[ad_1]
The NBA title race is huge open and the final crew standing may very well be decided by a number of key elements. Listed here are a number of the greatest questions looming over the postseason.
CAN ANYONE HANDLE BOSTON’S SUFFOCATING DEFENCE?
The Celtics might have averted the Nets within the first spherical in the event that they actually wished to, however Boston by no means flinched. As an alternative, they performed a number of the most suffocating defence the fashionable sport has seen, and minimize off the top of the snake by shutting down Kevin Durant.
Durant was overwhelmed by Boston’s size, athleticism and relentlessness. He was bumped, banged and bruised off the ball. He was robbed of all airspace, and finally, he was defeated.
That raises the query, if Kevin Durant can’t deal with Boston’s all-out defensive assault, who can?
The Celtics are Giannis Antetokounmpo’s drawback now. When it comes to bodily energy, the Greek Freak is every part Durant isn’t. However Giannis clearly doesn’t have the identical exterior stroke to enrich his offensive arsenal, regardless of enhancing in that space over time. Antetokounmpo’s street forward will get even rockier when you think about Khris Middleton can be unavailable to take some strain off him.
Good luck, Milwaukee. You may want it.
CAN CHRIS PAUL OVERCOME ADVERSITY TO FINALLY WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP?
After a dream run within the common season, Chris Paul has encountered some sudden turbulence early within the playoffs, because of the New Orleans Pelicans rising to the event and Devin Booker’s hamstring doing the alternative.
New Orleans, who have been on tempo to grow to be the worst crew of all-time earlier within the season, weren’t anticipated to carry a candle to Phoenix. As an alternative, these unflinching Pelicans have gone blow-for-blow with the Suns.
Chris Paul isn’t solely experiencing resistance from the unlikeliest of groups, however the unlikeliest of particular person opponents too. Extra particularly, Jose Alvarado and Herb Jones.
Alvarado is FIRED UP after forcing the turnover 😤 pic.twitter.com/YhCWrdtTmZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 25, 2022
Who of their wildest desires would’ve predicted two rookies occupying a lot actual property within the head of an all-time nice?
Paul is the grasp of his place. He led all gamers in assists and help/turnover ratio through the common season, topped all guards in offensive score, and led the Suns to a league-best 64-18 file. But it surely all counts for nothing if he loses within the first spherical.
Paul left this New Orleans ball membership over a decade in the past to pursue a championship. It’s laborious to consider he’ll permit them to disclaim him one.
CAN JAMES HARDEN AND DOC RIVERS SHAKE THEIR PLAYOFF DEMONS?
James Harden is operating out of excuses after quitting on his second crew in two years to land precisely the place he wished: on a supposed contender that includes an MVP-level teammate whose title isn’t Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving.
Having repeatedly gone lacking in essential playoff video games (11 playoff appearances with sub-20 p.c capturing and 24 with sub-30 p.c capturing), Harden blowing it once more this 12 months could be an abject catastrophe.
The convention finals must be the minimal expectation right here. In any case, Harden is taking part in for a crew with the luxurious of paying Tobias Harris $180 million to be its fourth possibility. There isn’t any scarcity of expertise right here. However there is a scarcity of effort, urgency and cohesion. Harden is struggling, Embiid is injured, and Doc Rivers is 2 losses away from formally turning into the undisputed chokiest coach of all-time.
Historical past has a manner of repeating itself, and proper now, Rivers and Harden look more likely so as to add to their respective choking narratives than to rise above them.
WERE WE SLEEPING ON STEPH CURRY AND THE WARRIORS?
The Golden State Warriors haven’t generated fairly the identical buzz they as soon as did, however they nonetheless had the league’s second-best defence within the common season, and when Steph Curry performed that they had the second-best offence too.
Even with Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Inexperienced lacking over 100 video games mixed, the Warriors completed with 53 wins and the fourth-best file within the NBA.
Now, everyone seems to be again, Curry is heating up with 31 factors per sport over his final 4 outings, and the Warriors have the top-ranked offence of the playoffs to date.
Elsewhere, Thompson is hitting virtually 5 3s per sport within the postseason, Inexperienced is taking part in close to career-best defence and Jordan Poole is having a season-long popping out celebration. The Warriors are properly and really again.
[ad_2]
Source link
