J-Speaks: 2020 NBA Playoff Preview

 

The 2019-20 NBA regular season had more intrigue and possibility for the first mine in nearly two decades. All of sudden in the middle of March, the season was suspended because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with no timetable of if or when the season would resume. Thanks to the NBA in conjunction with the National Basketball Players Association, the season did resume at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL. After 66 scrimmages and 88 seeding games, and the league’s first Play-In game in a little over six decades the regular season was able to conclude and now we get to have the most anticipated NBA Playoffs in quite some time, where the benefits of home-court advantage out the window, we could be in store for the most epic two-months in the history of the National Basketball Association. Here is 2020 J-Speaks NBA Playoff Preview.

Eastern Conference

(1)   Milwaukee Bucks versus (8) Orlando Magic

        (56-17)                                   (33-40)

Regular Season Series: Bucks won 4-0.

Playoff Series History: Bucks defeated the Magic 3-1 in the 2001 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.  

Last season the Milwaukee Bucks were right at the doorstep of reaching the NBA Finals, until the now reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors closed that door winning four straight games in the Eastern Conference Finals to take the series in six games. The Bucks came back and the now reigning Kia MVP came back determined to make up for that failure, and while they were very up-and-down in the restart, they seem primed for a major championship run against a team that is literally and figuratively limping into the postseason.

For most of this season, the Bucks were the top dogs of “The Association,” who if not for the global pandemic might have been at the doorstep of possibly becoming only the third team in NBA history to win 70 games.

In the restart however, the Bucks had their ups-and-downs going just 3-5 and looking nothing like a No. 1 Seed that their opponents are not scared to face. Three of those five setbacks were by four points or less. 

Their biggest issue has been at the defensive end where, they went from a +11.3 pre-hiatus, to a -0.3 during the seeding games. They went from holding team to an average of 107.4 points to giving up on average 118.6. Opponents went from making on average 14 threes to 16 makes in the restart.  

The Magic, who are in the playoffs for the second straight season, after really playing well before the hiatus and in the early going of the restart went from a team that had a great chance to catch the Brooklyn Nets for the No. 7 spot in the East.

After a 1-8 mark during a nine-game stretch from Jan. 22-Feb. 8 that had the Magic nine games under .500 at 22-31, they proceeded (including the first two games of the restart) to go 9-4 their next 13 games from Feb. 12-Aug. 2. That included a five-game winning streak, where they scored 120-plus points per game, the best such streak in franchise history. But they steered away from what their identity has been under head coach Steve Clifford these last two seasons, playing defense.

That unfortunately was followed by five straight losses, with three of the five by double digits, where they averaged only 104.8 points per game. They snapped that five-game skid with a 133-127 win versus the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

On top of that, several key players like Aaron Gordon (left hamstring strain), Evan Fournier (non-COVID-19 illness) and Michael Carter-Williams (foot tendon strain) were dealing with injuries and their best scorer off the bench Terrence Ross left campus a week ago due to a non-COVID-19 matter and had to re-quarantine. They also lost their budding defensive star in Jonathan Isaac, who tore the ACL in his left in the Magic’s 132-116 win versus the Sacramento Kings on Aug. 2. According to NBATV, Gordon and Carter-Williams will not play in Game 1 of the series against the Magic on Tuesday. 

Not having him to attempt to try and contain reigning Kia MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is a huge loss, especially against a player who has played even better and is the leading candidate to win the award again behind averages of 29.5 points (3^rd NBA), 13.6 rebounds (4^th NBA) 5.6 apg (leads team) on 55.3 percent from the field. Against the Magic during the regular season series agasint the Bucks, Antetokounmpo averaged 26.3 points and 15.7 rebounds. He was a big reason the Bucks outscored the Magic in the paint by an averaged of 17 points (46.5 to 33.5) in their four regular season matchups

This means that two-time All-Star Khris Middleton (20.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 49.7 FG%, 41.5 3-Pt.%), Eric Bledsoe (14.9 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.6 rpg, 47.4 FG%) should have their way and use this series as a major tune up for what head coach Mike Budenholzer hopes is a long playoff run that they will need to get major contributions from these two specifically, along with Robin and Brook Lopez (12.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 bpg) George Hill (9.4 ppg, 51.6 FG%, 46.0 3-Pt.%-Leads NBA), Wesley Matthews, Donte DiVincenzo, Kyle Korver, Pat Connaughton, Ersan Ilyasova, and Marvin Williams.

The reality for the Bucks though is that they wanted to enter the playoffs as healthy as possible to that they can give themselves the best shot of winning their second title in franchise history. 

They did not have Bledsoe and Connaughton until the halfway through the seeding games as they were getting over having the Coronavirus.   

The Magic will also be without second-year big man Mo Bamba, who at the start of this weekend left campus to undergo a comprehensive post-coronavirus. The 22-year-old No. 6 overall pick in 2018 out of the University of Texas was diagnosed with COVID-19 on June 11. He only played 11 minutes of action in the team’s first two seeding games and did not appear in the final six games.

For the Magic to have any chance against the Bucks they will need strong play from their All-Star center Nikola Vucevic (19.6 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 47.7 FG%), Evan Fournier (18.5 ppg, 46.7 FG%, 39.9 3-Pt%), Gordon (14.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg), if and when he is healthy enough, and Terrence Ross (14.7 ppg, 35.1 3-Pt.%). They will need guard Markelle Fultz (12.1 ppg, 5.1 apg, 46.5 FG%) to get back to playing at the serviceable level he was before the hiatus. While veteran guard D.J. Augustin has been solid at the lead guard spot the last two seasons, the heavy minutes has recently caught up to him.

They will also have to consistently make three-point shots, which they did not do in the regular season against the Bucks, connecting on just 32.2 percent of their three-point attempts.

The 14 threes made per game that the Bucks allowed is a new all-time record. There were six different teams that registered season-high for made three-pointers against the Bucks, and they posted just a 1-5 mark in those contests.

During the regular season, the Magic went 11-1 when they shot 42 percent or better from three-point range (just 22-39 when they connected on less than 42 percent of their threes).

Vucevic in the Dec. 28, 2019 meeting at the Bucks (111-100 loss), had 21 points, eight boards, two blocks and three steals going 5 for 10 from three-point range.

If he plays like that and not to the tune of averages of 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds of 36.2 percent from the field in his first postseason experience in the Magic’s five-game loss in the opening round to the eventual NBA champion Raptors last postseason.

While the Bucks are vulnerable to drop a game possibly in this opening-round series, the Magic do not have the kind of offensive fire power to hang with the best team record wise in the East. The Bucks beat them during the regular season by an average of 17 points in the four-game sweep and they understand that in a season where anything can happen, when you have a chance to end a series quickly you do it. The Bucks will do so here.

Prediction: Bucks in four games.

( (4)   Indiana Pavers versus (5) Miami Heat

        (45-28)                            (44-29)

Regular Season Series: Heat won 3-1.

Playoff Series History: Heat lead all-time 3-1; Last Meeting: Heat defeated the Pacers 4-2 in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.

In the middle part of the previous decade, the two teams that were the fighting it out for supremacy in the East were the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers. While the Pacers were game, it was the Heat who came out on the right end of things when the two met in the postseason and that looks like the same thing might happen again in a series between two teams that very quietly have had solid seasons and seem prime for another knockout, drag out.

