A great night of NBA Play-In basketball it was. With great crowds at both Cleveland and Los Angeles we saw two road teams win and advance.
For the first time since Covid we seem to be on the cusp of getting NBA playoff basketball back to what it should be from coast to coast. Last year’s Finals between Milwaukee and Phoenix was great, but the crowds are what make playoff basketball special.
Atlanta, with Trae Young having another banner night advanced to the No. 8 seed to play Miami. Lest we forget the Hawks were last year’s NBA Cinderella advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
If I’m Atlanta, I’d much rather play Miami than either Milwaukee, Boston, or Philly. This will be my second most interesting first round series in the East to watch. It just always seems with Miami that Jimmy Butler has an issue with someone own his own team. It wouldn’t shock me if Atlanta wins this series.
In the West…a gritty road win by the New Orleans Pels as they ousted the Clippers from the playoffs with a great game. Brandon Ingram showed he’s about to become a star. I think CJ McCollum helps this team a great deal as far as leadership and giving Brandon Ingram someone, he can lean on for some scoring every night.
The two rookies, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy are pretty good. I think I’m going to have to knock the Thunder down to No. 4 on my list of young teams in the West on the rise.
What to think of Zion though? That big overweight body has always concerned me. That’s a lot of unneeded weight to carry around in today’s fast paced NBA game. Is Zion another bust like the Anthony Bennett kid from UNLV was back in the day?
Somebody needs to teach him how to eat and take care of his body as an investment.
I don’t think the Pels have enough to hang with Phoenix, but I really love their coach, Willie Green.
What I’m really curious to see in the first round from Memphis versus Minnesota is if they’ve matured to the point where they can take care of the Timberwolves in five or six games.
Storylines abound in both the East and the West.
It’s a good time to be a serious NBA fan.