Around the Association The Playoffs

By Rob Fischer (Memphis Grizzlies Television Pre / Postgame Host and Sideline Reporter on FOX Sports Southeast)

What a success for the NBA Bubble. The seeding games had everything, the drama for 8 in the West played out till the final minute, stars were born, the future looks bright, the games were presented fabulously, and not one single positive Covid-19 test. And now, the playoffs are upon us. Today we look back at the seeding games and give predictions for round one of the NBA Playoffs.

SEEDING GAMES- the seeding games had drama with the 8th seed in the West. The league had to make it compelling for the bottom teams to even show up in the bubble and it couldn’t have turned out any better. While Portland was playing in the last game of the seeding games, they were one of three teams tied for 8th with another eliminated earlier in the day. It presented great viewing for the NBA where late games in the season mattered. Each team had a star emerge at the end. Phoenix made things exciting picking up 6 games in the standings while going 8-0 behind Devin Booker. Portland moved on to the postseason thanks to a self-inspired Damian Lillard. And Memphis couldn’t hold on to 8 thanks to numerous injuries, but the world was introduced to Ja Morant if they weren’t already. The look of the seeding games was tremendous. Between the social distancing, the plexiglass at center court, and virtual fans only, the play still looked intense and competitive. So much so that I never really noticed fans not being there….. except when I was a virtual fan for the Grizzlies. I enjoy hearing the natural sounds of the game, and the broadcasters have made it sound, dare I say, normal? Let me commend the broadcasters for a minute. Being a part of the broadcast crew for the Grizzlies, I know the struggle it is for the crew. The production truck isn’t on location and doesn’t have control of the cameras, the broadcasters are watching a tv, and the sideline reporter (me) isn’t on the sidelines! First of all, it was weird. The whole thing of being in an empty arena and broadcasting a game in Memphis that’s being played in Orlando is just weird. It’s also weird that the vantage point of the broadcasters is the same as the fans watching at home. What makes a broadcast unique is the interactions you have with coaches and players both before and after a game. Sure, we had zoom meetings with coach and player media availability, but we didn’t have the things that make our vantage point unique- seeing and hearing conversations, of the moment emotions, discussions and awareness in huddles, and the teams focus. That’s what makes our job unique and fun. We get to see and hear the things that others don’t and

we get to report on these things and bring them to the fans. Without those interactions, I think the announcers have done a great job of making it sound like they’re there. How about the NBA not having a single positive test for Covid-19. It’s been an absolutely amazing success story. We have sports daily and there hasn’t been a stop or a scare. Hopefully other leagues can look at the success and use it as a model for sports to go on during this pandemic. PLAYOFFS- WESTERN CONFERENCE 1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8) Portland Trailblazers The Lakers weren’t great in the seeding games and Portland has a superstar who can win a game on his own any single night?! Don’t be fooled people by the Damian Lillard experience during the seeding games. Portland still plays no defense and they have NO ONE to guard Anthony Davis. Oh, and the Lakers still have LeBron.PREDICTION: LAKERS 4-1 2) Los Angeles Clippers vs. 7) Dallas Mavericks The Mavericks took the next step this year and are back in the postseason. They have a great tandem in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, but what they have on their bench won’t be enough against the deepest team in the NBA. The Clippers are too skilled and too deep for the Mavs to have a chance. They might get a game because Luka Doncic is that good.PREDICTION: CLIPPERS 4-1

3) Denver Nuggets vs. 6) Utah Jazz I was ready to pick against both of these teams in the first round. Now that they’re playing each other, I guess I’ll make a pick. Denver is beat up and struggled a bit in the bubble. They’re still new to this contender thing, and I think there’s a big gap between them and the top two teams. That doesn’t mean they’re not good. They have talent and they have triple double threat in Nikola Jokic. But with their injuries, Im not very confident. The Jazz are missing players due to injury and the birth of a child (Mike Conley) and they have missed something all season. The Jazz had high expectations and never played to them. To be seeded 6th is a disappointment and it still doesn’t seem like they have things right. Which star do you like bettering which team is less than a mess? It’s close.PREDICTION: NUGGETS 4-3 4) Houston Rockets vs. 5) Oklahoma City Thunder This one should be fun. The Rockets will start the series without Russell Westbrook, but they still have James Hardin who can get 50 on any night. While Westbrook’s absence could be a big factor early, I don’t think it’s a big factor in the series. The Rockets are what they are. They’ll jack a bunch of threes and if they make em they win. If they miss em, they lose.

The Thunder beat the Rockets twice in three meetings this season. They play defense, they’re physical, and they’re well coached. And this is the playoffs where James Harden doesn’t have things as easy. I like the Thunder.PREDICTION: THUNDER 4-2

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. 8) Orlando Magic Unlike the number 8 seed in the West, the East race for 8 was uninspiring at best. Orlando went 3-5 in the seeding games after winning the first two. Now they take on the best team in the league. The Bucks haven’t been special in Orlando, but they’re just too talented, too athletic, and too deep for Orlando. Maybe the Bucks sleepwalk and give the Magic a win. But that would be the only reason why. The Bucks were 4-0 vs. the Magic this season winning all four by 17ppg.PREDICTION: BUCKS 4-0 2) Toronto Raptors vs. 7) Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets have been a scrappy team. They’ve played really hard in Orlando going 5-3. Good for them. It’s the end of the road. The defending World Champions are playing great basketball and playing as a team. That’s how they won a title last year. Don’t discount them from playing to repeat this postseason. Brooklyn has too many players absent and is just outmatched immensely by the Raptors. By the way, Toronto ended with a better record this year than last season. Should be another sweep in the East. PREDICTION: RAPTORS 4-0 3) Boston Celtics vs. 6) Philadelphia 76ers I’m not really trusting the process anymore. This time for the Sixers it’s injuries that’ll hurt with Ben Simmons out. That and a lack of team chemistry. Being 6th in the East is an absolute failure for the 76ers. Boston, meanwhile, was a stout team that plays both offense and defense well. They’re top 4 in the league in both categories with a young star in the making in Jayson Tatum. Boston is just better coached and has better players top to bottom along with better defense.PREDICTION: CELTICS 4-1 4) Miami Heat vs. 5) Indiana Pacers It’s too bad that this is a first round series. These two teams have been scrappy all season and both have exceeded expectations. Miami has more talent, but the Pacers face that on a lot of nights. Indiana has gotten a huge bubble performance from TJ Warren who’s averaging 31ppg in Orlando. He’s averaging just 10.3 vs. the Heat this season. Meanwhile, the Heat have a great mixture of youth and vets along with arguably the best coach

remaining. Should be a great chess match in a series that I expect to go the distance.PREDICTION: HEAT 4-3

You can contact me with questions or comments at robfischer22@att.net.You can also reach me on Twitter (@thefishnation) or Instagram (@thefishnation_)