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Game 2 Thoughts

Every NBA playoffs series has played two games so far.  We had some thoughts after game 1, so has anything changed after game 2?

1) The Cavs, Lakers, and Nuggets still look great.  All three of these teams went 2 - 0 on their home courts, but more than that, all of the games were double-digit wins.  Last year the Spurs/Hornets series showed us that a 2 - 0 lead, even when the first two games were blowouts, could still be overcome.  But it is really hard to imagine either the Lakers or the Cavs losing four of the next five games.  I think the Nuggets are solid as well, but it wouldn't be quite as shocking for the Hornets to come back on them as it would be for either of the #1 seeds to lose.  I will say that Utah showed signs of life last game, though, so even though I think the Lakers take this series wouldn't be surprised now if the Jazz win at least one game at home to make sure the series gets back to LA.

2) Boston and San Antonio aren't dead yet.  Both of the last two champs came off the canvas to win game 2 after losing in game 1, but right now San Antonio has to feel better than Boston does.  The Spurs blew out the Mavs in game 2, after having a huge lead before blowing it in game 1.  Though the Mavs have the experience to beat the Spurs, the fact that the Spurs have held commanding leads in both games has to give them confidence that they can win in Dallas.  Boston, on the other hand, has yet to display any sort of separation from Chicago.  The regular season advanced stats would have predicted this, and thus far both games in this series have been toss-up games where either team could have won.  I think that game 3 is bigger for the Celtics, therefore, than it is for the Spurs.  If the Bulls win game 3 they will really believe they can beat the Celtics, which could start to erode the experience advantage/championship mystique that the Celtics should have.  The first two Celtics/Bulls games have had a Derrick Rose/Rajon Rondo duel and a Ben Gordon/Ray Allen shootout...is game 3 time for Paul Pierce and John Salmons to go mano a mano?

3) Orlando and Houston look to be in control.  Despite both series being tied 1 - 1, Orlando and Houston have spent more time in control of each game than their counterparts have.  In Houston's case, they have already won a game on the road which should give them a further advantage over Portland.  In Orlando's case, despite the fact that they don't appear to have the perimeter game to hold a lead late, they are just a better team than Philadelphia and that should eventually tell.

4) Miami/Atlanta is a toss-up.  These are two flawed teams: Miami does not have much firepower outside of Wade so have to play slow, while Atlanta is terrible if the game is slowed to half court and needs to get out on the break.  So this series basically comes down to which team can impose their style of play more often upon the other.  With Miami having stole one in Atlanta as well as the championship swagger that Dwyane Wade possesses, I would think they have the upper hand right now.  But on any given night the Hawks can just blow them off the court, so it is still very much in doubt.