Six big takeaways from the postseason’s first six days

The 2023 NBA playoffs are lower than one week outdated, however we’ve already seen some epic celebrity performances, upsets brewing and loads of followers again within the stands.

Can Luka Doncic and the Mavericks ship the LA Clippers residence early? Are the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks headed for a Sport 7 inside Madison Sq. Backyard? Can the NBA-best Utah Jazz keep away from an upset towards Ja Morant and the younger and hungry Memphis Grizzlies? After bouncing again from a Sport 1 loss, are the Los Angeles Lakers hitting their stride towards the Phoenix Suns?

Our NBA Insiders are breaking down their six largest takeaways from the primary six days of the postseason.

MORE: Matchups, schedules and full NBA playoffs protection

The East’s elite aren’t messing round …

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Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles into the lane, hits the Eurostep after which passes to Khris Middleton, who drains the three plus the foul.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets have achieved precisely what they have been presupposed to do by way of their first two playoff video games: demolish groups that may’t compete with them.

The Milwaukee Bucks, although, have been questioned throughout the ultimate weekend of the common season for not ensuring they’d keep away from the Miami Warmth within the first spherical of the playoffs. By falling to Miami on the penultimate night time of the common season, Milwaukee assured final 12 months’s Japanese Convention champions — who knocked the Bucks out of the bubble on their method to the NBA Finals — can be their first-round opponent.

That transfer doesn’t look so unhealthy proper now.

After a second straight evisceration of the Warmth on Thursday night time — this time on the shores of Biscayne Bay — Milwaukee has taken a commanding 3-0 lead, compiling what’s arguably probably the most gorgeous results of the primary spherical up to now (sure, together with the collapse of the LA Clippers out West).

All the issues that individuals questioned about this staff getting into the season — from its means to carry up in a strain state of affairs to simply how a lot of a distinction would Jrue Vacation make as to whether Mike Budenholzer would make the mandatory changes to reach the playoffs — have all been emphatically answered three video games into what the Bucks hope is a really lengthy postseason run.

In contrast to the 76ers and Nets, each of whom have additionally taken care of enterprise up to now towards the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics, respectively, Milwaukee is going through an opponent that was thought may threaten their season. And fairly than discovering itself in a dogfight, the Bucks have as a substitute smashed the Warmth to smithereens in each Sport 2 and three after escaping from Sport 1 with an additional time victory.

The Nets, Milwaukee’s second-round opponent ought to each groups advance, will supply a far higher problem. But when we’ve realized something on this first spherical, it’s that this 12 months’s Bucks are far totally different than these of the previous two postseasons.

— Tim Bontemps

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Alan Hahn and Jay Williams debate whether or not Luka Doncic is ready to be the face of the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks.

Late within the third quarter of Sport 2, the Clippers desperately wanted a defensive cease, in order that they tried pulling the ace out of their sleeve. Kawhi Leonard, the celebrity who has earned a fame as one of many premier stoppers in NBA historical past, matched up towards Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks responded by clearing out the best aspect of the courtroom and letting their celebrity go to work. Doncic backed down Leonard, pounding dribble after dribble till he received to the spot he wished, then pivoted into a fairly one-legged fadeaway that certainly made Staples Heart spectator and Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki proud.

Swish.

Welp, a lot for that supposed answer. Head coach Tyronn Lue’s Clippers tried just about all the things to decelerate the Mavs’ celebrity within the first two video games of the collection. They’re nonetheless looking for one thing that works.

“They’ve some good defenders, like [Paul George] and Kawhi, two of the perfect perimeter defenders,” stated Doncic, who’s averaging 35 factors and 9 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 50.9% from the ground within the collection. “You’ve simply received to be aggressive. It’s playoffs. You’ve received to be aggressive.”

Aggressive is simply too tame to explain Doncic’s method within the collection. He’s been each ruthless and methodical, determining counters to each totally different look LA throws at him and ceaselessly exploiting weaknesses in humiliating vogue.

Discover that Doncic didn’t point out Patrick Beverley among the many Clippers’ good defenders. After bullying Beverley for an and-1 early in Sport 1, Doncic barked, “You’re too f—ing small!”

