The veryfirst round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs is formally in the books. There were no Game 7s and no unforeseen results.
Instead, every one of the greater seeds won their matches, and an frustrating number of injuries took headings — injuries that could be game-changers the rest of the method.
As we relocation onto the 2nd round, a coupleof groups are trending up, while others’ outlooks aren’t as appealing as they assoonas were. We break down why that might be the case and goover each group’s opportunities of winning the 2021-22 NBA champion.
Here is what Tipico Sportsbook is stating about each of the 8 staying playoffs’ groups’ chances.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Sixers were a popular Round 1 upset choice. Many figured that Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse would lead his group to triumph over a 76ers team that’s had a unsteady playoff history. Many, consistingof myself, were incorrect. The Sixers looked fantastic over their veryfirst 3 videogames and then endedup the offer in Game 6.
But that Game 6 clincher wasn’t so sweet. Philly has giventhat lost Joel Embiid who took a late-game elbow to the face from Pascal Siakam, leaving him with a moderate concussion and a right orbital fracture. He’s out forever.
under 4 minutes left in the videogame, closing out a series, up nearly 30, why Joel Embiid even on the flooring pic.twitter.com/XWwNMuaroC
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) April 30, 2022
We wear’t understand when or if he’ll be back, however the Sixers won’t get previous this round without him.
The Dallas Mavericks are out of the veryfirst round for the veryfirst time consideringthat winning the 2010-11 NBA champion. Yes, it hadactually been that long.
And the Mavs can let out a sigh of relief now that Luka Doncic is back on the court and apparently healthy. Dallas is a much-improved group from a year ago — its defense is one of the finest in the NBA, the Mavs have muchbetter scoring alternatives around Luka and the group has an real identity. All of that will be checked versus the Phoenix Suns, the league’s No. 1 group throughout the routine season.
THE MAVERICKS ADVANCE TO THE SECOND ROUND!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/C543RjSShr
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) April 29, 2022
If the Mavericks can get by the Suns, they’ll have a genuine shot to reach and even win the Finals. But the match at hand will be the most difficult of them all. These chances make pickup.
Why does the West’s No. 2 group have the third-best chances in the conference to win a champion? Firstly, gamblers aren’t thinking in them . Memphis is still fairly young in playoff experience. Second, they truthfully weren’t all that outstanding in their 4-2 win over the seventh-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. And lastly, the Grizzlies’ chances have more to do with their upcoming challenger, a Golden State Warriors group who looked terrific in Round 1 and has a shown, numerous NBA championship-winning core.
The @memgrizz advance to the Western Conference Semifinals!#NBAPlayoffs provided by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/srgxAIqSGM
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2022
But the Grizzlies have had current success versus the Warriors — gettingridof them in the Play-In competition a year ago and beating them 3 out of 4 times this routine season. Will Memphis pull off the distressed?
The protecting champs have +750 chances of winning this year’s title. Those chances are longer since Khris Middleton has an MCL sprain and will not be playing in this series.
So that leaves the Bucks much thinner. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and…Bobby Portis? Grayson Allen? The scoring hole being left behind will have to be filled by a committee, which is hard to anticipate will be enough versus this dominant Boston Celtics defense that made 2 of the league’s really best gamers appearance common last round.
“I desire the roadway to be difficult.” pic.twitter.com/5nYEAEd8Qb
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 30, 2022
But the Bucks,