NBA Perfect 10 Playoff - First Round Edition
Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs is underway and the action is heating up. With most series still only one or two games in, there’s plenty of time to analyze each conference's potential winners and losers. Let’s take a look at the matchups and possibilities:
Eastern Conference Round 1
#8 Miami Heat (+20,000) vs. #1 Boston Celtics (-230) (Boston leads the series 1-0)
The Heat took a major blow in the Play-In Tournament when they lost the heart and soul of their team, Jimmy Butler, to a knee injury. Butler is certainly out for this series and it was unlikely the Heat could have competed against Boston with him. Without him, this series should be a sweep but I’ll say it goes just a bit longer.
Boston wins in five games.
#4 Cleveland Cavs (+1500) vs. #5 Orlando Magic (+12,000) (Cleveland leads the series 2-0)
The Cavaliers rolled through the first two games with a stronger offense and a team that seems determined to erase last year’s first-round exit against the Knicks out of their minds. Orlando has the look and feel of a team that seems just happy enough to be here after failing to make the playoffs for several seasons. This team still lacks a go-to offensive player. Banchero looks to be a very good #2 but he needs a #1 guy with him.
Cleveland wins in five games.
#3 Milwaukee Bucks (+650) vs. #6 Indiana Pacers (+4500) (Milwaukee leads the series 1-0)
So far, so good for the Bucks with Giannis available for the foreseeable future. Dame Lillard dropped 35 points in the first half of game one and the Pacers didn’t get the usual production out of their high-octane offense. This one won’t be easy, however. The Pacers will find their way and will be very tough for the Bucks to beat in Indiana. It will be interesting to see if Giannis wants to try and rush back if this series swings in Indiana’s favor at any time.
Milwaukee wins in seven games.
#2 New York Knicks (+600) vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers (+1600) (New York leads the series 2-0)
Don’t be fooled by the 2-0 lead the Knicks possess right now. The Sixers had a chance to win each of the first two games and likely should have won game two had they not wasted their final timeout to challenge a foul call that looked to be legit. Embiid has been outstanding when he’s been on the floor but Nick Nurse will have to manage his minutes better and tinker with lineups to keep the Knicks guessing. New York has yet to get a marquee game out of Jalen Brunson as the 76ers have thrown length at him which has made it difficult for Brunson to get good shots. This will be a grind and I wouldn’t be surprised if either team won this series.
New York in six games
Western Conference Round 1
#8 New Orleans (+10,000) vs. #1 OKC Thunder (+550) (OKC leads the series 1-0)
Both teams looked tight in the opener. Each team shot well below their average with New Orleans particularly struggling, shooting under 40%. The Thunder will find their stride in game two. The Thunder know that Williamson is looming in the wings but they will build a lead in the series enough to put the Pels away.
OKC in six games.
#4 LA Clippers (+500) vs. #5 Dallas (+900) (Series tied at one game apiece)
The Mavericks bounced back in game two with a great closing in the fourth quarter. I think the Mavs will move on thanks to the uncertainty of the Clippers lineup with Leonard’s continued injury woes. Doncic and Irving are proving to be the perfect complement to each other and can push the Mavs into round tow.
The Mavs in six games.
#3 Minnesota (+900) vs. #6 Phoenix (+1200) (Minnesota leads the series 2-0)
Friday night’s game is do-or-die for the Suns at home. The Wolves have completely flipped the script thus far from the regular season in which the Suns’ offense dominated and Phoenix took all three matchups. The Wolves’ defense has worn down the Suns, particularly in the paint and the Suns backcourt hasn’t dominated as they did in the regular season. Phoenix can make this series interesting but I don’t think they have enough firepower to take down a much deeper Wolves teams.
Minnesota in six games.
#2 Denver (+100) vs. #7 LA Lakers (+2800) (Denver leads the series 2-0)
The Nuggets seem to have the Lakers’ number at this point. They’ve won ten straight games between the two teams and the Lakers clearly do not have any answers for Nikola Jokic, not that many teams do. The Lakers needed to win one of the games in Denver to push this series to six or seven games. Denver will get at least a split in LA and this series will be over shortly.
Denver in five games
Odds in parenthesis are to win the conference and come Courtesy of Draftkings.com.
By Mark Ruelle
