BEHOLD, THE 2018 NBA PLAYOFFS (FIXTURES, KEY POINTS, PREDICTIONS)

After a season long run 2,460 games combined for all NBA teams with 1,230 games for each conference, (East & West) with each team having to go through a stretch of 82 games, the playoffs are finally here! Through the pain of losing star players to injuries and having to restructure the team with the guidance of backup plans (which most teams if not all, hope they never get to use).

Take for instance the Boston Celtics, losing Gordon Hayward (a golden and difference making player they acquired from the Utah Jazz) to injury on the very first day of the season to a season-long injury.

Imagine what that must have done to the psyche of the whole organization. But worthy to be commended, is how the whole Celtics team handled the loss, and the loss of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford down the season to injuries. The Celtics succeeded by feeding off the energy of each other throughout the season. From their All-Star Kyrie Irving, to the last member of the team, the Celtics shook the Eastern Conference, only falling behind Toronto Raptors and eventually losing top seed to the Raptors.
If you’ve been reading this so far with apt attention you’d notice that, after the first part (line) which talked about the cumulative number of games played, the next part which began with the pain of losing players to injury, the normal thing expected of me (the writer) would’ve been to add “Behold, the 2018 NBA Playoffs” or “Welcome to the 2018 NBA Playoffs” or some catchy catch phrases as such. I apologize, I’m sorry I got caught up with the injury talk.
My bad!
(Laughing so hard right now).

Now let’s go back to the distraction........
You don’t like injuries? Neither do I. But consider for a moment how the injury of back-to-back MVP champ Steph Curry caused the warriors set up to look further down their G-league roster to discover (take notice of) a gem in the person of Quinn Cook.
Even though he did not comfortably replace Steph Curry in a way that only Steph Curry can, he added more than a bite to the warriors attack and defense, in the absence of the Chef. Injuries to the Splash brothers (Steph Curry & Klay Thompson) in a way slowed down the warriors push for the Western Conference’s top seed, and just like the Celtics they lost it to the thoroughly clinical Houston Rockets, whilst they (Golden State Warriors) ended up in second place. Injuries are not the excuse of Champions but admittedly, it does hamper progress (Warriors are 7-10 in their last 17 games of the regular season).
Ask the Cleveland Cavaliers if for one moment that statement sounded like a joke to you. But wait, hold on right there! Have you noticed how the downward progress of the Cavs of the in the Eastern Conference, caused us to take notice of the progressive rise of the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers as we sought to complete our equation number of Eastern Conference possible top seed contenders. With zero disrespect to the pacers and 76ers, they weren’t even in the conversation of possible top seed contenders in the east, prior to the beginning of the season (at least among some pundits). I’ll tell you why.

Although the 76ers have had top draft picks for the past 2 seasons or more in Nolan Smith, Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons, they haven’t been able to set up that core together to win games consistently. Last season they set a somewhat reverse record of losing the most number of games in the history of the NBA. More than 87% of their games ended in defeats. What the 76ers have done with this season (finishing 3rd in the very crowded East) is just mind blowing and standing-ovation-applause-worthy.
For the Pacers, they weren’t included in playoff conversation at the beginning of the season and this is largely to the fact that they let go of their star player Paul George to the thunders, a move which saw American-born Nigerian Victor Oladipo go the other way.

A move which amongst the NBA community at the time seemed like the pacers had put a bullet to their own feet (or Brain, or whatever Paul George was for them. Actually he was their everything, just so you get the picture and not the flash). Considering the fact that PG is known overtime to be one of the best two-way players in the league, and believe me this type of players are rare. But the Indiana Pacers didn’t dwell on that, they built on what they saw as names on their player roster. Much credit has to go to Coach Nate McMillian and the whole Pacers gang for the work put in. Because of the hard work, they finished 5th on the Eastern Conference log and are going into the playoffs with high hopes. The pacers put to reality what we often see in quotes that, to succeed, “You sometimes have to leave your comfort zone” or “let go” your comfort zone, as was the case with Paul George.

Two top NBA teams have also been successful this season in that guise.

