Play-in Tourney: Memphis (8) vs. Portland (9)
Game 1: Saturday, August 15
Game 2 (if necessary): Sunday, August 16
Both Memphis and Portland won must-win games on Thursday to secure their spots in the play-in tournament (and bump Phoenix from postseason play despite an 8-0 Bubble record), and they will now face off with the Trail Blazers needing to beat the Grizzlies two times in a row to advance to the postseason. I think that’s possible, with Memphis missing Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lillard regularly putting up videogame numbers, but regardless of who advances, I think they’ll be quickly bounced by the Lakers in their Round 1 matchup.
Averages vs. Trail Blazers
Ja Morant: 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 2.5 turnovers
Dillon Brooks: 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 treys, 1.5 turnovers
Jonas Valanciunas: 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 dimes, 1.5 blocks, 1.5 turnovers
Brandon Clarke: 24.0 points, 6.5 boards, 1.5 dimes, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks, 0.0 turnovers
Averages vs. Grizzlies
Damian Lillard: 24.5 points, 5.0 boards, 9.5 dimes, 2.0 triples, 3.5 turnovers
C.J. McCollum: 28.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.0 treys, 1.5 steals, 1.5 turnovers
Carmelo Anthony: 13.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 3.0 turnovers
Jusuf Nurkic: 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, six blocks, four turnovers (previous Bubble game)
Hassan Whiteside: seven points, four rebounds, two blocks (previous Bubble game)
Gary Trent Jr. 17 points, four triples, one rebound, two assists, one block (previous Bubble game)[[ad:athena]]
Round 1: Eastern Conference Matchups
Milwaukee (1) vs. Orlando (8)
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18
This won’t be much of a series. Aaron Gordon is still ailing with his hamstring injury and Jonathan Isaac (knee) is done, while Milwaukee is completely healthy and they have an MVP on their roster. I’d be shocked if this wasn’t a four-and-out series for the Bucks.
Averages vs. Magic
Eric Bledsoe: 14.0 points, 6.0 boards, 7.3 dimes, 0.7 steals, 1.0 block, 3.3 turnovers
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 26.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block, 4.7 TOs
Khris Middleton: 19.5 points, 2.5 treys, 8.3 boards, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 3.0 turnovers
Brook Lopez: 11.3 points, 2.3 triples, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 0.8 blocks, 0.8 turnovers
Averages vs. Bucks
Nikola Vucevic: 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 triples, 1.7 steals, 1.7 blocks, 1.7 TOs
Evan Fournier: 20.5 points, 4.0 treys, 3.3 boards, 2.3 dimes, 1.3 steals, 2.5 turnovers
Markelle Fultz: 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.8 turnovers
Aaron Gordon: 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 dimes, 1.3 turnovers
Toronto (2) vs. Brooklyn (7)
Game 1: Monday, August 17
The Nets have played some competitive games in The Bubble despite missing the majority of the roster that they began the year with, but there’s absolutely no way they’ll be getting past the defending champs. Brooklyn went 1-3 against Toronto this season, but I think they’ll be lucky to notch a single win against them in the Bubble Playoffs.
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Averages vs. Nets
Kyle Lowry: 18.3 points, 3.3 treys, 6.3 boards, 7.7 dimes, 2.0 steals, 2.0 turnovers
Fred VanVleet: 26.7 points, 4.3 triples, 2.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 2.3 turnovers
Pascal Siakam: 22.0 points, 8.3 boards, 4.3 dimes, 1.3 treys, 1.3 steals, 1.3 swats, 1.0 turnover
Serge Ibaka: 18.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 treys, 1.5 blocks, 0.8 turnovers
Norman Powell: 25 points, five triples, four rebounds, one assist, two swats, one TO (one game)
Marc Gasol: 17 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks (one game)
Averages vs. Raptors
Caris LeVert: 23.3 points, 2.7 treys, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 3.0 turnovers
Jarrett Allen: 6.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.0 block, 0.5 turnovers
Joe Harris: 15.3 points, 1.8 triples, 4.8 boards, 3.3 dimes, 1.8 turnovers
Boston (3) vs. Philadelphia (6)
Game 1: Monday, August 17
Despite the 76ers missing Ben Simmons (knee), this should still make for a fun series, as the 76ers gave the Celtics serious issues this season with their 3-1 record. Tatum (33.3 FG), Kemba (37.3 FG) and Hayward (39.6 FG) all shot far below their averages in their four games against Philly, while none of the 76ers did; not even Josh Richardson. If I were to pick one upset from the Eastern Conference’s First Round series’, this would be it.