The Heat for a little over 25 years under Hall of Fame coach and now executive Pat Riley have drawn inspiration and motivation to prove their critics and doubters wrong. That has certainly been the case for the three-time NBA champions, who surpassed modest expectations of not just making the playoffs in the middle part of the East, but they quickly coalesced around five-time All-Star acquisition from last summer in Jimmy Butler (19.9 ppg-leads team, 1.8 spg-leads team 45.5 FG%), who registered career-highs of 6.7 rebounds and six assister per contest during the regular season.

The Heat not only added an alpha dog that fits in well with their blue-collar, get after it, make no excuses culture, but he was seen as something that he never was seen in the first three stops of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Philadelphia 76ers, a leader.

His leadership has been a big help to the growth of Kia Most Improved candidate Bam Adebayo, who posted career-high averages of 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists; rookie sharp shooter Tyler Herro (13.5 ppg, 38.9 3-Pt.%), top Kia Rookie of the Year candidate in lead guard Kendrick Nunn (15.3 ppg, 35.0 3-Pt.%), second-year sharp shooter Duncan Robinson (13.5 ppg, 47.0 FG%, 44.6 3-Pt.%) and fellow acquisition from last summer in Kelly Olynyk (8.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 46,.2 FG%, 40.6 3-Pt.%).

The additions at the trade deadline in veterans Jae Crowder (11.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 48.2 FG%, 44.5 3-Pt.% w/Heat) and 2015 Finals MVP and three-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala gives the Heat more defensive versatility in terms of players who can guard multiple positions and two guys, especially in the case of Crowder who can strike a match from three-point range, where they Heat have been taking care of business throughout the regular season.

To put that into context, the Heat a season ago ranked 21^st in three-point percentage at 34.9 percent. They rank No. 1 in “The Association” this season at 38.1 percent, thanks to Robinson, who No. 4 in the league in the league in three-point percentage and No. 3 in triples made per game at 3.8.

Another team that really overachieved that had every excuse in the book to pack it in this season are the Pacers.

Between injuries or rust, the Pacers totaled 183 games missed overall and 21 different starting lineups heading into their series finale against the Heat last Friday, head coach Nate McMillan’s squad simply worked hard, had an identity of playing solid defense and getting contributions from everyone is why they are back in the playoffs for a fourth straight season.

In the 54 games missed by All-Star guard Victor Oladipo (14.5 ppg), the Pacers went 34-20. The 20 games missed by starting guard Malcolm Brogdon (16.5 ppg, 7.1 apg, 4.9 rpg), the Pacers went 12-8.

The Pacers especially had every excuse to fold the tent when they loss swingman Jeremy Lamb when he tore the ACL, the lateral meniscus, and fracture of his left knee in the 127-81 loss at the Raptors on Feb. 23 for the rest of the season.

They just kept pushing and guys that got the chance to step up in Lamb’s place like the Holiday brothers, Justin (8.3 ppg, 40.5 3-Pt.%) and Aaron (9.5 ppg, 39.4 3-Pt.%) and T.J. McConnell (6.5 ppg, 5.0 apg, 51.6 FG%).

Two people who really stepped up for the Pacers this season are first-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis (18.5 ppg, 12.4 rpg-5^th NBA, 54.0 FG%), who set a single-season franchise record with 50 double-doubles, while also registering the first four triple-doubles of his career and T.J. Warren (19.8 ppg-leads team, 63.6 FG%, 40.3 3-Pt.%), who the Pacers acquired from the Phoenix Suns last summer.

Warren really stepped up in the restart with averages of 31.0 points on 57.8 shooting, which made up for the loss of Sabonis, who left Orlando one week before the restart to get treated for plantar fasciitis in his left foot and may not play again this season.

They will need more from Warren and then some if they will have a chance against a Heat team that has had their way with the Pacers in the first three matchups.

In those games, Warren was mainly checked by Butler, who held him to an averaged 10.3 points in the first three meetings on 35.5 percent shooting, where the Heat won by an average of 12.3 points. In the next to last matchup, which the Heat won going away 114-92 on Aug. 10, Warren was held to just 12 points, scoring zero points in the second half, going just 5 for 14 from the field in the defeat. 

The Heat also outrebounded the Pacers in the four meetings by an average of 51.0 to 41.8. 

The most important thing for Warren to be anywhere close to what he did in the restart is to not let Butler get under his skin like he did in the Pacers 122-108 loss on Jan. 8 where the two exchanged bumps, words and gestures. Warren, who had just three points on 1 for 5 shooting was ejected after the exchange and Butler did not hesitate about what he thought of the Pacers' forward. 

"I think it's tough for him because I can guard him and he can't guard me," Butler said to reporters by his locker postgame. "If I was there coach, I would never put him on me ever again. He's-like no."

He was singing a different tune when he said about the matchup with Warren in his presser saying, "I just play basketball. I'm goint to go out there and play basketball. That's what Miami has me here to do. I'm not worried about nobody's matchup. We can kill that. That's dead. That's in the past." 

"My job isn't against T.J. Warren. It's against the Indiana Pacers. And my job is to help the Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers." 

The other area the Heat have dominated the Pacers is on the glass, outrebounding them in the four meetings on average of +9.2 (51.0 to 41.8). The Pacers in the first meetings registered a total of eight offensive rebounds.

Most of the time in a No. 4 versus No. 5 opening-round series matchup features two teams that are evenly matched. That is not the case in in this one. The Heat have the focus, roster depth and an identity of defense rebounding and toughness that wins at this time of the NBA season. The Pacers have played well this season but they do not have two key cogs in Sabonis and Lamb. Victor Oladipo is still not himself as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury. The Pacers have been knocked out the playoffs in the opening-round  four straight seasons and while they will bring it against the Heat it just will not be enough and they will go down in the opening-round for a fifth consecutive season.  

Prediction: Heat in five games.

(3)   Boston Celtics versus (6) Philadelphia 76ers

        (48-24)                               (43-30)

Regular Season Series: 76ers won 3-1.

Playoff Series History: Celtics lead the all-time series 13-7; Last Meeting: Celtics defeated the 76ers 4-1 in the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals.  

No two NBA franchises have faced off the postseason more than the boys from “Beantown” and the city of “Brotherly Love.” While the 21^st series tilt between these two long time Atlantic Division rivals will not have the raucous crowds, it will still have great players trying to get their respective teams one step closer to the Larry O’Brien trophy.

This latest postseason encounter will also come with a key player for the 76ers as All-Star Ben Simmons is out due to a partial subluxation of the patella in his left knee, that he had arthroscopic surgery on not too long ago. 

Head coach Brett Browns squad not only lose their best all-around player that gave you averages of 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and eight assists, who also was a versatile defender who could guard four different positions, but he ranked No. 5 during the regular season with an average of 12.9 points per game in the paint. But for third straight season will enter the playoffs at less than 100 percent.

During the regular season, the 76ers were 35-22 with Simmons in the lineup, and 8-8 without him. 

"We don't care about anybody else's opinion but ours," Harris said about the critics who feel they have no chance to advance in this year's playoffs. "We're confident internally in our group. We know what we bring to the table." 

"We're just worried and focused on us. Everybody has noise coming from many different parts. But at the end of day, it's all about what we do in our locker room, and that's what we're focused on." 

The 76ers could possibly be in the same position the Celtics were a season ago, a team with a deep and talented roster that simply underachieved losing in the East Semis to the eventual East runner-up in the Bucks.