1. The Toronto Raptors changed their hard-nail defensive DNA to a whole new and different look. Credit to the Coach Dwayne Casey because that’s never easy. Comfort zone left, you might as well add.
   

2. Coach Mike D’Antoni at the beginning of last season did something crazy. Well before he did, he had a deep meeting with his players. He told them he’s figured out what’ll help them compete and win more. James Harden asked him how? He responded that Harden will have to revert to a point guard role from a shooting guard, a position which has largely made him a successful Superstar. Fast forward down two seasons and Harden has made a seamless transition. Another reason why we should all “Fear the Beard”.
   

Take a quick look at how each team finished their season on the Eastern and Western Conference standings.
(P for playoff team)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Toronto Raptors (59-23) P
2. Boston Celtics (55-27) P
3. Philadelphia 76ers (52-30) P
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32) P
5. Indiana Pacers (48-34) P
6. Miami Heat (44-38) P
7. Milwaukee Bucks (44-38) P
8. Washington Wizards (43-39) P
9. Detroit Pistons (39-43)
10. Charlotte Hornets (36-46)
11. New York Knicks (29-53)
12. Brooklyn Nets (28-54)
13. Chicago Bulls (27-55)
14. Orlando Magic (25-57)
15. Atlanta Hawks (24-58)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Houston Rockets (63-17) P
2. Golden State Warriors (58-24) P
3. Portland Trailblazers (49-33) P
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34) P
5. Utah Jazz (48-34) P
6. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34) P
7. San Antonio Spurs (47-35) P
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35) P
9. Denver Nuggets (46-35)
10. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
11. Los Angeles Lakers (35-47)
12. Sacramento Kings (27-55)
13. Dallas Mavericks (24-58)
14. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60)
15. Phoenix Suns (21-61)

Here’s the Matchups for the 16 teams that qualified for the next round of NBA’s already unpredictable season.

Games can be live streamed using NBAleaguepass, WatchESPN and WatchTNT.

It will be interesting to see how each of these teams will battle it out during the course of the playoffs as some matchups might go down the wire; by this I mean games getting to game 5, 6 or 7. It’s most enjoyable for us fans as we get to grab popcorns, snacks and drinks and watch how teams slug it out against each other. From tactics against tactics, suffocating lockdown 2-on-1 defense on opponent’s star players, rotation of lineups, strategic timeouts to slowdown opponent’s game tempo and all the seemingly little, yet big things that help win an NBA game asides from talent.
An exciting thing about each NBA team that makes fans rub their palms together in excitement is how each team have one special combo about them (By this I mean a special weapon embedded in their style of play they can unleash on opponents. You know how each Mortal Kombat fighter has that very special power, it’s the same here!). From the Warriors famous pick-and-roll to the pace of the Milwaukee bucks, the arsenal is loaded.

Feed your eyes below:
 Houston Rockets: Information from statmuse twitter page has it that the rockets are the first team in NBA history to finish a season shooting more 3s than 2s. Good luck setting your defense against all those 3-pointers on a roster that boasts of 3-point machines like James Harden, Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza.
3,437 3PA
3,428 2PA (pic.twitter.com/aJApk9Iz24)
“Stats from StatMuse (@Statmuse)
Also, Harden has made more than three times as many 3-pointers on stepback shots (98 made, LeBron follows with 30 and CJ McCollum with Steph Curry have 27 apiece) than any other player this season. That’s cold! (Source: Second Spectrum)

• Philadelphia 76ers: Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) posted on twitter that the 76ers have the longest winning streak (16 games) ever going into the playoffs, adding that no team in NBA history has done that. Personally I’m just wowed when I realized that, neither the 1995-1996 record making Bulls led by Michael Jordan nor the most recent record smashing 2016-2017 Warriors own this bragging right. Additionally, according to Second Spectrum, Ben Simmons has more touches (7,589) in the league than MVP candidates James Harden (5,986) and LeBron James (7,131).

