With each of the second round series 2 games in, I figured why not take a look at where each series stands.
Bucks-Celtics
The Celtics looked bad in game 1. They shot 16/45 on open or wide open 3’s, they could not buy any kind of 2 point basket, and they let up a few easy Bucks looks when they started to make a run. Meanwhile for the Bucks, their defense was stifling inside the arc, like it usually is, and they forced Boston to take 50 3 pointers in the game. They punched the Celtics in the mouth as Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, and Grayson Allen all had great games. It was up to the Celtics to show us that they were championship contenders. That task instantly became harder when it was announced that Marcus Smart would be out of game 2 due to a right thigh contusion. They still answered the bell in a championship contender way. Jaylen Brown had 25 first half points as the Celtics dominated the first half. Grant Williams did a great job guarding Giannis while also making open 3’s he took. Payton Pritchard also had a great game after missing a bunch of open 3’s in the 4th quarter in game 1. Meanwhile for the Bucks, Lopez, Portis, Allen, and others did not step up like they did in game 1 in the game 2 loss. Jrue Holiday had a pair of good games but you could tell the Bucks really missed Khris Middleton in game 2, they needed another guy to take pressure off of Antetokounmpo and Holiday. The series is 1-1 as it shifts back to Milwaukee for game 3 on Saturday at 3:30 on ABC.
Warriors-Grizzlies
Both teams have to be kicking themselves because they both let a game slip away. Memphis let game 1 slip away meaning while the Warriors let game 2 slip away. In game 1 Draymond Green was ejected via a flagrant 2 foul that some would argue should have just been a flagrant 1, a group that I am a part of. Meanwhile the Warriors were led by a dazzling 31 point, 9 assist, and 8 rebound game by Jordan Poole off of the bench while Klay Thompson hit the dagger 3 and made a big stop on Ja Morant as he went for the buzzer beater. However, Memphis got 34 points from Ja Morant and 33 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. as both guys dominated the game throughout. Memphis had too many missed shots and defensive miscues late and let game 1 slip away. In game 2 it was the Warriors who let the game slip away with a bunch of issues late in the game. Dillion Brooks was ejected due to a flagrant 2 all of 3 minutes into the game, rightfully so I will add, and Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out late. For the game the whole Warriors shot 7-38 from 3 point range, which is an abysmal 18%. Yet, they had a lead late and were down 3 with 30 seconds left before a Klay Thompson travel capped off a horrible game from both Thompson and the Warriors. One thing Golden State will have to do is find an answer for Ja Morant after a 34/9/10 game in game 1, Morant followed it up with 47 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds in game 2. He has dominated every aspect of the series and needs to stay on this level if the Grizzlies want to at least split the games in San Francisco and make it a best of 3. Game 3 is Saturday at 8:30 on ABC.
76ers-Heat
The Sixers have 0 answers for anything Bam Adebayo does without Joel Embiid. DeAndre Jordan is washed up and probably no longer the All-Star he once was, Paul Reed has some upside as a backup 5 but in no way can do anything against Adebayo, and Paul Milsap is old, small, and slow, therefore he has no chance against any center much less an All-Star caliber center. The frontline is a mess and I am not confident that Embiid will return soon based on reports. One Sixer who looks really good is Tyrese Maxey. Maxey has terrorized the Heat defense scoring 34 points in the Sixers loss on Wednesday. The Sixers need James Harden to be better if they are going to have any chance to win, even if Embiid returns. He is averaging 19.5 points per game and the burst on his first step when he is trying to blow by defenders when driving to the rim just is not there. He has to be better because if he is not, not only will Philly be bounced quickly, we have to question what kind of contract the Sixers should be willing to sign Harden too should he opt-out and become a free agent. DeAndre Jordan has not been good, as he can’t move his feet, can’t finish around the rim unless he is dunking, has no shot and guarding any sort of pick and roll, it is a mess to watch and I have no idea why Doc Rivers is forcing it on any of us. On the Heat side, they have clearly decided to make sure Harden is not going to beat them, blitzing him every chance they get betting he will not blow by them on a dribble drive. Without Embiid this series is simply men against boys especially since Danny Green and Georges Niang are shooting the way they are. Game 3 is Friday at 7:00 on ESPN.
Mavericks-Suns
Game 1 was a game that Phoenix controlled throughout, do not let the final box score fool you, even though Luka had 45 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, it never felt like Phoenix was all that threatened. Game 2 was a tighter game… until it was not. A Chris Paul masterclass of a fourth quarter buried the Mavs as he scored 14 points on 6/7 shooting in the 6 minutes and 15 seconds he played. He took control of the game, dominating it in every facet as he and Devin Booker hunted Luka on every opportunity they got in the quarter. I mean it was vintage CP3 and so much fun to watch. Another thing the Mavericks have to contain better as the series shifts to Dallas is the beginning of the game runs Phoenix has gone on. Each of the first 2 games the Suns have thrown the first haymaker starting each game 9-0. The Suns have looked so much more active, ready, like they see Dallas as a stepping stone. The Mavericks need to answer in game 3, they need to be more active to start the game and they need to be locked in at the same rate the Suns are or else this series could be a sweep. Take it one game at a time, guys like Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie need to be better, as neither player has stepped up the way they did against the Jazz in the first round. The Suns have flexed their muscles in a big way and the Mavericks need to find a way to respond in game 3, which will take place Friday at 9:30 on ESPN.
With each series 2 games in and there being no games tonight due to TV purposes, I figured we should dive in to see how each got to the point where they are.
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