A complete 180 degrees in terms of their chemistry, a healthy roster and the emergence of first-time All-Star in third-year forward Jayson Tatum, who averaged a career-high of 23.4 points (led team) on 45 percent from the field and 40.5 three-point percentage, and Jaylen Brown (20.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 48.1 FG%, 38.1 3-Pt.%), a healthy Gordon Hayward (17.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.1 apg, 50.0 FG%, 38.3 3-Pt.%), and the addition of All-Star lead guard in Kemba Walker (20.4 ppg, 4.8 apg, 38.1 3-Pt.%), head coach Brad Stevens' squad are back as a serious contender for their 18^th Larry O’Brien trophy.

Their offense was not great against the 76ers during the regular season, and while they will be without Simmons, they still have the best player in the series in two-time All-Star center Joel Embiid (23.0 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 47.7 FG%) and a capable supporting of Tobias Harris (19.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 47.1 FG%, 36.7 3-Pt.%), Josh Richardson (13.7 ppg), Shake Milton (9.4 ppg, 48.4 FG%, 43.0 3-Pt.%), Alec Burks (12.2 ppg, 46.1 FG%, 41.6 3-Pt.% w/76ers), Furkman Korkmaz 9.8 ppg, 40.2 3-Pt.%), Mike Scott, and former Celtic in All-Star center Al Horford (11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.0 apg).  

"I think it's going to be a good series," Brown, who averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds against the Celtics this season said over the weekend about the matchup with the 76ers. "I think that, you know, without Ben Simmons, I think a lot of people are thinking like counting them out. And those are looking over there and smiling at that. There going to come out ready to play. Ready to execute. Ready to be physical and we have to be ready along with them." 

Coach Stevens added that because the Sixers no with Simmons out they will have guys on the floor who can stretch their defense because of their ability to make perimeter shots, especially from three-point range in Harris, Scott, Korkmaz and Richardson. 

"All nine other guys that play around Embiid can shoot the ball," Coach Stevens said. "And so, it makes it very difficult. You have to pick your poison at times." 

"The way they're playing now, and the way that they're spreading the floor around him [Embiid] makes it very difficult."  

This series for the 76ers will come down what Embiid is going to show up. The dominant one who plays at a level where he consistently is getting the ball on the low box and scoring at will or getting to the foul line at a high clip. Or will we get the inconsistent Embiid who shoots more shots from the perimeter, which the Celtics forced him to do a lot, which is how he connected on 18 of the 46 from the field against the Celtics. Also, Embiid must stay out of foul trouble.  

For the Celtics it comes down to them being healthy and each player from Tatum, Brown, Walker and Hayward, to Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis, Brad Wanamaker, Robert Williams III, Enes Kanter and Semi Ojeleye.

After a 20-week layoff because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Celtics were still being cautious in not playing Walker too many minutes as he continued to recover from a left knee issue that had him on the shelf for six of the first 10 games between the All-Star break and the hiatus. He did manage to play in six of the eight restart contests, and said after scoring 19 points on 7 for 10 shooting in 28 minutes in the Celtics 122-107 win last Tuesday at the Memphis Grizzlies (34-39) said postgame that he felt “probably the best I’ve felt out there.”  

That is a good sign for a team that had their top five perimeter players for only 14 of their 64 games prior to the hiatus, but had them for six of the eight seeding games, except for the days for intentional rest, like when Walker sat out the back end of a back-to-back and all five did not play in the final seeding game (96-90 loss) at the Washington Wizards (25-46).

When all five players have been available for the Celtics, they went a modest 13-7, but 0-2 against the 76ers.

The 76ers and Celtics entered this season with championship aspirations. The difference is between the Celtics and the 76ers entering the 21^st all-time tilt between the two teams is that the Celtics are the healthier team, that we know what to expect from them on a nightly basis. For the 76ers, there is no certainty. We do not know which Joel Embiid is going to show up and being without Ben Simmons will shine a light on him unlike ever before. 

"I believe that we have enough depth and talent to still do great things in the playoffs," Coach Brown said about his team's chances against the Celtics. "And you know, your reliant right now on a togetherness. You're relying on a Joel [Embiid]. You're relying on a well executed game plan." 

"I think that's the most exciting thing for me with playoffs. It's just every game is a different sort of story, and that's the challenge." 

Prediction: Celtics in six games

(2)   Toronto Raptors versus (7) Brooklyn Nets

         (53-19)                                  (35-37)

Regular Season Series: Raptors won 3-1.

Playoff Series History: Nets lead the all-time series 2-0; Last Meeting: Nets defeated the Raptors 4-3 in the 2014 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

It is rare that a defending NBA champion is not at the top of the minds of many to repeat. That was the case for the Toronto Raptors, who saw the reigning Finals MVP leave in free agency to join L.A.’s other team, more on that later. But behind the return of seven players from last year’s championship squad and their commitment to the defensive end, the Raptors did not miss a beat and seek to carry the role they finished on in the seeding games into this years playoffs beginning with an opponent that despite a rash of injuries and a few opting out of the restart has really played well under their interim head coach.

The Nets entered the restart not only without perennial All-Stars and NBA champions Kevin Durant, who has not played all season recovering from an injured Achilles and Kyrie Irving because of shoulder surgery, they were also without Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler, rookie Nicholas Claxton, DeAndre Jordan, and Taurean Prince.

However, behind a very surprising potent offensive attack and a nothing to lose mentality, the Nets registered a 5-3 mark in the seeding games, and went 7-3 overall under interim head coach Jacque Vaughn, who replaced head coach Kenny Atkinson on Mar. 7, when the Nets were six games under .500 (28-34). In the restart, the Nets registered victories victories versus the Bucks and at the Los Angeles Clippers, held off the Magic to earn the No. 7 spot in the East and earned their second consecutive trip to the postseason and 21st overall in Nets NBA history.

That offensive attack by the Nets has been led by Caris LeVert (18.7 ppg, 36.4 3-Pt.%), Joe Harris (14.5 ppg, 48.6 FG%, 42.4 3-Pt.%), Jarrett Allen (11.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 64.9 FG%), Garrett Temple (10.3 ppg), and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (7.8 ppg, 38.8 3-Pt.%).

They have also gotten contribution from some of their additions that were added to the roster because of injury or opting out of the restart in Donta Hall, Chris Chiozza, and Tyler Johnson (12.0 ppg, 38.9 3-Pt.%).

Asking the Nets to take down the defending champs in the Raptors might be pushing the envelope a little too far. But they are ready for the challenge. 

"It's going to be a challenge for us all around, you know 1-5, even on the bench, their all coming out ready to play," Allen said about the Raptors. "They have a high skillset level, and their transition and defense are the two keys we need to key on." 

LeVert added that the Raptors are very unique in how the Raptors switch defensive coverages, and each player can guard multiple positions, switch on screen-and-rolls. 

Temple also said of the Raptors biggest strength is how they can scramble and run their opponent off the three-point line, and that they really play with serious focus at the defensive end. 

"They collapse to the paint a lot," Temple said. "They don't like giving up layups, which means kickout threes will be open, but as a team we have to shoot them."  

The Nets will be going against a team that went including the restart and before the hiatus 10-1 their last 11 games and 28-5 since Jan. 15 (best in NBA) as they finished the season with four straight wins. 

Pascal Siakam, last season’s Kia Most Improved Player recipient, came back even better this season with career-highs of 22.9 ppg (leads team), 7.3 rpg, and 3.5 apg on 45.3 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from three-point range. Swingman Norman Powell received more consistent minutes with 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green leaving in free agency and averaged 16.0 points on 45.9 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three-point range. Guard Fred VanVleet carried the confidence of hitting big shots in the last season’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Bucks and The Finals against the Golden State Warriors, and also turned career-high averages of 17.6 points and 6.6 assists on 39.0 percent from three-point range. OG Anunoby, who missed the postseason last spring because of an emergency appendectomy came back this regular season an improved perimeter shooter, scorer, and better defender. 

