A quartet of favorites who won Thursday may have dampened the NBA bubble chaos to some degree, but the first two games of each first-round series featured a deep list of surprises. Both seeds No. 1 were eliminated in Game 1, the Clippers left Game 2 and the Thunder looked frankly uncompetitive. The next week of gaming should continue to deliver unexpected results.
So what were the biggest surprises in the first four days of the postseason? Let’s dive into the following list.
The bubble effect
There is actually no home field advantage for the top-seeded in the 2020 playoffs, but it was still quite disconcerting to see the underdogs playing with such confidence. Maybe we should expect that for Damian Lillard and the Blazers, even though Magic, Mavericks and even the Nets came out with a lot of confidence and firepower in the first two games. Favorites aren’t going on long runs that easily without a home crowd. Young people are not struggling in adverse conditions. We should still expect the Lakers, Clippers and Bucks to make it through the first round, especially after LeBron and Co.’s resounding victory on Thursday night. But at this point we can basically throw the seed out the window. The strange environment could lead to a series of upheavals along the way.
Defensive Domain of Houston
James Harden’s defensive struggles have been debated to the point of parody and, frankly, the narrative doesn’t quite match the metrics at this point in his career. Not only Harden and the Rockets hold their defense in the first round against Oklahoma City. They are definitely dominating.
Houston held back the formation of three OKC guards in the first two games of the series. Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder teamed up for 35 points from 34 shots in a Game 1 defeat on Tuesday. Paul was absolutely bottled on Thursday, recording a worst game minus 36 in 37 minutes. The Thunder are struggling to create a separation against the Houston wing collection. The pick-and-rolls create no noticeable discrepancies, and open three-shot hits are few and far between. Paul’s revenge tour may be short-lived.
The Rockets’ offensive firepower is no secret. Their defensive performance was a real surprise. This is a legitimate contender in the Finals, especially considering the early fights for both Los Angeles teams.
Superstar show by Donovan Mitchell
There is no doubt that Donovan Mitchell is one of the best young players in the game, although it was only fair to question his roof after two consecutive playoffs against Harden and the Rockets. But Mitchell responded to any skepticism with a fury during the first two games of the 2020 playoffs.
Mitchell lost 57 points in a Game 1 defeat on Monday, punishing the circle with dunks that really deserve a confrontation with Dwyane Wade. His performance in Race 2 may have actually been more impressive. Mitchell fully controlled the action with 30 points and eight assists, making 10 of 14 shots and six of seven from three. Sometimes Mitchell can be too dominant for his own good. It is not James Harden, although very few are. Utah needs Mitchell to embrace his playmaking prowess to defeat Denver in the first round.
The filming of Jimmy Butler
The Heat have always felt a level outside the conversation for the title in 2019-20, and not just because of their extreme youth. Jimmy Butler is a shadow out of the true crop of NBA players, swinging between an over-skilled second banana and a mid-level option. The butler’s sweater is the most notable reason for this designation. He has only shot 24.4% out of three this year, and has never scored 100 threes in a season. Teams feel comfortable under the screens against Butler. It is a good clutch marker, although not flawless.
There were no questions about Butler’s sweater in the 2020 playoffs. He scored 28 efficient points on 8-15 shots in Game 1, and hit both of his three attempts (including a late dagger). Duncan Robinson stole the show in Race 2, but Butler once again landed a couple of triples in three attempts. The percentages aren’t exactly important. The respect factor is. Butler needs to force the teams out on the perimeter, especially in the fourth quarter. So far so good for the latest Miami star.
The Defensive Troubles of Clippers
The Mavericks are sporting the most efficient regular season offense in NBA history, but we still thought they’d run into a relative brick wall against the Clippers in the first round. Los Angeles is led by two All-Defense wings, one of whom is perhaps the best defender of his generation. And there is depth behind the two stars. Patrick Beverley is an exceptional defensive guard. Montrezl Harrell is a quality paint protection. But the playoffs didn’t bring out the best in Los Angeles. The Mavericks really got what they wanted through two games.
We could look at Dallas 2-0 lead if Kristaps Porzingis hadn’t been ejected from game 1. The Clippers are having legitimate problems keeping the size of the Mavericks (shoutout Boban Marjanovic) and Luka Doncic has made his way with a knife into the lane apparently to his liking for much of the first two games in the series. There is still time for the Clippers to turn things around. They have the advantage of being the best defense in basketball. But their energy and commitment must see a significant increase to truly compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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