with the second round of the NBA 2023 knockout round going on, there are many eye-catching matches and compelling storylines that have appeared.
there is one the revival of a story competitionlike Heat Miami And New York Knicks fight it in the east. Have LeBron James compare to Stephen’s Currybut this time in the West, as Los Angeles Lakers play golden empire warriors. We mentioned that Kevin Durant, Booker Devin and phoenix sun looking to rally from a 2-0 hole to take down Nikola Jokić and top seed Denver nuggets?
Probably the most underrated series is Philadelphia 76ers compare to Boston Celticswhen the top two seeds remain in the Eastern Conference clash after the game Milwaukee Bucks was stunned by Heat.
But with great battles comes great adversity, as several teams have picked up injuries during the most important period of the season. Jimmy the butler sprained his ankle in Game 1 against the Knicks, Joel Embiid hasn’t played since Game 3 of the first round and Chris Paul Had a groin strain in Game 1 with the Nuggets.
Our experts break down the biggest matches and storylines in the second round, as well as what they’re most watching at this point in the post-season.
1. Of the teams in the second round, which player has been your MVP in these playoffs so far?
Dave McMenamin: Jimmy Butler’s 56-point performance for the Heat in Game 4 that put 1st seed Milwaukee on the brink of elimination should have been enough to win the title, but in fact he followed it up with a wild shot , end that match. at the end of Game 5 making it one of the greatest opening rounds in NBA history.
Ramona Shelburne: I just finished watching Golden State’s Stephen Curry hit a great 50-burger in Game 7 last King Sacramento, so it’s hard for me to tell anyone else. But Butler is the answer. He had one of the best games of all time with the Bucks and completely changed the dynamics of these knockouts.
Tim Bontemps: There have been a lot of great performances in these playoffs, but the only correct answer is Butler. To take down the most beloved championship the way he did was an iconic performance that no one else in this post-season can match.
Jamal Collier: Butler. His first series with the Bucks was one of the best playoff performances of all time. Watch the spin the Heat are putting together and you’ll appreciate even more how Butler dragged this team to one of the biggest playoffs in NBA history, with a chance to win another series.
Andrew Lopez: Butler wants a team with two injuries in the first round — Tyler Herrobroken right arm and Victor Oladipoof a torn left patellar tendon — and still overcame the top seed Bucks after just five games. Butler followed up his 56-point masterpiece with a 42-point effort to finish the Bucks in Game 5.
2. Which player’s injury will affect the rest of the knockouts the most: Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid, Chris Paul or Julius Randle?
Bontemps: Watching Paul leave the field with another injury after the season was like the death knell for Phoenix’s title chances. The Suns had a dangerously strong top team. Without Paul, it’s hard to see Phoenix have enough firepower to beat Denver let alone the championship.
McMenamin: We’re talking about the duration of the knockouts, so it has to be Embiid. He had another MVP season — and This time really won the award — while playing for the most comprehensive Sixers since he arrived in Philadelphia. With him, the 76ers have hope of ending the franchise’s 40-year championship drought. Without him – brilliant as James Harden in Game 1 against Boston — it’s hard to see that happen.
Shelburn: If Butler is unfit for more than a couple of games, the Heat will have a really hard time scoring against the good Knicks defence. Randle is back in Game 2 and I think Embiid will be back soon, so that will affect their respective series. Losing Paul for any length of time really hurts the Sun, who lack depth, but I think they have a viable backup in Cameron Paynewho has just recovered.
Hair dresser: Credit to the Sixers and Harden for how they opened the series in Game 1. But if Philadelphia has any hope of winning three more games and an even more expansive Eastern Conference, it needs Embiid to play as MVP.
López: Whether Embiid can play at the level we’re used to will be important. Had he not been himself, Harden would have had more of a burden to take down the Celtics. Harden had a great performance in Game 1, but getting back the healthiest Embiid possible will be a long way off for Philadelphia.