The improvement of Siakam, Powell, VanVleet, and Anunoby along with the play of the likes of rookies Matt Thomas and Terence Davis, Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson when called upon is how head coach Nick Nurse’s squad held things down when the veterans like perennial All-Stars Kyle Lowry (19.4 ppg, 7.5 apg, 5.0 rpg, 35.2 3-Pt.%) and Marc Gasol (7.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 38.5 3-Pt.%), Serge Ibaka (15.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg-leads team, 51.2 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%) as well as Powell, VanVleet and Siakam missed significant time because of injury.

During the regular season, six of the Raptors top seven players missed 11-plus games, but because of their depth finished with the highest win percentage (.736) in franchise history thanks to an offensive attack that had five different players averagd 15-plus points, making them the first team to accomplish that since the 1973-74 Buffalo Braves. 

The ability for the Raptors to put anyone on the floor in any combination is how they managed to not lose a beat during the season and continue to win at a high clip.

The is how they went 33-12 when Siakam and Lowry were in the lineup. How they went 19-1 this regular season when Siakam scored 25 points or more, and 27-7 when Anunoby scored in double figures, including 6-0 when he scored 20 or more. 

"I think Nick Nurse, the thing I love about him is the fact that he does not focus on what he doesn't have," Raptors analyst since 1998 Jack Armstrong said to the YES Networks color analyst Sarah Kustok during the Nets Pregame show on Monday about one of Coach Nurse's great strengths.

"He focuses on what he does have. An you know what because of his background. The guy coached over in Europe and England. And then he coached in the G-League, and had an incredible run there. So to me, when I evaluate Nick Nurse, he has coached in situations that are less than ideal. Not only does he adjust game-to-game, but he adjust within the game....And the thing I love about Nick is his ability to within the game to adapt, adjust, and make you uncomforable as an opponent." 

That solid offense the Raptors had was generated by their consistent defense, especially against the Nets, as they averaged 24.3 fast break points in the four meetings and heading into the finale of their restart versus the Denver Nuggets, which they won 117-109 last Friday afternoon are 22-3 when they have registered 20 or more fast break points. 

The Nets did slow the Raptors down in their Feb. 12 meeting, where in the 101-91 win halted their franchise record 15-game winning streak. While they were dominated in transition, 22-11 in fast break points, the Nets held the Raptors to 37.8 percent shooting; outrebounding them 64-52, including 12-6 on the offensive glass; and outscored them in the paint 50-38. 

"They are extremely aggressive getting into transition mode, and they make you pay. Whether that is getting to the rim and getting fouled or whether that's getting to the rim and spreading out for threes," Coach Vaughn said. "So the overall thing is how can we keep them in the half court?" 

The Raptors however during the season took care of business against the 13 sub. 500 teams in the league going 37-4 against them, and while their three-point defense is shaky, it is asking a lot of the Nets to display stellar marksmanship from distance. 

The Raptors are on a mission to prove that they are more than just a team got lucky in winning it all a season ago. They feel that what Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green brougth to them a season ago was big reason for what they did during the regular season and now they want to show that this postseason, beginning against the Nets. It might keep things interesting but it will not be enough against a team that is primed for another title run.

"We handled some of the highs and lows even better. I thought we did a tremendous job of handling that last year, which was something we certainly knew that we were going to have to handle and focused on, you know?" Coach Nurse said about the title team a season ago. "I love that thought of attacking one. It's like, it doesn't really matter that we won it last year. You know, that's done, and that's history." 

Prediction: Raptors in five games.

Western Conference

(1)   Los Angeles Lakers versus (8) Portland Trail Blazers

                 (52-19)                                   (35-39)

Regular Season Series: Lakers won 2-1.

Playoff Series History: Lakers lead all-time 9-2; Last Meeting: Lakers defeated the Trail Blazers 3-0 in the 2002 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

In the history of the NBA playoffs, a No. 8 Seed has defeated a No. 1 Seed in the opening-round. On only one of those occasions as that No. 8 Seed gone all the way to the NBA Finals. The latest postseason tilt between the boys from Hollywood and the boys from “Rip City could possibly the sixth occurrence or at the least be suspenseful enough that it could go the distance.

The Portland Trail Blazers simply fought through a lot of adversity and injuries to reach the postseason, where they enter confident against a team that is heavy favorite to win it all.

The Trail Blazers have a firm belief that were it not for their big men of Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins missing a great chunk of the season because of injury, the Trail Blazers would have been at least in the Top 4 of the West.

That firm belief by head coach Terry Stotts’ squad stems from the exceptional play of their five-time All-Star floor general Damian Lillard (30.0 ppg, 8.0 apg, 46.3 FG%, 40.1 3-Pt.%), who simply went nuclear in Orlando registering averages of 37.6 points and 9.6 assists on 43.6 three-point percentage in leading the Trail Blazers to a 6-2 mark and overtaking the Memphis Grizzlies (34-39) for the No. 8 and final playoff spot in the West.

The Oakland, CA native was especially great in the last three games with averages of 51.3 points and nine assists on 56.1 FG%, 48.8 percent from three-point range and 41 for 43 from the charity stripe (95.4 percent) on an average of 14.3 free throw attempts in those three games.

Lillard saved his best for the fourth quarter of those last three games where he averaged 17.3 points on 69 percent from the field. He registered 18 of his 51 points in the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers 124-121 win versus the 76ers on Aug. 9 on NBATV. Two nights later, he scored 22 of his career-high tying and franchise record tying 61 points in the team’s 134-131 win at the Mavericks on TNT. Last Thursday, Lillard had 12 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers 134-133 nail biting win at the Nets, which got them into the play-in game.

In that play-in game, which the Trail Blazers won 126-122 versus the Memphis Grizzlies (34-39) on Saturday on ABC, to earn that No. 8 and final playoff spot in the West, Lillard had 31 points and 10 assists, while his backcourt mate CJ McCollum registered 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, going overall 11 for 19 from the field, including 3 for 7 from three-point range to help the Trail Blazers earn their seventh straight playoff appearance.

As impressive as the Trail Blazers starting backcourt was, they do not win the play-in contest without Nurkic, who registered 22 points and 21 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two block shots. Carmelo Anthony poured in 21 points, going 10 for 10 from the charity stripe.

"The reason that we competed so hard, the reason why we fought so hard to get in the playoffs is we feel like we're capable of doing anything," Lillard said after the game to ESPN's Lisa Salters. "Our work is just beginning." 

Anthony, whose scored 20 or more in four of the last five games added in his presser about the series against the Lakers and James, "Our mentality man, we coming in trying to win. So, it's not about LeBron or the Lakers, it's about us. And that's what we can control." 

"It's a chess game. That's what this is. It's more of a mental challenge more so than a physical challenge. In just studying the game, studying him, and studying the way they play, my emphasis is not just on, you know him, it's on the Lakers as a whole. They have a great team, No. 1 in the West for a reason."  

With a healthy Nurkic (17.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 49.5 FG%) and Zach Collins, along with Hassan Whiteside (15.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg-3^rd, NBA, 2.4 bpg, 62.1 FG%) to go alongside the stellar backcourt of Lillard and McCollum (22.2 ppg, 45.1 FG%, 37.9 3-Pt.%); a motivated Anthony (15.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 38.5 3-Pt.%), and the ever improving Gary Trent, Jr. (8.9 ppg, 41.8 3-Pt.%), the Trail Blazers feel they can really be competitive in a series against a team that they went 1-2 against in the regular season.  

