2023 NBA playoffs: The hater’s guide to opening weekend, featuring a Clippers collapse and bad Lakers spacing

Of the numerous truisms about playoff basketball, my favourite is that it’s extra about weaknesses than strengths. Whereas a workforce can get by means of the common season by doing issues that work in opposition to most opponents more often than not, within the playoffs all that issues is the opponent in entrance of you. You should not solely attempt to exploit each benefit you may need, however be clear-eyed about your disadvantages so you possibly can anticipate how the opposite facet will attempt to exploit them. 

With that in thoughts, right here’s a have a look at every part that occurred within the opening weekend of the 2023 NBA playoffs, by means of the lens of a weak point the shedding workforce should attempt to cowl up. Consider it because the hater’s information to all eight video games. 

1. Clippers revert to outdated methods at worst time

It’s virtually as if the Los Angeles Clippers wished to make everyone write them off. That they had a 98-95 lead midway by means of the fourth quarter, then, in crunch time, misplaced all semblance of offensive circulation and misplaced by a rating of 113-103. The beginning of the sport wasn’t nice, both, and coach Tyronn Lue lamented that they didn’t put extra strain on the rim.

“Get to the paint or die attempting,” Lue stated Sunday. “That’s what we’ve got to do.”

The Clippers’ offensive numbers in Sport 1 look good. That doesn’t, nonetheless, excuse all of the occasions they settled for robust pull-up jumpers. Whereas this can be a traditionally nice jump-shooting workforce, additionally it is the final one that ought to must be reminded of the distinction between the photographs you can make and the photographs you’re on the lookout for. They bear in mind how they collapsed in opposition to the Denver Nuggets final season, they usually’ve spent this season engaged on breaking their unhealthy habits.

It was disheartening, then, to see George take a contested 3 over Dorian Finney-Smith with about two minutes left, down by three factors. Lue has introduced up the shot at each of his media availabilities because the loss. 

A few possessions after that, George attacked Luka Doncic off the dribble and dunked with two arms earlier than assist might get there. He and Kawhi Leonard had a number of good inside passes over the course of the sport, too. Going ahead, although, Lue stated he desires Los Angeles to “combine it up” extra usually: Take what the protection provides you, however don’t let the protection off the hook. 

The presence of Rajon Rondo, who performed the complete fourth quarter, has made the Clippers extra organized. In the event that they’re on the lookout for rim strain, although, they need to take into account discovering some minutes for Terance Mann. 

2. Lakers want house to jam 

Identical to final season, the Los Angeles Lakers had been an underwhelming halfcourt workforce in the course of the common season. It was simpler to dismiss this concern this time, although, since this could possibly be largely attributed to accidents and we’d already seen them overcome this problem to win a title.

About that. Los Angeles scored a grim 80.2 factors per 100 possessions within the halfcourt in opposition to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, per Cleansing The Glass. The Lakers as soon as once more began Andre Drummond at heart and glued Marc Gasol to the bench. They shot 26.9 p.c from deep, and, not like their playoff opener in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers within the bubble, it didn’t really feel prefer it was simply unhealthy capturing luck.  

The Lakers have a spacing downside, notably when Drummond is on the ground. In principle, they’ll overcome this if LeBron James goes supernova and Anthony Davis shoots like he did final 12 months. It helps in the event that they crush groups on the glass and run circles round them in transition, too. Completely none of that occurred in Sport 1, although, and too many possessions ended with Davis clanking a jumper.

Davis shot 5 for 16 and blamed himself for the 99-90 loss, however this was a collective failure: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wesley Matthews shot a mixed 1 for 10 from deep, and Phoenix obtained away with packing the paint. Contemplating that Chris Paul was hobbled and the Suns shot poorly themselves, this was a missed alternative. 

3. Denver has a lot floor to cowl 

The Nuggets had been a very good, not nice defensive workforce within the common season, however they didn’t have a lot margin for error on that finish. They defend pick-and-rolls aggressively, benefiting from Nikola Jokic’s anticipation and fast arms whereas defending him from having to defend smaller gamers in house. When the Nuggets are at their finest, Jokic is disruptive and his teammates are flying round, serving to one another and speaking.

The flip facet is that Denver is weak to a workforce just like the Path Blazers. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum can get the Nuggets in rotation every time they need, and it’s uncomfortable to be scramble mode when the ground is spaced and the shooters are all the time shot-ready. Portland shot 19 for 40 (47.5 p.c) from deep, however it’s not all about accuracy. Lillard and McCollum know that Norman Powell, Robert Covington, Carmelo Anthony and Anfernee Simons received’t hesitate when the ball involves them. 

Denver’s protection improved all through final season’s playoffs, and the identical might occur this time. This will probably be a problem, although, if the Nuggets don’t get more healthy rapidly. Jamal Murray was having his finest defensive season earlier than he tore his ACL, and Denver might certain use Will Barton and P.J. Dozier on this matchup. Gary Harris is just not strolling by means of that door. 

