Cavs, T-Wolves Coast Comfortably at Home
Can Magic, Suns Bounce Back from These Horrible Performances?!
Not much suspense in the first two finishers on Saturday’s NBA Playoff slate. Maybe that will just set up dramatic bounce-back upsets next time!
Those results probably set up a conundrum for many handicappers. For years, it’s been a common approach in series that are supposed to be competitive that you should expect at least one upset or nailbiter in that first set of two games. Auto-strategy for some is:
*Take the dog in Game One
*If the dog doesn’t cover Game One, bet them even bigger in Game Two
Makes so much sense on paper. Then, when the dog goes out and looks awful in the series opener…you’re down money and pondering a bigger hole with a team that couldn’t shoot straight!
Let’s see why Orlando and Phoenix couldn’t shoot straight. Here are the key stats from early Saturday victories by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves…
Cleveland (-5) 97, Orlando 83
2-point Pct: Orlando 41%, Cleveland 55%
3-pointers: Orlando 8/37, Cleveland 8/30
Free Throws: Orlando 19/30, Cleveland 17/21
Rebounds: Orlando 40, Cleveland 54
Turnovers: Orlando 12, Cleveland 17
Estimated Pace: 99 possessions
Magic certainly weren’t ready for playoff intensity on this day. I’m wondering how common that’s going to be. Fans used to watching offenses shine during what was almost an 82-game exhibition slate with a whole lotta half-hearted defense are now seeing what happens when defenses show up. Will inexperienced or overconfident offenses also be surprised? Well, Orlando didn’t even shoot free throws well…and those weren’t guarded.
Magic scored just 83 points on 99 possessions thanks to just 41% shooting on two’s, just 22% on threes, 11 missed free throws, and 12 giveaways. Not remotely playoff caliber. But, no place to go but up! Stage is definitely set for a bounce back after this wake-up call. Let’s see if sharps bet that way in G2.
Cleveland won the “important” stats handily…winning 2-point shooting 55-41% and rebounds 54-40. Well, a SQUASH in those stats. But, a sloppy day with 17 turnovers and only 8 of 30 on treys. Scoring 97 points on 99 possessions isn’t all that great either. Just better than what Orlando put up.
Boston’s not scared at the moment about its second-round opponent!
Plenty of time for this series to be better executed and more compelling.