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The NBA playoffs are right here with 4 first-round video games happening on Saturday and Sunday.
Within the East, all eyes can be on the Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets collection as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving look to upset the No. 2 seed Celtics, who’re with out injured middle Robert Williams III, in what ought to be a aggressive collection.
Out West, accidents may dictate the groups that advance. Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will miss Saturday’s Sport 1 towards the Utah Jazz due to a strained left calf, in response to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon. And Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is listed as possible for Sport 1 towards the Denver Nuggets after lacking the final 12 video games of the common season with a left foot harm.
Which returning participant may have the most important influence? Which greater seed can least afford to lose Sport 1 this weekend? Our NBA specialists break down the highest first-round storylines.
MORE: What to know for the NBA postseason | Schedules
Kevin Pelton: Boston and Brooklyn. As I specified by my series preview, the Nets have been significantly better than their general file with Kevin Durant wholesome and Kyrie Irving accessible alongside him, whereas the Celtics aren’t the identical juggernaut with out injured middle Robert Williams III. Consequently, these groups look surprisingly even for the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds.
Tim Bontemps: Many will in all probability say Nets-Celtics, given the star energy concerned, however I will go together with one other Japanese Convention collection: Philadelphia-Toronto. The 76ers have the perfect participant within the collection by a big quantity in Joel Embiid. However Toronto ought to have a training benefit, Philadelphia will not have Matisse Thybulle for all three video games in Toronto, and the Raptors have the right assortment of lengthy, athletic gamers to each reap the benefits of Philadelphia’s lack of athleticism and make James Harden‘s life extraordinarily troublesome. Embiid ought to be sufficient to energy Philadelphia by means of and win this collection. However this ought to be a really troublesome check — one which simply may go seven video games — and will ship Philly residence far sooner than it expects.
Kevin Arnovitz: Dallas-Utah. Each 4-5 matchups have robust seven-game potential, however the Mavericks and Jazz ought to be actually aggressive. It has been some time since Utah performed a sustained stretch of dominant basketball, however the Jazz are nonetheless the league’s top-ranked offense. In the meantime, Dallas has been among the finest tales of 2022. When wholesome, Luka is Luka. Spencer Dinwiddie has added some juice the workforce desperately wanted from the perimeter, and the protection — historically a weak spot — has been robust all season. Each of the groups have been disappointments in current postseasons … and one can be so once more when this collection is over.
Ramona Shelburne: Even with out Luka Doncic lacking Sport 1, I assumed the Mavericks-Jazz collection was going to be a decent one. I do know lots of people are down on the Jazz due to their previous playoff failures, however I’ve at all times felt like they’ve the power to place it collectively considered one of these years in the event that they hit just a few breaks.
Jamal Collier: Boston-Brooklyn. I do not suppose a workforce with Durant and Irving goes to exit quietly. This looks like a seven-game collection with an opportunity for a number of video games to come back right down to the wire, and people are two harmful gamers to attempt to outdo in clutch performances. Finally, it is exhausting for me to see the Nets enjoying or defending at a excessive sufficient degree for 4 out of seven video games to drag this collection off, however it is going to be enjoyable to observe.
Pelton: Doncic getting back from a calf pressure. Though Stephen Curry is not less than as worthwhile to his workforce, Curry’s timetable is clearer. We do not know proper now whether or not Doncic can get again on the courtroom for Sport 2 after our ESPN colleague Adrian Wojnarowski reported he’ll miss at least the first game of the Mavericks’ collection towards the Jazz. The pace of his restoration will go a good distance towards figuring out the result of that collection.
Bontemps: I assumed Dallas was the most important risk to Phoenix within the Western Convention earlier than Doncic damage his calf within the Mavericks’ regular-season finale. Now, Utah is probably going the favourite to advance, as we do not know how a lot Doncic will be capable to play — or how efficient he can be. What appeared like an opportunity for the younger famous person to make a deep postseason run may now be over earlier than it begins.
Arnovitz: Doncic is the engine, gas and torque of the Mavericks’ offense, and his situation is extra essential to his workforce than any single participant within the West. Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson can run a high quality pick-and-roll assault, however neither has the creativity to show each man on the ground right into a risk. The excellent news for Dallas is that its protection has been stingy and, given Doncic’s deficiencies on that finish of the ground, that should not change.
Collier: Doncic. I do not suppose there is a single workforce within the NBA whose success is tied to 1 participant as a lot because the Mavericks’ is to Doncic. If he does not play or is not 100 % I do not suppose Dallas can advance on this collection.
Shelburne: The Warriors can win just a few video games with out Curry, however they actually aren’t the Warriors with out Curry, are they? It will take him just a few video games to get it rolling, however as soon as he does, he fully modifications the dynamics of that workforce.