4. Concerning the Knicks’ shot choice

Whereas the New York Knicks have grow to be a way more correct 3-point capturing workforce below Tom Thibodeau, they don’t seem to be a prolific one. They take a variety of midrange photographs, and regardless that it has usually appeared like Julius Randle makes each tough jumper that he takes, the old-school shot profile has its drawbacks. Of their 107-105 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, Randle noticed a crowd each time he touched the ball within the halfcourt and elected to take a ton of robust 2s.

Heading into the playoffs, the concern in regards to the Knicks was that they didn’t have one other gear. They’d performed their finest gamers extraordinarily heavy minutes within the common season, they usually all the time performed onerous. Within the postseason, everyone does all this, to allow them to’t afford to waste possessions or have dry spells. 

As nice as New York’s protection has been, it shot up the standings as a result of it went on a tear offensively. In Sport 1, Alec Burks’ 27 factors in 26 minutes on 9-for-13 capturing virtually saved the Knicks, however they wanted that efficiency to make up for Randle’s 6-for-23 evening. 

5. The Celtics, stagnating

Even final season, when the Boston Celtics had a extra well-rounded roster, they could possibly be baited into stagnant offense and contested jumpers. This 12 months, this has occurred far more usually, for apparent causes. Gordon Hayward is gone. Kemba Walker hasn’t all the time been himself. Jayson Tatum has made strides as a lead playmaker, however nonetheless has some rising to do as a passer. Now that Jaylen Brown is out of the lineup, all of Boston’s offensive issues are exacerbated, as opposing groups can focus much more consideration on Tatum and Walker. The 2 mixed to shoot 11 for 36 in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. 

Boston and Brooklyn each switched like loopy to attempt to stop the opposite workforce from working its regular offense. The Nets’ protection isn’t elite, however they know the right way to scram out of mismatches they usually be sure that star gamers see a number of our bodies. Kevin Durant’s block in opposition to Tatum one-on-one originally of the second half was superior … 

… however he didn’t do that alone — have a look at what number of Brooklyn defenders have their eyes on Tatum on these performs within the second quarter: 

There have been occasions in Sport 1 by which the Nets didn’t play with a lot goal on offense, both, however the Celtics have a lot much less margin for error. They want faster decision-making, extra slicing and extra paint touches in the event that they’re going to make Brooklyn be extra selective about its switches. In addition they must be relentless with regards to attacking the Nets’ weaker defenders. 

6. Miami loses paint battle

It’s not that the Miami Warmth can’t get into the paint. It’s that they don’t all the time do it, and there aren’t many guys on the roster who do. This was a part of the enchantment of Victor Oladipo. Alas.

On Saturday, the Milwaukee Bucks outscored the Warmth 56-24 within the paint and tried 14 extra free throws. That is how Miami managed to lose a sport by which it scored 60 factors from the 3-point line and its opponent scored solely 15.

The Warmth obtained what they wanted from Goran Dragic and Duncan Robinson. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, nonetheless, mixed to shoot 8 for 37. It was a bizarre sport throughout, and shedding by two factors in extra time mustn’t have an effect on Miami’s confidence in regards to the matchup.

Milwaukee, nonetheless, might be feeling fairly good about its protection, too. It by no means went small, opting as a substitute to maintain Brook Lopez across the basket and let the opposite 4 defenders handle issues on the perimeter. A number of the 50 (!) 3-point makes an attempt Miami generated had been a results of Lopez dropping in opposition to pick-and-rolls and dribble-handoffs, however this wasn’t sufficient to pressure Mike Budenholzer’s hand. 

7. The Wizards know who they’re, I assume?

Towards this Philadelphia 76ers workforce, it’s profoundly unusual to see the Washington Wizards begin Raul Neto subsequent to Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, however, hey, they know who they’re. The Wizards are all-in on offense and velocity. Sadly, this Ish Smith block in opposition to Tobias Harris is just not one thing they’ll depend on:

The trade-off in opposition to is identical because it’s been all season, even in the course of the Wizards’ unbelievable push towards the playoffs: They’re consistently placing out fires on protection. Lots of issues went proper for Washington within the 125-118 loss — Joel Embiid obtained in foul hassle, the Sixers’ shooters had been chilly, Beal as soon as once more scored effectively regardless of being hounded each second that he was on the ground — however it wasn’t almost sufficient. 

One in every of their recurring defensive issues: The Wizards, who had been one of many league’s most foul-happy groups within the common season, despatched Embiid to the road 10 occasions within the second half. 

8. Offensive problems with postseasons previous resurface in Utah

Possibly the Jazz simply had one horrible evening. This was removed from the primary time previously few years, although, that their offense has turned ugly below playoff strain. Utah scored 43 first-half factors and shot 12 for 47 from deep in its 112-109 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, disorganized and discombobulated a lot of the means. 

Memphis’ ball strain was sometimes glorious. There isn’t a excuse, nonetheless, for possessions like these: 

Some essential context: Donovan Mitchell was a late scratch. Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley obtained into foul hassle, and Gobert fouled out in 24 minutes. However this was tough. Jordan Clarkson missed all eight of his 3-point makes an attempt and made a bunch of questionable choices. 

Based mostly on the Jazz’s unbelievable common season, I wager that is an anomaly. If it occurs once more, although, uh-oh.