Day One of the play-in tournament will have the seven vs. eight seed in each conference. Two teams that weren't expected to be dealing with the play-in when the season started are here. The play-in tournament has produced some great memories, like last year's seven-eight game between Lebron James and Stephen Curry. James hit the game-winning three in that game. The first day of the tournament could produce magic. The battle for the No. 7 seed in the east should be close. It feels like a long time ago, but Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen were with the Brooklyn Nets last season. Most players get excited for any chance to beat the team that traded them, no matter how long it has been. Allen and LeVert should be motivated by the fact that a victory over the Nets could help their season. The motivation in the world probably won't be enough to get the Cavs past the Nets. The young Cleveland squad will fight, but they won't have enough strength to compete with Brooklyn in this scenario. KD and Kyrie will score over 35 points each. Both players know they need to perform well in this game. This is a young and inexperienced team in Cleveland. The Nets are in this game and Love and Rondo will need to come up with a lot of tricks to beat them. I'm not saying it's impossible, but a Nets loss would be surprising. The frontcourt is an advantage for the Cavs. It is an advantage.
Game 1: No. 8 Cleveland at No. 7 Brooklyn
The frontcourt is close to 7 feet across with Allen, Markkanen, and Mobley. Most top three draft picks aren't usually in this position during their first season. In April, that is playing meaningful games. This year was an excellent start for the young roster.
The Nets will face the Celtics in the first round of the eastern conference playoffs if they win this game. Should Brooklyn lose this game, there will be a lot of criticism and that's something KD and Irving want to avoid.
Brooklyn Nets won.
The Clippers, led by Paul George, are the team that no top seed wants to face in the first round. George averaged 22.5ppg in his last four games after returning from injury. The Clippers are not your regular lower seed playoff seed.
The Clippers were in fourth and fifth place for the first couple of months of the season. They added Reggie Jackson and other role players recently. You have a formidable team heading into the playoffs.
The core players for Minnesota were Karl- Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards,Angelo Russell, and Malik Beasley. There are three former high lottery draft picks and another first-round talent. This team needs to step up and improve their record. The team has won their most games in the last year. Coming out and surprising this veteran Clippers team would be a great way to get into the playoffs.
The big guns for Minnesota can't get stage fright playing in a stand-alone game on national television with a chance at the playoffs on the line. The Twolves will need 20 plus points from their three young stars, Towns, Russell, and Edwards, with Beasley chipping in with 12-15 points. Everyone who touches the floor in this game needs to give their all. It would be great to defeat the Clippers and let the league know they are here to stay.
There isn't a lot of pressure on the Clippers since nobody expected them to do much after George and Leonard were injured. Whatever the Clippers do this playoffs is gravy. I think the Clippers will win against the Twolves. In the first round, I will take the Clippers in seven games over the Grizzlies. I'm calling my shot.
The L.A. Clippers won.
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