It was all the game one’s of the first round of the NBA playoffs over the weekend and it was filled with obvious predictions but also some shocking surprises.
The number one seeds, The Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks, unequivocally look like the best teams in the playoffs. But the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets stunned their respective opponents as the lower seeds.
So here are three takeaways from the NBA playoffs thus far.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Best Player in the League and Deserves the MVP
Paging LeBron James to the court.
Oh, that’s right; the best basketball player in the world didn’t even make the playoffs this year. And everyone thinks the torch will be passed on to Kevin Durant next. If you think that then you clearly haven’t seen “The Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo play basketball before.
Giannis might simply be the most dominate unstoppable player since Shaquille O’Neal and maybe more so than him. The Milwaukee Bucks star can play offense at all five positions and defend them too – something that Shaq could never do.
Watching him get to the hoop with such ease is comparable to how great Steph Curry is to 3 point shooting. It will never cease to amaze you how they are able to do it. Granted, Giannis is physically gifted with an arm span that’s longer than his body height, but it’s almost like we’re witnessing the Andre’ “The Giant” of the NBA. And he’s only 24-years-old.
The Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic are Shockingly Good
Who would’ve thought the former dumpster fire Brooklyn Nets would upset “The Process” Philadelphia 76ers loaded with All-stars Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler and a really good Tobias Harris?
And would’ve thought that the Orlando Magic (who haven’t made the playoffs since 2011) would upset the Toronto Raptors with one of the best players in the league, Kawhi Leonard – stunning fans in Jurassic Park (the nickname given to Maple Leaf Square in Toronto)?”
Nobody thought that. The only recognizable name on the Magic is Aaron Gordon and the only reason why he is known was because he won the Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend putting the league on notice. He’s a nice player though.
Yes, it’s only one game but the Magic and Nets look ridiculously good – defeating two teams that many think are the favorites to make the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Giannis’ Bucks might have something to say about that.
The 76ers look terrible and unorganized with horrific coaching. Coaching that allowed Amir Johnson to check his cell phone from the bench. To be fair, he claims it was because his daughter was really sick. But if your daughter’s sickness was dire enough to keep in contact with your family during the game then maybe you should’ve skipped the game altogether.
The fact remains though that the Nets and Magic are defensive forces to be reckoned with.
Steph Curry is Simply Unbelievable
The two-time MVP (the only unanimous one in NBA history) might be one of the most influential basketball player of all time. Nobody has an impact on the icon status in sports more than Michael Jordan, but he might be second.
Curry has influenced an entire generation to shoot the three-ball more. Practice your 3 point shot if you weren’t born with the physical attributes and you’ve got a shot become an NBA player.
Curry faced off against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night and he stole the show with 38 points 15 rebounds and 6 assists. The 15 rebounds was a career high for him. He was jacking up shots from 30 feet out as he always does and draining them. He’s unbelievable.
It seems all but a foregone conclusion that the Golden State Warriors will win it all but you shouldn’t sleep on the Milwaukee Bucks after they embarrassingly blew out the Detroit Pistons.