The primary spherical of the NBA playoffs has given us not one, not two, however three series-deciding Sport 7s — all within the Jap Convention. It’s essentially the most Sport 7s within the first spherical since 2014.
The 76ers eradicated the Celtics in Sport 7 on Saturday. Who will advance from Magic-Pistons and Raptors-Cavaliers? And are the Knicks, who’ve already earned their spot in Spherical 2, the workforce to beat within the East? Our writers weigh in.
Magic-Pistons, Sport 7: Who wins?
Rohrbach: Pistons. The Magic must be shell-shocked after blowing a 24-point lead within the second half of what would have been a close-out Sport 6 for them in Orlando. I don’t understand how they get better from that, particularly if Franz Wagner is just not obtainable. In the meantime, a 60-win No. 1 seed at dwelling in Sport 7 of a first-round playoff collection looks as if a protected guess. On this rock battle of a collection, although, something is feasible. I simply belief Cade Cunningham greater than Paolo Banchero.
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Titus: Pistons. How do you go 45 actual minutes and not using a discipline purpose? Orlando has been the extra bodily imposing workforce, however after a comeback like that, I don’t suppose the Magic will get better. The Detroit fan base wants this and, led by Cunningham, we’ll see a extra ready and assertive model of the Pistons, who want to keep away from changing into the seventh workforce in NBA historical past to lose as a 1-seed within the first spherical.
Haberstroh: Pistons. I assume? I’ll take the 60-win workforce at dwelling, however contemplating each groups have suffered identification crises each different quarter within the collection, I’ve the boldness of a kindergartener tying their footwear on the primary day of faculty.
Jones: Pistons. The excellent news for the Magic is it may well’t go any worse than taking pictures 4 for 37 within the second half of Sport 6. They’ll nonetheless battle defensively and hope for shot-making within the fourth. The LCA needs to be rocking, although, and the Pistons ought to really feel a stage of freedom. Cunningham’s play has gotten extra consideration from the Magic’s protection, which has unlocked components of the Pistons’ offense. Plus, once I was 16, I informed my dad there was no method the 8-seed, T-Mac-led Magic would lose to the Pistons. They misplaced to the Pistons.
Raptors-Cavaliers, Sport 7: Who wins?
Jones: Cavaliers. The Raptors have constantly remained annoying on this collection. Bodily on each ends of the ground, Darko Rajaković has had his workforce ready, and Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett have willed the Raptors with out Brandon Ingram. Whereas the Raptors have labored to scheme and double James Harden and Donovan Mitchell out of rhythm, I anticipate the Cavs stars will put their stamp on this sport. You got here collectively for a motive, and this Sport 7 is it.
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Haberstroh: Raptors. Harden has misplaced his final three Sport 7s, together with a seven-point dud in opposition to Denver final 12 months and a nine-point whiff in opposition to Boston in 2023. The Raptors’ youth and gnarly protection will serve them effectively in opposition to a Cleveland core that hasn’t been identified to face up in opposition to adversity.
Rohrbach: Cavaliers. Man, has Scottie Barnes been a revelation in Toronto. He can have his Raptors taking part in arduous, and that may be a scary proposition for a Cleveland workforce that carries Harden’s big-game woes right into a Sport 7. However that is what the Cavs have Mitchell for. I simply suppose there’s an excessive amount of expertise in Cleveland, and if the Cavs can harness their effort into one sport — at dwelling — they’ll meet Toronto’s depth and belief in Mitchell to hold them into Spherical 2.
Titus: Cavaliers. Toronto stole Sport 6, however I feel Cleveland will determine it out at dwelling in Sport 7. After all, the narrative surrounding Harden in these moments would be the headlines, however having Mitchell to alleviate a few of that stress is essential. Toronto’s protection has been nice, however this one will come right down to expertise. The Cavs have it, and I feel they get it accomplished in convincing vogue, particularly if Evan Mobley retains taking part in effectively.
True or False: The Knicks are the workforce to beat within the East.
Titus: True. After all there’s some recency bias right here, nevertheless it’s extra concerning the inconsistencies or lapses we’ve seen from the highest seeds all through the primary spherical within the East. The Knicks have not less than proven the power to shift their sport plan from a extra Jalen Brunson-centric offense to at least one that enables Karl-Anthony Cities to tackle extra offensive tasks. Their depth and adaptability can be necessary as they navigate these subsequent rounds. They’ve the wing defenders and the bigs to cowl the perfect of what’s left. Now they simply must execute.
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Rohrbach: True? Everybody within the East has regarded shaky, together with the Knicks in the beginning of their collection, however they appeared to have discovered themselves — that hard-charging identification that made them so scary for a stint in final 12 months’s playoffs — in Video games 5 and 6 of their collection with Atlanta. Who’s to say whether or not the Pistons or Cavaliers can rediscover what has made them so formidable over the course of a Sport 7, however just one workforce proper now is aware of who it truly is.
Jones: Going to lean false, primarily as a result of, uh, the remainder of the East has lots to fret about earlier than they’ll get to the Knicks. The large optimistic is the Knicks did get proof of idea of having the ability to elevate within the playoffs. The protection raised its stage because the collection wore on. Brunson and Cities have been capable of finding counters. OG Anunoby wouldn’t cease making pictures. Josh Hart wouldn’t cease defending. The Hawks gave them a style of what they might see going ahead. Figuring that out ought to give the Knicks confidence.
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Haberstroh: True. A minimum of with this Karl-Anthony Cities, who simply ripped off two triple-doubles. The Knicks middle simply registered 36 assists within the Atlanta collection, which is greater than KAT totaled in the complete playoff run final 12 months with the Knicks (24 in 18 video games) and greater than his first three postseasons runs mixed (34 in 16 video games). One thing modified and so did the title favourite out East.