
over the last two seasons said about his squad’s approach to this postseason.
Adding about playing the Mavericks without
Doncic, “I think as a group we’re locked in on what we’ve been doing, and that’s
being prepared to play whether he’s out there or not.”
One way the Jazz can get over the hump in
the playoffs and advance pass the opening-round against the Mavericks and
hopefully to the Conference Finals is to count on more than just their ability
to make threes without a Plan B to score inside or make mid-range jumpers.
“We’ve been through a lot of adversity
this year and last year was kind of a different year when we kind of cruised
into the season and we were and everything was going great and then we faced
adversity during the playoffs and it was kind of hard for us to overcome that,”
Gobert said to ESPN’s Malika Andrews on “NBA Today” on Apr. 7.
“And this year, it was a tough year for
us. Obviously still a great year. We possibly could win—end up the season with
50 wins, which is pretty good. But more adversity, more injuries, We had COVID,
I was out for COVID for a week. Injuries, a lot of different lineups. We lost
Joe (Ingles) during the season. He was a big part of what were doing.”
“We feel like we can only go up and we’re
really excited to obviously being in the Playoffs for sixth straight year and
now our goal is to win a championship. We know
we’ve got the talent. Now it’s all about going out there and be
consistent and just believe. Just believe in ourselves because we do have the
weapons that we need to accomplish that.”
Then there is the relationship between
Mitchell and Gobert, which has been under the microscope, especially after Mar.
11, 2020 when the league was shut down and Gobert was patient zero for the
virus.
Then there is the body language that is
displayed by Mitchell when Gobert fumbles a pass when he has a chance to score
at the basket or from Gobert when he does not get touches when he is open down
low specifically.
The ongoing status of whether if Mitchell
or Gobert, who have been teammates since 2017 get along was such a topic in
Coach Snyder’s postgame pressers that he pleaded in one of his pressers for
outsiders to stop the questioning about if the two get along or not.
In addressing how things are between the
two, Gobert said to Andrews about Mitchell saying that while there is plenty of
noise about the two there are a lot of teams in bigger media markets that would
love to have either he or Mitchell on their team. That everything that happens
with the Jazz on the court will always be under the microscope and people will
look for “anything” to try to drive a wedge between them.
“After what we’ve been through over the
last three years and the COVID situation and everything, we’re both aware of
that and we both know that it’s something that’s not going to stop and we got
to mute that noise,” Gobert said to Andrews. “And we both have the same goal is
to win a championship here and we got to embrace the moment.”
With Luka Doncic on the mend, this is Jazz
best chance to get passed the First-Round start what they hope is the start of
big playoff run that at least gets them to the West Finals for the first time
since 2007 or even to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1998.
If the Jazz fail again in the postseason,
there will be major changes to the roster, especially with future Hall of Famer
Dwyane Wade and Danny Ainge a part of the Jazz's front office.
Ainge and Wade know what it takes to be a
champion and they will have the ear of the Ryan Smith about what they feel
needs to happen with the roster if Jazz do not get it done this postseason.
Prediction:
Jazz in five games.
(2)
Memphis Grizzlies versus (7) Minnesota Timberwolves
(56-26) (46-36)
Season-Series tied 2-2
Playoff History: First Playoff Meeting
Young superstar talent. Contrasting
offensive styles. Competitive role players that will not back down to anyone.
Talented teams that represent the future of “The Association.” Two teams that
will be short on postseason experience but not short on brashness, athleticism,
and ambition That is what will be featured in the No. 2 versus No. 7
First-Round tilt between the 2.0 version of “Grit N’ Grind” boys from Memphis,
TN versus the boys from the “Twin Cities.”
For the second time in the last 18 years
the Minnesota Timberwolves made the playoffs thanks to their 1094-104 win in
their Play-In game versus the Los Angeles Clippers where we saw two of their
big three pickup their headlining teammate.
Three-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns had
a game to forget on Tuesday night with 11 points and five rebounds on 3/11
shooting as he battled foul trouble the entire game, committing his sixth foul
with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter.
Without the three-time All-Star on the
floor, the Timberwolves were carried by second-year sensation Anthony Edwards
who had 30 points on 10/21 shooting, including 5/11 from three-point range and
All-Star D’Angelo Russell, who scored 28 of his 29 points the final three
quarters with six assists, five boards on 10/18 from the field, including 3/5
from three-point range.
Russell’s three-pointer as part of a 16-2
run put the Timberwolves up 97-95 late in the fourth quarter as the
Timberwolves overcame a 93-83 deficit with 8:54 left in the final period.
