NBA playoffs 2021: Six huge takeaways from the postseason's first six daysPosted by Stephenson Munck on June 11th, 2021 
The 2021 NBA playoffs are less than one week old, but we've already viewed some epic celeb performances, upsets brewing and plenty of lovers returned in the stands. Can Luka Doncic and the Mavericks ship the LA Clippers home early? Are the long island Knicks and Atlanta Hawks headed for a online game 7 inner Madison rectangular garden? Can the NBA-premier Utah Jazz avoid an upset in opposition t Ja Morant and the younger and hungry Memphis Grizzlies? After bouncing again from a video game 1 loss, are the l. a. Lakers hitting their stride against the Phoenix Suns? Our NBA Insiders are breaking down their six biggest takeaways from the first six days of the postseason. greater: Matchups, schedules and entire NBA playoffs coverage The East's elite are not messing around ... play 0:19 Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles into the lane, hits the Eurostep after which passes to Khris Middleton, who drains the 3 plus the foul. The Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets have performed precisely what they were supposed to do through their first two playoff video games: demolish groups that can not compete with them. The Milwaukee Bucks, though, had been wondered all through the ultimate weekend of the regular season for no longer making sure they would prevent the Miami warmth within the first circular of the playoffs. by way of falling to Miami on the penultimate evening of the common season, Milwaukee guaranteed remaining yr's jap convention champions -- who knocked the Bucks out of the bubble on their approach to the NBA Finals -- can be their first-circular opponent. That circulate doesn't seem to be so unhealthy at this time. 2 related After a 2nd straight evisceration of the warmth on Thursday night -- this time on the shores of Biscayne Bay -- Milwaukee has taken a commanding 3-0 lead, compiling what is arguably probably the most mind-blowing outcome of the primary round to this point (yes, together with the fall down of the LA Clippers out West). all of the issues that people wondered about this group getting into the season -- from its means to cling up in a power circumstance to simply how much of a difference would Jrue break make as to if Mike Budenholzer would make the critical alterations to prevail in the playoffs -- have all been emphatically answered three games into what the Bucks hope is a extremely long postseason run. in contrast to the 76ers and Nets, each of whom have additionally sorted business thus far against the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics, respectively, Milwaukee is dealing with an opponent that became concept could threaten their season. And rather than discovering itself in a dogfight, the Bucks have instead smashed the warmth to smithereens in each video game 2 and three after escaping from online game 1 with an additional time victory. The Nets, Milwaukee's second-circular opponent should each teams increase, will offer a much more suitable challenge. but if we now have discovered the rest during this first round, or not it's that this 12 months's Bucks are far distinct than these of the previous two postseasons. -- Tim Bontemps play 1:25 Alan Hahn and Jay Williams debate even if Luka Doncic is capable of be the face of the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. Late within the third quarter of video game 2, the Clippers desperately needed a shielding cease, so that they tried pulling the ace out of their sleeve. Kawhi Leonard, the celebrity who has earned a popularity as probably the most premier stoppers in NBA history, matched up in opposition t Luka Doncic. The Mavericks spoke back by means of clearing out the correct aspect of the courtroom and letting their superstar go to work. Doncic backed down Leonard, pounding dribble after dribble until he bought to the spot he desired, then pivoted into an exquisite one-legged fadeaway that certainly made Staples middle spectator and Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki proud. Swish. Welp, so a good deal for that supposed answer. Head instruct Tyronn Lue's Clippers tried fairly a whole lot every little thing to slow down the Mavs' movie star within the first two video games of the series. they may be still looking for whatever thing that works. "they've some respectable defenders, like [Paul George] and Kawhi, two of the surest perimeter defenders," spoke of Doncic, who's averaging 35 points and 9 assists per game whereas taking pictures 50.9% from the ground within the collection. "you might have simply obtained to be aggressive. it's playoffs. you have got got to be aggressive." Aggressive is just too tame to explain Doncic's approach within the collection. he is been both ruthless and methodical, finding out counters to each distinctive seem LA throws at him and regularly exploiting weaknesses in humiliating vogue. be aware that Doncic did not point out Patrick Beverley among the many Clippers' decent defenders. After bullying Beverley for an and-1 early in