The second round of the NBA playoffs will begin on Sunday, but two games 7 will be bigger on the schedule before the league progresses.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves have done quick work on their first round opponents, but the other two Western Conference series have proven to be the most competitive of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
The LA Clippers forced Game 7 (Saturday, 7:30pm, TNT) in Denver after a 111-105 victory over the Nuggets on Thursday. The two teams will meet on Sunday (8:30pm, TNT) and get the opportunity to play the Timberwolves in the second round.
With the two biggest games of the first round this weekend, what are the biggest factors in both Game 7? How can each of the four teams advance to the second round? Our NBA Insider answers the biggest game 7 questions.
How can the Clippers move forward?
Editor’s Pick
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The Clippers finally went to a small lineup featuring Nicholas Batam late in Game 6. It was designed to make room for James Harden and Kawi Leonard, and apart from Nicola Djokic, he said it was a damn time. No, those were not his words. But he was dull.
“Batam is a much better shooter than Chris Dunn,” the three-time MVP said. “[He] He is a great defensive player. He can defend from 1 to 5. I don’t think they’re missing [anything] Defensively with Batam. They will probably start him with the next game. ”
Clippers coach Tyrone Lou resisted the offensive swap for that attack, due to how much he appreciated Dan’s defense. But if Batum is as offensive and defensively effective as Thursday night, the Clippers already have a winning recipe. They just need to follow it.
How can the nugget move forward?
The Nuggets were a bigger, more physical team, and when they made them feel the Clippers, they exerted their will in this series. It starts with a joke.
He’ll have to take it to Clippers Center Ivica Zubac and force the referee to call more fouls than he made in Los Angeles (just two free throws in Game 6).
When he is physically and aggressive, Denver’s attack opens and an explosive option comes out – as we saw in Game 5 when Jamal Murray punished the Clippers with a stunning display of shot-making.
How did you get here?
This series was everything we thought it would be – and more. Each star had at least one signature game. Westbrook of Game 1. Leonard in Game 2, Zubac and Harden in Game 3, Jokic and Aaron Gordon in Game 4, and Murray in Game 5. It will be strengthened again in Game 6.
Both coaches are excellent at motivating teams and adapting to the entire series. My only question is which teams are the most remaining? Everyone is tired and several important players are injured. Nuggets have played in Game 7 for every team since 2019, but Lue is one of the best elimination game coaches to date. Jokic and Leonard have Final MVPs.
“If you like basketball, these are games you should watch, like real fans, not fake basketball fans.”
This must be classic. – Ramona Shelburn
Key factors in Game 7
Look closely at the fatigue coefficient. Jamal Murray played the most of any player in the first round, while Nicola Jokic is fourth. The other two Denver starters (Christian Brown and Aaron Gordon) played more than any other Clipper except James Harden.
The Clippers are a little deeper, but Ty Lu had to rely more on his stars than he liked. Harden played the entire second half of Game 6 on Thursday. In the second match of the series, fatigue certainly played a role in the Clippers’ offense, tripping at the finish line.
Fatigue factors make it important to get off to a good start. In Game 5, the Nuggets’ early lead allowed interim coach David Adelman to joke with both halves, keeping him fresh. If the Clippers get off to a strong start, Adelman may not have that luxury. He wore late as Jokic played the entire second half of both games 2 and 4, giving the Nuggets a key victory to Aaron Gordon’s buzzer beater before the Clippers held Denver in Game 2 and erased a 16-point deficit in Game 4.
The close-up game volume, high levels of play and Denver’s altitude have caused the series to hit both teams. Either way, is it a real winner? The Oklahoma City Thunder were the first team to advance this postseason by completing a sweep for the Memphis Grizzlies a week ago.
There could be more teams going to the tank for Game 7. – Kevin Pelton
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The impressive rocket includes the warriors who force game 7
The Rockets dominate the Warriors through Game 6 and will set the series decider in Houston on Sunday.
How can the Warriors move forward?
From the play-in tournament to the NBA finals, ESPN covers the entire playoffs.
• Game-by-game analysis: East | West
•Pain: What the title says for each playoff team
• Herring: Key matchup for each 1st round series
•Pelton: Project each series through the final
•Off Season Guide: What’s next for the eliminated team?
• Things you need to know: news, schedule, scores, highlights
Golden State’s Game 7 experience in the playoffs should be the best advantage on Sunday. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green played in five games 7. Jimmy Butler played with four people. Steve Kerr is also a coach with four.
