The second round is the make-or-break round for most playoff teams. Some teams aspire to show their true worth after an undemanding first-round sweep, while others have nothing to lose after battling through a debilitating six to seven-game first-round series. The teams that prevail lean toward being the league’s top teams for years to come, while those who fall short have to go through a complicated offseason. Here is a breakdown of what is at stake for these teams in round two of the NBA playoffs.
Warriors Face a Difficult Path Ahead
A combination of playoff Jimmy, chef Curry, and defensive dynamo Draymond prevailed in an enduring seven-game series against a young and hungry 2nd seed Houston Rockets team. But ultimately, the Warriors’ championship experience and a startling 33-point performance from Buddy Hield, launched them into the second round. After their triumphant game seven victory on the road, the Warriors head to Minneapolis to face an even hungrier Minnesota Timberwolves team, harnessed by their hungry superstar: Anthony Edwards. The Warriors will continue to have the same problem they struggled with in the first round: Size. The Warriors’ small-ball lineup with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green at the 4 and the 5 served well for a formidable offense centered around Steph Curry, but the team will still struggle on the other end of the floor. Excluding veteran six-foot guard Mike Conley, the Warriors will be undersized at every position. Rudy Gobert is coming off a monstrous 27-point and 24-rebound performance to close out the also undersized Los Angeles Lakers. Will Draymond and Jimmy be able to protect the middle and rebound? Or will the Timberwolves easily dominate the paint and on the glass? Despite these concerns, this only falls into a secondary issue for the warriors. The primary issue will be Anthony Edwards. Edwards is coming off a sizzling hot first-round showcase, averaging nearly 27 points per game, including a 43-point performance in game 4. The Warriors are likely to use a combination of Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody as their primary defender. But, they will need to save Butler’s energy for his desperately needed offensive output. Steve Kerr will likely move to some kind of zone as seen in round one against the Rockets, but the Timberwolves will have more shooting and a lob threat in Rudy Gobert than what the Rockets roster provided. In all, this marquee matchup between the Warriors and the Timberwolves will not disappoint. But, it could be the Warriors’ biggest challenge yet in keeping their title hopes alive.
Brunson, KAT, and the New York Knicks Face Insurmountable Odds in Round Two against the Reigning Champion Boston Celtics
The Knicks will need more than turning the “ Brunson Burner “ on to have a chance in round two. Last offseason, the Knicks made a huge acquisition from the Timberwolves: Karl Anthony Towns. He has proved to be everything the Knicks had needed and more. This season, he has shown he is an All-Star center, one of the most versatile/dominant bigs in the gam,e and the best sidekick to go along with Jalen Brunson. But, it will take more than the Knicks’ All-Star 1-2 punch to take down the Celtics. The Knicks have one of the most formidable starting lineups in the league in Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns, but they lack the depth to go on a deep playoff run. Deuce McBride has been there to go to the sixth man off the bench. Despite this, he struggled in the first round series against the Detroit Pistons. Mitchell Robinson is one of the best offensive rebounding bigs in the league, yet he lacks the offensive capabilities needed from their limited rotation. The only other Knicks player coming off the bench is veteran, journeyman guard Cam Payne, who has received staggered minutes throughout the playoffs. Their offense looks discombobulated when either Brunson or Towns goes to the bench. They will need to receive heavy offensive contributions from OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges in order to stay with the Celtics. Ironically, the Knicks’ starting lineup draws numerous similarities to the Celtics’ starting five. Both teams are guard-heavy with wings/bigs who can stretch the floor. After a shocking game one comeback and upset in overtime for the Knicks in Boston, there is a glimmer of hope for New York fans. Will they be able to sustain this level of play, or was this simply a game for Boston to work off the rust of an extended layoff between the first and second round? Ultimately, the Knicks’ depth will be the deciding factor in this series.
Do the Oklahoma City Thunder have enough to make it past the Denver Nuggets?
The Oklahoma City Thunder had the best regular season in the NBA. They were the outright number one seed in the Western Conference, finishing with a 68-14 record. They have arguably the MVP of the league in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, a much deeper team with veteran experience than last year, and home-court advantage for the entire stretch of the NBA playoffs. All signs point to this being the year the Thunder make a run to the NBA finals and establish themselves as one of the best teams in the league for years to come. Despite having a well-rounded roster, Jokic continues to amaze and dominate. He is coming off a regular season of averaging a near 30-point triple-double. Yes, every game he nearly put up that statline. It is even arguable that Jokic takes it up a notch in the playoffs. In game one, he recorded a ridiculous 44-point and 22-rebound statline en route to a game one victory over the Thunder. In addition to Jokic, the Nuggets have found valuable contributions from Russell Westbrook off the bench, a resurgence of Jamal Murray, and two game-winners from Aaron Gordon. These game winners included a buzzer-beating dunk during Game 5 of the Clippers series and a game-winning three against the Thunder in Game 1 of the semi-finals. The Thunder fans should not be panicking just yet. Game ones often prove to be inconclusive or even an outlier when considered in the bigger picture of the seven-game series. It is likely Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will have breakout games during the stretch of this series, and the Thunder coaching roster will create better defensive schemes to contain the Nuggets’ impactful offense anchored by Jokic’s play. Nevertheless, it would not surprise me if the Thunder will continue to have problems with the Joker and the Denver Nuggets in round two.
Cavaliers find themselves in a 0-2 hole
The Cleveland Cavaliers could be in imminent danger if their star Darius Garland does not return soon. They most certainly missed his offensive production, which they have relied on for the majority of the season. Despite making a clear shift to a team-focused offense this past offseason, the Cavaliers clearly were missing having Garland to run the offense with the bench unit and Evan Mobley. Their combinations were off in their rotation and the Pacers took advantage. The Pacers are a very similarly made-up team and have a strong rotation off the bench led by 6th man Benedict Mathurn, veteran guard TJ McConnel and forward Obi Toppin. As a matter of fact, the Cavaliers had more bench points than the Pacers (34-29) in game one in Cleveland. Leading into game two’s showdown, the Cavaliers were without Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and DeAndre Hunter. While the Cavaliers managed to score 119 points, the team’s turnovers and mistakes down the stretch proved costly without Garland’s calming presence. The Pacers’ big three in Haliburton, Siakam, and Turner have proven to be difficult covers for Cleveland’s defense. But overall, Haliburton has proved himself to be one of the premier guards in the league and best closers in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers will need to create schemes to get the ball out of Halliburton’s hands and prevent him from making plays and scoring himself. In order for the Cavaliers to regain some sense of control in this series, they will have to get healthy as quickly as possible for game three. If not, then the number one-seeded Cavalier will find themselves in a difficult 0-2 hole and be in danger of being swept while going back to Indiana.