video game 1, Doncic barked, "you might be too f---ing small!" Doncic failed to mention Marcus Morris Sr., his nemesis in last season's bubble sequence, either. After swishing a step-back 3 over him and then using for an and-1 layup during online game 2, Doncic wagged his finger and declared, "He can't shield me. Nah." Doubling Doncic has commonly had disastrous consequences, too, because of his sound decision-making and Dallas shooting 50% from 3-aspect range within the series. Case in factor: the dagger 3 hit by means of crimson-hot Tim Hardaway Jr. late in game 2 that got here off a splash move from Dorian Finney-Smith, who flashed to the core of the flooring when the Clippers despatched a second defender at Doncic 35 toes from the ring. If the Clippers don't discover some solutions directly, they'll beginning a long summer season soon. -- Tim MacMahon The Lakers look like the Lakers once more ... play 2:forty eight Anthony Davis scores 34 elements, LeBron James provides 21, and Devin Booker and Jae Crowder are both ejected earlier than the game ends within the Lakers' 109-95 win over the Suns. damage absences had derailed the 2d half of their season, and in each the play-in game in opposition t the Golden State Warriors and online game 1 in opposition t the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers did not appear reasonably right. At their highest quality, the Lakers dominate the paint at both ends of the court docket, pulverizing their opponents to ranking excessive-effectivity buckets across the rim while shutting down the lane to opposing traffic. That changed into absolutely absent In game 1, when the Suns truly outscored the Lakers within the paint by eight aspects in a 9-element victory. LeBron James and Anthony Davis managed most effective 31 points on eleven-for-29 capturing, and Deandre Ayton had the same number of rebounds (16) as Davis and Andre Drummond combined. seize all of the postseason action on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App. Friday, can also 28• Knicks at Hawks, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN• Nets at Celtics, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC• Clippers at Mavs, 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN things started to trade in video game 2, as Davis obtained a great deal greater aggressive as a scorer and the Lakers won a good fight interior. The Lakers outscored the Suns 42-40 in the paint and grabbed 38 boards to the Suns' 31. The Lakers received a hard-fought video game on the highway with the aid of seven features, however there were nonetheless questions as to whether the Suns' loss may were extra caused by Chris Paul's shoulder damage than the Lakers' strength. however in online game three, the Lakers again to the class of bully ball that characterized their championship run remaining season. They dominated the core, outscoring the Suns forty six-26 within the paint and smashing them 51-35 on the boards. They controlled the motion without difficulty, at each ends of the courtroom, for the complete forty eight minutes and looked as if it would squeeze the lifestyles out of their adversary. identical to they did to every postseason opponent within the playoff bubble. The Lakers appear to be themselves again -- a frightening thought for the rest of the playoff box. -- André Snellings ... And Ja Morant feels like he is developed for the playoffs play 0:forty two Ja Morant shows out with a reverse alley-oop, then throws down a monster jam in the lane as Rudy Gobert gets out of ways. The proof that Morant is at his surest when the spotlight is brightest continues adding up. After cementing himself as the No. 2 universal prefer in the 2019 NBA draft with a triple-double (17 elements, 16 assists, eleven rebounds) in an upset win within the first circular of the NCAA match with Murray State, Morant capped his Rookie of the year crusade along with his highest-scoring output (35 points) in the Memphis Grizzlies' play-in loss to the Portland trail Blazers. it's hard to accept as true with now that Morant took a moderate step backward in his 2d general season, seeing his effectivity decline with brought scoring responsibility (as Jaren Jackson Jr. ignored the bulk of the standard season) and the lingering outcomes of an ankle sprain in December. the soldiers exploited Morant's negative outside capturing (30% on 3-pointers) throughout the commonplace-season finale, retaining him to 16 points on 7-of-21 shooting (1-of-6 from three) in a Memphis loss with the eighth seed in the play-in event on the line. The rematch 5 days later changed into a unique story. Morant scored 35 aspects on 14-of-29 shooting with 5 three-pointers to propel the Grizzlies to the playoffs. That kicked off a torrid run that has seen him rating 108 points during the last three games between the play-in finale and the primary two video games in opposition t the correct-seeded Utah Jazz, smashing his previous high over any three-online game stretch in his career (91 elements). Morant was at his most sensational in Wednesday's video game 2, the place his forty