NBA Playoffs: Week One Recap

We’re a week into the NBA playoffs. Stuff has happened, but it’s mostly been blowouts and boring. Let’s review.

Cleveland Cavaliers lead Detroit Pistons 3-0

Recap: The Cavaliers have three really good players including LeBron James. The Pistons have a bunch of guys who are trying to play physical because they aren’t talented enough to compete. And Reggie Jackson.

Comeback? Hell no.

Toronto Raptors lead Indiana Pacers 2-1

Recap: The Pacers stole game one in Toronto as Paul George reminded everyone that he’s really freakin’ good. Then the Raptors reminded everyone that they’re a better team, blowing out Indiana in the next two games.

Comeback? Probably not. George is really good, but the Raptors have too much firepower. DeMarre Carroll seems to be fully healthy and he’s good enough to limit George, which means the Pacers have to get scoring from Monta Ellis and, uh, I don’t know. Do the Pacers have anyone else? 

Miami Heat lead Charlotte Hornets 2-0

Recap: The Heat are making all the shots and playing some really good defense. The Hornets aren’t playing Jeremy Lamb, which is why they’re losing.

Comeback? I still have a little bit of faith in Charlotte, although Nic Batum’s injury really hurts them. They were one of the better defensive teams in the league during the season so the fact that Miami is shooting this well says more about Miami being hot than it does about Charlotte’s defense. Eventually, Miami will regress. Maybe.

Atlanta Hawks lead Boston Celtics 2-1

Recap: Game one looked like a blowout, but Boston made it close before eventually falling short. Game two was a blowout. Isiah Thomas went off in game three.

Comeback? As I wrote in the preview, Boston needs Isiah Thomas to be the best player on the court if they’re going to win the series. He was in game three, but can he do it three more times? Probably not. With Avery Bradley’s injury, Boston will have to rely on him and ummm, Evan Turner. We’ll see how that goes.

Golden State Warriors lead Houston Rockets 2-1

Recap: Steph Curry has only played one half in this series. The first two games weren’t close and Houston needed a no-call on offense to win game three.

Comeback? Lol, no. Even if Curry were to sit out the rest of the series, and it appears that he’ll be back for game four, Houston still wouldn’t win.

San Antonio Spurs lead Memphis Grizzlies 3-0

Recap: Everyone on Memphis is hurt. The Spurs are really good on defense and have a go-to scorer in crunch time.

Comeback? Not a chance. Memphis had a chance to steal game three, but fell apart in the fourth quarter because their go-to guys are Lance Stephenson and Matt Barnes. The Grizzlies can barely score 80 points so they’re pretty fucked.

Oklahoma City Thunder lead Dallas Mavericks 2-1

Recap: Two blowouts and a close win by Dallas in a game where Kevin Durant turned in one of the worst playoff performances of all-time.

Comeback? Not unless Kevin Durant gets injured. Please don’t get injured, Kevin Durant.

Los Angeles Clippers lead Portland Trail Blazers 2-0

Recap: Two blowouts.

Comeback? I think Portland can take at least one game in PDX because Damian Lillard will catch fire and C.J. McCullom will keep improving. But they can’t stop Chris Paul from dribbling a lot and barking at teammates.