Playoffs Day 2, And What Is A #1 Seed? 8.18.20
Today we have 4 more 1st Round NBA Playoff Games featuring Lakers vs Blazers.
Today we have 4 more 1st Round NBA Playoff Games featuring Lakers vs Blazers.
Gordon Hayward will be out 4 weeks with a Grade 3 Ankle Sprain. A huge blow to the Celtics as they lost another scorer and veteran presence.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks lost their first playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Bucks struggled during the seeding games, but we gave them a pass as they were preparing for the playoffs and emphasizing rest over preparation. The Bucks were the most dominant team during the regular season. And they lost vs an 8th seed. And it’s not like if the Lakers lost to the Blazers because the Blazers are not an 8th seed. The Bucks lost to the Magic, the Magic. And it’s not like the game was close. They trailed by 10 at halftime and they never came back into the game as they lost 122-110.
Offensively the Bucks were ok as they shot 43% from the field and 33% from 3. The Bucks were also 18/28 from the free throw line. The Bucks had 11 offensive rebounds as they did a good job creating 2nd chance opportunities. The Bucks had 16 turnovers as they were very sloppy. The Bucks had 42 points in the paint.
Defensively the Bucks were poor as the Magic shot 49% from the field and 39% from 3. The Magic were also 18/19 from the free throw line. The Bucks forced 15 turnovers. The Bucks allowed 40 points in the paint.
Giannis had 31 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 assists as he was very good. George Hill had 16 points off the bench. Eric Bledose added 15 points and 5 assists. Khris Middleton and Wesley Matthews were also in double-figures.
Conclusion
The Bucks… lost their 1st game in the playoffs. Now you really might start to get worried. Some people were getting worried before the playoffs started, which was a bit unnecessary. But now that they lost a game, and not even a close game. So now you have so say you have a problem if you are Milwaukee. Giannis was good, but Khris Middleton was quiet. He will need to play better if the Bucks want to play better. Brook Lopez only had 5 points, so they will need them to step up. And the Bucks defense was bad as the Nikola Vucevic had 35 points and the Magic shot 39% from 3. So there is a lot that the Bucks need to chance in order to win this series.
Miami Heat
The Heat won their first playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Heat are another one of the dark horses in the NBA. They have youth and experience, shooting and defense. Their team is one of the most well-rounded in the league. And the Heat faced a pretty good Indiana team. The Pacers were already short-handed with Domantas Sabonis out and with TJ Warren struggling against the Heat all season long, the Heat looked to impose their will. And they did. The Heat outscored the Pacers by 11 in the 4th quarter and they won 113-101.
Offensively the Heat were good as they shot 49% from the field and 37% from 3. The Heat were also 20/25 from the free throw line. The Heat only tuned the ball over 9 times. The Heat also had 44 points in the paint.
Defensively the Heat were poor as the Pacers shot 48% from the field and 44% from 3. The Pacers were also 19/22 from the free throw line. The Heat forced 13 turnovers. The Heat allowed 44 points in the paint.
Jimmy Butler had 28 points to lead the Heat. Goran Dragic had 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists as well. Bam Adebayo added 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Tyler Herro was in double-figures off the bench.
Conclusion
The Heat were dominant in this game as they imposed their will on the Pacers. The game was close throughout, but Jimmy Butler led the Heat in the 4th and the Heat won Game 1. Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic were excellent and Bam Adebayo was a great inside forced. Tyler Herro was again good off the bench. But those 4 guys really willed the Heat all night long. And the Heat defensively were pretty good as they made things tough on the Pacers. A great way to start the playoffs for Miami.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers lost their 1st playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Pacers have been good in the restart, but they have been short-handed. All-Star Domantas Sabonis has not played at all during the restart and it is unlikely that he plays during this series. TJ Warren has been dealing with a foot injury. So while the Pacers remain competitive, it is unlikely they beat this Heat team. And that held true as the Pacers remained close throughout this game. But the Pacers fell apart in the 4th quarter and they lost 113-101.
Offensively the Pacers were good as they shot 48% from the field and 44% from 3. The Pacers were also 19/22 from the free throw line. The Pacers had 13 turnovers. The Pacers also had 44 points in the paint.
Defensively the Pacers were poor as the Heat shot 49% from the field and 37% from 3. Miami was also 20/25 from the free throw line. The Pacers forced just 9 turnovers. The Pacers allowed 44 points down low.
TJ Warren had 22 points and 8 rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon had 22 points and 10 assists as well. Justin Holiday and JaKarr Sampson were in double figures off the bench.
Conclusion
The Pacers played pretty well saying that they didn’t have an All-Star in Domantas Sabonis. And the Pacers didn’t have Victor Oladipo for most of the game as he got poked in the eye and did not return. So without two of their best players, the Pacers fared pretty well against a Heat team at full strength. The Pacers need to bring more intensity on the Heat and just make it tough for them. The Heat make it tough for the Pacers, so they should return the favor so that they can remain competitive in this series.
OKC Thunder
The Thunder lost their 1st game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Thunder have been the surprise of the year as their lineup featuring 3 All-Star level guards has been the key to their success. And the Thunder had a prime chance to upset the small ball Houston Rockets without Russell Westbrook. But the Thunder came out slow and not ready to play as James Harden picked them apart all night long as the Thunder lost 123-108.
Offensively the Thunder were ok as they shot 44% from the field and 37% from 3. The Thunder were also 21/25 from the free throw line. The Thunder had 12 turnovers. The Thunder also had 38 points in the paint.
Defensively the Thunder were bad as the Thunder shot 48% from the field and 39% from 3. The Rockets were also 17/19 from the free throw line. The Thunder only forced 7 turnovers. The Thunder allowed 46 points in the paint.
