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The 2016 NBA playoffs have so far been a wild ride, but there haven’t been wilder days than what we’re about to encounter on Friday night. Easily the most intense day of the young playoffs, the first round could come crashing to a halt with three game sixes hitting the hardwood.
The Raptors, Hornets and Blazers all enter the night with a 3-2 advantage in their respective series, and if they play their cards right, they can walk into round two before the night is through. Charlotte and Portland have a chance to do it at home after both winning three straight games, while the Raptors have to finish the job on the road. Let’s take a look at all three series and see which are likely to wrap up before the weekend:
Raptors (2) @ Pacers (7)
Line: Pacers -1.5 Total: 194
Vegas isn’t doing us any favors tonight, as two games have basically pick’em lines, starting with Toronto’s date with the Pacers in Indy. Paul George has been pretty great this series, but the one thing shining through for the Pacers is their lack of help offensively. This series has been a defensive battle otherwise, with no team scoring more than 102 points in any game and no game featuring both teams topping even 99 points.
A defensive struggle leans Toronto’s way in terms of edge, while they have the more complete and balanced roster. Indy does have the mild edge at home and they have the best player still active in the playoffs, but the Toronto badly wants to win their first playoff series since 2000. Allowing this to go to a game seven puts that at serious risk.
Pick: Raptors 98, Pacers 96
Hornets (6) @ Heat (3)
Line: Hornets -1.5 Total: 192.5
I want to trust the Hornets, but I just can’t. Steve Clifford has proven to be a bit of a genius lately, as he switched Frank Kaminsky and Al Jefferson into the starting lineup and the Hornets have since battered Miami down low, whether by scoring or on the boards. That length has been problematic for Miami’s offense and on the other side Jeremy Lin has been unleashed. All that being said, Charlotte won in South Beach in game five and Miami is bound to return the favor.
The Heat might still lose this series, but these teams are insanely evenly matched and I can’t see Dwyane Wade going quietly into the night. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Heat crumble, but I see this series going the distance.
Pick: Heat 101, Hornets 96
Clippers (4) @ Blazers (5)
Line: Blazers -10.5 Total: 199
This could be the other tricky game, as Los Angeles is set up to lose a fourth straight game to drop a first round series they were supposed to coast in. Injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin crippled them, though, and now Portland is about to accomplish the unthinkable. They’re going to get it done one way or another, whether the Clippers stave them off for one more day or not. I don’t really see L.A. preventing the inevitable – especially in Portland – but I saw fight out of them in game five.
The Blazers really aren’t dominant enough on either side to completely coast here, either. They might have a shot at hitting the spread if they pull away late, but Los Angeles has proven to have solid depth and they’re not going to quit. I think Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford are both better this time around, even though Portland gets the win and takes the series.
Pick: Blazers 106, Clippers 101
