2024 NBA playoffs roundtable: Postseason MVP? Large surprises?

There’s nonetheless loads at stake because the second spherical of the NBA playoffs enters its remaining set of video games — with not less than one Recreation 7 already set this weekend.

Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA Finals champion Denver Nuggets are tied at three video games apiece with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves forward of Sunday’s must-watch Recreation 7. The winner will tackle both the Dallas Mavericks or the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention finals, with Dallas at present holding a 3-2 lead over OKC.

In the meantime, the Boston Celtics await their opponent for the East finals after eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers. The New York Knicks can arrange an anticipated conflict with Boston in the event that they beat the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

In a playoffs already full of loads of twists and turns, what has stood out probably the most up to now? And which participant has been the MVP of the postseason?

Our NBA insiders take a look at the most important questions from the second spherical and what to observe for forward of this weekend’s motion.

What has been probably the most stunning factor concerning the second spherical?

Tim MacMahon: The Mavericks are in place to shut out the Thunder on Saturday regardless of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving combining for under 38.2 factors per recreation — a drop-off of 21.3 factors from their regular-season manufacturing. Dallas’ position gamers, notably P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr., have capitalized on the alternatives created by the eye the Thunder pay to the Mavs’ stars. And the dominant defensive identification the Mavs established late within the season has carried over.

Tim Bontemps: That Denver discovered itself in a two-game deficit to start out its sequence. Minnesota performed a few excellent video games, led by Edwards, and there won’t have been a extra stunning recreation this season than the Timberwolves’ 26-point win over the Nuggets in Recreation 2. The champs responded in really spectacular vogue, however they by no means ought to’ve gotten themselves into that predicament to start with.

Kendra Andrews: That Denver seems susceptible. Sure, the Nuggets’ response in Video games 3 and 4 was unbelievable, however the first two video games of the sequence confirmed the Nuggets will be uncovered if not every little thing is clicking. Blowout losses in Video games 2 and 6 confirmed that the a lot much less skilled Timberwolves can provide them a run for his or her cash.

Kevin Pelton: Oklahoma Metropolis’s 3-point carriage turning right into a pumpkin on the worst potential time. The Thunder led the NBA in taking pictures past the arc within the common season (39%) and matched that in Spherical 1. To date in opposition to Dallas, the Thunder’s 33% accuracy on 3s is worst of any staff within the convention semifinals, and Zach Kram of the Ringer famous the 29% OKC has shot since profitable Recreation 1 is the staff’s worst four-game stretch of the season.

Brian Windhorst: The Celtics are 8-2 with seven double-digit wins this postseason. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are averaging a mixed 60 factors and 14 rebounds per recreation. Boston is ranked No. 2 in offense and No. 3 in protection within the playoffs regardless of lacking star middle Kristaps Porziņģis. But, individuals are abandoning the Celtics as title contenders. Their postseason opponents (the Miami Warmth and the Cavaliers) had damage points, however the Celtics had little bother in opposition to them. Ignore them at your personal threat.

What’s going to decide Recreation 7 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves?

Windhorst: Edwards. He has the expertise, the mentality and the need to have a transcendent recreation. I name it the “Matrix second” (when Neo stops the bullets). Giannis Antetokounmpo had his in Recreation 6 of the NBA Finals in 2021. LeBron James had his in Recreation 5 of the 2007 Jap Convention finals when he scored 29 of the Cavaliers’ remaining 30 factors in opposition to the Detroit Pistons. You can also make an inventory of those moments for the sport’s stars. Edwards can do that, though it could be an excessive amount of to ask in opposition to the Nuggets on the street. Denver hasn’t performed in a seven-game sequence because the 2020 postseason within the bubble, however there’s little doubt the Nuggets can deal with the expertise. But, the chance is there for Edwards, and that is why you watch.

MacMahon: Which model of Jamal Murray exhibits up? He has averaged 19.7 factors on 50% taking pictures within the Nuggets’ three wins, in comparison with 11.7 factors on 26% taking pictures within the three losses. It stays to be seen how the elbow damage suffered in Thursday’s loss will have an effect on him, however it’s price remembering his most up-to-date Recreation 7 efficiency: 40 factors on 15-of-26 taking pictures in a win over the LA Clippers in the course of the 2020 postseason within the bubble.

Pelton: How tightly the sport is officiated. Officers allowed a variety of contact early within the sequence, notably in Recreation 2 when simply 34 complete fouls had been referred to as. That favored the Timberwolves’ bodily protection and made life tough for the Nuggets on offense. Denver deserves credit score for locating counters, however it hasn’t harm that there have been extra whistles because the sequence has gone on, notably in Video games 3 and 4 — when 40-plus complete fouls had been referred to as in each video games. In contrast, there have been simply 31 complete in Minnesota’s Recreation 6 win Thursday.

Bontemps: Recreation 7s are the place legends are made. And Sunday’s recreation presents an unbelievable alternative for Edwards to take his fast-rising stardom to new heights. However, as now we have seen all through this sequence, this recreation will likely be dictated by how Jokic performs. He’s the MVP for a purpose, and I do not see him shedding a Recreation 7 on his dwelling flooring to shut out the season.

Andrews: Who will assist out Edwards? Between Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Cities, Naz Reid and Mike Conley, he’ll need assistance someplace — simply as Jokic will need assistance from teammates akin to Murray and Aaron Gordon. For the Timberwolves on the street, it is extra vital for his or her supporting solid to assist out their star.