Hopefully, McCollum, whose been playing with a small fracture in his lower back can hold up. But Collins will not play in Game 1 of the series set to tipoff on Tuesday night because of inflammation in his ankle.  

Before the hiatus, the Lakers were the top dogs in the Western Conference as they notched notable victories versus the Bucks (113-103) on Mar. 6 on ESPN and at the Los Angeles Clippers (112-103) two days later on ABC.

While the Lakers managed just a 3-5 mark in the seeding games, they posted victories (103-101) versus the Clippers on July 30 on TNT and at the Utah Jazz (116-108) on Aug. 3, which clinched the No. 1 Seed in the West. Their other win during the restart came versus the Denver Nuggets (124-121) on Aug. 10 on TNT.

Even when head coach Frank Vogel’s team plays at an ordinary level, they still have a four-time Kia MVP LeBron James (25.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 10.2 apg-Leads NBA, 49.3 FG%), leading candidate for MVP again and fellow perennial All-Star and Kia Defensive Player of the Year candidate Anthony Davis (26.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 1.5 spg, 50.3 FG%), who were the third highest scoring duo in the league during the regular season at 51.4 points per contest. That average was the best by Lakers teammates since Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and the late Hall of Famer to be Kobe Bryant in 2002-03. They combined to average 56.7 points in the three tilts against the Trail Blazers in the regular season. James in addition to averaging 24.7 points against the Trail Blazers during the regular season, averaged 11.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds. 

James and Davis will be a matchup nightmare for the Trail Blazers who have had their issues defensively and do not boost defenders with size and skills to contain the Lakers dynamic duo.

If anything, the Trail Blazers are the perfect opponent for James, who is a perfect record of 13-0 in his Hall of Fame career in the opening-round of the postseason to announce to the rest of the Western Conference field that he is determined to win his fourth title (with his third team), while Davis, who has just one career postseason series win, which came in 2018 ironically enough against Lillard and the Trail Blazers 4-0 wants to make the most of his first real chance of playing for a serious title contender.  

"I don't really look at them as a typical eighth seed, and I'm not going in with that mindset as one versus eight," James said to TNT's Chris Haynes in the lead up to their tilt against the Trail Blazers. "It's two teams that have the ability to advance. Have the firepower to advance. And whatever team is on the top of their game and playing at the top of their game will advance." 

He added about Lillard's nuclear offensive scoring assault since the restart, "Dame is doing what Dame does. No surprise to me at all. One of the most underappreciated, underrated players that we have in our game. But from a player's perspective. He has everyone's respect in our league." 

Four big keys for the Lakers in their quest for championship No. 17 are the play of the supporting cast; the Lakers ability to shoot respectably from three-point range; and Davis having an aggressive approach at the offensive end.

The main issue for the Lakers throughout this season, particularly during the restart was their inability to make threes consistently. They were in the bottom-10 of the league during the regular season and it did not get any better during the seeding games, ranking dead last at 30.3 percent. 

That really put the spotlight on not having Avery Bradley (8.6 ppg, 36.4 3-Pt.%), who opted out of the restart for personal reasons, and took his solid marksmanship from three-point range and his ability to guard some of the best offensive guards on the perimeter with him.

While guard Rajon Rondo (7.1 ppg, 5.0 apg) has completed his quarantine time, he will not play in Game 1 because of a fractured thumb, but hopes to play at some point in the series. 

This means the perimeter shooting responsibilities as well as checking Lillard and McCollum to start will fall on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (9.3 ppg, 46.7 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%), Danny Green (8.0 ppg, 36.7 3-Pt.%), Dion Waiters (11.9 ppg w/Lakers) Alex Caruso, Quinn Cook, and JR Smith.

In the restart, Cook, Smith, Green, Caruso, Caldwell-Pope, and Waiters combined to shoot just 28 for 119 (23.5%) from three-point range. While James and Davis combined to go 63 for 87 (72.4%) from the field in the restricted area, they managed to connect on just 37 for 142 (26.1%) outside of it. 

In contrast, the Trail Blazers have shot 41.4 percent from three-point range in the restart, ranking third in the NBA. 

The Lakers also were last among playoffs teams in points (18.0), assists (6.3) and field goal percentage of 48 percent against starting point guards on the season. 

Taking on Nurkic, Collins, and Whiteside in the paint will fall on Dwight Howard (7.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 72.9 FG%) and JaVale McGee (6.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg). This particular matchup could become a factor if either team goes cold from the perimeter. All of a sudden, the pick-and-roll will become a paramount for both teams, especially how both guard it. 

That also means they need Davis to perform at the level like he did during the regular season against the Trail Blazers, where he averaged 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in the three games. 

In the first two games of the regular season, the Lakers won convincingly on Dec. 6, 2019 (136-113) on ESPN, and on Dec. 28, 2019 (128-120). The Trail Blazers took the third and final meeting on Jan 31 (127-119) on ESPN, the Lakers’ first home game since the passing of Bryant from a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, where the Trail Blazers exploded for 43 third quarter points and held on for the victory. Lillard, who averaged 36.0 points, nine assists and six rebounds against the Laekrs in the regular season, registered 48 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds on 17 for 30 from the field, including 7 for 12 from three-point range in the victory. Whiteside had 30 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks and two steals.

While having Nurkic and Collins will give the Trail Blazers a much better chance, the Trail Blazers do not bring the kind of focus necessary at the defensive end to really put the fear in James, Davis and the Lakers of being the sixth No. 1 Seed to fall to a No. 8 in NBA postseason history. 

In the three games, the Trail Blazers averaged 120.0 points on 48 percent from the field in the three meetings against the Lakers. But surrendered to the Lakers on average 127.7 points on 50.7 percent shooting in the regular season series; were outscored on averaged in fast break points 22.7 to 14.7; were outrebounded to the tune of 50.3 to 37.7. Only the Dallas Mavericks allowed more points per game at 126.8 than the Trail Blazers did at 123.4 during the restart. 

"I mean, you're not going to stop LeBron James from being LeBron James," Lillard said. "You just can't let him be the best version of himself. You got to try to limit him as much as you can, and that will increase your chance to win a game." 

"I think the thing we have on our side is the fact that we had to be on edge since we've been here. Every game that we've played has been down to the wire. We've kind of been prepared for playoff basketball for the last, you know, two to three weeks. We did our first job, which   

While the Lakers might not have played well during the restart, James assured Haynes that their chemistry is good and that they are ready to make their run toward the franchise's 17th Larry O'Brien trophy. 

"One thing about our team, we have zero lack of team chemistry and comradery," James said. "It's probably close as ever before because of the situation, even more since were here. So Lake Show, Laker nation don't worry about that...We're great."  

Prediction: Lakers in six games.

           (4) Houston Rockets versus (5) Oklahoma City Thunder

                      (44-28)                                          (44-28)

Regular Season Series: Thunder won 2-1.

Playoff Series History: Thunder (previously known as the Seattle Supersonics) lead all-time 6-2; Last Meeting: Thunder defeated the Rockets 4-1 in the 2017 West Quarterfinals.

Juicy storylines and familiarity is all over this West No. 4 versus No. 5 tilt, that is headlined by three future Hall of Famers, with two former Kia MVPs on one side, and one of the best leaders of a basketball team in the NBA currently.

