The first day of Game 2’s in the NBA Playoffs featured big bounce back wins from Dallas and Utah, the defending champs taking care of business and the Celtics asserting dominance vs. the Sixers. Let’s take a look at everything that went down yesterday in the NBA Playoffs.
Raptors Depth Too Much for Scrappy Nets, Toronto takes 2-0 series lead
The Nets came out in this one with an energy that indicated they weren’t going to get stomped like Game 1. Brooklyn jumped out to a 26-12 lead behind the continued strong play of Caris Levert, who ended up finishing with 16 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds.
At the 5:30 mark in the first quarter, things turned around for the Raptors when Serge Ibaka subbed in for Marc Gasol. A lot is made of the Raptors’ depth, however, it’s the versatility of that depth that makes them such a dangerous team. That substitution allowed them to switch 1-through-5 on defense, and they went on a 13-0 run to pull within a point. The Ibaka-at-center lineups finished the half plus-8 to keep Toronto within three at the break.
The story was similar in the second half. Brooklyn took advantage of Gasol’s struggles in the pick & roll and controlled the tempo of the early part of the half. When the Raptors went back to Ibaka at Center, they were +10 in the second half, which was enough to overcome the Nets’ scrappy play and win 104-99.
It’s worth keeping an eye on Marc Gasol’s pick & roll defense the rest of this series. With 4:51 left in the fourth up five, the Raptors went small ball with Pascal Siakam at the five spot instead of going back to Gasol. If he continues to struggle like today, you have to wonder how he’ll fare in the NBA playoffs against good teams.
I love the way these shorthanded Nets scrapped to stay competitive with the defending champs. It gives me visions of a Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Kevin Durant, Jarrett Allen starting lineup with a Spencer Dinwiddie, and DeAndre Jordan bench. A scary thought for the East.
Donovan Mitchell Gets the Help He Needs to Tie Series 1-1
It was pretty clear what Denver’s adjustment was coming into this game; stop Donovan Mitchell at all costs.
In the first half, they did just that. Pressuring Mitchell every time he touched the ball, forcing him to get the ball out of his hands, and making the rest of the Jazz beat them.
That’s what Utah did for the first 24 minutes. In the first half of Game 2, the Jazz had 19 assists, one more then they had in the entirety of Game 1. They also added ten threes after making 16 total in an overtime Game 1. Jordan Clarkson picked Mitchell up in the scoring department. 16 of Clarkson’s points came in the first half. He finished with a playoff career-high 26 points.
By the second half, Mitchell had had enough of all that team stuff. He poured in 21 points in the third quarter, missing just one shot from the field. But this time it wasn’t only Mitchell. As a team, Utah shot 72 percent from the field and 9-12 from 3-point range in the third. Denver never closed the floodgates, and Utah won 124-105. Mitchell finished with 30.
What a bounceback game for this Jazz squad. Already shorthanded entering the postseason, many teams that watched their franchise player score the third-most points in NBA Playoffs history and still lose by ten would come into the next game demoralized. But Utah didn’t just overcome Game 1; they made a statement that this could be a long series.
Denver’s defense has been the worst in the league in the bubble, and so far, they can’t stop Utah. They’re going to have to figure out how to get stops, or it’s going to be a rough postseason.
Philly Has No Answers for Tatum, Brown, and Walker, Celtics Take 2-0 Lead
Game 2 adjustments can make or break series for Game 1 losers. For Brooklyn, it was sustained effort. For Utah, it was a concerted focus on getting the entire team involved on offense. But For Philly, it seemed easier; a substitution.
Brett Brown made Matisse Thybulle a starter, replacing Al Horford.
Simple enough, right? After all, in 21 minutes in Game 1, when Horford and Joel Embiid were on the floor together the Sixers’ net rating was -42.4. Thybulle and Embiid’s net rating in Game 1 was 9.8.
Any way to stagger Horford and Embiid’s minutes at Center, and get more wings on the floor to guard Boston’s three-headed monster of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker is good for Philly.
The adjustment looked like it would pay off early as Philly jumped out to an early 21-9 lead. But that didn’t last long. Boston outscored Philly 44-36 the remainder of the half. Walker, Tatum, and Brown combined for 44 first-half points and hammered Philly in high pick-and-roll actions that the Sixers bigs couldn’t guard.
The Sixers struggled to contain the Celtics’ wings in the second half, Tatum finished 33. Philly couldn’t figure out Boston’s changing defenses either and fell 128-101.;
Joel Embiid looked better in the second half offensively than in Game 1 but seemed completely uninterested on defense for most of the night. I was concerned that Philly needed 18 points from Alec Burks to lose by 8 in Game 1. Wednesday, Burks had two points.
The Celtics now lead 2-0 in these NBA playoffs. A quick series would be great for Boston, who would love time to rest with Gordon Hayward out for four weeks.
Doncic, Porzingis Lead Balanced Mavericks to Win Over Clippers, Tie Series 1-1
It’s incredible what can happen when one of your franchise players isn’t egregiously ejected midway through a game, isn’t it?
For just over two quarters, Game 2 of the Clippers-Mavericks series looked eerily similar to Game 1. Luka was filling the stat sheet, albeit without the 11 turnovers. Also like Game 1, with nine minutes left in the third quarter, Dallas was up by 5.
Unlike Game 1, Kristaps Porzingis was allowed to play the entire contest; it made all the difference in the world. Consider that last game, in the first half, Dallas shot 12-23 from 3. In the second half, they shot 3-22.
In Game 2, the Mavs went 5-12 from three in the second half. Porzingis completely changes Dallas’ spacing.
Dallas especially needed Porzingis in the 2nd half tonight as Luka sat more than usual with foul trouble.
After Luka sat in the third with four fouls, Porzingis immediately drew a foul and went to the line. Two possessions later, Porzingis blocked a crucial transition layup by Montrezl Harrell. It was one play after another by Porzingis in the third whenever it looked like the Clippers were going to come back.
They never did; Dallas won 127-114
Patrick Beverly not playing was significant. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, an emotional leader, and he had eight second-half points in Game 1.
Clippers bench players not named Harrell or Williams only had four points. Depth could be an issue.
I think the Clippers still win, but this series is going to be much more competitive then I initially thought.
For even more breakdown of the NBA Playoffs, listen to the NBA Morning Deuce, Belly Up Sports’ newest Daily NBA Podcast. The Deuce covers everything you need to know from the night and day before in the association by 6 am Monday through Friday.