As great as Russell and Edwards were, the
Timberwolves do not defeat the Clippers without the play of their most
significant offseason acquisition in Patrick Beverly.
While he only had seven points on 2/8
shooting, the former Clipper had 11 rebounds and his energy particularly on the
defensive end was magnificent.
Beverly put every bit of his 59 games of
playoff experience on the table at the Target Center against the Clippers with
his hustle and tricks that irritated and broke the concentration of his former
teammates and inspired his current squad.
After passing a big test in their
maturation into becoming a more consistent team, head coach Chris Finch’s squad
now turns their attention to a Grizzlies squad that simply put took the Western
Conference and the NBA by storm this regular season.
What gives the Timberwolves a significant
chance in this series is their potent offensive capabilities.
They led the NBA in scoring average at
115.9 points and three-pointers made per game (14.8) and attempted (41.3).
During the regular-season, the
Timberwolves made 1,211 triples and have attempted 30-plus threes in a
franchise record 101 straight games. They scored 110-plus points 56 times this
season, which includes 31 games scoring 120-plus points.
In a game against at the Nuggets back in
the regular-season, Edwards made a career-high and single-game franchise record
10 triples, which was topped a few games later when Malik Beasley in a game
versus the Oklahoma City Thunder hit a new single-game franchise record 11 threes.
The Timberwolves offensive attack is led
by their aforementioned trio of Towns (24.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, 52.9
3-Pt.%), Edwards (21.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 35.7 3-Pt.%), and Russell (18.1
ppg, 7.1 apg).
As impressive as Edwards and Russell were
in the Play-In victory versus the Clippers, they will need Towns to play way
better than he did in the Play-In.
It took Towns until the 7:05 mark of the
third quarter before he made his first field goal. Towns faced a plethora of
different defensive coverages by the Clippers where they covered him first with
Nicolas Batum taking away his ability to shoot from the perimeter before
getting doubled by Ivica Zubac when he posted up. That led to Towns scoring
just two points, going 0/7 from the field in the opening half with four fouls.
While Russell led the Timberwolves in
scoring at 31.0 against the Grizzlies in their season-series, Towns has to have
a major impact on the offensive end, particularly inside against one of the
best defensive frontcourts in the league in the Grizzlies.
The other reason that the trio of Towns,
Russell and Edwards have to all be at their best is because outside of Malik
Beasley (12.1 ppg, 37.7 3-Pt.%), Jaylen Nowell (8.5 ppg, 47.5 FG%, 39.4 3-Pt.%)
and maybe Naz Reid (8.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 49.0 FG%), they really do not have anyone
else that can consistently strike a match offensively.
The aforementioned Beverly (9.2 ppg, 4.6
apg) can hit occasional jumpers, but he will be out there to be a disrupter and
irritant. Jarred Vanderbilt (6.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 58.7 FG%) will be busy grabbing
rebounds and providing some kind of rim protection.
The Timberwolves by the numbers have also
shown the ability this season that they can create havoc defensively ranking
No. 3 in steals (8.8) and block shots (5.6).
The Timberwolves First-Round opponent the
Memphis Grizzlies took another step in becoming a forced to be reckoned with in
the NBA.
Two seasons, they missed the playoffs in
the 2020 restart falling to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Play-In game for
the No. 8 and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Last season, they
won both their Play-In chances versus the Spurs and at the Warriors to earn
their first postseason berth since 2017.
After winning the opener of their
First-Round tilt versus the Jazz, the Grizzlies inexperience showed as they
lost the final four games of the series and were sent home 4-1.
This past regular-season, head coach
Taylor Jenkins’ team shocked the NBA world registering a franchise-record tying
56 wins in capturing their first Southwest Division title in their history. They
went 19-3 their last 22 games at home. Were just one of three teams (Suns and
Warriors) to win over 30 games on their home floor.
They were led by the NBA’s newest
sensation and leader of 2.0 version of “Grit N’ Grind” Ja Morant (27.4 ppg, 6.7
apg, 5.7 rpg, 49.3 FG%) who fearlessness and leadership had him in the MVP
conversation for much of this season. But he missed 25 games because of knee
injury and virus protocols.
Most teams that lose their star player
would struggle just to remain above .500. But the Grizzlies showed they were
more than just a one-man show.