Pelton: Bruce Brown, who has been enjoying at a excessive degree for the previous two months. Brown averaged 14.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG and three.7 APG after the All-Star break, discovering a perfect position supporting Durant and Irving on offense whereas serving because the Nets’ high perimeter defender. He has flirted with triple-doubles in two of Brooklyn’s previous three video games and the Nets want him to play at this degree to advance deep within the playoffs from the play-in.
Bontemps: Jaren Jackson Jr. Clearly when everybody thinks of the Memphis Grizzlies, the primary individual they consider is Ja Morant — and deservedly so. However Jackson has taken a large leap ahead this season defensively, launching himself into All-Protection and Defensive Participant of the 12 months conversations. With the Grizzlies having an opportunity to make a deep playoff run for the primary time, Jackson could have the prospect to indicate the world why he and Morant are such an electrifying one-two punch in Memphis.
Arnovitz: For 2 seasons, Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane has established himself as a steal at No. 30 within the 2020 draft together with his 43.5% profession 3-point proportion. However Bane additionally has a ground sport that is bettering, and the power to influence the sport on each ends. Minnesota surrenders a heavy quantity of 3-point makes an attempt and can be devoting a ton of consideration to Morant, which provides Bane a possibility to be a deadly second-side risk for the Grizzlies.
Shelburne: Does Morant rely? As a result of I believe he will surpass everybody’s already excessive expectations for him and the Grizzlies. I had an govt I belief inform me just a few months in the past that Memphis may very well be the perfect workforce within the league. The extra I give it some thought, the extra I am beginning to agree with him.
Collier: Anthony Edwards. No participant goes to profit extra from his first publicity on the nationwide stage, each on and off the courtroom. Even when his workforce cannot pull off the upset, Edwards would be the participant everyone seems to be speaking about after this collection.
Pelton: Philadelphia. The Sixers are in an uncommon spot as a result of they already know they’re going to be short-handed for street video games in Toronto resulting from Thybulle’s vaccination standing. Shedding Sport 1 would power Philly to win not less than one street sport and put extra strain on the workforce’s different defensive choices on the wing.
Bontemps: Philadelphia, each as a result of Thybulle will not be accessible in street video games and to set a very good tone for this collection by getting off to a very good begin. However this might additionally apply to Dallas, with Doncic’s unsure well being, and the Golden State Warriors, resulting from Curry’s harm state of affairs, as nicely.
Arnovitz: The Philadelphia 76ers. Anybody who has spent appreciable time in Scotiabank Area within the springtime is aware of that the Raptors and their residence crowd lengthen zero hospitality to guests. These street video games in Toronto can be much more treacherous for the Sixers with out Thybulle. On high of that, the Sixers misplaced a few of their depth on the deadline, whereas the Raptors’ OG Anunoby, considered one of their greatest two-way threats, simply returned.
Shelburne: Philadelphia was at all times gonna have a troublesome matchup with Toronto as a result of Raptors’ size and depth. Now the Sixers must play with out Thybulle in Toronto, making it much more essential to carry serve at residence.
Collier: Philly. Sport 1 overreactions are an underrated nice a part of the playoffs, and I do not think about everybody will take it in stride if the Sixers lay an egg at residence to begin the collection. Particularly contemplating they’re going to be enjoying short-handed in Toronto.
Pelton: Having scored 50 factors in Sport Three of final 12 months’s first-round matchup towards Brooklyn, Jayson Tatum will break the Celtics’ playoff single-game franchise file held by John Havlicek by scoring not less than 55 towards the Nets.
Bontemps: I will say it is that the Atlanta Hawks get two video games off the Miami Heat within the first spherical, and that collection is extra aggressive than the same old 1-Eight massacre (which is what the Western Convention model can be). Atlanta has had a wierd season, but it surely’s a really proficient workforce with playoff expertise from final 12 months’s run and a participant in Trae Young who has proved he can win a playoff sport by himself.
Arnovitz: Denver takes Golden State to seven video games. Curry dictates the Warriors’ fortunes — full cease. If he is restricted, whether or not in minutes or mobility, they’re far, far simpler to defend. The Nuggets function the perfect offensive participant within the collection, and know easy methods to create high-percentage seems to be within the half courtroom, which suggests the Warriors’ vaunted D must play at its full potential. Both method, it is going to be nip and tuck.
Shelburne: How daring is it to counsel the second-seeded workforce within the East wins its first-round playoff matchup? As a result of I believe Boston goes to beat the star-crossed Nets. I understand how nice Durant and Irving are, however they’re actually being requested to do lots, and sooner or later that wears you down. Particularly towards an important defensive workforce like Boston.
Collier: Ben Simmons will make his season debut. The truth that there continues to be smoke a few doable return makes me really feel like, finally, there can be fireplace. It might be weird and a becoming chapter to this endless saga: Simmons returns to the courtroom through the playoffs for a house sport in Brooklyn, one 12 months after enjoying in his final sport.
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