3. Fill in the blanks: NBA’s second round has been ___
López: cheery. All four series have their own storylines. Whether it’s the history of the Heat-Knicks or the Celtics-Sixers, the names in the Warriors-Lakers series, or the sheer talent on the ring at the Nuggets-Suns (without taking away the talent in the other series) , all four bring something different. desktop.
Shelburn: A box office dream. We have another Curry-James game, Knicks-Heat’s revenge and the Philadelphia-Boston series we’ve been waiting for all season. The NBA must rejoice. Let’s hope the game lives up to the hype.
Bontemps: Driven by trauma. Miami awaits Butler, New York without Randle in Game 1, Embiid’s condition hanging over Boston-Philadelphia and now Phoenix waits to see what comes next for Paul’s groin injury. And none of that even accounts for James’ leg problems. That’s a lot of star power dealing with injuries that can greatly affect a player’s respective streak.
Hair dresser: Marquess. You couldn’t ask for better and more exciting matches in the second round than these.
McMenamin: Great on paper. Now, we need everyone to stay as healthy as possible so that the results of the series reflect the best teams, not just the luckiest teams — to secure a spot in the grand finals. as strong as possible.
4. The player who is still standing in need of winning this year’s title is ____
McMenamin: Giannis Antetokounmpo would lead us to believe that no one needs to. There is no failure in sports, right? But my real answer? Paul. It’s the only thing missing from his otherwise glittering career. Others who left the league without a ring still had time on their side to some extent. Paul is not.
Shelburn: I think it’s Jokic. He’s the best passer of all time and a two-time MVP, but just like Antetokounmpo in 2021, Jokic needs that dominant playoff for his career résumé. He has the team to do it too. And that team could get expensive soon, so it’s urgent to win this year.
Hair dresser: Jayson Tatum. With Milwaukee out and Embiid slowed down by a knee injury, Boston’s path to the championship looks clear. Failing to take advantage of this opportunity would be a huge setback for the Celtics after reaching the NBA Finals last season.
Bontemps: I was told that going into the knockout stages, Jokic was under more pressure than any player in the NBA, and so far, he’s been successful. If Denver can get 10 more wins, that would go a long way to raising Jokic’s all-time status.
López: humorous. James and Curry have their rings. I don’t think Tatum still “needs” to win at this stage of his career. But the two-time MVP has come under scrutiny for his team’s post-season success – though Jamal Murray did not play in the previous two seasons.
5. What is your dream match for the conference finals?
McMenamin: Give me the Lakers-Suns and the Knicks-Celtics. The Lakers talked a lot about the first series in 2021 when Phoenix beat them, claiming they would win if Anthony Davis was healthy. Okay, go and prove it. And from Red Sox–U.S armyWe know how big the crowd in Boston-New York can be when placing such a bet on the line.
López: You can legitimately argue that all four outcomes in both workshops are reasonable and under consideration. The Knicks in the conference finals meant the crowds were even more intense at Madison Square Garden. History will be there with Boston or Philadelphia. Miami’s success with “Playoff Jimmy” is always fun. The West is wide open, but every possibility is intriguing and keeps you watching.
Hair dresser: Suns-Warriors and Heat-Celtics. Durant has to get past the Warriors for a chance to make it to the Finals. And a rematch of last year’s convention final in the East, giving Butler another chance against the Celtics.
Shelburn: I wanted to see the Knicks in the conference finals, just because of the atmosphere at MSG. New York has been waiting a long time to return to contention, so if I continue with the theme of rewarding these enduring fleets, I’ll pick Philadelphia as the Knicks’ opponent because the Sixers haven’t gone deep. like that since 1983 ! In the West, I think every potential match will be interesting.
Bontemps: This is a deal-breaker answer, but I’m really excited about any possible combination of matches. There’s drama and intrigue with all eight remaining teams as well as the power of big stars across the board – not to mention the fundamentally legacy-changing effects on any of them making it to the Chungs. finish and win the title. At this point, it would be better to avoid further injury.
