The NBA playoffs are in full swing. There are series that went exactly how most experts saw them going. There are series going the complete opposite way most people thought. There are many storylines to look at half way through the first round. Let's talk about them!
Completed Series:
Let's start with the series that most everyone saw going the way it went. The Thunder swept the Suns winning by an average of 17.25 points. It was never much of a series, and not one really thought it would be. The Thunder now rest and wait to see who prevails from the Lakers and Rockets series. As far as predictions go, I had this series as a 4-0 sweep. Lay up of a pick, can't miss your layups.
Staying in the Western Conference, the Spurs completed a gentleman's sweep against the Blazers on Tuesday. The Spurs lost game two on a night nothing could go wrong for the Blazers. When that happens you tip your cap and prep for the next game. The Spurs did just that. They won games two, three and four by an average of 17.3 points. They let the Blazers get their one, but gave no more. This was another series I predicted that ended how I had it. I had a game four win for the Blazers but the series still ending 4-1. I'll give my self half credit here.
There series that leads you to a match up with Wemby and the Spurs is the Timberwolves and Nuggets series. That series ended last night as the short handed Wolves took down Jokic and the Nuggets. The Wolves became hobbled during game four watching DiVincenzo tear his Achilles and Anthony Edwards tweaking his knee sidelining him for the remainder of the series and halfway into the next. When you have one of your key players you need someone to step up, losing two stars you really need someone to step up. Ayo Dosunmu was that guy. He dropped 43 in game four to push the Wolves past the Nuggets to take a 3-1 series lead. Unfortunately for the Wolves he would also miss time due to injury. He missed game six due to a calf injury but luckily will be back by game one of the next series. This series ended in six, I had the Wolves in seven. With the injuries to the Wolves, had this gone seven games I don't think the Wolves would have advanced. Now they make the trip to San Antonio to tangle with the two seed Spurs. That series starts May 4th and it should be a good one!
Heading out east to look at a series that came to a brutal end Thursday night. The Knicks took out the Hawks in a 51 point blowout win in game six. The Knicks looked sluggish through the first three games of the series. They suffered close losses in games two and three losing by only a point in both games. Something clicked for the Knicks after their second straight one point loss. They won game three by 16 points, game four by 29 points, and ending the series in game six winning by 51 points! Quite the turn around from games two and three. I had this as a sweep for the Knicks saying "the Knicks are a much better team than the Hawks." Through the first three games that didn't seem to be the case. Games four through six proved the Knicks were a better team that just needed to get a boost. They say sometimes teams need to suffer a loss to get back on track, and that was the case in this series. The Knicks now get to sit back and watch game seven between the Celtics and 76ers to find out who they will play in the conference semifinals.
Games Friday Night:
Let's start with what is in my opinion the most intriguing first round series. The eight seed Magic lead the East's top seed Pistons 3-2 heading into game six. The Pistons find themselves in deep water as they have to win two straight starting with game six tonight in Orlando. As if a road game isn't going to be tough enough, the Pistons are at risk of playing without their second leading postseason scorer, Tobias Harris. He tweaked his ankle in game five and is listed as questionable for tonight. I would be willing to bet he suits up tonight with the season on the line. This series was a swing and a huge miss in my prediction. A predicted series sweep will need to find its way to game seven if I am to stay perfect in predicting the series winner. Game six is tonight and I think the Pistons figure out how to win on the road sending the series to game a seven in Detroit Sunday.
The next game to tip off tonight will be in Toronto. The Cavaliers lead the Raptors in the series 3-2. The Cavs look to be the first team to win a road game this series and move onto the conference semifinals. This series has been back and forth, every game competitive deep into the fourth quarter. That should continue tonight in game six. With the way the series has gone so far I see this one going all seven games. I think we get a game six that comes down to the final few possessions where a stop and a score lead the Raptors over the Cavs. Game seven will be in Cleveland on Sunday and it should be a good one. Another prediction where I could get the series winner correct in an incorrect amount of games. A Cavs in five prediction has turned into a Cavs in seven prediction.
Late tonight in Houston the Lakers will try to win game six and advance to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder. Both teams have been struggling with the injury bug. The Lakers just got Austin Reeves back for game five and the Lakers will need him to continue to step up in the absence of Luka Doncic. If the Lakers are unable to close the series out in game six they are optimistic that Luka will be back for the all important game seven. The Rockets have only had Durant for game two this series. He is listed as doubtful for tonight's game. If he can not find a way to play tonight I don't think the Rockets stand much of a chance to survive. I had this series going all seven games, but with Durant most likely out tonight, I think it ends tonight in six.
Game Seven Saturday Night:
Boston and Philadelphia are dead locked at three games a piece. The first series in round one to make it to game seven will come to a conclusion Saturday night in Boston. The team in the East with the best odd of winning it all, Boston, are at risk of being eliminated Saturday. The Celtics took control of the series going up 3-1. They squandered the chance to close out the series at home in game five, traveled to Philly for game six and lost that one as well. Now their season is on the line Saturday night. The Celtics are 1-2 at home in the playoffs, not what you typically see from a top seed in the playoffs. I predicted the Celtics to win in five games, which they had a chance to do. But with this series going seven I feel like the series will end differently than originally predicted. I think the 76ers steal another one on the road to advance to the next round to play the Knicks.
Let's enjoy a great weekend of playoff basketball!
Add comment
Comments