Their 20-5 mark without Morant is because
of they have an exceptional supporting cast in Kia Defensive Player of the Year
candidate in Jaren Jackson, Jr. (16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.3 bpg-Led NBA). Kia Most
Improved Player candidate in Desmond Bane (18.2 ppg, 46.1 FG%, 43.6 3-Pt.%).
The supporting cast also includes in the
heart-and-soul of the Grizzlies Dillon Brooks (18.4 ppg); Morant’s understudy
in Tyus Jones (8.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 45.1 FG%, 39.0 3-Pt.%); rookie Zhaire Williams
(8.1 ppg, 45.0 FG%), De’Anthony Melton (10.8 ppg, , 4.5 rpg, 37.4 3-Pt.%) and
Kyle Anderson (7.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 44.6 FG%).
Unlike their First-Round opponent in the
Timberwolves, whose offensive attack was a steady diet of making
three-pointers, the Grizzlies offensive attack is based off their ability to
turn defensive plays into fastbreak points as well as scoring on second chances
offensively and down low.
The Grizzlies led the NBA in points in the
paint (57.6); fastbreak points (17.7) and second chance points (18.7), while
ranking fourth in points off their opponent’s turnovers at 18.3.
Their ability to score consistently in the
paint is led by Morant, who led the NBA despite his small frame in paint points
per game at 16.6.
To put that 16.6 scoring average in the
paint by Morant into context, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal (eight times), the
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (three times) and Pelicans’ Zion Williams (20.3
last season) topped that mark in the last 26 years of this statistic.
The one weakness in the Grizzlies’ offensive
attack is their perimeter shooting where they are ranked 17th in
three-point percentage (35.3 percent); No. 28 in shots taken from three-point
range (34.6 percent) 26th in field goal percentage from the
mid-range (37.6 percent).
Regularly in the playoffs, the opposing
team zeros in on their opponent’s strengths and puts a major emphasis on taking
those away. So, in the case of the Grizzlies, they will have to keeps the
Timberwolves honest by making their shares of jumpers especially from three.
Along with that, they will have to make it
their business to take care of the basketball because the Timberwolves have
forced 10-plus turnovers in a franchise record 77 straight games.
They will also have to prove they can win
on the road having dropped both tilts at the Timberwolves during the regular
season (138-95 Nov. 20, 2021 and 116-108 Jan. 13).
The Grizzlies will also have to keep their
emotions under control, especially when Beverly tries to take them out of their
game, especially Morant who will see plenty of Mr. Beverly from the opening tip
to the end of the game picking him up full court to being in his ear every
chance he gets.
The Grizzlies though have Brooks, Bane,
and Adams that are not afraid to mix things up when the moment calls for it and
they will be barking right back at Beverly if they need to do so.
More often than not in the NBA Playoffs,
it is the team that can play with the most poise, focus and play their brand of
ball that comes out on the winning end. The Grizzlies despite their youth have
been battle tested as opposed to the Timberwolves who have shown they can be
immature and not focused from time to time this season. The Grizzlies have a
deeper roster and most importantly, they have home court.
Prediction:
Grizzlies in seven games.
(3) Golden State Warriors versus (6)
Denver Nuggets
(53-29) (48-34)
Season-Series won by Nuggets 3-1
Playoff History: GS def. DEN 2013 West First-Round 4-2
Nearly a decade ago, the now four-time NBA
champions from the Bay Area met the boys from the “Colorado Rockies” in the
playoffs, making their postseason return after a five-year absence. They won
that series 4-2 and it would be the start of their ascension into
becoming champions three times in the next four seasons. They meet up with the
boys from Colorado again after a two-year postseason absence with their same
core three. But their chances of advancing hinge of an unproven supporting cast
and their ability to slow down the reigning Kia MVP.
The Golden State Warriors return to the
Playoffs after a two-year absence just as hungry and determined to win it all
like they did in 2015, 2017, and 2018.
While their “Core 3” of two-time Kia MVP
Stephen Curry (25.5 ppg, 6.3 apg, 5.2 rpg, 38.0 3-Pt.%), Klay Thompson (20.4
ppg, 38.5 3-Pt.%), and Draymond Green (7.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.0 apg, 52.5 FG%) will
bring their collective continuity built during those past three championship seasons to the hardwood this
postseason, they have only played a grand total of 11 minutes (three games) on
the floor during the regular season because of overlapping injuries. Curry
specifically is questionable for the start of this series because of a left
foot sprain sustained Mar. 16 versus the Celtics (110-88 loss) that shelved him
the final 12 games of the regular-season, which saw the Warriors go 6-6 without
him.
