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Writer's pictureMarvin Azrak

NBA PLAYOFFS UPDATE: TITLE FAVORITES IN TROUBLE

NBA:

PLAY-IN RECAP:

Trae Young dropped 38 points and the nine seeded Hawks rallied to stun the 8 seeded Cavs 107-101. It wasn’t something I expected with Jarret Allen in, but kudos to the Hawks for getting it done and advancing to the playoffs, needing to win two play-in games with the other being a 132-103 rout of ten seeded Charlotte.

As Cleveland, it was an overall growth season from a 22 win team to a 44 win team this year, but the way it ended, with your team crashing down from fourth in the East around the all-star break

to missing the playoffs is disappointing. However, if they play their cards right and build around guys Darius Garland, they should be back soon.


The ninth seeded Pelicans rallied from a 13 point deficit for an exhilarating 105-101 win over the eighth seeded Clippers to earn the right to get ripped apart by the Suns in round one. Yes this was a dramatic finish, but they barley beat a clippers team without PG13 and Kawahi. That doesn’t strike much fear into me. Still, the fact they overcame the loss of Zion Williamson and are here after taking down the Spurs(113-103) and Clippers is a tremendous accomplishment and one Brandon Ingram(30 pts in this game ) and those guys should be proud of.


ROUND 1:

EAST:

MIAMI HEAT(1) (53-29) VS ATLANTA HAWKS (9) (45-39) (MIA leads 2-0)

Understandably so, the Hawks looked emotionally spent in game one after two straight winner take all play-in games, and the top-seeded Heat capitalized winning going away 115-91. A microsim of the contest underly in these stats, as Jimmy Butler dropped 21, and Duncan Robinson splashed eight threes’s part of a 27 point performance, while Trae Young shot 1-12 with a measly eight points.

Game two however provided more drama as the determined Hawks kept it close through throughout, but Butler took over late on both sides of the ball and ignited the white-out crowd with an electric 45 points, propelling Miami to a 115-105 win and a commanding 2-0 series lead. By the looks of it, maybe Atlanta gets one at home, but I got Heat in five.


PHILADELPHIA 76ERS(4) (51-31) VS TORONTO RAPTORS(5) (48-34) (PHI leads 3-0)

For those who saw my predictions, I said Toronto was going to win this series, but I’m okay with being wrong because if it means we’re getting this version of James Harden throughout these playoffs, count me in.

While Tyrese Maxey and Joel Emblid have been at the forefront of this series, it’s Harden’s selfless play that has garnered Philly a sweep opportunity come Saturday.

Maxey lit up the Raptors for 36 points in the 131-111 game 1 victory, but Harden quietly had 22 points and 14 assists as well. Game two featured a 31 point outburst from Joel Emblid, and 23 from Tyrese Maxey as well as 20 points from Tobias Harris. But James Harden chipped in with a well-rounded 14 points, six rebounds and six assists as the series shifted to Toronto.


In Air Canada centre, James Harden silenced the doubters with 19 points six rebounds and 10 assists keeping Philly close against a feisty Raptors squad playing out of desperation. The 76ers didn’t lead for all of regulation, turned the ball over 24 times, and even after rallying down 17 ,muffed a chance to win it at the end of regulation. But when push came to shove, Emblid sank the Raps with a buzzer-beater to win in overtime 104-101 and pull to within 48 minutes of the second round.


BOSTON CELTICS(2) VS BROOKLYN NETS(7) (BOS leads 2-0)

Nets fans changed “We want Boston” towards the end of their 115-108 play-in round win over the Cavs thinking it would work just as it did when they knocked the C’s out in 5 last year. Well the revamped Celtics have assured at the least that won’t happen after rallying in dramatic fashion to hold serve at home and take a 2-0 series lead to Barclays Center. Game one saw the teams trade blows, but Boston opened up a 15 point lead in the third quarter and seemingly were about to run away with the opener. But Kyrie Irving, who was heckled all night by his ex-fans, rose to the occasion and while fasting, had a 39 point outburst a majority of which were in the second half. Irving nailed a 3 to give the visitors a 114-111 lead, but a Jaylen Brown layup with 39 seconds left brought them to within a bucket. Well-executed Boston defense forced an auspicious Kevin Durant into an uncomfortable step back trey which missed and allowed the Celtics a chance to win it. Durant finished the opener shooting 9/24 with 23 points. Looking for a scoop and score, Boston worked the ball around before Brown found a cutting Jayson Tatum who got by KD for the buzzer-beating layup and an exhilarating 115-114 game one win.


In game two, the Nets led by 17 at one point but tenacious defense by Boston slowed them to a crawl at times. Offensively, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart(Defensive player of the year) and Al Horford helped the C’s make it close, only down 90-83 headed into the fourth. With TD Garden in a frenzy, Brown engineered a 19-4 run, for a lead Boston would never relinquish en route to a 114-107 victory.

Honestly, it’s quantity over quality with this game. Boston used their depth to slow Brooklyn down and impose their will in the contest. KD and Kyrie combined to shoot a woeful 8-30 as the two superstars are searching for answers as the series goes to Brooklyn.



MILWAUKEE BUCKS(3) VS CHICAGO BULLS(6) (Series tied 1-1)

The Bulls kryptonite all season has been beating the big boys so it was no surprise when despite not playing their best brand of basketball in the series opener, the reigning-champion Bucks took game one 93-86. But in game two, Demar Derozan went for 41 points and Chicago exercised some demons forcing the Bucks to think a bit especially after losing Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis due to injury during the 114-110 home loss.


WEST:

PHOENIX SUNS(1) (64-18) VS NEW ORLEANS PELICANS(38-46) (9)

I was ready to come on here and write about a Suns wipeout, but after hearing the news Devin Booker sustained early in the second half of game two coming off of a 31 point first half, and a 110-99 game one win, and then seeing how the Suns collectively were crushed 125-114 without him, I’m now uncertain about this series.



DALLAS MAVERICKS(52-30) (4) VS UTAH JAZZ(49-33) (5) (Series tied 1-1)

Despite being Luka-less in game one, Dallas put forth a good fight and almost took home the win, but a late three by Royce O Neal provided the separation Utah needed for Donovan Mitchell(32 points) to head to the charity stripe and lock up a 99-93 series opening win. But game two will forever be known as the “Jared Brunson game”, for he channeled his inner Donic and went for 41 points as the Mavericks evened the series with a 110-104 game two win and expect Luka back for game three in Utah.


MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES(2) VS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (7) (Series tied 1-1)

Memphis thought this would be just like the regular season, and take out a Wolves team who were emotionally invested in their 109-104 play-in win over the Clippers, but soon learned that playoff basketball is a different breed, when they were humbled 130-117 in the opener, as the young star Anthony Edwards was feeling it with 40 points. Memphis did bounce back in game two, bludgeoning the Wolves 124–96 in the type of game that we expect to see more of throughout this series


GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS(3) VS DENVER NUGGETS(6) (GSW leads 2-0)

Stephen Curry is back from Injury which means the Warriors we all know and most of us love are too. Golden State ripped Denver 123-107 in game one behind Jordan Poole’s 30 points and then proceeded to score 70 points in 19 minutes in the second half, with Curry’s 34 points leading a 126-106 game two win.




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