Doncic didn’t point out Marcus Morris Sr., his nemesis in final season’s bubble collection, both. After swishing a step-back 3 over him after which driving for an and-1 layup throughout Sport 2, Doncic wagged his finger and declared, “He can’t guard me. Nah.”

Doubling Doncic has usually had disastrous outcomes, too, because of his sound decision-making and Dallas taking pictures 50% from 3-point vary within the collection. Living proof: the dagger 3 hit by red-hot Tim Hardaway Jr. late in Sport 2 that got here off a contact move from Dorian Finney-Smith, who flashed to the center of the ground when the Clippers despatched a second defender at Doncic 35 ft from the ring.

If the Clippers don’t discover some solutions shortly, they’ll begin an extended summer season quickly.

— Tim MacMahon

The Lakers seem like the Lakers once more …

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Anthony Davis scores 34 factors, LeBron James provides 21, and Devin Booker and Jae Crowder are each ejected earlier than the sport ends within the Lakers’ 109-95 win over the Suns.

Damage absences had derailed the second half of their season, and in each the play-in sport towards the Golden State Warriors and Sport 1 towards the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers didn’t look fairly proper. At their greatest, the Lakers dominate the paint at each ends of the courtroom, pulverizing their opponents to attain high-efficiency buckets across the rim whereas shutting down the lane to opposing site visitors.

That was utterly absent In Sport 1, when the Suns truly outscored the Lakers within the paint by eight factors in a nine-point victory. LeBron James and Anthony Davis managed solely 31 factors on 11-for-29 taking pictures, and Deandre Ayton had the identical variety of rebounds (16) as Davis and Andre Drummond mixed.

Issues began to alter in Sport 2, as Davis received rather more aggressive as a scorer and the Lakers received a good battle inside. The Lakers outscored the Suns 42-40 within the paint and grabbed 38 boards to the Suns’ 31. The Lakers received a hard-fought sport on the highway by seven factors, however there have been nonetheless questions as as to whether the Suns’ loss might need been extra attributable to Chris Paul’s shoulder harm than the Lakers’ energy.

However in Sport 3, the Lakers returned to the kind of bully ball that characterised their championship run final season. They dominated the center, outscoring the Suns 46-26 within the paint and smashing them 51-35 on the boards. They managed the motion comfortably, at each ends of the courtroom, for your entire 48 minutes and appeared to squeeze the life out of their adversary. Similar to they did to each postseason opponent within the playoff bubble.

The Lakers seem like themselves once more — a scary thought for the remainder of the playoff discipline.

— André Snellings

… And Ja Morant appears like he’s constructed for the playoffs

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Ja Morant reveals out with a reverse alley-oop, then throws down a monster jam within the lane as Rudy Gobert will get out of the best way.

The proof that Morant is at his greatest when the highlight is brightest retains including up. After cementing himself because the No. 2 total decide within the 2019 NBA draft with a triple-double (17 factors, 16 assists, 11 rebounds) in an upset win within the first spherical of the NCAA match with Murray State, Morant capped his Rookie of the Yr marketing campaign together with his highest-scoring output (35 factors) within the Memphis Grizzlies’ play-in loss to the Portland Path Blazers.

It’s arduous to imagine now that Morant took a slight step backward in his second common season, seeing his effectivity decline with added scoring accountability (as Jaren Jackson Jr. missed the majority of the common season) and the lingering results of an ankle sprain in December. The Warriors exploited Morant’s poor exterior taking pictures (30% on 3-pointers) throughout the regular-season finale, holding him to 16 factors on 7-of-21 taking pictures (1-of-6 from 3) in a Memphis loss with the eighth seed within the play-in match on the road. The rematch 5 days later was a distinct story.

Morant scored 35 factors on 14-of-29 taking pictures with 5 3-pointers to propel the Grizzlies to the playoffs. That kicked off a torrid run that has seen him rating 108 factors over the previous three video games between the play-in finale and the primary two video games towards the top-seeded Utah Jazz, smashing his earlier excessive over any three-game stretch in his profession (91 factors).

Morant was at his most sensational in Wednesday’s Sport 2, the place his 47 factors have been probably the most ever in a playoff sport by a participant age 21 or youthful, in line with ESPN Stats & Info analysis. Morant riddled one of many league’s prime defenses, needing simply 26 pictures largely as a result of he received to the free throw line 20 instances.