“It's really up in the air as far as
Steph’s participation the rest of the week,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr
said about his perennial All-Star’s status for the start of this postseason.
“But I imagine it will go right down to the wire as far as Game 1 is concerned
whether we know his availability or not.
Curry was cleared to do individual work on
the court this past week. But Coach Kerr did not offer much on how much
progress Curry made during those workouts.
However, Curry, who has career postseason
averages of 26.5 points and 6.3 assists on 45.0 percent from the floor and 40.1
percent from three-point range at the close of this week was upgraded to
probable, which means he has a good chance of playing. But he will be on a
minute’s restriction.
The Warriors will have the other half of
the “Splash Brothers combination on the floor in Thompson, who missed the last
two seasons because of a torn ACL and a ruptured Achilles and he is beyond
excited to begin what hopefully is another run towards winning another Larry
O’Brien Trophy.
“A great cap to a regular season. A lot of
ups and downs for myself this season. But I stuck with it and I will continue
to do that some great momentum going into the Playoffs. I can’t wait,”
Thompson, who averaged 36 points the last three games of the regular season
said. “I’m so excited for the Playoffs. Having to watch the last two years was
painful. So, to be back and be a part of it, I get geeked thinking about it.”
The Warriors will also have Green in the
fold, but he too has had to knock off some rust as he was recovering from disc
issue in his lower back that shelved him for a sizable portion post All-Star
break.
Having him back gives the Warriors not
just their heart-and-soul but their defensive quarterback, who will be spending
this opening-round series checking the reigning Kia MVP, more on that shortly.
“He’s just one of the very best players in
the league and one of the best centers to play the game. It’s incredible watching
his skill set,” Coach Kerr said of Jokic. “It’s like an old school center, you
know. They play off the low block a lot more than most teams.”
“He’s brilliant to watch. Just the way he dissects
defenses. Every team in the Playoffs there’s a head of the snake that you have
to deal with. It’s different every series depending on personnel. And for
Denver it’s clearly Jokic.”
When the Warriors won their three titles,
the mantra was “Strength In Numbers,” referencing their supporting cast that
consisted of the likes of Shaun Livingston, ZaZa Pachulia, David West, Andre
Iguodala, and Kevon Looney (6.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 57.1 FG%) to name a few.
While they still have Iguodala, who does
have some age on him now and Looney, the Warriors supporting cast for this
postseason run consists of a talented but unproven group of Jordan Poole (18.5
ppg, 44.8 FG%, 36.4 3-Pt.%), first-time All-Star Andrew Wiggins (17.2 ppg, 4.5
rpg, 46.6 FG%, 39.3 3-Pt.%), Otto Porter, Jr. (8.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 46.4 FG%, 37.0
3-Pt.%), Gary Payton II (7.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 61.6 FG%, 35.8 3-Pt.%), and rookie
Jonathan Kuminga (9.3 ppg, 51.3 FG%).
On top of that, the supporting cast was
not able to build any cohesion with Curry, Thompson, and Green due to the
injuries.
So, while the “Core 3” along with Iguodala
have muscle memory of having gone through the postseason together, they will
have to build that cohesion on the fly with the rest of the roster at the start
of this postseason.
Having to be flexible is nothing new for
the Denver Nuggets, who have been without their second-best player Jamal Murray
(torn ACL) all season, getting injury ironically enough around this time last
season at the Warriors and Michael Porter, Jr. (back surgery), who has been out
since Nov. 6, 2021.
Simply put, they are back in the playoffs
for a third consecutive season because of the consistent play of the reigning
Kia MVP Nikola Jokic (27.1 ppg-6th NBA, 13.8 rpg-2nd NBA,
7.9 apg-8th NBA, 58.3 FG%), who had career-highs across the board
this regular-season.
This season in particular saw the growth
of Jokic as a scorer and rebounder. But where the top candidate for his second
straight MVP is at his best is finding open people.
He has especially been brilliant in his
postseason career with averages of 25.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists
on 51.2 percent from the field.
That will be especially key in this series
because there is without question that Jokic, who averaged 28.0 points, 15.8
rebounds, and 8.8 assists on 51.9 percent shooting against the Warriors in the
regular season will see a second defender and third defender on him as well as
having one-on-one coverage from Warriors’ Green and Looney.
