2019 NBA Playoffs Non-Clippers Game Thread and News

The Clippers are on their second off-day before Game 3 against the Warriors tomorrow, so it seemed like a good idea to put up a thread for people to talk about other games and NBA happenings.

Games Today:

Pacers at Celtics, Game 2 on TNT at 4:00 PM PT (Celtics lead 1-0)

Pistons at Bucks, Game 2 on NBA TV at 5:00 PM PT (Bucks lead 1-0)

Jazz at Rockets, Game 2 on TNT at 6:30 PM PT (Rockets lead 1-0)

To be honest, none of the three games are that appealing. Game 1 of Celtics-Pacers was a brutal slog, with the Pacers only scoring eight points in the 3rd quarter, and getting blown out down the stretch. Their lack of a go-to scorer or creator against a stifling Celtics defense just does not make for pretty basketball. The Pistons with Blake Griffin would have been vastly outmatched against the Bucks. The Pistons without Blake Griffin are the equivalent of about a 28 win team, and should be easy prey for the Bucks (though I guess we should know now to not write off any team in a game). Rockets-Jazz could be fun, but Game 1 was a massacre, as James Harden dissected the Jazz defense. Hopefully Game 2 is more competitive.

Other NBA News:

• Hamidou Diallo just underwent surgery, and will miss at least 4 weeks for the OKC Thunder. Diallo wasn’t very good his rookie season, but it’s still a loss of potential depth for a Thunder team that’s looking for answers right now
• DeMarcus Cousins has been confirmed to have a torn quad, and will likely miss the rest of the playoffs (and certainly the rest of the Clippers-Warriors series)
• The Wizards, Lakers, and Timberwolves are still looking for lead front office executives, and the Wolves have been given permission to talk to Clippers’ GM Michael Winger (more on him later). The Lakers are also looking for a coach, though seem to be settling in on one of Monty Williams or Ty Lue