It was a rapid sprint in the NBA qualifiers. The playing action gave us a competitor of the year of the year with the Grizzlies-Warriors, then a late return in curls in the shots. The slate of four matches on Saturday gives way to a Sunday race also loaded.
We start four games 1 with high -flying Memphis at 68 Win Win Oklahoma City. The Thunder finished with the best differential points in the history of the NBA, and their guests are a fascinating young group, although defective. Then, we get Magic vs Celtics, while the reigning champions start walking at n ° 19 on their parquet floor. The Miami Heat, still resilient, tries the Cleveland juggernaut in third place and we end the weekend with a warriors-recithered warriors.
Vision guide for Sunday
| Game | Time (and) | TV | Flow |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Grizzlies in Thunder |
1 p.m. |
ABC |
|
|
Magic at Celtics |
3.30 p.m. |
ABC |
|
|
CAVS |
7 p.m. |
Tnt |
Max |
|
Warriors at Rockets |
9:30 p.m. |
Tnt |
Max |
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Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder
Second dimensions: Thunder -2000, Grizzlies +1000
It was a disorienting season for the Grizz, which has gone through premature injuries and a leadership crisis to win the last place from the west’s playoffs. JA MORANT is a figure, and the team begins a recruit center (Zach Edey) with an un residued guard (Scotty PIPPEN JR.), but Memphis was being paced to establish the records of the franchise before a trip. Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. anchored a lively 20 -point return to the Golden State Gymnasium on Tuesday. They failed in a awkward and annoying manner, but responded by swinging against the MAV on Friday.
Their reward? A large team of the regular season of all time that went 35-6 at home. The favorite of the MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, led the Ligue in a score. The team led the league in a defensive side, a clear note, in authorized reversals and forced reversals. Oklahoma City is deep, disciplined and always switched. It is the favorite to win the West until proven the opposite.
Cool’s darkening moment: It never ages.
Choice of experts
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
Second dimensions: Celtics -5000, Magic +1600
The Celts have transformed an effort worthy of the regular season as title champions: the first five measurements at the two ends of the ground, most of the 3 manufactured points as well as the usual synergy between Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and the rest. The franchise has stained the 60 consecutive years for the first time since 2007-09.
The favorites have in fact lost two of the three meetings with The Magic, although all the starters are on the ice for the rubber match of April 9. Like Boston, Orlando plays with a particularly slow pace and clings to the opponents on D. no one is worse behind the arc (31.8% in a team, which is the early 2000s.
History of the playoffs: Orlando won two of the three series of all time. Shaq-and-Penny Magic published a 3-1 beat in the first round of 1995, and the magic of Dwight Howard hung on to seven games in the 2009 conference semi-final. Boston obtained his revenge in the following spring, going to the 2010 final with a 4-2 victory.
Choice of experts
Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers
Second dimensions: Cavs -2500, heat +1200
“I found this season as a challenge. I felt alive by the challenge,” Heat’s longtime coach, Erik Spoelstra said on Friday. “It was frustrating. I think these are the opportunities for the greatest growth, really trying to understand things. And then we have a cloakroom that felt the same thing. It brought us closer. “
What a bizarre campaign for Miami, carriers of the league culture standard, who suddenly had to rotate Jimmy Butler. The heat seemed to be understandable in a way during and after the deadline for trade, but their consecutive victories on the road in elimination points showed courage. On Friday, Davion Mitchell had a better career time in Atlanta, Bam Adebayo is still one of the best defenders in the company and Tyler Herro jumped large buildings in one limit. He lost 38 points in Chicago on Wednesday, then scored 30 others on Friday.
The resurgence probably ends here. Cleveland is a wine and gold wagon. He won 60 victories for the first time without LeBron James, displaying his best offensive number in 55 years of existence. The CAVS first -year strategist, Kenny Atkinson, transformed an offense formerly down into the most striking force of the NBA (at the fastest 10th rate, no less). Six scorers deposited at least 12.5 points per game, and the team went 34-7 to its floor.
History of the playoffs: This is the first eliminatory series between the first two LeBron teams.
Choice of experts
Golden State Warriors in Houston Rockets
Second dimensions: Warriors -165, Rockets +140
It is basketball in playoffs with Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks as a main actor. The compatibility cooler will scan. What way to wrap on weekends.
This series presents difficult matches and cruel awards for both sides. Houston, a budding group with modest expectations this fall, canceled its way to n ° 2 in the loaded west. Who made the defense of Ime Udoka beat the Nikola Jokić Nuggets, the Starry Los Angeles Lists and many others in this competitive conference? For their hard work, the Rockets obtain the burning and arrow warriors with their championship pedigree.
Golden State, meanwhile, reversed his fortune with the job of Jimmy Butler. “Jay-in Jimmy” was fully in force this week. Steph Curry produced so many vintage moments against Memphis, and the emergence of Brandin Podziemski is the ideal Platonic system of the “two -step” system of the front office. The aggressive assault of the Warriors favored them in the series, but not quite in match 1 against Houston, which is among the best on defense and clutch places.
Jalen Green is 23 years old. Amen Thompson and Alperen şengün are 22 years old. This means that Curry and Green have been in the playoffs since Houston’s heart was in college. This should be one of the coolest opening series.
History of the playoffs: A perfect 4-0 for the Warriors. During a cold conference at a half-decennia which defined an era of the NBA, Golden State eliminated Houston in 2015, ’16, ’18 and ’19. All four were difficult looks for James Harden and H -Town, but one fateful afternoon – and 27 consecutive clanks – was the headliner of sorrow.
Choice of experts
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(Photo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