Averages vs. 76ers
Kemba Walker: 22.3 points, 3.7 treys, 4.3 assists, 2.0 turnovers
Jayson Tatum: 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.8 turnovers
Jaylen Brown: 19.0 points, 2.8 triples, 6.5 boards, 3.5 dimes, 1.3 steals, 2.3 turnovers
Gordon Hayward: 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 turnovers
Averages vs. Celtics
Josh Richardson: 20.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.3 blocks, 1.7 turnovers
Tobias Harris: 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 treys, 1.5 steals, 1.8 turnovers
Al Horford: 14.0 points, 6.3 boards, 4.3 dimes, 1.3 triples, 1.3 turnovers
Joel Embiid: 21.3 points, 10.3 boards, 3.3 dimes, 2.0 swats, 2.0 turnovers
Miami (4 or 5) vs. Indiana (4 or 5)
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18
The Heat and Pacers will preview this series on Friday, and whoever wins that game will command the meaningless No. 4 seed, but it looks like the Heat are already mailing it in by giving Jimmy Butler (foot), Bam Adebayo (knee), Goran Dragic (ankle) getting a rest day and Jae Crowder (knee), Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) and Andre Iguodala (hip) being listed as questionable. However, once this series gets underway, I don’t see how the Heat could lose considering they went 3-0 against this team during the regular season. The Pacers will also be missing Domantas Sabonis (foot), Victor Oladipo has looked like a shell of himself in The Bubble, and T.J. Warren (who struggled mightily against Miami this season) is ailing with plantar fasciitis – though he is expected to play. Still, snooze fest.
Averages vs. Pacers
Kendrick Nunn: 16.0 points, 3.0 triples, 3.0 boards, 6.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block, 2.0 turnovers
Goran Dragic: 13.3 points, 1.7 treys, 3.3 rebounds, 6.3 dimes, 1.0 steal, 2.7 turnovers
Tyler Herro: 15.3 points, 3.3 triples, 7.0 boards, 2.7 assists, 2.0 turnovers
Jimmy Butler: 17.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.3 steals, 2.7 turnovers
Duncan Robinson: 16.3 points, 3.0 boards, 4.7 treys, 2.3 dimes, 0.7 turnovers
Bam Adebayo: 15.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.7 dimes, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 turnover
Averages vs. Heat
T.J. Warren: 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Myles Turner: 10.3 points, 6.0 boards, 1.7 dimes, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 turnover
Malcolm Brogdon: 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two turnovers (one game)
Victor Oladipo: 14 points, five rebounds, three 3-pointers, one assist, one steal, four turnovers (one game)
Round 1: Western Conference Matchups
L.A. Lakers (1) vs. Play-In Winner
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18
L.A. Clippers (2) vs. Dallas
Game 1: Monday, August 17
There should be some fireworks in this matchup, but Kawhi can probably beat the Mavs by himself. That’s no disrespect to what this young Mavs team has done this season, and I don’t think it will be a quick route, but the Clippers are an incredibly deep team of veterans with years of playoff experience; while the Luka Doncic-led Mavs will be making their first showing in the postseason. L.A. went 3-0 against Dallas this season, with two of those games being blowouts, so I think it’s safe to say this one is already a wrap.