seven aspects have been the most ever in a playoff game by means of a participant age 21 or more youthful, based on ESPN Stats & information research. Morant riddled some of the league's precise defenses, wanting just 26 shots in colossal half because he got to the free throw line 20 times. no matter if Memphis can parlay a break up in Salt Lake metropolis into a beautiful upset or now not, Morant's performance has made it clear that larger playoff stages are in save for him and the Grizzlies. -- Kevin Pelton Playoff basketball within the backyard is lower back ... play 2:34 Stephen A. Smith is hyped after the Knicks tied the collection in opposition t the Hawks at Madison rectangular garden. You cannot begin to talk about the Knicks-Hawks collection without citing preserve play. Trae young, the 22-12 months-ancient moderate-of-stature target of criticism proved the second changed into neither too huge nor the lights too vibrant. He sealed online game 1 for Atlanta with a last-second game-profitable floater. For manhattan, former MVP and 2021 Sixth Man of the year finalist Derrick Rose has been main the manner over newly minted Most greater player Julius Randle. Rose has provided the regular hand for the Knicks, averaging 21.5 features over two games. The Hawks' protection and length have befuddled the Knicks in the course of the first two games. Randle has been difficult pressed to find a clear seem to be in the paint towards Atlanta's Danilo Gallinari and John Collins -- Clint Capela has been shading heavily to enhance the primary defender. Randle's 4-of-13 performance from 3 hasn't completed a lot to trigger Atlanta to adjust both. however what has been excellent is ny's bench scoring -- 64 and fifty five elements in video games 1 and a couple of, respectively -- outscoring the starters in each outings. Compete for ,000 all through the NBA postseason! Make Your Picks Rose has been the bench catalyst, enabling Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, Taj Gibson and Obi Toppin to play with extra freedom. Toppin, in certain, has had some excellent moments, his athleticism suits up smartly towards the Hawks and he shoots neatly ample from 3 to hold their protection sincere. The Knicks are nevertheless waiting for his or her superstar to in fact get going; Randle provided glimpses within the second half of game 2 however has yet to position it together. younger is obviously circled on the Knicks' scouting document -- he's averaging 31 elements within the collection -- however Bogdan Bogdanovic has challenged even the premiere teams' 3-point defense all the way through the general season. Bogdanovic's timely nook three in online game 1 was most effective 2d in magnitude to the actual video game winner. And though younger makes up in playmaking skill for what he lacks in size, the Hawks boast respectable size and size 2 through 5. If the Knicks' general-season protection and Randle get back not off course, I nevertheless like them to move on. but when younger keeps stepping into the paint, and Bogdonavic and De'Andre Hunter are hitting from deep, it spells dangerous information Bears for long island. either means, or not it's fabulous to have playoff basketball back in the garden. -- Monica McNutt ... And so are the lovers, for enhanced or worse play 1:39 Stephen A. Smith reacts to 2 separate incidents Wednesday nighttime involving fanatics at NBA arenas. the hole week of playoff games has brought lower back each the incredible -- and regrettable -- reminder of the influence of lovers. The scenes of well-nigh full arenas, rocking with noise throughout momentum-moving runs, has been a wonderful sight. Playoff video games are concerning the atmosphere. whether or not it's quieting down a raucous crowd as a road crew or cranking up the domestic lovers, the NBA event is better by way of the constructions themselves. it's what so many of our lengthy-lasting reminiscences are built around. The chants, the roars, the stunned silences -- the ambiance enhances the game. observing Madison rectangular garden come to life has been a cathartic event, the group vigour of activities on display and the seem to be, consider and sound making things believe a bit of standard again. On the flip aspect, with fans again in the combine, it has additionally been an all-too-uncomfortable reminder of how fragile that relationship between avid gamers and fans will also be. From Russell Westbrook having popcorn dumped on him to Trae young getting spit on to Ja Morant's household being stressed, the NBA felt the force of unruly fan behavior, giving the victorious return of basketball atmosphere a black eye. The NBA has a fan code of behavior, and with teams putting out statements and condemning fans' movements, the league hopes this is never a blip on the radar. because the NBA went almost a full year with mostly empty arenas and pretend crowd noise, making an attempt to recreate the rollicking atmospheres of severe playoff environments. but nothing replaces having true fans in the constructing. -- Royce younger
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