2024 NBA playoffs roundtable: Postseason MVP? Massive surprises?

There may be nonetheless a lot at stake because the second spherical of the NBA playoffs enters its last set of video games — with at the least one Recreation 7 already set this weekend.

Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA Finals champion Denver Nuggets are tied three video games apiece with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves forward of Sunday’s must-watch Recreation 7. The winner will tackle both the Dallas Mavericks or the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention finals, with Dallas at present holding a 3-2 lead over OKC.

In the meantime, the Boston Celtics await their opponent for the East finals after eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers. The New York Knicks can arrange an anticipated conflict with Boston in the event that they beat the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

In a playoffs already crammed with loads of twists and turns, what has stood out probably the most to this point? And which participant has been the MVP of the postseason?

Our NBA insiders have a look at the most important questions from the second spherical and what to look at for forward of this weekend’s motion.

What has been probably the most shocking factor in regards to the second spherical?

Tim MacMahon: The Mavericks are in place to shut out the Thunder on Saturday regardless of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving combining for under 38.2 factors per sport — a drop-off of 21.3 factors from their regular-season manufacturing. Dallas’ function gamers, notably P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr., have capitalized on the alternatives created by the eye the Thunder pay to the Mavs’ stars. And the dominant defensive id the Mavs established late within the season has carried over.

Tim Bontemps: That Denver discovered itself in a two-game deficit to begin its collection. Minnesota performed a few excellent video games, led by Edwards, and there may not have been a extra shocking sport this season than the Timberwolves’ 26-point win over the Nuggets in Recreation 2. The champs responded in really spectacular style, however they by no means ought to’ve gotten themselves into that predicament to start with.

Kendra Andrews: That Denver seems weak. Sure, the Nuggets’ response in Video games 3 and 4 was unbelievable, however the first two video games of the collection confirmed the Nuggets may be uncovered if not all the pieces is clicking. Blowout losses in Video games 2 and 6 confirmed that the a lot much less skilled Timberwolves may give them a run for his or her cash.

Kevin Pelton: Oklahoma Metropolis’s 3-point carriage turning right into a pumpkin on the worst attainable time. The Thunder led the NBA in capturing past the arc within the common season (39%) and matched that in Spherical 1. To this point in opposition to Dallas, the Thunder’s 33% accuracy on 3s is worst of any workforce within the convention semifinals, and Zach Kram of the Ringer famous the 29% OKC has shot since successful Recreation 1 is the workforce’s worst four-game stretch of the season.

Brian Windhorst: The Celtics are 8-2 with seven double-digit wins this postseason. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are averaging a mixed 60 factors and 14 rebounds per sport. Boston is ranked No. 2 in offense and No. 3 in protection within the playoffs regardless of lacking star heart Kristaps Porziņģis. But, individuals are abandoning the Celtics as title contenders. Their postseason opponents (the Miami Warmth and the Cavaliers) had damage points, however the Celtics had little bother in opposition to them. Ignore them at your individual danger.

What is going to decide Recreation 7 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves?

Windhorst: Edwards. He has the expertise, the mentality and the need to have a transcendent sport. I name it the “Matrix second” (when Neo stops the bullets). Giannis Antetokounmpo had his in Recreation 6 of the NBA Finals in 2021. LeBron James had his in Recreation 5 of the 2007 Japanese Convention finals when he scored 29 of the Cavaliers’ last 30 factors in opposition to the Detroit Pistons. You may make an inventory of those moments for the sport’s stars. Edwards can do that though it could be an excessive amount of in opposition to the Nuggets on the highway. Denver hasn’t performed in a seven-game collection because the 2020 postseason within the bubble, however there’s little doubt they’ll deal with the expertise. But, it is there for Edwards and that is why you watch.

MacMahon: Which model of Jamal Murray exhibits up? He has averaged 19.7 factors on 50% capturing within the Nuggets’ three wins, in comparison with 11.7 factors on 26% capturing within the three losses. It stays to be seen how the elbow damage suffered in Thursday’s loss will have an effect on him, but it surely’s price remembering his most up-to-date Recreation 7 efficiency: 40 factors on 15-of-26 capturing in a win over the LA Clippers in the course of the 2020 postseason within the bubble.

Pelton: How tightly the sport is officiated. Officers allowed plenty of contact early within the collection, notably in Recreation 2 when simply 34 whole fouls had been known as. That favored the Timberwolves’ bodily protection and made life troublesome for the Nuggets on offense. Denver deserves credit score for locating counters, but it surely hasn’t harm that there have been extra whistles because the collection has gone on, notably in Video games 3 and 4 — when 40-plus whole fouls had been known as in each video games. In contrast, there have been simply 31 whole in Minnesota’s Recreation 6 win Thursday.

Bontemps: Recreation 7s is the place legends are made. And Sunday’s sport presents an unbelievable alternative for Edwards to take his fast-rising stardom standing to new heights. However, as we have now seen all through this collection, this sport shall be dictated by how Jokic performs. He’s the MVP for a cause, and I do not see him dropping a Recreation 7 on his residence ground to shut out the season.

Andrews: Who will assist out Edwards? Between Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Cities, Naz Reid and Mike Conley, he’ll need assistance someplace — simply as Jokic will need assistance from teammates corresponding to Murray and Aaron Gordon. For the Timberwolves on the highway, it is extra vital for his or her supporting forged to assist out to help their star.

