Today's NBA playoffs continued, with the Mavericks narrowly beating the Thunder 105-101 at home to take a 2-1 lead, while the Celtics beat the Cavaliers 106-93 on the road to take a 2-1 lead.
So far, the first 3 games of the 4 groups of matchups in the second round of the NBA playoffs have just been completed, and the scores of the 4 groups are 2-1, but the same score is a completely different situation.
2-1 in Group 2 in the West, all teams with home field advantage are behind;
Group 2 in the East 2-1, both teams with home field advantage have a score lead.
And continue to break it down, the Nuggets in the West lost 2 in a row at home, and then pulled one back on the road; The Thunder won one game and then suffered two straight losses. The Celtics in the East conceded one at home and quickly pulled one back on the road; The Knicks are on a two-game winning streak at home, but lost on the road.
In these 4 situations, it is obviously more advantageous for the leading side, but among the 4 leading teams, only the Mavericks are the most comfortable and smooth.
The situation in the west
As a side without home field advantage, there are 2 most common ways to qualify for the following categories:
1. The first game was tentative, the second game was won away, and then 2 home games were kept, with a big score of 3-1 lead, waiting for the opportunity to advance;
2. Go all out in the first game, sneak attack to win, and then keep 2 home games, lead 3-1 with a big score, and wait for the opportunity to advance.
The Pacers and Mavericks in the first round are the first routine, but the Mavericks didn't hold on to the fourth game, but fortunately, they also advanced in the end.
And the Lakers, who staged the Black 7 Miracle last year, are the second routine, and they have completed the following grams twice.
Now in the second round of the West, the Mavericks still continue the first routine.
In the first game, the Thunder won at home. Anyone who often watches the NBA playoffs knows that this big win doesn't mean anything, and it doesn't give the Thunder much of an advantage, this is just the Mavericks' temptation, and the real duel starts from the second game.
Sure enough, in the second game, the Mavericks narrowly won away from home, and in the third game, the Mavericks narrowly won again and led 2-1. Everything is going according to the Mavericks' routine, the Mavericks not only lead 2-1, but also have an advantage in momentum, the fourth game is the most difficult game for the Thunder, someone needs to step up, otherwise it will be a fiasco.
The Timberwolves are the second trick.
However, unexpectedly, in the second game, the Nuggets failed to adjust in place, but there was huge psychological pressure, and finally lost 2 games in a row at home. This is not only an accident for the fans, but also for the Nuggets, the Timberwolves themselves, and even more so for the league. So in the third game, the Nuggets came back to their senses, but the Timberwolves were not ready, 1-1 they knew how to play, and 2-0 was a little bit uncontrollable.
Now the Timberwolves are leading 2-1, but the Nuggets have more advantage in momentum, because they have the desire to win the Jedi counterattack, the fourth game is the most critical game for the Timberwolves, and if you win, you can advance, and the psychological pressure of losing is too great, and it is likely to be reversed.
The situation in the east
The Knicks vs Pacers game, somewhat "rookie peck", coupled with several controversial penalties, finally came to a score that everyone could accept, the Knicks led 2-1, everyone held their home court, and they had a chance to win on the road, but they didn't grasp it.
The league will definitely want to see seven matchups, and by the way, look at Haliburton and Brunson, who has the more superstar image.
The Celtics vs. Heat game is different from the Mavericks vs. Thunder game. Although they all lost the first game away from home, and then won the second game.
The Mavericks' away victory over the Thunder gives the impression that the Mavericks are strong and can defeat the Thunder; The Cavaliers' away win over the Celtics gives the impression that the Celtics are so unstable, even if they reach the Finals, it will be in vain.
No one will worry about the Celtics because of the Cavaliers' away win over the Celtics, because the difference in the strength of the two lineups is indeed too big, and today's game is to prove that the Mavericks do have the strength, and the Cavaliers are difficult to beat the Celtics.
conclusion
The Mavericks 2-1 Thunder, the Mavericks are leading and have the momentum, the Thunder are young and inexperienced, it is likely that the Thunder will collapse in the fourth game, fall behind 1-3, and finally go out.
The Timberwolves 2-1 Nuggets, the Timberwolves lead but the Nuggets have the momentum, and it is likely that the Nuggets will withstand the fourth game and stage a big reversal.
The Knicks 2-1 Pacers, tepid, each kept their home court, continued to test the quality of the stars, and had a high probability of entering a tie-break, and then ended the series with a very low score.
Celtics 2-1 Cavaliers, Celtics lead and the lineup advantage is obvious, the Cavaliers can top a few games, it completely depends on the Celtics' stable and unstable state.