Special Playoff Preview Edition, PART TWO

Western Conference

- DAL-LAC:

  From Garrett Chorpenning, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/la-clippers-jamychal-green-playoffs

  From Marc Stein, NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/17/sports/basketball/doncic-porzingis-nba-playoffs.html

  From James Herbert, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/clippers-vs-mavericks-can-luka-doncic-and-kristaps-porzingis-potent-attack-hold-up-against-kawhi-and-co/

  From Tim Cato, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/1999441/2020/08/16/mavericks-clippers-preview-what-dallas-fans-should-hope-to-see-from-this-series/

  From Andrew Greif, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-08-16/dallas-mavericks-luka-doncic-clippers-nba-playoffs-first-round-preview

- DEN-UTA:

  From Adam Mares, The DNVR: https://thednvr.com/the-list-key-battlegrounds-for-the-denver-nuggets-and-utah-jazz/  and   https://thednvr.com/george-karl-on-the-key-battlegrounds-in-the-jazz-nuggets-playoff-series/

  From Ryan Blackburn, Denver Stiffs: https://www.denverstiffs.com/2020/8/17/21371655/stat-of-the-week-10-numbers-to-know-for-jazz-nuggets

  From Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/08/16/nuggets-jazz-nba-playoff-series-preview/

  From Ryan Miller, KSL: https://www.ksl.com/article/50006895/bombs-away-how-the-jazz-reshaped-their-identity--and-why-it-might-lead-to-playoff-success

  From Dan Clayton, Salt City Hoops: https://saltcityhoops.com/sc7-mitchells-next-level-attacking-denver-more/

  From Ben Dowsett, Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bendowsett/2020/08/16/how-the-utah-jazz-can-survive-against-the-denver-nuggets-without-mike-conley/#70f4b7f3688b

  From Eric Spyropolous, Nuggets.com: https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-jazz-game-1-preview-081620

- HOU-OKC:

 From Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Rockets-adjust-offense-without-Russell-Westbrook-15488153.php  and  https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Rockets-playoff-hopes-still-ride-on-James-15488253.php

 From Tim McMahon, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29675105/why-mike-dantoni-rockets-betting-big-small-ball

 From Duncan Smith, Hoops Habit: https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/16/houston-rockets-small-ball-nba-bubble/

- LAL-POR:

  From Mark Medina, USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/columnist/mark-medina/2020/08/17/anthony-davis-lakers-bounce-back-uneven-bubble-performance/5597828002/

  From Logan Murdock, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/8/17/21371642/damian-lillard-portland-trail-blazers

Eastern Conference:

- BKN-TOR:

  From John Schuhmann, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/first-round-playoff-series-preview-raptors-nets-2020

  From Gerald Bourguet, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2020/08/17/nba-playoffs-2020-raptors-nets-series-preview/

  From Steven Loung, Sportsnet.ca: https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/raptors-vs-nets-2020-nba-playoff-preview-matchups-x-factors/

  From Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun: https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-and-nets-full-of-confidence-but-have-plenty-of-respect-for-each-other-ahead-of-playoffs/wcm/4db9ba7b-01d0-4284-b039-c3058186bcfe/

  From Alec Sturm, Nets Republic: https://netsrepublic.com/brooklyn-nets-vs-toronto-raptors-playoff-preview-prediction/

  From Jared Dubin/Krishna Narsu, FiveThirtyEight: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-raptors-defense-is-almost-never-the-same-but-its-always-really-good/

- BOS-PHI:

  From Paul Hudrick, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/ben-simmons-out-sixers-depth-al-horford-alec-burks-brett-brown

  From Tim Bontemps, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29675738/sixers-brett-brown-mulls-starting-matisse-thybulle-vs-celtics

  From Christopher Kline, The Sixer Sense: https://thesixersense.com/2020/08/17/sixers-celtics-3-things-watch-critical-game-1/

  From Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/16/sports/celtics-wary-76ers-joel-embiids-presence-first-round-matchup/

  From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/08/17/0816-bh-s-tatum/

  From Justin Trombino, Hoops Habit: https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/17/boston-celtics-kemba-walker-step-back/

- IND-MIA:

  From J. Michael, Indy Star: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2020/08/16/pacers-confident-solving-heat-nba-playoffs-despite-lopsided-season-series/5591503002/

  From Couper Moorhead, Heat.com: https://www.nba.com/heat/news/flipping-script-heat-pacers

- MIL-ORL:

  From Josh Robbins, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/1995959/2020/08/14/orlando-magic-milwaukee-bucks/

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- Video: 2020 Playoffs Preview (from Gibson Pyper, Half Court Hoops):

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQgztIEU_4

- Anonymous Scout, Exec, Coach Pick 1st Round Winners (from Sam Amick/Josh Robbins, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/1999697/2020/08/16/nba-predictions-unplugged-anonymous-scout-coach-and-exec-pick-first-round-winners/

- Biggest Questions For Each 1st Round Series (from Jared Dubin, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2020/08/17/nba-playoffs-2020-biggest-questions-every-first-round-series/

- Day One Preview (from Duby Dub Dubs, Let's Go Warriors):

Read it here: https://www.letsgowarriors.com/p/nba-playoff-mega-preview-day-1

- The Ultimate Xs & Os Playoff Preview (from Mike Prada/Mo Dakhil/Steve Jones, Substack):

Listen to it here: https://mikeprada.substack.com/p/the-ultimate-xs-and-os-nba-preview

- Kawhi Reshaped The League's Competitive Landscape (from Ben Cohen, Wall Street Journal):

Read it here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kawhi-leonard-decision-nba-playoffs-bubble-11597652312

- Stats & Stars That Will Shape Round One (from Kirk Goldsberry, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29675088/six-nba-playoff-stats-stars-shape-round-1

- Inside An Unpredictable Championship Race (from Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated):

Read it here: https://www.si.com/nba/2020/08/17/nba-playoffs-preview-daily-cover

- Deep Bench Players Who Had Breakout Moments In The Bubble (from Jared Dubin, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2020/08/17/nba-bubble-deep-bench-breakout-moments/

- Bubble 'Home' Teams Still Have An Edge (from Scott Cacciola, NY Times):

Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/sports/basketball/nba-homecourt-advantage-wnba.html

ICYMI: Sunday's Playoff Preview, Part One:  http://basketballintelligence.net/2020/08/16/basketball-intelligence-special-playoff-preview-edition/

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- High-Volume 3-Point Shooting Appears Here To Stay (from Chris Hine, Star Tribune):

Read it here: https://www.startribune.com/high-volume-three-point-shooting-appears-here-to-stay-in-nba/572133842/