Perennial All-Star guards James Harden, the 2018 Kia MVP and Russell Westbrook, the 2017 Kia MVP both began their NBA careers with the Thunder before they were dealt to the Rockets in 2012 and 2019 respectively, while 10-time All-Star Chris Paul, the President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) was dealt to the Thunder after two seasons with Harden in “Clutch City” through a July 2019 deal for Westbrook.

The Thunder took two of the three tilts against the Thunder, but that was before the team went all in on head coach Mike D’Antoni’s “small-ball style of play on Jan. 31 and really went all-in when the traded starting center Clint Capela to the Hawks at the Feb, 6 trade deadline.

While the Rockets went a solid 14-10 with their new lineup that had no one over 6-foot-7 in the starting five, they were outrebounded by double-digits in 15 of those 24 games.

In their three-game series against the Thunder, the Rockets were outrebounded an average of 9.6 (50.3-40.7)

They relied on their ability to make threes and force turnovers and for the most part it worked. It also gave Harden (34.3 ppg-Leads NBA, 7.5 apg, 6.6 rpg, 1.8 spg, 35.5 3-Pt.%) and Westbrook (27.2 ppg, 7.0 apg, 7.9 rpg, 1.6 spg, 47.2 FG%) more room to attack the paint off the dribble, and they thrived beyond belief.

The problem for the Rockets is they will not have Westbrook at the start of their series against the Thunder after an MRI performed on Aug. 12 revealed a strain of his right quadriceps.

Not having that kind of tool in Coach D’Antoni’s toolbox will be a major factor in how the Thunder defend the Rockets. That means Harden, who averaged 28.7 points, 5.3 assists and five rebounds against the Thunder will see more bodies surrounding him when he drives into the painted area or when he is on the perimeter positioning himself for his familiar step back three point tries or drives to the whole that draw fouls that put him on the foul line or create openings for open three-point shots. 

While Harden, who led the NBA with 299 made threes in the regular season has registered three strong regular seasons with averages of 33.6 points on 44.5 percent shooting, making 4.3 triples and attempting 10.9 free throws, he has averaged 29.5 points but just just 41.2 percent from the floor, making 3.3 three-pointers and attempting 8.8 free throws the last three postseasons. 

Without Westbrook and his dribble penetration, it puts more pressure on Eric Gordon (14.4 ppg) to really step up and become that secondary scorer, which might be asking a lot since he only played in two of the eight seeding games because of a sprained left ankle sustained before the restart.

That means the likes of Jeff Green (12.2 ppg, 56.4 FG%, 35.4 3-pt.% w/Rockets), Robert Covington (12.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 spg, 35.6 3-Pt.% w/Timberwolves & Rockets), Danuel House, Jr. (10.5 ppg, 36.3 3-Pt.%), Ben McLemore (10.1 ppg, 40.0 3-Pt.%), Austin Rivers (8.8 ppg, 35.6 3-Pt.%) and P.J. Tucker(6.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 35.8 3-Pt.%) will have to find ways to get shots and be productive against Thunder defense that held them to an average of 105 points on 23 percent from three-point range-the worst three-point percentage by one team against another during the regular season.

Besides bringing a defensive tenacity to their series against the Rockets, head coach Billy Donovan’s team will bring a three-guard rotation of Paul (17.6 ppg, 6.7 apg-Leads team, 1.6 spg-Leads team48.9 FG%, 36.5 3-Pt.%), who averaged 20.3 points and 2.7 steals on 45.5 percent from three-point range; Kia Sixth Man of the Year candidate Dennis Schroder (18.9 ppg, 46.9 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%), who just recently returned to campus after leaving on Aug. 3 to be with his wife for the birth of their second child; and second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19.0 ppg-Leads team, 5.9 rpg, 47.1 FG%), who averaged combined 48.3 points during the seeding games. 

"You sort of had a feeling this was going to happen anyway," Paul said Haynes about the matchup against the Rockets, who he played the last seasons for. "It's like, this is obviously you know, what the fans wanted to see, you know? I think, you know, for us it was just trying to make sure our team was healthy, their team was healthy. And let's get to it." 

The also have a solid supporting cast of Danilo Gallinari (18.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 40.5 3-Pt.%), Steven Adams (10.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 59.2 FG%), Nerlens Noel, Luguentz Dort, rookie Darius Bazley, Mike Muscala, and perimeter defensive ace Andre Roberson, who is back after a nearly two-year absence because of a major knee injury.

What really gives the Thunder the edge in this series is that in clutch games this season, they have been the best in the league with a 30-14 record in games that are within five points or fewer in the last five minutes of regulation or overtime.

In their next to last game of the restart, the Thunder rallied from a 22-point fourth quarter deficit in their 116-115 win versus the Heat on Aug. 12, that was capped by Muscala three-pointer with 05.2 seconds left that ended up being the game-winner. The Rockets in clutch games were not too bad either at 19-13.

The Rockets have the star power in this series with Harden and Westbrook, pending on if he plays. But the Thunder have the deeper and more complete team with the savvy and playoff-tested Paul; Adams who should dominate the glass against the smaller Rockets front court; a crafty penetrating guard in Gilgeous-Alexander; along with the ability to make plays when it counts. Provided that Westbrook returns, this series has the makings of being an epic one, with the Thunder edging it out. 

If the Rockets fall this time short of at least the Western Conference Finals, things could look very different on the sideslines as Coach D'Antoni's contract is up at seasons end.  

As for if Paul and Harden, who had not the best of endings to their relationship as teammates,  Paul told Haynes back in December 2019 that they do not talk but Paul wishes Harden well. 

"Sometimes you have teammates, and it is for that period of time but that's okay, you know?" Paul said. "You can wish each other well going forward. It don't mean you have to be kumbaya, and it does not mean you have to be enemies." 

Prediction: Thunder in seven games.

           (3) Denver Nuggets versus (6) Utah Jazz

                      (46-27)                             (44-28)

Regular Season Series: Jazz won 3-0.

Playoff Series History: Jazz lead all-time 3-1; Last Meeting: Jazz defeated the Nuggets 3-0 in the 2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

The NBA Playoffs more often than not are about who you match up well against that can dictate how successful you are. In the case of the Utah Jazz, their postseason has ended at the hands of the Houston Rockets the last two postseasons. While they will never admit on camera they wanted they are trying to avoid a certain opponent, the team they will face up against in the opening-round of this year’s playoffs they feel that they have a much better chance of defeating the boys from the “Mile High City,” especially how they competed in their final matchup despite the fact they were on the wrong end of the scoreboard.

Despite losing all three tilts against the Denver Nuggets, which included a thrilling 134-132 double-overtime loss on Aug 8., the Jazz lost those three contests by a combined total of 11 points.

All three meetings between the Nuggets and Jazz during the regular season were clutch games-were within five points in the last five minutes, which both teams were involved in plenty of during the regular season

The Jazz (17-13) and the Nuggets (29-16) represented the No. 4 and No. 6 records in clutch games, respectively.  

Neither team enters this series with the kind of sterling momentum that you want. Both teams finished the seeding games with equal 3-5 marks, winning no more than two straight games during the seeding portion of their time so far in Orlando.

Both the Nuggets and Jazz will also enter this opening-round series a little short-handed.

