Key Matchups in Second Round of NBA Playoffs
by Sam Cox | by Tyler Doty
The first round of the NBA playoffs hopefully set the tone for what’s to come. We had comeback stories, teams battling back from being no more than an afterthought in NBA tips, and plenty of spectacular individual showings.
Only eight teams remain in the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Detroit Pistons are still standing in the Eastern Conference. Out West, it’s the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here are the key matchups to watch in the second round:
Joel Embiid vs. Karl-Anthony Towns
This rivalry stretches back the best part of a decade. When Joel Embiid was at the peak of his trolling days, the pair got into an on-court scrap, leading to memes aplenty.
In this Sixers vs. Knicks series, the matchup is not just intriguing because of the potential for fireworks between the two. It’s also integral to how the series plays out – the Knicks want to avoid Towns guarding Embiid, and whenever Embiid is guarding Towns, it causes a problem for the Sixers on defense.
There’s a good chance whichever of these players has the better series will be on the winning team. If Embiid plays like he did against the Celtics, Towns has his work cut out to keep pace.
VJ Edgecombe vs. Jalen Brunson
VJ Edgecombe is going to spend the vast majority of the series guarding Jalen Brunson. Edgecombe had success against the Knicks’ star guard in the regular season, but Brunson caught fire in Game 1.
Philadelphia wants to keep Tyrese Maxey away from Brunson. It’s going to be cat-and-mouse at both ends of the floor with the point guards hunting one another – New York is going to frequently call whoever Maxey is guarding for screens to try and get a switch.
Edgecombe has been unfazed by everything he’s faced as a rookie. This, including a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd, is his most daunting challenge yet.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Rudy Gobert
France teammates Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert meet in the second round of the playoffs. Gobert is either past his peak or in the latter stages of it, while Wembanyama is embarking on his first playoff run.
These players have scrimmaged together for years with the national team. Gobert is coming off a stellar first round performance against the Nuggets. The former Defensive Player of the Year has buckets of playoff experience, but he’s never had to take on a player like Wembanyama.
With Minnesota battling injuries, San Antonio is the heavy favorite. All the pressure is on Wembanyama on both ends of the floor. Taking on a player who knows him so well could make this series even more challenging.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Marcus Smart
The Lakers are hardly blessed with options to throw at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Marcus Smart is better off guarding up a position or two at this stage of his career, but needs must and he’s the Lakers’ best bet to guard Gilgeous-Alexander.
JJ Redick will mix up his coverages and likely send extra bodies to keep Gilgeous-Alexander on his toes. Smart, though, is still going to have plenty of time on an island with the reigning Finals MVP.
If the Lakers are to miraculously make this into a long series, Smart needs to roll back the years and at least make Gilgeous-Alexander work for his customary 30 piece.
James Harden vs. Playoff Demons
It wasn’t all James Harden’s fault that the Cavaliers got taken to a Game 7 by the Raptors. Donovan Mitchell had some dud performances and Evan Mobley didn’t offer enough offensively.
Still, the later it gets in the playoffs, the more pressure there is on everyone involved, and we know what that has often meant for Harden, who had several high-turnover games in the first round.
Detroit is going to be physical. They are a disruptive offensive team capable of pressuring opponents into mistakes. Cleveland cannot afford for Harden to go quiet as a scorer or keep turning the ball over.
Ausar Thompson vs. Cavs’ Defensive Schemes
We saw the Magic completely ignore Ausar Thompson in the halfcourt. Thompson’s lack of threat as a shooter shrunk the floor for Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, contributing to Detroit’s halfcourt offensive woes.
Detroit wants Thompson on the floor to guard Mitchell and/or Harden. Cleveland wants to make Thompson such a problem on offense that the Pistons have no option but to run an inferior defender out there.
Cleveland could put Jarrett Allen on Thompson, allowing Allen to stay as a rim protector. Alternatively, they could hide a weaker defender on Thompson or use Evan Mobley on him so he can roam as a helper.