The Warriors need to resolve the defense of the Houston Zone and release Curry in their attacks. Curry scored 29 points in Game 6, but in the second half he only had 13 points. Curry and Green were always 3-2 in Game 7, winning a massive victory in Sacramento in the final game 7 of 2023, with Curry exploding with 50 points. According to an ESPN survey, the Golden State star averaged 32.6 points in game 7 in his career.
Butler will need to add another chapter to his “Playoff Jimmy” legacy in the epic game in Houston. However, the Warriors need to get more aggressive help from Curry and Butler. The third scorer will need to step up, whether it’s Brandin Posiemski, Buddy Heald, or Moses Moody who hits a timely external shot to break that zone. Green also needs to play like a defensive player of the year after finishing third in voting for the awards of this season. Golden State must hold Fred Van Beat down in sales. And, in addition to everything else, they were able to use wildcards. Carr said “It’s all on the table” from Game 7. -Ohm Youngmisuk
How can the Rockets move forward?
Coach Ime Udoka has taught us the importance of consistency, playing the right way, and making simple plays over and over again. Houston has given Golden State a difficult time when using the double big lineup, according to Mudoka “to protect some matches.”
Surprisingly, the Rockets adopted zone defenses with sharp Stephen Curry on the floor.
“Our activities are excellent and the principles that clearly recognize Curry and where he is in the zone require a lot of communication,” Udoka said. “And if you’re with him, we’ll fill in the spot behind it.”
Golden State looks for Game 7 ways to pay Houston when using these schemes using curry on the floor. Houston needs to continue to impose that physicality on older, slapped warriors while continuing to win with paint scoring and second chance points. Udoka often talks about the mantra of turning Houston’s defense into attack. The Rockets scored 22 points from 17 Golden State turnovers in Game 6. Players like Amentompson, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green are key to helping the Rockets score first breakpoints. – Michael C. Wright
How did they get here?
The Warriors stole Game 1 in Houston and won a game that Steve Kerr felt like it was in 1997 in terms of physicality, defense and the importance of all possession. Curry scored 31 points, while Butler looked like a playoff jimmy with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and five steels. However, Houston rebounded in a 109-94 loss in Game 2, with Jalen Green slacking off 38 points. Butler was limited to just eight minutes in the first quarter after Amen Thompson weakened him with a defensive rebound, resulting in a painful, deep glute muscle convulsion.
Butler missed Game 3 due to injury, but the Warriors took the 104-93 victory at home thanks to 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds from Curry. Golden State took what felt like a 3-1 lead when Butler scored 14 of 27 points in the fourth quarter, securing the biggest rebound of the season after Draymond Green forced an Alperence Gun Miss with 6.4 seconds left.
However, the Rockets routed Golden State in Game 5, gaining 31 at one point before Kerr left the starter at 5:50 early in the third quarter. In Game 6, Golden State was unable to close the series at home as they missed 14 of the first 15 shots of the fourth quarter, allowing Houston to play a 20-5 run. Rockets’ zone defense occasionally hampered Golden State and neutralising curry to force the game. -Youngmisuk
Key factors in Game 7
Houston’s use of the double big lineup with Stephen Adams and Sengung was a critical component of the series. Golden State managed to win Game 4 despite scoring 18 points in 22.5 minutes where Adams and Sengan played together. With everything working in Game 5, Udoka didn’t need to use much of the two centers, but it was a plus 8 in 13 minutes.
The fourth quarter of Game 6 was the biggest stage ever for Adams and Sengan, who shared the court for almost the entire time before both teams pulled a starter. The Rockets’ double big was plus nine in that range, and this time Udoka didn’t flash when he intentionally fouled Adams – when Udoka pulled Adams and didn’t bring him back until the last two minutes.
Adams went 9/16 from the deliberate foul line, and Seng-gun rebounded two of his mistakes, translated them to a total of 13 points on eight possessions.
Part of the Warriors’ challenges were Houston being able to use Adams, blocking shots at a career-high rating in the series, and Sengan being able to use it on a hybrid defense that keeps defenders in Stephen Curry’s airspace. Curry rocked with 29 points and six threes in Game 6, but shot only nine in 23 and committed five turnovers.
Udoka is finding new lineup combinations that work well, but the Warriors coaching staff can’t understand the best senses. Kerr started Payton in Game 6 to improve the team’s offensive point defense at Vanvleet, but the Rockets don’t have to worry about Payton as a three-point shooter like Brandin Podziemski. In addition to curry, the other four starters from Golden State shot an 18-3 total from the 3-point range. – Pelton