Head Coach Quin Snyder’s team began the restart missing the scoring and sharp shooting off Bojan Bogdanovic (20.2 ppg, 44.7 FG%, 41.4 3-Pt.%), who had surgery on his right wrist in May. They will also be without starting lead guard Mike Conley (14.4 ppg and 4.4 apg, 37.5 3-Pt.%), who left ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Sunday to return to Columbus, OH for the birth of his son. If that was not enough, the Jazz will be without reserve big man Ed Davis, who according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski will be out for at least the First-Round of this postseason due to an undisclosed injury to the MCL in his left knee. 

"I think our whole team right now, you know, wants Mike to be where he is, and I know he's with us in mind an spirit," Coach Snyder said during his Game 1 pregame presser. "But his body needs to be with his baby, and with Mary, and we're thrilled that he's able to experience that and look forward to him coming back soon. This is a good time for everybody to pull together."

This means first-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell (24.0 ppg-leads team, 44.9 FG%, 36.6 3-Pt. %) will have to not only need to carry the load offensively even more but be the primary facilitator for his teammates.

While Mitchell was solid in clutch situations in the three meetings against the Jazz going 8 for 18 from the field, including 3 for 6 from three-point range, the rest of the Jazz were just 2 for 19 shooting in clutch. 

For the Nuggets, they have had their share of injuries and lack of stellar play to deal with themselves. They have been without key wing players in Will Barton and Gary Harris for the entire restart (aside from a scrimmage in the case of Barton) and have not seen live action on the court for a little over five months. If Barton and Harris, who provide a combined 35 games of playoff experience can return to the floor, their experience and defensive intensity can provide a huge lift for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets did get starting lead guard Jamal Murray (18.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, 45.6 FG%) in the fifth game of the restart against the Jazz and registered 23 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists in 39 minutes in the aforementioned double-overtime victory.

As good as Murray was in the win, All-Star center Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets leader in points (19.9) rebounds (9.7), and assists (7.0), the only player in the league to do so during the regular season was terrific with a team-high 30 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals on 11 for 21 shooting against the Jazz.

Jokic, who tied LeBron James for No. 2 in the league with 13 triple-doubles during the regular season rose those season averages against the Jazz to 29.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, nine assists, and 2.7 steals in the three meetings was exceptionally good in the clutch going 11 for 17 from the floor with the game within five points in the last five minutes (going 11 for 15 from two-point range). Overall, Jokic has shot 36 for 64 from the field. He was the reason the Nuggets got to the second overtime when he scored a layup in the closing seconds of the first overtime as time expired

The Nuggets will need for Jokic to play to that level against reigning two-time Kia Defensive Players of the Year Rudy Gobert (15.1 ppg, 13.5 rpg-4^th NBA, 2.0 bpg, 69.3 FG%), who has been on the winning end of the eight out of 14 tilts they’ve have gone against one another.

Two other keys to who comes out on top in this series which wildcard on either side will rise to the moment.

The wildcard for the Jazz is Jordan Clarkson (15.2 ppg, 45.4 FG%, 36.8 3-Pt.%), who in the 106-100 loss at the Nuggets on Jan. 30 on TNT, registered 24 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter that got the Jazz close before Jokic took over in the closing minutes.

For the Nuggets, their wildcard in rookie Michael Porter, Jr. (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 50.9 FG%, 42.2 3-Pt.%) has really played well in the absence of Barton and Harris averaging 22.0 points and 8.6 rebounds on 55.1 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from three-point range in 34.6 minutes in the restart, which included a four-game stretch where he averaged 29.3 points and 12.5 rebounds. In that double-overtime win against the Jazz, Porter, Jr. had 23 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.

“Michael is slowly but surely understanding, ‘Who am I playing with? And the quicker I understand, the easier the offense will be,” Coach Malone said of Porter, Jr. “Especially in the playoffs, you need three scorers. You can’t rely on just two. We did a lot of that last year, and that put a tremendous amount of pressure and demand on Nikola.”

If the Nuggets can continue to get the production they have out of Porter, Jr., as well as Jerami Grant (12.0ppg, 47.8 FG%, 38.9 3-Pt.%), Paul Millsap (11.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 48.2 FG%, 43.5 3-Pt.%), PJ Dozier, Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris (9.0 ppg, 3.5 apg 45.9 FG%, 37.8 3-Pt.%), Torrey Craig, they should be able to handle the Jazz, who will be looking to Joe Ingles (9.8 ppg, 5.2 apg, 39.9 3-Pt.%), Emmanuel Mudiay, Royce O’Neale, George Niang and Tony Bradley to make up for the lost production of Bogdanovic and Conley. 

For Coach Malone though, he wants his Nuggets squad to really take the challenge of playing better defensively, which they did not do in the restart surrendering on average 123.3 points in their eight seeding games, while ranking 21st, 20th, and 21st respectively in opponent's three-point percentage, field goal percentage, and assists.

“Right now, we have the worst defense in the bubble, by a mile,” he said after the 126-111 loss against the Clippers last Wednesday on ESPN. “We need guys that can guard. Too many guys right now are just matadors. We just get beat too easy at the point of the ball.”

It did not get any better in the 117-109 loss against the Raptors in the regular-season finale on Friday, where the Nuggets allowed the Raptors, mostly their third stringers to go 18 for 35 (51.4 percent) from three-point range.

“I think you play good defense because you commit to it. It’s a priority. It’s something you want to do,” Coach Malone, whose team allowed on average 123.3 points in the eight seeding games said postgame after the loss at the Raptors.

“We haven’t defended in any of our eight games. We have a lot of room for improvement on that end, and I’m hoping that comes Monday afternoon. We can find a way to defend better than we have in these eight games, and three scrimmages that we’ve had.”

He added about the abysmal three-point defense, “This is common theme. I’m embarrassed by it-I really am-by the fact that every night we’re giving up 16,17,18 threes. A year ago, we had the No. 1 three-point defense in the NBA. Right now, it’s almost comical how bad our three-point defense is.”

The Nuggets seemed to have the upper hand entering this series, especially depth wise over the Jazz without having as well as Bogdanovic and Davis. That said, if the Nuggets do not bring the necessary focus at the defensive end, this series could be up for grabs, especially with no home court advantage. 

Prediction: Nuggets in six games.

 (2) Los Angeles Clippers versus (7) Dallas Mavericks

                      (49-23)                                (43-32)

Regular Season Series: Clippers won 3-0.

Playoff Series History: First ever playoff meeting.

The Los Angeles Clippers have spent the better part of the past year, and really for three-plus decades for this moment of entering the playoffs as a serious title contender for the first time in their L.A. history. While took a 4.5 month wait from the middle of March to the restart in late July to reach this point, the Clippers are primed to make what they hope is an epic assault on the Larry O’Brien trophy starting with their opponent who hope their dynamic offensive tandem can be a road block to the boys from the “City of Angels” charge toward their first title.

When the Clippers signed 2019 reigning Finals MVP and two-time champion Kawhi Leonard (27.1 ppg-8^th NBA, 7.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.8 spg, 47.0 FG%, 37.8 3-Pt.%) and perennial All-Star swingman Paul George (21.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 41.2 3-Pt.%), that was a clear indicator that now matter what happened during the regular season, they were going to be measured on what they do here in the 2020 Playoffs.

For the Clippers, who went 4-4 in the restart will enter the 2020 Playoffs with a battle tested Leonard, a two-time Finals MVP who has led the San Antonio Spurs and the Raptors to the top of the NBA mountain in 2014 and last season, respectively. They have a head coach in Glenn “Doc” Rivers, who knows how to navigate the turbulent waters of the NBA postseason having led the Celtics to the NBA title while on the sidelines in 2008 with future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Hall of Famer Ray Allen, and now Lakers lead guard Rajon Rondo and on the cusp of another title in 2010.

