Playoffs Day 4, And #1 Seeds Are Back! 8.20.20
It’s Day 4 of the NBA Playoffs and we have 4 more 1st round matchups featuring Lakers vs Blazers.
It’s Day 4 of the NBA Playoffs and we have 4 more 1st round matchups featuring Lakers vs Blazers.
Miami Heat
The Heat won their 2nd playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Heat played very well in Game 1 and they took a 1-0 series lead. The Heat would need to replicate their Game 1 performance against a very tough Indiana team. And Game 2 was also a battle. But Miami gained separation in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and they held on to win 109-100, giving them a 2-0 series lead.
Offensively the Heat were great as they shot 47% from the field and 51% from 3. The Heat made a franchise record 18 3-pointers. Miami was also 19/28 from the free throw line. The Heat turned the ball over 16 times. The Heat also had 34 points in the paint.
Defensively the Heat were ok as the Pacers shot 44% from the field and 35% from 3. Indiana was also 16/20 from the free throw line. The Heat forced 16 turnovers. Miami also allowed 40 points in the paint.
Duncan Robinson had 24 points on 7/8 3-pt shooting. His 7 3’s tie the Miami Heat record for 3’s in a playoff game. Goran Dragic had 20 points and 6 assists. Jimmy Butler had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists as well. Tyler Herro had 15 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. Jae Crowder added 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Conclusion
The Heat now take a 2-0 series lead as they have been playing very well on both ends of the floor. Jimmy Butler has been pacing this team and other guys have been playing well. Bam Adebayo was quiet offensively, so Duncan Robinson, Dragic and Herro all stepped up. The Heat are very deep and they are all playing well right now. This series might be ending in a sweep if the Heat keep playing like this.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers lost their 2nd game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Pacers lost Game 1 after they fell up short in the 4th quarter. They needed a Game 2 victory to stay in the series. Victor Oladipo would be playing after suffering an eye injury in Game 1. And the Pacers did a good job pacing with the Heat throughout the game, but their defense was their terrible as they couldn’t defend the 3-point line and they lost 109-100, and they now trail 0-2 in the series.
Offensively the Pacers were ok as they shot 44% from the field and 35% from 3. Indiana was also 16/20 from the free throw line. The Pacers turned the ball over 16 times. Indiana also had 40 points in the paint.
Defensively the Pacers were terrible as Miami shot 47% from the field and 51% from 3. The Heat were also 19/28 from the free throw line. The Pacers forced 16 turnovers. The Pacers only allowed 34 points in the paint.
Victor Oladipo had 22 points for Indiana. Malcolm Brogdon had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Myles Turner added 17 points and 8 rebounds. TJ Warren had 14 points and 6 rebounds and Aaron Holiday had 12 points and 5 assists.
Conclusion
The Pacers haven’t been playing particularly bad in this series, but there have been certain points in the game. In Game 1 it was the 4th quarter. In Game 2 it was the 2nd and 3rd quarters but they really could not defend Duncan Robinson and the Heat’s 3-point shooting. The Pacers now trailed 0-2 in the series and they will need to play much better if they want to comeback and win this series.
OKC Thunder
The Thunder lost their 2nd playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Thunder got dominated in Game 1 as they got controlled by James Harden and the Rockets. They would need a win in Game 2 to stay in the series as the Rockets were still without Russell Westbrook. And the Thunder played much better in the 1st half as they looked to take Game 2. But they collapsed in the 2nd half as they only scored 39 points. The Thunder lost 111-98 and now trail 0-2 in the series.
Offensively the Thunder were ok as they shot 44% from the field and 34% from 3. OKC was also 17/19 from the free throw line. The Thunder had 13 turnovers. OKC also had 36 points in the paint.
Defensively the Thunder were solid as the Rockets shot 42% from the field and 34% from 3. Houston was also 16/18 from the free throw line. Houston had 11 offensive rebounds as the Thunder didn’t do a good job limiting their 2nd chance opportunities. The Thunder only forced 7 turnovers. The Thunder allowed 34 points down low.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points and 6 rebounds as he played much better. Danilo Gallinari had 17 points and 5 rebounds. Chris Paul had 14 points and 6 rebounds. Dennis Schroder added 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Conclusion
The Thunder just don’t look prepared for this Houston team. They did a good job defending Harden, but a poor job on everybody else. Offensively the Thunder seem a bit slow as their normal scorers aren’t doing it at their normal clip. Chris Paul, Gallinari, and Schroder were all quiet and they could not seem to crack the Houston defense. And back to their defense, the Thunder can’t guard the Rockets and when Russell Westbrook comes back, the Rockets will be even tougher to guard.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets won their 2nd playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After a dominating Game 1 win behind James Harden, the Rockets looked to replicate that with a Game 2 win. The Rockets were still without Russell Westbrook, but they had already proved that that wouldn’t stop them. And they looked ok in the 1st half, but they weren’t hitting their shots. But in the 2nd half they really turned it up on both ends. Their defense was great as they only allowed 39 points in the 2nd half. And they started to get to the rim more and hit more 3’s. The Rockets won 111-98, taking a 2-0 series lead.