Averages vs. Dallas
Kawhi Leonard: 31.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.0 treys, 1.7 steals, 1.3 turnovers
Paul George: 25.0 points, 5.5 boards, 4.0 dimes, 3.0 triples, 3.0 steals, 1.5 turnovers
Lou Williams: 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.3 treys, 3.0 turnovers
Ivica Zubac: 13.7 points, 10.3 boards, 0.3 blocks
Averages vs. Clippers
Luka Doncic: 29.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 3.0 treys, 1.0 steal, 5.0 turnovers
Tim Hardaway Jr.: 9.7 points, 2.0 treys, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals
Kristaps Porzingis: 18.3 points, 9.3 boards, 2.3 triples, 2.3 dimes, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block, 2.0 turnovers
Denver (3) vs. Utah (6)
Game 1: Monday, August 17
The Nuggets went 3-0 against the Jazz this season, including a win in The Bubble despite not having Harris or Barton available for that one, so I’d expect them to be able to advance here. Neither Harris nor Barton appeared for an actual game in The Bubble, although Barton did get out there in a limited capacity during one of the scrimmages, so maybe he’s further along than Harris. It’s unclear if either of them will be ready when the playoffs begin, but MPJ has done more than enough to shoulder the load in their absence, and it’s possible he’ll stick with the starters even when Harris and Barton are cleared. There’s still a chance for Utah here, but it would require Donovan Mitchell going nuclear, which is something he’s struggled to do vs. Denver this season.
Averages vs. Jazz
Jamal Murray: 27.0 points, 7.0 boards, 6.0 dimes, 3.0 treys, 1.0 block, 2.5 turnovers
Nikola Jokic: 29.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.0 triple, 2.7 steals, 2.7 turnovers
Will Barton: 18 points, five rebounds, one 3-pointer, one assist, one block (one game)
Gary Harris: five points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, three turnovers (one game)
Michael Porter Jr.: 23 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, one 3-pointer, one turnover (Bubble game sans Barton and Harris)
Averages vs. Nuggets
Mike Conley: 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 4.0 triples, 1.0 steal, 3.5 turnovers
Donovan Mitchell: 19.0 points, 2.3 treys, 6.3 boards, 5.7 dimes, 4.3 turnovers
Joe Ingles: 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 9.0 dimes, 1.7 treys, 2.0 turnovers
Rudy Gobert: 19.7 points, 12.7 boards, 1.0 assist, 1.7 swats, 2.7 turnovers
Oklahoma City (4 or 5) vs. Houston (4 or 5)
Game 1: Tuesday, August 18
Who owns the No. 4 and No. 5 seed here will be determined by how the games play out on Friday, but as previously stated, there’s not much of an impact to the seeding with there being no home-court advantage in play. The Rockets will be missing Russell Westbrook (quad) for at least the first few games of this series, and partner that with the fact that OKC went 2-1 against Houston this season, and I’ll give them a slight edge. That said, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Harden simply will his team to wins with absurd scoring outbursts, and it’s not like CP3 is a stranger to flopping under pressure.
Averages vs. Rockets
Chris Paul: 20.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.3 treys, 2.7 steals, 2.7 turnovers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 turnovers
Danilo Gallinari: 21.7 points, 3.0 treys, 10.0 boards, 2.3 dimes, 1.7 turnovers
Steven Adams: 7.0 points, 6.7 boards, 1.3 assists, 0.7 blocks, 0.7 turnovers
Averages vs. Thunder
James Harden: 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 triples, 1.0 block, 3.0 turnovers
Eric Gordon: 7.5 points, 1.0 rebound, 1.5 assists, 1.0 triple
Robert Covington: 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 treys, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 2.0 turnovers
Russell Westbrook: 29.0 points, 6.0 boards, 4.0 dimes, 1.5 treys, 1.0 steal, 2.5 turnovers (will miss first few games)