Whether or not Memphis can parlay a break up in Salt Lake Metropolis into a surprising upset or not, Morant’s efficiency has made it clear that larger playoff phases are in retailer for him and the Grizzlies.

— Kevin Pelton

Playoff basketball in The Backyard is again …

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Stephen A. Smith is hyped after the Knicks tied the collection towards the Hawks at Madison Sq. Backyard.

You may’t start to debate the Knicks-Hawks collection with out mentioning guard play.

Trae Younger, the 22-year-old slight-of-stature goal of criticism proved the second was neither too large nor the lights too brilliant. He sealed Sport 1 for Atlanta with a final-second game-winning floater. For New York, former MVP and 2023 Sixth Man of the Yr finalist Derrick Rose has been main the best way over newly minted Most Improved Participant Julius Randle. Rose has offered the regular hand for the Knicks, averaging 21.5 factors over two video games.

The Hawks’ protection and size have befuddled the Knicks by way of the primary two video games. Randle has been arduous pressed to discover a clear look within the paint towards Atlanta’s Danilo Gallinari and John Collins — Clint Capela has been shading closely to bolster the first defender. Randle’s 4-of-13 efficiency from 3 hasn’t achieved a lot to trigger Atlanta to regulate both. However what has been spectacular is New York’s bench scoring — 64 and 55 factors in Video games 1 and a pair of, respectively — outscoring the starters in each outings.

Rose has been the bench catalyst, permitting Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, Taj Gibson and Obi Toppin to play with extra freedom. Toppin, particularly, has had some nice moments, his athleticism matches up effectively towards the Hawks and he shoots effectively sufficient from 3 to maintain their protection sincere. The Knicks are nonetheless ready for his or her star to really get going; Randle provided glimpses within the second half of Sport 2 however has but to place it collectively.

Younger is clearly circled on the Knicks’ scouting report — he’s averaging 31 factors within the collection — however Bogdan Bogdanovic has challenged even the perfect groups’ 3-point protection throughout the common season. Bogdanovic’s well timed nook 3 in Sport 1 was solely second in magnitude to the precise sport winner. And although Younger makes up in playmaking means for what he lacks in measurement, the Hawks boast good measurement and size 2 by way of 5.

If the Knicks’ regular-season protection and Randle get again on monitor, I nonetheless like them to maneuver on. But when Younger retains moving into the paint, and Bogdonavic and De’Andre Hunter are hitting from deep, it spells Dangerous Information Bears for New York.

Both means, it’s unbelievable to have playoff basketball again in The Backyard.

— Monica McNutt

… And so are the followers, for higher or worse

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Stephen A. Smith reacts to 2 separate incidents Wednesday night time involving followers at NBA arenas.

The opening week of playoff video games has introduced again each the great — and regrettable — reminder of the affect of followers.

The scenes of almost full arenas, rocking with noise throughout momentum-shifting runs, has been an excellent sight. Playoff video games are in regards to the ambiance. Whether or not it’s quieting down a raucous crowd as a highway staff or cranking up the house followers, the NBA expertise is enhanced by the buildings themselves. It’s what so lots of our long-lasting recollections are constructed round.

The chants, the roars, the surprised silences — the ambiance enhances the sport. Watching Madison Sq. Backyard come to life has been a cathartic expertise, the neighborhood energy of sports activities on show and the look, really feel and sound making issues really feel considerably regular once more.

On the flip aspect, with followers again within the combine, it has additionally been an all-too-uncomfortable reminder of how fragile that relationship between gamers and followers may be. From Russell Westbrook having popcorn dumped on him to Trae Younger getting spit on to Ja Morant’s household being harassed, the NBA felt the drive of unruly fan conduct, giving the triumphant return of basketball ambiance a black eye.

The NBA has a fan code of conduct, and with groups placing out statements and condemning followers’ actions, the league hopes this isn’t a blip on the radar. As a result of the NBA went virtually a full 12 months with largely empty arenas and faux crowd noise, attempting to recreate the rollicking atmospheres of intense playoff environments. However nothing replaces having actual followers within the constructing.

— Royce Younger