Recap The Court

Jacob Smith

I’m watching the Grizzlies stay alive against LeBron and the Lakers, the Warriors win their third straight against Sacramento and i’m watching Jimmy Butler eliminate the #1 seed Bucks and i’m thinking I may need to go back on earlier statements.

I wrote a story late last week talking about how this is the best chance Philly is going to get, there’s no real standout in the West and they are looking like the best team in the East. What I didn’t account for enough was a man named Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.

We all know the picture of Jimmy Butler from the bubble, and the performance he put on. We saw him earlier in game 4 put on a historic performance, and we saw him last night, he does things every year when playoffs come around that reminds you just how good he is. He’s one of the best hoopers this game has and when he’s at his best, he’s one of the most exhilarating players to watch. As he says, he’s “just hooping” but to the spectator he’s putting on a spectacle that makes you wonder if the ticket to get in the arena isn’t overpriced.

There’s no secret why the Heat are where they are. Jimmy has been using his ability to elevate his game above everybody and these last two performances of Jimmy Buckets takeover mode has proven to me that the Heat are maybe more of a threat to the top seeds in the East. I think of “playoff Rondo” showing up for the Pelicans and dropping 20+ assists. When he’s on his game and doing what he does, it’s incredibly hard to stop and there’s nobody you’d take over him.

The Knicks got by the Cavs with their defence but their opponent in the second round features a man that doesn’t seem to give a fuck about your defence. The matchup of Jalen Brunson and Jimmy Butler has me putting my popcorn in the microwave early but if I had to make a prediction, I don’t think the Heat have any plans of being stopped and as long as Jimmy is doing what he’s been doing, how do you go against the team from Miami? All i’m saying is I want a rematch of the bubble with Miami going against Boston in the ECF, Jimmy vs Jayson Tatum, Kyle Lowry vs Marcus Smart, and Miami is doing their part to get there right now.

Let’s go over to the West and another team that is making a statement, the Golden State Warriors. Draymond said “don’t let us win another championship” and boy is that becoming a scary thought. They go into this series against Sacramento with questions about their defence, and though those questions are still valid through 5 games, the power of the greatest shooter of all time Stephen Curry seems to level all doubts.

The Warriors went down 0-2 after a start in Sacramento, and while people were chalking it up to them being bad on the road as they had been all season, there were doubts about whether they’d be able to beat this hot Kings team at home. They did, twice, through their elite shooting and tied the game at 2.

They went into Sacramento for game 5 and matching elite offenses, Curry took over late in the fourth when it was needed and pulled the Warriors away, taking a 3-2 series lead. Now suddenly the Warriors who we’re close to being written off after game 2, are going back home to the Bay just needing one win to move on to the second round and either they or the Kings will await the Grizzlies or Lakers.

I said that until the Warriors are beaten fully healthy, I won’t go against what Klay Thompson said about nobody being able to beat them fully healthy, and now I don’t think that’s happening yet, and I don’t know when that would happen. I wonder what the Warriors or Kings will do against a better defensive opponent, but one thing i’ve learned over the last 6-7 years is to never count out the Warriors with the splash brothers on the floor, so i’m not going to do that.

The Lakers powered by LeBron and an Anthony Davis looking like rookie Anthony Davis, have the 2-seed Grizzlies on the ropes going to LA for game 6. Trae Young lived to see another day and is trying to push the series against the Celtics. Denver and Phoenix wait in the second round and Philadelphia sits while their opponent gets decided in the Boston and Atlanta series. These playoffs haven’t disappointed with star performances and incredible upsets, and any preconception of who may take it, is getting shaken up daily as players make their mark. Truly great basketball at the highest level.