Danilo Gallinari had 29 points for OKC. Chris Paul had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Steven Adams added 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Conclusion
The Thunder did not look ready as James Harden and the Thunder picked them apart. The Thunder did not take anything away from the Rockets as they hit 20 3-pointers and had 46 points in the paint. Let that sink in. The small ball Houston Rockets had more points in the paint than the Thunder. So it’s back to the drawing board as the Thunder try and win Game 2 as they look to avoid going down 0-2.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets won their 1st game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their playoffs.
Without Russell Westbrook, many people including myself thought that the Rockets would be in trouble. I thought that the Thunder would be able to defend Harden better without another All-NBA talent on the floor with him. But James Harden proved me wrong. Harden picked the Thunder apart and his teammates stepped up as the Rockets made 20 3-pointers. And the Rockets won convincingly 123-108.
Offensively the Rockets were excellent as they shot 48% from the field and 39% from 3. The Rockets were also 17/19 from the free throw line. The Rockets took care of the ball as they only had 7 turnovers. The Rockets had 46 points down low.
Defensively the Rockets were solid as the Thunder shot 44% from the field and 37% from 3. The Thunder were also 21/25 from the free throw line. The Rockets forced 12 turnovers. The Rockets only allowed 38 points in the paint.
James Harden had 37 points and 11 rebounds for Houston. Jeff Green had 22 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. Eric Gordon had 21 points. Ben McLemore and PJ Tucker were also in double figures.
Conclusion
The Rockets looked very good without Russell Westbrook against the Thunder. Harden got whatever he wanted whenever he wanted it. And he got some help from Eric Gordon and Jeff Green among others. And the Rockets played very well defensively as they didn’t allow much down low. The Rockets had more paint points than the Thunder. That’s just crazy. So without Russell Westbrook, the Rockets looked just fine. If he returns during this series, you have to imagine what kind of storm that would be.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers won their first game in the bubble. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Blazers went through a lot to get into the playoffs. Their reward, the #1 seeded LA Lakers. But the Blazers seemed like a nightmare matchup for LA. With all of their perimeter scoring, and the Lakers lack off defending it, the Blazers were given a solid chance at LA. And they looked excellent. Behind their two All-Star guards, Portland led throughout the game. They trailed by 6 mid-way through the 4th but rallied back and won 100-93.
Offensively the Blazers were ok as they shot 39% from the field and 38% from 3. The Blazers were also 25/33 from the free throw line. The Blazers had 16 turnovers as they did not take care of the ball. The Blazers only had 28 points in the paint.
Defensively the Blazers were near-perfect as LA shot just 35% from the field and 16% from 3 as the Blazers only allowed 5 makes. The Lakers were also 20/31 from the free throw line. The Lakers had 17 offensive rebounds as the Blazers couldn’t get the rebound after a miss. The Blazers forced 9 turnovers. The Blazers got pounded down low as the Lakers had 50 points in the paint.
Damian Lillard had 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists for Portland. CJ McCollum had 21 points and 5 rebounds. Jusuf Nurkic added 16 points and 15 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Conclusion
The Blazers were not given a chance to win this series, and they showed everybody up. Damian Lillard led the charge and CJ McCollum was solid as well. The bigs for Portland were great defensively as well on the offensive end. Carmelo Anthony and the Blazers did a superb job on Lebron James and Anthony Davis as neither of them played well. A concern for Portland is that they fouled a lot, so they should look to improve that. And they allowed 17 offensive rebounds. But the Blazers put the clamps on and stunned the Lakers for a 1-0 series lead.
LA Lakers
The Lakers lost their 1st playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Lakers cruised through the Orlando Bubble as they coasted after clinching the #1 seed. But they faced a very tough Portland Trail Blazers team that could expose their weaknesses. But they were the Lakers, right? They had AD and Lebron, they would find a way to win. Wrong. The Lakers got dominated in the 1st quarter as they trailed by as many as 16. They fought their way back in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but Portland still led. But the Lakers led 84-78 midway through the 4th quarter. But they fell apart after that and they lost 100-93.
Offensively the Lakers were terrible as they shot 35% from the field and 16% from 3 as they still can’t hit a perimeter shot. The Lakers were also 20/31 from the free throw line. The Lakers had 17 offensive rebounds as they did a good job crashing the glass. The Lakers had 9 turnovers. The Lakers also had 50 points in the paint.
Defensively the Lakers were ok as Portland shot 39% from the field and 38% from 3. The Blazers were also 25/33 from the free throw line. The Lakers forced 16 turnovers. The Lakers locked up the paint as Portland only had 28 points down low.
Anthony Davis had 28 points and 10 rebounds for LA. Lebron James had 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists, his 24th triple-double in the playoffs. Kyle Kuzma and Danny Green were also in double figures.
Conclusion
The Lakers should be a little concerned. They had the clear advantage against Portland. Sure they couldn’t defend the Blazers, but the Blazers couldn’t defend them either. Anthony Davis only scored at the free throw line, but didn’t do much of anything else. Lebron James was passive and got locked up Carmelo Anthony and Gary Trent Jr. And after all that was made of the Blazers defense being bad, the Lakers didn’t take advantage at all. They only made 5 3’s while the Blazers made 13 of them. The Lakers really miss Avery Bradley right now and they are going to need a win in Game 2 to avoid going down 0-2.
What Are Your Thoughts From Day 2 Of The NBA Playoffs? Leave A Comment Down Below!
My Thoughts On A Specific Topic From Day 2 Will Be Posted Tomorrow, So Stay Tuned!
Follow My Instagram To Never Miss A Post: @hoopnotions
