NBA Playoffs Expert Analysis – Upsets & Surprises So Far

With the 2020 NBA postseason steamrolling toward its annual championship showcase, it’s time to take a look back at the good, bad and ugly, that’s gone down so far this postseason. Let’s jump right into action so you can keep on betting against their NBA Playoffs odds.

Upsets and Surprises for the NBA 2020 Playoffs So Far

Miami Vs Indiana

• Miami Wins Series 4-0

Jimmy Butler completely shut down a red-hot T.J. Warren and basically punked the rest of the Pacers into submission to get the 4-0 sweep in their first round pairing. Indy was missing all-star power forward Domantas Sabonis, but I don’t think it would have mattered much if he did play as Miami was just too mentally tough for the Pacers.

Boston Vs Philadelphia

• Boston Wins series 4-0

Philly was missing Ben Simmons and that was a huge loss. Still, Boston simply had too much firepower for a Sixers team that had to rely far too much on all-star center Joel Embiid. Clearly, Philadelphia needs more scoring help going into 2020-21.

Toronto Vs Brooklyn

• Toronto Wins Series 4-0

The defending champion Raptors had their hands full against a Brooklyn team that never quit in a single game. Nets guard Caris Levert looked phenomenal in the series and has clearly made himself a player to be watched heading into next season.

Milwaukee Vs Orlando

• Milwaukee wins series 4-1

Orlando won Game 1 and former No.1 overall pick Markelle Fultz has put himself back on the map as a player to watch moving forward. Still, the Magic, outside of Fultz and sweet-shooting big man Nikola Vucevic, need some help at both ends of the floor. While the Bucks advanced, the cracks in their armor were already showing in this first round series.

Boston Vs Toronto

• Boston wins series 4-3

Toronto took this series the distance after falling into a 3-1 hole, but the Raptors will almost certainly look a lot different come next season as big men Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka likely move on and the Raptors become more of Fred VanVleet’s team. Oh, and then there’s the fact that Raptors all-star forward Pascal Siakim never showed up at all in this one.

Miami Vs Milwaukee

• Miami Wins Series 4-1

The Bucks got completely exposed as Jimmy Butler punked Khris Middleton and every other Milwaukee player not named Giannis Antetokounmpo. Expect some big chances in Brewerytown prior to the 2020-21 season.

Houston Vs Oklahoma City

• Houston Wins Series 4-3

The Thunder put up a great effort as Chris Paul starred, but Houston squeaked by as James Harden carried the Rockets, who were without Russell Westbrook for the duration. Oklahoma City needs more interior scoring – and as we would come to find out, Houston’s all, small-ball lineups were a foolish way to try to win in the playoffs.

Denver Vs Utah

• Denver Wins Series 4-3

The Nuggets came back from a 3-1 deficit against Utah, but it wasn’t Donovan Mitchell’s fault his team succumbed. This first round series cemented Mitchell’s status as a legitimate superstar while elevating Denver’s Jamal Murray to that status as well.

L.A. Clippers Vs Dallas

• Clippers Win Series 4-2

The Clippers got past the Mavs 4-2, but Dallas clearly has a good-looking future with superstar forward Luka Doncic and to a lesser degree, sweet-shooting big man Kristaps Porzingis. Again, the Clippers and Paul George in particular, struggled far more than expected.

L.A. Lakers Vs Portland

• Lakers Win Series 4-1

The Blazers took Game 1 behind superstar point guard Damian Lillard and the still-effective Carmelo Anthony, but Portland never played any defense and couldn’t stop LeBron or AD when it mattered most.

Denver Vs L.A. Clippers

• Denver Wins Series 4-3

The Nuggets stunned the Clippers – and everyone else – to get the 4-3 series win after climbing out of a 3-1 deficit for the second straight series. Again, Jamal Murray starred – along with do-it-all, all-star center Nikola Jokic. Talk about an epic collapse. The Clips were ‘supposed’ to meet the Lakers in the western conference finals, but the Nuggets clearly had other plans and completely dominated L.A. in Game 7.

Miami Vs Boston

• Miami is up 2-1

While Boston is down 2-1, the fact of the matter is that the Celtics should be up 3-0 after blowing second half double-digit leads. If the C’s win Game 4, I’m going to say they win this conference finals matchup to reach the NBA Finals.

L.A. Lakers Vs Denver

• Lakers Up 2-1

While Los Angeles is up 2-1 on Denver, the fact of the matter is that the Nuggets could- and probably should – be up 2-1 after losing Game 3 in Anthony Davis’ last second three-pointer. While I still like LeBron and company to advance, I put absolutely nothing past a Nuggets team that has shown more resiliency than just about any team I’ve watched in NBA playoff history.

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