SECOND ROUND TAKEAWAYS

NBA / Basketball

Written by Eddie Huband

We’re halfway through what’s been an intriguing second round so far, so I figured it’s time to do a little check-in on some key takeaways…

Source (Background Photos): USA Today Sports

Miami/Philly

Well, for starters, James Harden is clearly not the guy he once was. Without Joel Embiid through the first two games due to an orbital injury, Miami has been able to load up on Harden, and he hasn’t been able to rise to the occasion.

His first step just isn’t being anyone off the dribble anymore, he can’t get the same separation on his step back, and when he gets to the rim over and over again he’s just kind of throwing his body into people as opposed to finishing with force as he did in his Houston days.

No surprise that the Sixers have put up very little fight digging themselves and 0-2 holes. What makes this situation more interesting is whether or not they want to max Harden out, which was the promise when they traded for him, after a playoff performance like this.

Not to say he’s been awful, but you’re going to give max money for five years to a guy already in his mid-30s, you’d like to see more. Even if Joel Embiid is able to return, I don’t see them beating Miami 4 times out of 5.

This means another likely second-round exit for a Sixers team that once again will head to an offseason with more questions than answers.

Boston/Milwaukee

Milwaukee needs Khris Middleton to win this series. Not exactly a hot take, considering he’s their second-best player.

But in game two it was evident that the Bucks needed a second scorer to go up against Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum. Yes, Milwaukee took game one, on the road mind you, thanks to a brilliant performance from Giannis.

The Celtics are so good defensively though, and Milwaukee doesn’t have a ton of other options once you get passed Jrue Holliday, so the pressure on Giannis to score will become more and more intense as the series goes along.

Middleton’s presence in the pick and roll and mid-range would do wonders for opening things up and acting as a pressure valve.

If he can’t come back at some point during this series, the Boston Celtics should be heading to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the bubble.

GS/Memphis

The Warriors have no answer for Ja Morant, as made evident by his 47-point performance in game 2

This issue is made even worse by the fact that Gary Payton II, the team's best option to defend him, is gone with a broken elbow.

Klay Thompson is a shell of himself defensively, which I mean, you can’t blame the guy for, but he has no chance of staying with Morant. Jordan Poole and Steph Curry are both below-average defenders.

Jonathan Kuminga is a special athlete, but that’s quite a lot to ask of a rookie who’s played spot minutes all season to step up and play major minutes in a playoff series.

One thing that was surprising was how lackadaisical they’ve been defending him. He’s been walking the ball up the court with no pressure, not really being trapped or doubled, there’s just a complete lack of physicality.

Now, Ja isn’t the kind of player you can just build a wall around like Giannis. He’s just too quick and shifts with the ball for that kind of scheme to work. There are still things that they can do to make things more difficult for him though. Look at how Milwaukee is picking up Tatum and Brown full court and trying to be physical with them, that’s the kind of defence Golden State has been lacking so far in this series.

This series is still 1-1 heading back to the Bay, so it’s not like Golden State is in trouble yet. They have to figure out something to get Morant under control though, or else they may be very soon.

Phoenix/Dallas

After a first-round scare without their best player against the pesky Pelicans, Phoenix is once again healthy and back to their dominant selves, and things are once again right with the world.

So far, Dallas hasn’t stood a chance through two games (which is to be expected). The Mavs have prided themselves on defence all season and they’ve had little resistance to the Suns' onslaught.

Luka Doncic has been absolutely unconscious so far, averaging 40 points per game through the first two, but he just hasn’t gotten any help from anywhere else so far, and he can’t beat this team all by himself.

Maybe the Mavs role players will get more frisky with two home games coming up, but this series looks to be a mismatch, and the Suns' quest for a championship looks to be safely back on track.