Knicks or Pacers: Which workforce ought to the Celtics wish to face?

Bontemps: Indiana, with out query. The Pacers had bother dispatching a hobbled Milwaukee Bucks workforce that performed with out Antetokounmpo and had Damian Lillard miss two video games within the first spherical, and are having comparable bother with an equally banged-up Knicks workforce. Towards a full-strength Celtics workforce, it must be a comparatively quick collection. The Knicks should not have the ability to beat Boston, both, however coach Tom Thibodeau’s facet may give the Celtics plenty of bother in the way in which the Miami Warmth did in earlier postseasons. Additionally, successful highway video games at Madison Sq. Backyard is not any straightforward feat.

Pelton: It shouldn’t matter however I might choose Indiana. The Pacers’ lack of defensive self-discipline has made it troublesome for them to beat undermanned opponents and would certainly be a deadly flaw in opposition to Boston. The potential for OG Anunoby coming back from his hamstring damage for the Knicks may make a collection in opposition to the Celtics a comparatively honest battle.

Windhorst: I would want to not play the Knicks if they’ve Anunoby. New York is 25-6 with him this season. I count on the Celtics to take care of a little bit shock after they face both workforce coming off a few aggressive collection, however Boston goes to be a heavy favourite both manner. Will probably be about how they deal with enterprise, not the opponent.

Andrews: Indiana. The workforce’s main regular-season scorer, Tyrese Haliburton, has run sizzling or chilly this collection. He scored 34 and 35 factors in Video games 3 and 4, however hasn’t netted greater than 20 within the different contests. The Knicks are battling accidents however their spectacular performances — together with three straight postseason residence wins with 120 or extra factors — may give Boston a run for its cash. That mentioned, the Celtics’ path to the NBA Finals nonetheless appears locked in.

MacMahon: The Celtics shouldn’t care. Neither workforce can beat Boston if the Celtics play at their finest. The Celtics’ important concern shall be about getting Porziņģis wholesome and again within the lineup, not which opponent they face within the Japanese Convention finals.

Reality or Fiction: Count on a Recreation 7 within the Thunder-Mavericks collection.

MacMahon: Fiction. I am enjoying the odds right here. Jason Kidd is 4-0 as a coach when his workforce has an opportunity to clinch a collection. In accordance with ESPN Stats & Info, solely Tyronn Lue (seven), Gregg Popovich (5) and Al Attles (5) have extra wins with out a loss in potential clinching video games.

Bontemps: Reality. Oklahoma Metropolis’s younger workforce had a measured method after dropping Recreation 5, through which they scored their fewest factors all season and went simply 6-for-22 on open 3-point makes an attempt. The Thunder have already gained a sport in Dallas within the collection, and I see no cause why they cannot drive a return to OKC — notably now that coach Mark Daigneault benched Josh Giddey, who has averaged simply seven factors this collection.

Andrews: Fiction. With a possibility to shut out at residence, and with the veteran expertise from the Mavs’ key gamers, they’re going to have the ability to finish the collection in six video games. I count on OKC to do all the pieces it might to drive a Recreation 7 (the ten.4-point margin-of-victory is the smallest of any second-round collection), however Doncic and Irving ought to carry out higher than they’ve to this point to clinch the collection.

Pelton: Reality-ion. As a result of momentum is a fable within the NBA playoffs, Oklahoma Metropolis’s likelihood is higher than you most likely suppose. Groups on this place come again to win Recreation 6 on the highway 49% of the time since 1984, together with twice final 12 months (Boston at Philadelphia and Sacramento at Golden State).

Windhorst: I do not make predictions. All I am going to say is Dallas most likely ought to’ve gained the collection already but it surely let the Thunder steal Recreation 4 at residence. And that OKC has had an exquisite season.

Practically one month in, who’s your general postseason MVP?

Andrews: Jokic. Apart from the Nuggets’ blowout loss to the Timberwolves in Recreation 2, Jokic has been extremely constant, taking on video games and choosing aside Gobert, the Defensive Participant of the Yr. Even within the Recreation 6 defeat, Jokic had a decent 22 factors and 9 rebounds earlier than being pulled in the midst of the fourth quarter. This postseason, he is had a double-double in six of the 11 playoff video games he is performed, and two triple-doubles.

Bontemps: Jokic is one of the best participant, however Jalen Brunson has been probably the most priceless one. He is main the playoffs with 33.9 factors per sport (together with 5 video games with 40 or extra factors), carrying a Knicks workforce down a number of rotation gamers, and been in the midst of a number of of one of the best moments in these playoffs — whereas coping with a foot damage.

MacMahon: Jokic simply collected his third MVP trophy and continues to show that he is one of the best participant on the planet. Because the Nuggets went down 2-0 to begin the collection he has been dominant ever since — reminding everybody why they’re the defending champions.

Pelton: Jokic. When the opposite finest candidate (Edwards) responds to your 16 factors on 7-of-7 capturing within the third quarter of Recreation 5 by saying “I simply snigger. That is all I can do,” it is a fairly good signal you are one of the best participant on the planet and the MVP of the playoffs regardless of a tricky evening Thursday.

Windhorst: Ask me about Edwards after Sunday. And Jokic, in fact, is good, however a teammate hit two sport winners within the first spherical. In any other case the reply is Brunson. The Knicks are already again from Cancún with out him.