Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the playoffs now!
The Hawks eliminate the Knicks in five games.
I love the audacity of Trae Young.
This was quite a transformation of the Atlanta Hawks this season. We all remember when they got off to a good start, only for injuries to take over. It cost Lloyd Pierce his coaching job; at the time, the Hawks were 14-20 and not even in a play-in spot.
Then Nate McMillan took over. They got healthier. They went on a winning streak. Atlanta found a groove. And they made the playoffs as a 5th seed. The Hawks were 27-11 after the coaching change.
Still, it almost felt like people were overlooking Trae Young. He didn’t make the all-star team despite gaudy numbers. Young’s foul-baiting game was also frowned upon. But what people didn’t realize was his evolution as a point guard. Young still is not a deadeye shooter but, at least, he’s not forcing as many threes as he used to. He’s as good as ever when it comes to finding teammates. It certainly helps to be surrounded by a better squad but they didn’t take advantage of it until McMillan took over.
And when the Madison Square Garden fans got involved, Trae Young embraced the villain role. Even when they lost in Game 2, he continuously picked apart the Knicks.
The Hawks pulled away from New York in the third quarter of Game 5. Still, late in the game, the fans appreciated what this Knicks team did this season. But Trae Young played his role to the hilt as he interrupted the standing ovation the fans were giving with one more three.
TRAE YOUNG TAKES A BOW IN MSG AFTER ELIMINATING KNICKS. 🍿👀 pic.twitter.com/L6i5A0S65H
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) June 3, 2021
Either way, the Hawks advance and snuff the feelgood season of the Knicks. New York was a pleasant surprise this year as we all thought they would be going back to the lottery. Julius Randle had a hell of a year.
But this round belongs to the Hawks. It’s not lost on me that Trae Young won a playoff series before Luka Doncic did. We all know the Trae Young/Luka Doncic deal. But it’s not as one-sided as people might have you think.
It would be serendipity, though, if the Mavs end up advancing because… segue!
Bullet Passes
Doncic did his magic. Even with a strained neck, he went for 42-8-14. He just keeps dropping these big games on the Clippers.
The Clippers did come back from 16 down in the fourth. They had a chance to tie the game but Kawhi Leonard badly missed on a corner three, which prompted this reaction from Rajon Rondo:
Rondo’s reaction after this Kawhi shot to tie the game 👀 pic.twitter.com/yqLF8hW1P9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 3, 2021
Anyway, neither home game has still won this series so don’t think Game 6 will be a gimme for the Mavs.
Philadelphia advanced after taking care of biz against Washington. They didn’t have Joel Embiid, who has a small meniscus tear. That can’t be good. He is listed day-to-day, though.
Anyway, Seth Curry provided immense help by scoring a playoff-best 30 points. Tobias Harris put in 28 while Ben Simmons gave a triple-double (19-10-11). The Sixers pulled away in the second half so the game didn’t have much suspense.
Philly now faces Atlanta. If Embiid doesn’t play much in this series, this COULD get interesting.
It looked like the Grizzlies came back down to Earth as the Jazz immediately pounced on them with a 40-19 run.
Donovan Mitchell makes such a difference, doesn’t he? He went for 30-6-10 in under 30 minutes of play.
Still, fantastic showing by the Grizzlies. They had a hell of a run and are probably a bit ahead of schedule, too.
Some are now wondering about how the NBA would be without any L.A. teams in the playoffs with both teams on the brink of elimination. The last time there were no L.A. teams in the postseason? 2018. IT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO, GUYS.
Anyway, the Lakers have a chance to stave off elimination against the Suns tonight. And the Clippers will get that chance on Friday.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
June 2, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
EAST
#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.
WEST
#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#5 Mavericks lead #4 Clippers, 3-2.
#2 Suns lead #7 Lakers, 3-2.
#3 Nuggets lead #6 Blazers, 3-2.
Watch This Play
This was a hell of a battle between Donovan Mitchell and the pesky Dillon Brooks. But Mitchell won this one.
Jazz 75 Grizzlies 51 Half
Donovan Mitchell loathes Dillon Brooks. Come for the outrageous shot. Stay for the trash talk afterward. pic.twitter.com/NonmQXyFx1
— David James (@DavidDJJames) June 3, 2021
Welcome back to Round 2, Utah.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.