The power of the internet has been manifested again looking at the rate of still images and short clips of LeBron James’ missing a potential game winning shot against the Denver Nuggets. While there were double digit in seconds left on the clock with the game tied on 99 points, LeBron’s shot felt like a last second winning attempt.
However, LeBron’s attempt (if he had made it) was a go-ahead shot that would have put the Los Angeles Lakers up 102-99 and more or less sealed the contest in the best of seven game series at 1-1. Nuggets Shooting Guard Jamal Murray did make his shot to give the Nuggets a second straight win and ink a 2-0 series lead ahead of a double header in Los Angeles.
The NBA playoffs are here and so is the drama. The league’s most recognizable brand has had it dose of controversy in the spotlight and has inevitably fueled a serious discussion on refereeing in the postseason.
Officiating has been a major problem all season long and the early part of the playoffs has shown exactly that this is a problem. Philadelphia Sixers are beyond pissed that they’ve been on the wrong end of bad decisions not just once but twice in its series against New York Knicks.
So aggrieved they feel that the Joel Embiid-led team plan to file a grievance to the league.
Irrespective what Philadelphia does going forward, what lies ahead is an uphill battle against the Knicks after losing two straight games heading into Game 3.
The Sixers can’t afford to lose another game in this series and that makes their challenge a lot harder against another pesky side coached by Tom Thibodeau particularly in the NBA postseason considering Thibodeau has done same with Chicago Bulls with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah and Minnesota Timberwolves with Jimmy Butler prior.
Beyond LeBron James’ place on the GOAT list after his big miss against Denver in Game 2 and game officiating, there are key items to look out for in connection to the main actors of the playoffs- the players- and here are the biggest player matchups that have implications beyond the immediate ramifications of the playoffs series.
Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Clippers
(Kawhi Leonard, Paul George living up to reputation as elite stoppers)
For the best stretch of their careers, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been considered as some of the very best defensive players in the NBA. As such, pairing them on the Los Angeles Clippers via a mega trade and free agency meant the reincarnation of the lethal Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen duo that wrecked havoc in the late 1980’s and 1990’s.
Pippen and Jordan were elite defensive players and Kawhi and George have been placed in the same bracket but have thus far not lived up to expectation mainly due to injuries. At the time of publication, Leonard is a major injury doubt for the series while George has had fair share of physical ailments in his time in Los Angeles.
Going up against Dallas’ elite scorers Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic presents a huge opportunity for George to get the respect of naysayers on his ability to play top level defense at this stage in his career. It is impossible to stop generational talents like Kyrie and Luka but it’s possible to slow their production down and that is exactly what George and Kawhi (when he returns) are expected to do.
The Clippers won Game One and need top defense on Dallas’ mavericks (no pun intended) to build on this series lead and seal progression to the next round.
Minnesota Timberwolves v Phoenix Suns
(Battle for Team USA’s starting Shooting Guard spot between Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker)
Taunting Kevin Durant in a basketball game particularly in a playoff series isn’t the wisest thing to do but that’s exactly what Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards did en route to an impressive 120-95 win to take the opening game of the series. The LA Clippers did same to Durant when he was with the Golden State Warriors and found out the harsh way; just ask Patrick Beverley and the recently retired Lou Williams about that.
What was a great matchup on paper is turning into reality if happenings in Game One is anything to go by but while Edwards is certainly at heart of it, Kevin Durant isn’t. The Ying to Edwards’ Yang in this series is Suns shooting guard Devin Booker who like Edwards, has been named to the USA’s 2024 Olympic Games Men’s Basketball Team.
While Team USA’s roster is filled to the brim with versatile players who can man multiple roles with Steph Curry playing as a shooting guard with Tyrese Haliburton manning the point guard spot, it is clear the shooting guard spot is a straight battle between Booker and Edwards.
The Timberwolves guard starred in Game One with 33 points and nine rebounds in 36 minutes while Booker registered 18 points and two rebounds in 38 minutes. Phoenix need Booker to step up and show his All-NBA talent to meet heavy title expectations with Bradley Beal also on the roster.
Beyond helping his team win a first ever NBA title, Booker’s play against Edwards would go a long way to determine which player starts for USA in Paris.
Miami Heat v Boston Celtics
(Bam Adebayo’s battle with Krisptaps Porzingis foreshadows Olympic battle with Bigs)
Spoiler Alert!!!! Miami will be eliminated by Boston Celtics in the playoffs first round. Without Jimmy Butler due to injury, Miami Heat have absolutely no shot at beating Boston who recorded the best record in the regular season and have incredible depth to see off Miami and progress with less stress.
However, there is an interesting bit to look out for in this series as Bam Adebayo prepares to play for Team USA at the Paris Olympics. At the center position for Boston, Latvian international Kristaps Porzingis presents a huge challenge for Adebayo in this series and what lies ahead in the Olympics should Latvia qualify to the competition.
Even if Latvia miss out on qualification, Porzingis represents that type of unique challenge for Adebayo who is 6 foot 9 inches and undersized but is set to go at some point in the Olympics against 7 foot 3 inch Porzingis, France’s Victor Wembanyama who is 7 foot 4 inches and Serbia’s Nikola Jokic who is 6 foot 11 inches.
Joel Embiid deserted Cameroon and absconded France to settle in Team USA’s roster for the Olympics and is set to be the primary defender on the aforementioned elite players but Embiid’s health is a big problem.
As such, Bam Adebayo will feature heavily in the upcoming tournament and needs to give Team USA handlers the proper assurance that he can handle the enormous task when Embiid’s body fails him again and that starts with proving himself against Porzingis in this series.
