Cavaliers (97) vs. (83) Magic
Cavaliers are a better offensive team compared to the Magic, a team still in the works
The Magic have had a great rebuilding season, especially compared to the Pistons, but, at this rate, the Cavaliers look like the better team. Orlando has been THE example of what a good rebuild year looks like, but with so many young guys at the core of the team – Paolo Banchero (21), Franz Wagner (22), and Jalen Suggs (22) – there’s going to be a lack of experience.
In game #1, we saw how true that was: The Cavs dominated down low with guys like Jarret Allen, who pulled down 18 rebounds and outscored the Magic in the paint (48-36). Despite Orlando having one of the better defenses in the regular season, the Cavs have more shooting talent giving them an advantage over the Magic in this seven-game series. Neither of these teams has a good playoff record, so even with all that said, there’s still room for the narrative to change.
Timberwolves (120) vs. (95) Suns
The Suns (lack of) roster depth might make for a shorter series.
While the Suns have starters Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal to rely on, they don’t have much quality on the sideline which could be problematic for the rest of their series against the Timberwolves. Minnesota had Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker contribute significantly from off the bench for a combined 30 points, and, aside from two players, the team’s entire roster contributed at least two points. In the meantime, the Suns bench only contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, and one assist.
A better performance from Booker would turn things around for Phoenix and a better showing on the backboard would help, with the Timberwolves nearly doubling them in rebounds in game #1 (52-28). During the regular season, Minnesota struggled against the Suns, having the most trouble with defensive matchups against Booker and Durant. So for the Sun’s lack of skill on the bench to become a factor in this series, the Timberwolves defense needs to keep locking down Phoenix’s dangerous shooters.
Knicks (111) vs. (104) 76ers
The Knicks roster can step up and The Sixers need Embiid
The Sixers did a great job of putting pressure on Jalen Brunson, who shot 8 for 26 against Philly, however, the Knicks roster picked up for the team’s leading scorer. Josh Hart (22 points) and Miles McBride (21 points) were instrumental in making up for Brunson’s rough shooting night, while Bojan Bogdanovic and Isaiah Hartenstein were both given the difficult task of guarding Joel Embiid.
We also saw, to every Philadelphia fan’s horror, what could’ve been a devastating reinjury to Embiid’s left knee, coming off in the 2nd quarter after an odd landing left him hugging his knee. He returned in the third quarter to help shift the momentum back in Philly’s favor and retake the lead after trailing at halftime.
Even if Tyrese Maxey plays a huge scoring role for the Sixers, the Knicks had no solid answer for Embiid in the paint, and with Giannis injured, they’ll try to take advantage of less congestion in down low. But, if that knee injury continues to reappear, the Sixers could be in trouble.
Nuggets (114) vs. (103) Lakers
Nuggets SHOULD and the Lakers COULD.
Any game in this series between the Lakers and the Nuggets is bound to be a close game of entertaining basketball. The teams are a good matchup for each other, with bigs like Anthony David and Nikola Jokic and shooters like Jamal Murray and D’Angelo Russell. Matchups aside, Denver has an advantage since Murray and Jokic have been so integral in running the well-oiled machine that is the Nuggets.
However, since these are two of the most efficient shooting teams in the league, either team could go on a scoring run to pull ahead at the last-minute game, so there’s no counting the Lakers out if Denver takes the lead as they did in game #1. On top of that, BOTH teams are known to be some of the best teams in the clutch, and while that is where the Nuggets excelled in last year’s playoffs, I think the Lakers should at least one game from the Nuggets during this series.
Celtics (114) vs. (94) Heat
Jimmy Butler the Miami Heat need you.
Miami is the unfortunate team to face Boston in the first round of the playoffs this year and the game went about as you would’ve expected. After picking up a knee injury during the play-in game against the 76ers, the Heat will have to play their series without their star scorer Jimmy Butler, notorious for his postseason alter-ego ‘Playoff Jimmy’.
In reality, there wasn’t a lot we learned from this game. The Heat took advantage of size down low, doubling the Celtics in points in the paint, but it’s clear that their zone defense doesn’t work against a team like Boston with so many three-point shooters. So even with Butler, the Heat might be able to extend the series and possibly put up a fight on offense, but even so, their chances of moving on to the next round would still be slim.
Clippers (109) vs. (97) Mavericks
The Mavericks cannot be a Second Half team in this series
The Mavericks had a lot of trouble getting things going in the first half, and while they shot better in the second half, James Harden and Paul George were already pushing full steam ahead. Zubac dominated inside early on, getting 15 points in the first quarter alone, and with Kawhi Leonard out, Harden stepped up with 8 assists and 28 points. The Mavericks saw what was going on with Zubac, but when trying to collapse on Defense, they gave up too many opportunities to players on the perimeter.
When you look at the box score for game one, it’s clear that the Mavericks cannot rely solely on Irving and Doncic, who together had 20 rebounds and 64 assists. So, whether it’s getting the team to crack down on defense in the first half, or putting the rest of the roster in positions to support the two stars, something has to change for this Dallas team if they want to see past game four or five of this series.
Bucks (109) – (94) Pacers
The Pacers might’ve had an ‘off-game’
When Miluakee pulled ahead to a 27-point lead by halftime, the Pacers didn’t look so hot, shooting 8 for 39 from three-point range. Now, did Damian Lillard score 35 points in the first half, setting a Bucks scoring record for points in one half of a playoff game? Absolutely. But Lillard wasn’t the only reason: Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Pat Beverley’s phenomenal performances contributed to the Bucks staying ahead for most of the game.
That said, seeing the Pacers only put up 94 points is unlike them, and I could be like Tyrese Haliburton said, “The ball wasn’t hopping.”
It could’ve been an off-game, but they’ll definitely have to change their shot choices because while Myles Turner played well, there is no scenario where he should be shooting TEN three-pointers in one game. Maybe they can shake it off, but the Pacers can’t afford another ‘off-game’ against the Bucks since it’s clear they don’t need Giannis to win games.
Thunder (94) vs. (92) Pelicans
The Pelicans could take the Thunder to game #7
The OKC Thunder is one of the youngest teams in the League right now and despite their lack of playoff experience, they looked really good in Game #1. OKC recognized the Pelicans as another three-point team and put pressure on players like Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum to keep them from too many easy shots.
The Pelicans played well despite missing Zion Williamson due to a hamstring injury he picked up during the play-in, but the perimeter defense from OKC was what inevitably caused them the most problems. OKC’s Luguentz Dort was all over Brandon Ingram all game, who kept him to only 12 points, but more specifically kept him out of the paint. While they are a more physical team, without Zion on the court, the Pelicans have to give that roll to guys like Ingram, who don’t have that same level of physicality on both ends of the floor. But that said, they still only lost by two points, meaning one more offensive rebound or one more pass to the open man, and the Pelicans could’ve taken this first game.
