Overreactions in the NBA Playoffs
Michael Angelo B. Asis
Guilty as charged.
When the Miami Heat won Game 2 in their first round playoff series, the entire basketball world turned against the Boston Celtics.
This corner is no exception.
It made sense, though.
The Celtics had all the advantages. They had the best regular-season record by a mile, and the Heat’s heart and soul, Jimmy Butler, and third best scorer Terry Rozier were out. Boston absolutely could not lose the series. They can’t fail. It would be awful to lose even one game. But they did fail in Game 2 and Miami was awesome.
I’m a Filipino, and of course, I’ll hype up my boy Coach Erik Spoelstra. Spoelstra does not need any hype, and he has already earned the hoop world’s respect, even though he has not won Coach of the Year at all (shocking but true!)
The Miami Heat have overachieved the past four years, with two NBA Finals appearances, with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and a rotating mix of undrafted players. Nikola Jovic, was a punchline before, but now he is a real player with significant minutes in the playoffs.
True Story: There was a guy who lost money because he asked his girlfriend to place a bet for him. The bet was that Nikola Jokic would get a triple-double. She thought “Jokic-Jovic, Potato-Po-tah-to, that’s probably him.” That was last season, and Jovic played like two minutes.
Jovic plays more now, but I would not bet on a triple double just yet.
The Spoelstra bias
After Game 2, the Celtics have been triggered, and they dished three straight victories to clinch the series. Game 2 means the road team stole homecourt, because now they have three games at their homecourt to finish the job (while the home team only has two left).
The Celtics went to Miami red hot, and asserted that the Heat did not steal anything. It was painful, but nobody would dare blame Spoelstra. Rightfully so. They were simply overmatched, and their “equalizer” Jimmy Butler was not there. Spoelstra refused to make that an excuse, as a true resident of the high road.
The Heat’s season is over, and they will move on. They did not even have rookie sensation Jaime Jaquez in Game 5. Still, a gallant effort against this season’s Goliath.
Bucks fail
Guess what? The Milwaukee Bucks won Game Five without both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Where are the praises for Doc Rivers? Why is he not mentioned as a brilliant coach?
No complaints, and it’s only rightful that Rivers would not get the credit. He has been overrated since 2008, and I’m surprised he is still in the NBA when there are ‘better’ coaches available like the Van Gundy brothers and Mark Jackson.
But it’s still remarkable how different the reaction was for two similar feats.
Team building blueprint
Are superstars always the key to a championship? Three all-time greats have Cancun reservations already (the counterpart to our Boracay). The Bucks show the high risk of acquiring two top 15 players and losing all your depth–you are extremely vulnerable when both the stars get injured.
Some of the best teams in the playoffs are not those who have big threes or superstar duos. A more well rounded first five seems more important. Look at the construction of the Denver Nuggets and the Celtics. They have well-rounded starting fives who know their roles, whose strengths complement each other.
They are also littered with role players who can step in, gelling with one or two of the main guys. Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon of Denver and Derrick White and Jrue Holiday of Boston are not exactly superstars, but they are great pieces alongside the marquee guys.
There are rumors that the Phoenix Suns would like to break the big three and build something around Kevin Durant. That’s still exploratory, and the front office is mulling their options since Bradley Beal seems untradeable.
Match of the titans
The Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Nuggets in the second round, and many believe it’s going to be a war since the T-wolves have the height to bother the Joker. They also have enough firepower to withstand a Jamal Murray explosion.
Murray, along with Jimmy Butler, are two players who have playoff versions of themselves, taking their game to a whole new level in crucial situations. Can Murray do his thing against the Minnesota defense?
Let’s find out.