Eastern Conference: Round 2 Review
#1) Boston Celtics vs #4) Cleveland Cavaliers
(BOS wins 4-1)
Cakewalk. In an absolute cakewalk, the Boston Celtics have run through the Eastern Conference en route to their sixth Conference Finals in eight years, one resulting in an NBA Finals appearance and, ultimately, loss. We all knew this would happen, and no one was surprised. We are all waiting on the final result, an NBA Championship. Nobody cares about anything else from this team, including this series, especially as 5x All-Star Donovan Mitchell sat out Games 4 and 5 with a left calf strain. Caris LeVert has also been hobbled by a bone bruise on his left knee, and All-Star and defensive anchor Jarrett Allen has been sidelined since he got hurt in Game 1 of Cleveland’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic. Before the injury, Allen averaged 17 points and 13.8 rebounds, grabbing 20 rebounds in the Cavs’ Game 2 win over Orlando. Mitchell has been dealing with a left knee injury since the All-Star break and got hurt again in the final minutes of Cleveland’s 106-93 loss on Saturday in Game 3. With three top contributors out, NBA All-Star Darius Garland tried to shoulder the load, scoring 30 points and seven rebounds in 40 minutes, but it would not be enough to overcome the wrath of the Celtics in Game 4. The Celtics surely can survive for a while without Kristaps Porzingus. Still, they will definitely miss his size, rim protection, and ability to stretch the floor in the ECF(Eastern Conference Finals), and if they’re blessed, they will most definitely be in the NBA Finals.
#2) New York Knicks vs #6) Indiana Pacers
(IND wins 4-3)
A hard-fought series. These two teams have met eight times in the NBA playoffs, six between 1993 and 2000. Indiana has come out on top in the series five times, with both teams taking turns as the victor. There have been six instances where a series between the two has gone at least six games, including three Game 7s. In this series, the Knicks came in devastated by injury and would leave in even worse condition. Already down multiple starters, the Knicks' resilience, determination, and lack of excuses were a true testament to their character and the character of New York City. Up 2-0, Game 3 is where the tide began to turn in the favor of the Pacers. Andrew Nembhard would score his only basket on a late stepback three that essentially was the game-winner. The Pacers would carry this momentum into Game 4 and win convincingly. Now 2-2, each team traded double-digit victories, setting up the stage for Game 7 in the Mecca of basketball, Madison Square Garden. Indiana got the hot hand early, scoring 39 points in the first quarter, the most by any team in a first quarter of a Game 7 in NBA history. From then on, the battered Knicks would play a neverending game of catch-up. Jalen Brunson entered averaging a postseason league-high 35.6 points and played through a right foot injury. Brunson would struggle in Game 7, shooting 6 of 17 and totaling 17 points before exiting with a fractured left hand and being ruled out for the remainder of the game. Donte DiVincenzo put the team on his back, hustling on both ends and scoring 39 points on 11-of-21 shooting, nine of which being three-pointers. NBA champion OG Anunoby tried to give it a go but was unable to do much, only playing five minutes, nursing a hamstring injury that kept him out since Game 2. The Knicks' efforts would be in vain as the Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton’s 26 points, had the highest field goal percentage in any playoff game in NBA history (67.1%) to eliminate the Knicks in a decisive 130-109 Game 7 victory.
Did your team make it out of round 2? Share some of your favorite moments below!