NBA Playoffs: 2nd Round Matchups Preview

If you are not following all four second-round playoff series, you need a new hobby and to give up your NBA fandom. Every single matchup is looking like a good one in both conferences. And so, get out there and watch.

Bet on them. Watch them. Enjoy them. So much good basketball is ahead from teams that have not been this far in several years.

Hawks and 76ers

The Hawks survived a wild onslaught in the waning minutes to beat Philly in game 1. They have a 1-0 lead on the top seed in the East as a #5 seed. They are looking like last year’s Miami Heat in that regard, though this one is absolutely far from over.

It was great to see Joel Embiid playing so well, but the officials opted to swallow the whistles far too often. Trae Young is the first Hawks player with 35 points and ten assists in a playoff game. He is only 22.

Atlanta won without DeAndre Hunter in the opener. It only gets better from here, too.

Bucks and Nets

Milwaukee dropped the series opener, but the fun is just beginning. With James Harden sidelined by a hamstring injury, they will have their chances to win the second game. Anything can happen when you have star power on both teams.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will play larger roles with the Beard out, which should be no issue for them. Mike James looked tremendous in the first game.

Make sure to keep your eyes peeled on this game, folks, and to bet carefully, game to game.

Nuggets and Suns

What a matchup the #2 and #3 teams in the West will play. The likely MVP Nikola Jokic is going against a Suns team that just knocked out the defending champs. CP3’s shoulder is better, and Devin Booker is scoring from every square inch on the court.

Led by that dynamic backcourt, Phoenix won the final three games in the first round to get here. Denver held off Portland in six, and here they stand. Will Barton should return very soon to add a scoring punch to the lineup. Jokic averaged better than 31 points per contest in knocking out the Blazers.

He was the best player all year for the Nuggets, and it was good to see him lead, even with Jamal Murray out.

Jazz and Clippers

The first-round officially ended on Sunday, June 6, and now the Jazz finally have their opponent. It is the Los Angeles Clippers, much to the dismay of Utah’s fans. This is going to be a challenging matchup both ways and one that will break some hearts.

If Mike Conley and Serge Ibaka can return for their respective teams, it would add a boost. Conley got hurt in the game five win for Utah. Ibaka’s back has been a problem for months. Luke Kennard went from benchwarmer to key scorer in the game seven win for the team.

This one will feature stars and great scoring all over. Three-point records might be broken, knowing how effective these teams are when firing them up.