• Boston Celtics: Even without top players like Marcus Smart, Irving, Hayward and Horford, the Young Celtics have found a way to win games. Maybe their defense is their elixir because whenever Jaylen Brown is the closest defender in the half court, opponent’s players have shot just 38.1%. That’s the second-best mark among more than 150 players who have defended at least 500 shots this season.

• Toronto Raptors: When the duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are off the court, the dominant reserve units of the Raptors put in so much work that the raptors are still tied for the eighth-most points per chance on offense, as compared to last season where the raptors averaged the fewest points per chance league-wide. (Source: Second Spectrum)

• Cleveland Cavaliers: No one is better at hitting contested shots than James, who leads all players this season with 62.1 effective field Goal percentage when the nearest defender was within 2 feet.

• Indiana Pacers: In transition, pacers averages 1.35 points per chance when Oladipo is on the court, a better mark than the Warriors. Safe to say he’s the engine room of the Pacers.

• Miami Heat: Although Kelly Olynyk is averaging just 11.5 points each game this season, he’s been one of the most versatile and efficient scorers in the NBA. He ranks second in points per direct drive (100 drives minimum) and first in points per direct post-up this season.

• Milwaukee Bucks: As I earlier said, this team come with a lot of speed and they love to run. Giannis Antetokounmpo has recorded 57 dunks in transition which is the most this season, 31 of those dunks have been made while contested, also the most this season. Talk about a freak!

• Washington Wizards: The wizards have scored more shots (per 100 possessions) generated from shots off cuts to the basket with 8.1, and only the Warriors rank higher with 9.4.

• Golden State Warriors: When Steph Curry and Kevin Durant partner up, the NBA has witnessed its best play this season in their pick-and-roll. Curry handles the ball while Durant sets the screen, and the warriors have averaged 1.29 points per direct play. No other play type has amassed more points, be it pick-and-roll or player isolation.

• Portland Trailblazers: This team seems to be living up to its name as CJ McCollum has ran 2.70 miles per game this season (the most) with teammate Damian Lillard having 2.54. They are the only team that have two players in the top 10.

• Oklahoma City Thunder: Their success lies in their ability to out-muscle and out-hustle opponents. They rank 1st in the NBA in both deflections and loose balls recovered. Paul George leads the NBA with 3.9 deflections per game as does Westbrook with 2.2 loose balls recovered per game.

• Utah Jazz: Stop thinking that the Jazz are handicapped offensively without Gordon Hayward. Without him, the Jazz have created 19.8 uncontested shots per game this season as they lead the league in that category. 76ers follow closely with 18.6.

• New Orleans Pelicans: This team ranks first in pace and are averaging more miles per hour on offense than any other playoff team with 8.97%. Only the Bulls have more with 9.03.

• San Antonio Spurs: Let’s talk about defense for a bit. Personally I love a great defense. It is what helped the Warriors overcome the Cavs last season. In the absence of Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs have a defensive gem in Kyle Anderson. Among 212 players to face at least 30 drives against 2018 All-Stars, he’s allowed the 3rd fewest points per chance on drives at 0.72. The warriors have work to do in and outside the paint!

• Minnesota Timberwolves: It is evident the wolves miss Jimmy Butler anytime he doesn’t play. Butler averages 7.24 miles per hour getting back on defense in transition as he ranks first in the league, and first also amongst all 2017-2018 All-Stars.

*90% of these stats were collated from Second Spectrum’s NBA 2017-2018 statistics.

As far as predictions go, I believe the top 3 in each conference are to watch out for. You don’t work that hard all season to slip up at the finish line!

My wildcard picks are: The Cavs from the East and the Thunders from the West.

Now I can comfortably say, WELCOME TO THE INTRIGUING 2018 NBA PLAYOFFS!!!

(Hahaha, I got you there, right? Say I didn’t!).

Information Credits: https://www.NBA.com/Stats, https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkay/2018/04/12/2018-nba-playoffs-schedule-bracket-seeding-finals-odds-tv-live-stream-and-more-for-every-series/#1579fb4714c

Stats Credits: StatMuse (@Statmuse on twitter), Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt on twitter) and https://www.secondspectrum.com/

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