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Why Stephen A. thinks Celtics ought to need Knicks matchup subsequent

Stephen A. explains why the Celtics ought to desire a matchup with the Knicks within the Jap Convention finals.

Knicks or Pacers: Which staff ought to the Celtics wish to face?

Bontemps: Indiana, with out query. The Pacers had bother dispatching a hobbled Milwaukee Bucks staff that performed with out Antetokounmpo and had Damian Lillard miss two video games within the first spherical, and are having comparable bother with an equally banged-up Knicks staff. In opposition to a full-strength Celtics staff, it must be a comparatively quick sequence. The Knicks should not have the ability to beat Boston, both, however coach Tom Thibodeau’s aspect can provide the Celtics a variety of bother in the way in which the Miami Warmth did in earlier postseasons. Additionally, profitable street video games at Madison Sq. Backyard is not any simple feat.

Pelton: It mustn’t matter, however I might decide Indiana. The Pacers’ lack of defensive self-discipline has made it tough for them to beat undermanned opponents and would absolutely be a deadly flaw in opposition to Boston. The potential for OG Anunoby getting back from his hamstring damage for the Knicks might make a sequence in opposition to the Celtics a comparatively honest battle.

Windhorst: I might desire to not play the Knicks if they’ve Anunoby. New York is 25-6 with him this season. I count on the Celtics to take care of just a little shock once they face both staff coming off a few aggressive sequence, however Boston goes to be a heavy favourite both approach. It is going to be about how the Celtics deal with enterprise, not the opponent.

Andrews: Indiana. The staff’s main regular-season scorer, Tyrese Haliburton, has run sizzling or chilly this sequence. He scored 34 and 35 factors in Video games 3 and 4 however hasn’t netted greater than 20 within the different contests. The Knicks are battling accidents, however their spectacular performances — together with three straight postseason dwelling wins with 120 or extra factors — might give Boston a run for its cash. That mentioned, the Celtics’ path to the NBA Finals nonetheless appears locked in.

MacMahon: The Celtics mustn’t care. Neither staff can beat Boston if the Celtics play at their greatest. The Celtics’ essential concern will likely be about getting Porziņģis wholesome and again within the lineup, not which opponent they face within the Jap Convention finals.

Reality or Fiction: Anticipate a Recreation 7 within the Thunder-Mavericks sequence.

MacMahon: Fiction. I am enjoying the chances right here. Jason Kidd is 4-0 as a coach when his staff has an opportunity to clinch a sequence. In keeping with ESPN Stats & Data, solely Tyronn Lue (seven), Gregg Popovich (5) and Al Attles (5) have extra wins with no loss in potential clinching video games.

Bontemps: Reality. Oklahoma Metropolis’s younger staff had a measured method after shedding Recreation 5, during which it scored its fewest factors all season and went simply 6-for-22 on open 3-point makes an attempt. The Thunder have already gained a recreation in Dallas within the sequence, and I see no purpose why they cannot drive a return to OKC — notably now that coach Mark Daigneault benched Josh Giddey, who has averaged simply seven factors this sequence.

Andrews: Fiction. With a chance to shut out at dwelling, and with the veteran expertise from the Mavs’ key gamers, they will have the ability to finish the sequence in six video games. I count on OKC to do every little thing it may well to drive a Recreation 7 (the ten.4-point margin of victory is the smallest of any second-round sequence), however Doncic and Irving ought to carry out higher than they’ve up to now to clinch the sequence.

Pelton: Reality-ion. As a result of momentum is a fantasy within the NBA playoffs, Oklahoma Metropolis’s chances are high higher than you most likely assume. Groups on this place come again to win Recreation 6 on the street 49% of the time since 1984, together with twice final yr (Boston at Philadelphia and Sacramento at Golden State).

Windhorst: I do not make predictions. All I will say is Dallas most likely ought to’ve gained the sequence already, however it let the Thunder steal Recreation 4 at dwelling. And that OKC has had a beautiful season.

Practically one month in, who’s your total postseason MVP?

Andrews: Jokic. Apart from the Nuggets’ blowout loss to the Timberwolves in Recreation 2, Jokic has been extremely constant, taking on video games and selecting aside Gobert, the Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Even within the Recreation 6 defeat, Jokic had a good 22 factors and 9 rebounds earlier than being pulled in the midst of the fourth quarter. This postseason, he has had a double-double in six of the 11 playoff video games he is performed, and two triple-doubles.

Bontemps: Jokic is the very best participant, however Jalen Brunson has been probably the most beneficial one. He is main the playoffs with 33.9 factors per recreation (together with 5 video games with 40 or extra factors), carrying a Knicks staff down a number of rotation gamers, and has been in the midst of a number of of the very best moments in these playoffs — whereas coping with a foot damage.

MacMahon: Jokic simply collected his third MVP trophy and continues to show he is the very best participant on the planet. For the reason that Nuggets went down 2-0 to start out the sequence he has been dominant ever since — reminding everybody why they’re the defending champions.

Pelton: Jokic. When the opposite greatest candidate (Edwards) responds to your 16 factors on 7-of-7 taking pictures within the third quarter of Recreation 5 by saying “I simply snort. That is all I can do,” it is a fairly good signal you are the very best participant on the planet and the MVP of the playoffs regardless of a tricky evening Thursday.

Windhorst: Ask me about Edwards after Sunday. And Jokic, after all, is good, however a teammate hit two recreation winners within the first spherical. In any other case the reply is Brunson. The Knicks are already again from Cancún with out him.