► Two angels for Californian paradise
The start of the regular season had opposed them, the resumption will be marked by a new duel between the franchises of Los Angeles. The Lakers, led by the “King” Lebron James and his faithful lieutenant Anthony Davis, author of a thunderous season (26.7 points average, 9.4 rebounds), are leading the Western Conference. “Their duo is impressive“Says the consultant and former player Jacques Monclar. But in the playoffs, it’s not the same story. The Clippers seem best equipped to compete and even beat them, something they’ve done twice in the regular season in three games. It is a team as strong in attack as in defense and their leader Kawhi Leonard intends to win a third NBA championship title with a third franchise (San Antonio Spurs 2014 and Toronto Raptors 2019).
Without forgetting that Paul George had more time to recover from his shoulder injury, “what can’t have hurt him“, says the consultant. If the two staff will have several absent as Show Harrell (family emergency) and Lou Williams (10 days in quarantine after tasting chicken wings at an Atlanta strip club) for the Clippers as well asAvery Bradley (personal decision) and Radjon Rondo (injury) for the Lakers, they will be replaced respectively by Joakim noah on one side, of Dion Waiters and J. R. Smith the other. Sizeable reinforcements for groups already well stocked. The last opposition between the two teams in the regular season could be a taste of the final in the West.
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► The year or never for the Milwaukee Bucks?
The last time the Wisconsin franchise reached the NBA Finals was. Almost 50 years old. 1974. At the time, the team was playing in the Western Conference, with the star player being Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, before being transferred to the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in 1980. Since then, no NBA finals and five Conf ‘finals lost (1983, 1984, 1986, 2001 and 2019). In the race to have the best record in the League for the second year in a row (53 wins for just 12 losses so far in the season), the Bucks are “arch-favorites“in the East to believe the words of Monclar. Namely that the franchise qualified for the playoffs on February 23, 2020, which makes it the team the fastest team in history to there participate.
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With a Giannis Antetokounmpo still performing well despite four and a half months without playing (22.3 points in 20.3 minutes on average over pre-season matches). “He will assert his physique, his youth, his ardor while trying to put outside baskets. If the Greek comes in from three-point shots, the Bucks may be pretty irresistible. Especially if around him Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Eric Bledsoe and the others are good“, admitted us the former leader of the France team. The reigning MVP is out of contract next season, so it is an important deadline for the franchise. She, who was released by Toronto in the final Conference a year ago when she was leading 2-0 (loss 4-2). “I won’t say it’s the year or never but not far away“says the current beIN Sports consultant.
► Frenchies pumped up on the side of Disney
Eight French people are present in the Orlando bubble and they will not be there to make up the figure. In the absence of Montrezl Harrell the recent reinstatement ofIvica Zubac, affected by Covid-19, Joakim noah has a real card to play. Considered a major reinforcement, the French, best defender in the League in 2014, finds himself in the race for the title. Such an ambition he had not known since 2011 and the final of the Eastern Conference lost with Chicago against Miami. The NBA trophy is also what Rudy Gobert.
The Utah Jazz hub, twice the best defenseman and All-Star, even spoke of a “beau comeback“if he managed to win the holy grail, he who caused the stoppage of the season after being tested positive last March. Vincent Poirier, freshman in the NBA, does not have the same impact as his compatriot in the game of the Boston Celtics (5.4 minutes of play on average per game), his franchise is a strong contender for the title despite the domination of Milwaukee to the East.
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True attack leader of the Orlando Magics, Evan Fournier continues to progress despite a delicate recovery. “Even if he has a little trouble getting started in terms of success, we can trust him because he is a hard worker.“, Jacques Monclar confides. A similar slogan for Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, who could have a role next year around Kevin Durant. “I expect him to be in line with what he has produced this season.“Thanks to good performances in March (21 points against Charlotte, 16 in Boston, 19 against San Antonio, 13 with the Lakers, only victories), he could aim for a starting place with Brooklyn. Regarding the other three tricolors, Jaylen Hoard (Portland), Ian Mahinmi (Washington) et Elie Okobo (Phoenix), they are little used this season but have shown that they can be counted on each time they appear on the court.
► A thrilling playoff race
If in the East, the eight franchises to compete in the playoffs seem to be known (Milwaukee, Toronto, Boston, Miami, Indiana, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Orlando), the ranking nevertheless remains decisive despite the lack of home advantage. As a reminder, a play-off will take place between the 9th and the 8th only if there are four or less wins that separate the two teams. The goal is to avoid a delicate first round at all costs. “I don’t see Washington coming back to Orlando. In contrast, Floridians can pass Brooklyn for 7th place.“, we predict the former player of ASVEL.”Eight regular season games before the playoffs will put Philadelphia in a higher ranking as they have nothing to do with sixth placeThe man who loves the Toronto Raptors game assumes the Canadiens will be hard to beat while suggesting the Boston Celtics may be a little short.
In the West, the battle rages on. For Memphis, 8th, the first meetings will be decisive. Being opposed to Portland (9th), San Antonio (12th), and New Orleans (10th), “if they are two out of three, that will be enough“According to Monclar. A decisive recovery therefore for the Grizzlies, just as at the top of the standings. With the Lakers untouchable in the regular season, the other franchises are neck and neck. The gap is very small between the Clippers, 2nd and Denver, 3rd, stepped out of the Conference finals last year. “Its pivot Nikola Jokic took advantage of the confinement to at least lose 10 kilos, which he could not hurt“Says the 63-year-old consultant. Not to mention the Rockets of James Harden, currently 5th, of the Utah Jazz, 4th, or even of the surprise franchise, Oklahoma. “Nobody talks about it but there is a team that plays very well and that will be a real scratchy: OKC (6th, editor’s note). It will be necessary to be wary of it.“In other words, the end of the season promises to be hot.
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