The NBA’s second round is rolling full steam ahead, with the Western Conference matchups now carved in stone and primed for battle. The question burning on everyone’s lips—is it Thunder or Nuggets? Wolves or Warriors? Meanwhile, in the East, the Pacers have already thrown a curveball by snatching Game 1 from the Cavaliers, turning heads and raising eyebrows. These series aren’t just games; they’re chapters unfolding, packed with strategy, grit, and moments that’ll swing momentum like a pendulum. So, buckle up as we dive into the juiciest takeaways, the pivotal matchups, and the high-stakes drama that’s gripping this postseason by the throat. Want to get the full scoop? LEARN MORE.
Devine: Thunder in 6. Oklahoma City is the fresher, younger, deeper, more balanced and flat-out better team, with a double-big look to throw at Nikola Jokić, an armada of point-of-attack defenders to sic on Jamal Murray, and an all-world scorer in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capable of slicing Denver’s perimeter corps to ribbons. I’ve had OKC going to the Finals since before the season tipped off in October; as much respect as I have for the way Denver outlasted the Clippers, I see no reason to change up now.
Biggest takeaway from Game 1 of Cavs-Pacers?
AdvertisementVincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,”
expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,”
expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,”
expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,”
expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,”
expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Vincent Goodwill: That the Cavs need Darius Garland back, in the words of Morgan Freeman as Joe Clark in “Lean on Me,” expeditiously! Their two-pronged attack works with two lead guards able to run pick-and-rolls on each side of the floor. Some of this is general variance, playing a tougher opponent and not hitting jumpers. But Donovan Mitchell is better when Garland is alongside him, and vice versa. The Pacers hit everything from 3, it probably won’t continue. But Garland being there helps tempo and enables Mitchell to be looser offensively.
Rohrbach: Celtics in 6. It makes me nervous that consensus considers this an easy series for the Celtics. Jalen Brunson is incredible, and New York’s Villanova boys never quit. Boston is banged up, too. But I just cannot imagine a scenario in which the defensive combination of Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns does not get pick-and-rolled to death. This is what the Celtics have done to them in the past, and it has yielded 130.2 points per 100 possessions this season.The second round of the NBA playoffs is already underway, and the Western Conference matchups are finally set. Who wins Thunder-Nuggets and Wolves-Warriors? And what should we make of the Pacers stealing Game 1 from the Cavaliers? Let’s break it down.Tom Haberstroh: It’s a make-or-miss league. The Cavs outplayed the Pacers in just about every facet of the game except a big one: the 3-point column. The Pacers shot a blistering 19-of-36 (52.8 percent) from deep while the Cavs stunk up the joint at 9-of-38 (23.7 percent). When you lose the long-ball column by 30 points, that’s way too much for anyone to overcome. I wouldn’t change much if I’m the Cavs. Darius Garland could stem the tide there!
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