2018 NBA Playoffs Second Round Preview and Predictions

We’re making our way into the second round of the NBA playoffs. The Golden State Warriors have already taken a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series against the New Orleans Pelicans, and Toronto showed once again that they just can’t beat Cleveland, missing their last 11 shots of regulation and then losing in overtime, 113-112, to allow the Cavaliers to take a 1-0 lead in that Eastern Conference semifinal. Boston took Philadelphia to the woodshed in Game One of their Eastern Conference semifinal, rolling to a 117-101. Houston took down Utah, 110-96, in their Western Conference semifinal opener. Let’s look at how each of these series will go the rest of the way in the NBA odds.

2018 NBA Playoffs Second Round Preview and Predictions

LeBron has picked up his 21st postseason triple-double, 2nd most in NBA playoff history behind Magic Johnson (30).

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 2, 2018

Houston vs. Utah (Game 2 set for May 2 in Houston, 8:00pm ET, TNT)

James Harden put up 41 points in the opener of this series, a game that the Rockets won by 14 but was never in doubt, as the Rockets went into the locker room at halftime up by 25. It’s true that Utah had to turn around from a Game Six win over Oklahoma City on Friday and then play on Sunday against the Rockets, but such is life in the playoffs. Will the Jazz come back in Game Two? They have had plenty of time to rest, and they could have Ricky Rubio (hamstring) back in the lineup. They also have a solid defense, as they ranked #2 in the NBA in points permitted (99.8 per game). No team has been hotter than the Jazz since January 22. So I don’t see Houston winning in a sweep. But here’s the thing — Harden has averaged 34.3 points per game against Utah this season, and that includes games when the whole roster was on the floor. Houston in six.

Philadelphia vs. Boston (Game 2 set for May 3 in Boston, 8:30pm ET, TNT)

If you saw Joel Embiid make Kelly Olynyk a nonfactor for Miami in the first round, you had to wonder how he would do against Boston’s combination of Aron Baynes and Al Horford. Baynes had a transcendent Game One, knocking down enough outside shots to draw respect but also playing the post to keep Embiid from drifting out to challenge shots, and he also boxed out and got some big rebounds on both ends. With Horford on the floor, Boston wore Embiid out by running Horford through two or even three pick-and-rolls on the same possession. How will Philadelphia respond? The other problem for Philadelphia is their defense. Terry Rozier ran away from Robert Covington over and over again, and Rozier made the Sixers pay for each mistake that they made. Covington is normally a lockdown guy, but he needs to show that persona again in Game Two. Also, Philadelphia went just 5 for 26 from downtown. That’s not a number that’s likely to reappear on Thursday night. Philadelphia in six.

Cleveland vs. Toronto (Game 2 set for May 3 in Toronto, 6:00pm ET, ESPN)

You mean Cleveland beat a Toronto team on the road in their series opener? Toronto is terrible, historically, in series openers. They’re even worse against the Cavaliers. LeBron James had to beat Indiana by himself, but he got help against Toronto. Yes, LeBron had another career triple-double (26 points, 13 assists, 11 boards), but J.R. Smith also had 20 points, Kyle Korver had 19 — including the three-ball to take the lead in overtime — and Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jeff Green kicked in 16, and Kevin Love pulled down 13 boards. Toronto led by 10 in the fourth quarter and saw it evaporate, but they still had an open look for Fred VanVleet from downtown with 3.4 seconds remaining in overtime, a shot that would have won the game, but solid efforts from Jonas Valanciunas (21 points and 21 boards), Kyle Lowry (18 points and 10 assists) and DeMar DeRozan (22 points) went for nought. Once again. Cleveland in six.

Houston vs. Golden State (Game 3 set for May 4, 8:00pm ET, ESPN)

The rest of the league’s prospects for an NBA title took a turn for the worse when Stephen Curry entered Game Two of the Pelicans-Warriors series at the 4:20 mark of the first period. He came in and scored 28 points after a layoff of almost six weeks due to a knee injury. Kevin Durant put up 29 points, seven assists and six boards, and Draymond Green dominated his battle with Anthony Davis by notching 20 points, 12 assists and nine boards. The Pelicans gave it all they had — Davis had 25 points and 15 boards, and Jrue Holiday had 24 points, eight boards and eight assists. Rajon Rondo scored 22 points and dished out a dozen assists — and got in a jawing match with Green. But the Warriors followed up a Game One rout with a Game Two victory against a New Orleans team that seemed to be throwing the kitchen sink at them. What else do the Pelicans have to give? Golden State in five.