Offensively the Rockets were good as they shot 42% from the field and 34% from 3. The Rockets were also 16/18 from the free throw line. The Rockets also had 11 offensive rebounds. They only turned the ball over 7 times. Houston had 34 points in the paint.
Defensively the Rockets were solid, as the Thunder shot 44% from the field and 34% from 3. The Thunder were also 17/19 from the free throw line. The Rockets forced 13 turnovers. The Rockets only allowed 36 points in the paint.
James Harden had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. Danuel House had 19 points and 9 rebounds. Eric Gordon added 15 points and 5 rebounds. PJ Tucker, Robert Covington, Jeff Green, and Austin Rivers were all in double figures.
Conclusion
The Rockets have looked very sharp in this series against the Thunder, even without Russell Westbrook. Their are stretches where their defense and offense really comes together. Their defense has been superb against the Thunder guards in this series, and the have been hitting a lot of their 3’s. The Rockets now lead 2-0 in this series as Russell Westbrook might be making his return soon, another weapon for this explosive Houston offense.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks won their 2nd playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After a very disappointing loss to the Magic in Game 1, the Bucks needed a win to solidify themselves as the real deal. And the Bucks did just that as they put their foot down and their defense really smothered the Magic. The Bucks won 111-96.
Offensively the Bucks were solid as they shot 47% from the field and 37% from 3. Milwaukee was also 12/16 from the free throw line. The Bucks had 11 offensive rebounds. The Bucks turned the ball over 20 turnovers. The Bucks also had 40 points in the paint.
Defensively the Bucks were excellent as the Magic shot 35% from the field and 21% from 3. Orlando was also 27/31 from the free throw line. The Magic had 10 offensive rebounds. The Bucks forced 11 turnovers. The Bucks only allowed 22 points in the paint.
Giannis had 28 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Bucks. Brook Lopez had 20 points. Pat Connaughton had 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Eric Bledsoe and Donte DiVincenzo were in double figures.
Conclusion
The Bucks needed a win to get their confidence back in this series, and they dominated this game as they tied the series 1-1. Now the Bucks seem to have gotten on the right track as they look to finish this series fast and look onto the future.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers lost their 2nd playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Blazers shocked the world when they beat the Lakers in Game 1. Behind Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Blazers came from behind to take a 1-0 series lead. Now Portland looked to ride that momentum into Game 2 as they looked to shock the world again and take a 2-0 series lead. But Portland did not come ready to play as they got smothered all night long by the Lakers, and they lost 111-98. And to add insult to injury, Damian Lillard injured his finger in the loss.
Offensively the Blazers were poor as they shot 40% from the field and 29% from 3. The Blazers were also 12/16 from the free throw line. The Blazers had 10 offensive rebounds. The Blazers had 17 turnovers. The Blazers had 40 points in the paint.
Defensively the Blazers were poor as the Lakers shot 48% from the field and 37% from 3. The Lakers were also 9/10 from the free throw line. The Blazers allowed 14 offensive rebounds. The Blazers forced 14 turnovers. The Blazers allowed 52 points in the paint.
Damian Lillard had 18 points, but he was injured in the loss. CJ McCollum struggled with 13 points and 5 assists.
Conclusion
The Blazers really didn’t look ready for this game as the Lakers took away everything they wanted to do. On top of that the Blazers could not hit any of their shots. I think that this game for Portland signifies how they need to play during the rest of this series otherwise this series will be ended prematurely. The rest of the series for Portland will also be impacted by the health of Damian Lillard.
LA Lakers
The Lakers won their 2nd playoff game. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Lakers got shocked in Game 1 as they lost to the 8th seeded Blazers. The Lakers had a lot to fix going into Game 2. but they were going to need to do so if they wanted to avoid going down 0-2 in this series. And the Lakers took care of business all night long as their defense really tightened up. And their shooters shot much better in Game 2 and the Lakers won 111-98.
Offensively the Lakers were great as they shot 48% from the field and 37% from 3. LA was also 9/10 from the free throw line. The Lakers had 14 offensive rebounds. The Lakers had 14 turnovers. The Lakers had 52 points in the paint.
Defensively the Lakers were great as well as the Blazers shot 40% from the field and 29% from 3. The Blazers were 12/16 from the free throw line. The Lakers allowed 10 offensive rebounds. The Lakers forced 17 turnovers. The Lakers allowed 40 points in the paint.
Anthony Davis had 31 points and 10 rebounds for LA. KCP had 16 points. Lebron James had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. JaVale McGee and JR Smith were both in double figures.
Conclusion
The Lakers looked much better in Game 2 as they improved greatly on both sides of the ball. Defensively they took the Blazers out of their game and made Dame and CJ uncomfortable all night long. And on the offensive end Anthony Davis was much more efficient and their shooters were much better. So the Lakers seem to have clicked, but the question is can they keep this level of play of?
What Are Your Thoughts From Day 4 Of The NBA Playoffs? Leave A Comment Down Below!
My Thoughts On A Specific Topic From Day 4 Will Be Posted Tomorrow, So Stay Tuned!
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