The Nuggets chances of advancing in this
series will depend on his teammates in Aaron Gordon (15.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 52.0
FG%), Will Barton (14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 36.5 3-Pt.%), Monte Morris (12.6
ppg, 48.4 FG%, 39.5 3-Pt.%), Jeff Green (10.3 ppg, 52.4 FG%), rookie Na’Shon
“Bones” Hyland (10.1 ppg, 36.6 3-Pt.%), Bryn Forbes (8.8 ppg, 41.4 3-Pt.%
w/Spurs & Nuggets), JaMychal Green, and Austin Rivers making shots.
Head coach Michael Malone’s team’s chances
of advancing also depends on how much rest he can get Jokic during games in
this series.
The Nuggets were a completely different
team without their All-Star big man. That puts even more of a premium on the
effectiveness of in-season pickup DeMarcus Cousins (8.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 45.6 FG%
w/Nuggets). His effectiveness will determine how effective Jokic will be late
in games, especially because the Warriors you can bet will throw everything,
including the kitchen sink at him defensively.
The one thing that the Nuggets have in
their hip pocket is out of their three wins in the four-game season series
against the Warriors, they won both their meetings at the Chase Center (89-86
on Dec. 28, 2021 and 117-116 Feb. 16).
When the Warriors, who will play the first
NBA Playoff game in San Francisco, CA since 1964 were taking down opponents
left and right during their five straight appearances in The Finals
(2014-2019), they had good health, especially from their dynamic “Big Three”
and a supporting cast that they had cohesion with. This postseason will have it
share of challenges for them, especially with a young supporting cast and that
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala do not have
the same muscle memory and continuity with this particular cast.
The Warriors also are facing an opponent
in the Nuggets, who demonstrated the last two postseason that even when you
think you have them down, they will not back down. Just look at their
unexpected run to the Conference Finals when they overcame a 3-1 series deficit
the first two round to take down the Jazz and Clippers respectably in the 2020
Playoffs.
The difference in this series is that the
Warriors will have their three All-Stars as opposed to the Nuggets lone star in
Nikola Jokic as well as more roster depth.
Prediction:
Warriors in six games.
Information,
statistics, and quotations courtesy of 3/4/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today,” ESPN With
Malika Andrews, Matt Barnes, Chiney Ogwumike, Zach Lowe, and Kendra Andrews; 3/14/2022
10 p.m. “Bucks versus Jazz” ESPN, presented by State Farm with Ryan Ruocco and
Doris Burke; 4/4/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN, presented by Credit Karma with
Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Ramona Shelburne, and Richard Jefferson;
4/7/2022 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN, With Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Matt
Barnes, Vince Carter, and Brian Windhorst; 4/10/2022 8:30 p.m. “Chicago Bulls
versus Minnesota Timberwolves” Bally Sports North with Dave Benz, Jim Petersen,
and Lea B. Olsen; 4/11/2022 www.nba.com story “Series
Preview: Sixers Raptors Seem Primed For a Lengthy Series,” and “Series Preview:
Celtics Away Potentially Powerful Underdog As Nets Emerge From Play-In,” By
John Schuhmann; “Series Preview: Bucks Look To Make Bulls’ Return To Playoffs A
Short One,” By Steve Aschburner; 4/12/2022 www.nba.com story, “Mavs Put No
Timetable On Luka Doncic’s Return From Calf Injury,” By Schuyler Dixon of The
Associated Press; 4/12/2022 www.nba.com story “Series
Preview: Grizzlies-Wolves Won’t Be Short of Rising Stars To Watch,” By Michael
C. Wright; 4/13/2022 www.nba.com story, “Series
Preview: Warriors’ Hopes Of Advancing Rest On Slowing Down Nikola Jokic,” By
Mark Medina; 4/16/2022 www.nba.com story, “Series
Preview: League-Best Suns Begin Playoff Journey Versus Pelicans,” By Mark
Medina; 4/16/2022 www.nba.com story, “Series
Preview: Stingy Heat Look To Stifle Hawks’ Firepower,” By Steve Aschburner;
4/16/2022 12 p.m. NBATV’s “Playoff Central Live,” presented by Toyota with
Chris Miles, Steve Smith, and Tony Delk, with reports from Matt Winer, and Jared
Greenberg; https://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head_gl/celtics_vs_nets_log_pl.htm; https://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head_gl/bucks_vs_bulls_log_pl.htm; https://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head_gl/mavericks_vs_jazz_log_pl.htm; https://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head_gl/hawks_vs_heat_game_log_pl.htm;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Denver_Nuggets_seasons; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Memphis_Grizzlies_seasons; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Toronto_Raptors_seasons; https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameid/401360721; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/stats_/id/3992/james-harden; and https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/bkn/seasontype/2.