They also enter the playoffs with a deep roster of Kia Sixth Man of the Year candidates in Montrezl Harrell (18.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Lou Williams (18.2 ppg, 5.6 apg, 35.2 3-Pt.%); Marcus Morris, Sr. (16.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 40.8 3-Pt.%), Ivica Zubac (8.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 61.3 FG%), Landry Shamet (9.3 ppg, 37.5 3-Pt.%), Patrick Beverly (7.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 38.8 3-Pt.%); JaMychal Green (6.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 38.7 3-Pt.%); Reggie Jackson (11.9 ppg, 39.3 3-Pt.% w/Pistons & Clippers); Patrick Patterson, and Joakim Noah.

While some of the teams used the seeding games to polish some things on both sides of the ball as well as get their playing rotations down, the Clippers dealt injuries and player unavailability that was a theme for them all regular season.

Aside from the final seven games before the hiatus, going 10-1 overall when they had all their full roster available. Williams and Harrell left campus to attend to personal matters.

Coach Rivers will have a full deck to start the playoffs and will have to figure out who to play and when to play them during this postseason, which is a problem a lot of teams would dream of having. He will also enter with a squad that shot 40.8 percent from three-point range during the restart. They were one of five squads during the seeding games that shot 40 percent from three-point range. 

It has been four years since the Dallas Mavericks were in the playoffs and eight years since they advanced passed the First-Round.

Their dynamic tandem of Luka Doncic (28.8 ppg-6^th NBA, 9.4 rpg, 8.8 apg-3^rd NBA 46.3 FG%) and Kristaps Porzingis (20.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg-Leads team, 35.2 3-Pt.%) have lead one of the most dynamic offenses in NBA history to their first postseason appearance since 2016.

Head coach Rick Carlisle has blended a solid supporting cast around his two young stars in Tim Hardaway, Jr. (15.8 ppg, 39.8 3-Pt.%), Seth Curry (12.4 ppg, 49.5 FG%, 45.2 3-Pt.%), Dorian Finney-Smith (9.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 46.6 FG%, 37.6 3-Pt.%), Delon Wright (6.9 ppg, 46.2 FG%, 37.0 3-Pt.%), Boban Marjanovic (6.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 57.3 FG%), and Maxi Kleber (9.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 46.1 FG%, 37.3 3-Pt.%).

For all of the promise of what might come in the future for the Mavericks, the present has them going against a team in the Clippers team that showed during the regular season they have everything in their tool box to deal with the boys from “Big D” and their two best offensive players.

While his playing career overseas prepared him for the playoff burden, nothing can prepare you for being guarded by three of the best perimeter defenders in the league in Leonard, George, and Beverly. 

During the regular season, the trio of Clippers defenders managed to contain the league's newest sensation. While Doncic put up solid number of 29.0 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds in the three meetings against the Clippers, he only shot just 27.3 percent from three-point range in their three regular season matchups (shot 31.6 3-Pt.% during the regular season). 

Going from Kia Rookie of the Year to a candidate for Kia MVP does not happen without the awareness of the daunting task that may lie ahead of you.

That awareness led to Doncic averaging a near triple-double in the restart of 30.3 points,  9.7 assists, and 10.1 rebounds, on 48 percent shooting, producing three of his league-leading 17 triple-doubles in the restart, which was triple what the rest of the league put up in the seeding games of one. He also scored or assisted on an average of 51.6 points for the Mavericks during the regular season, becoming the youngest player to create on average 50 points per contest in a season. 

Doncic will be ready for this moment. How well he does when being checked by Leonard, George and Beverly remains to be seen.

Getting help from his running mate in Porzingis would ease that burden for Doncic. If Porzingis can produce like he did during the restart to the averages of 30.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks on 47.6 FG% and 38.1 3-Pt.%), the Mavericks could give the Clippers a run this series.

What they need specifically from Porzingis is a consistent diet of shot attempts from the post and scoring on the offensive glass rather than strictly shooting from the perimeter, specifically from three-point range, especially if he is going to be checked by Harrell.

This series a case where it will be the defensive-minded, experienced Clippers against the majestic, high-octane offense of the Mavericks. These contrasting styles usually make for a compelling series, as long as both sides hold up their end of things. The Clippers showed their experience winning the first meeting in dominant fashion 114-99 in Dallas on Nov. 26, 2019 on NBATV, and the third meeting back on Aug 6. in Orlando 126-111 on TNT.

They also showed that they can win close games, like they did when won at the Mavericks on Jan. 21 win (110-107 on NBATV), which is something the Mavericks struggled doing in the regular season going just 2-11 in one possession games and have registered 18 losses during the regular season by five points or less.

Leonard as stoic as he has displayed throughout his entire career, he and his teammates are on a mission, and they have the confidence to do whatever it takes to win that first ever title and really show that finally they are no longer in the shadow of their so-called big brother in the 17-time NBA champion Lakers.

The Clippers do have history on their side. Since 2010, the No. 2 Seed has reached The Finals nine times. Eight of the last nine NBA Finalsts have been represented by the No. 2 Seed, with the latest being the reigning NBA champion Raptors, that were led by Leonard. 

Prediction: Clippers in six games.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 2/24/2020 www.espn.com story, “Pacers Guard Jeremy Lamb Done For The Season, Meniscus;” 3/6/2020 8 p.m. TNT “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal the First-Round Series Preview of all eight matchups on www.nba.com/first-round-series-preview; all 16 teams at https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/schedule/-/name;   https://www.espn.com/nba/standing; 7/31/2020 9 p.m. “Houston Rockets versus Dallas Mavericks” on ESPN, presented by State Farm with Mark Jones, Doris Burke, and Rachel Nichols; 8/14/2020 11:30 p.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter,” with John Anderson and John Buccigross; 8/14/2020 www.espn.com story via The Associated Press; “Magic’s Mo Bamba Leaves Bubble For Post-Coronavirus Evaluation, To Miss Playoffs;” 8/13/2020 11:35 p.m. ESPN's "Sportscenter," with John Buccigross and Kenny Mayne; 8/15/2020 12 a.m. NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by State Farm with Matt Winer, Grant Hill, and Quentin Richardson; 8/15/2020 11 p.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” with John Anderson and Kenny Mayne; 8/17/2020 1 p.m. ESPN's "NBA Countdown," presented by Mountain Dew with Maria Taylor, Jay Williams, Jalen Rose, and Kirk Goldsberry; 8/18/2020 12:30 p.m. NBATV's "Playoff Central Live," with Matt Winer and Isiah Thomas; 8/18/2020 1:30 p.m. TNT "NBA "Tip-Off," presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Suagquille O'Neal; 8/18/2020 3:30 p.m. "Brooklyn Nets Pregame" on YES, presented by Fanduel Sportsbook with Michael Grady, Jim Spanarkel, and Sarah Kustok; 8/18/2020, 1 a.m. NBATV's "Gametime," presented by Toyota with Ro Parrish, Dennis Scott, and Gary Payton; 8/19/2020 12:30 p.m. NBATV's "Playoff Central Live," with Matt Winer, Quentin Richardson, and Brendan Haywood; https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=401161368; https://www.espn.com/nba/game/boxscoregameid=401161198; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Orlando_Magic_seasons; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Miami_Heat_seasons; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/76ers_Celtics_rivalry; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Toronto_Raptors_seasons; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Utah_Jazz_seasons.