NBA playoffs off to lopsided start, but showdowns loom ahead

The NBA playoffs are off to their most lopsided start since 2003. Why all of the one-sided affairs? SI.com examines the odd start and explains why it isn't likely to last.

Ben Golliver | Apr 18, 2016

NBA playoffs off to lopsided start, but showdowns loom ahead /

Without a doubt, the overarching theme from the first two days of the 2016 NBA playoffs action was “lopsided.” While the Pistons threw a scare into LeBron James’s Cavaliers and the Hawks and Celtics went down to the wire, blowouts and romps ruled Saturday and Sunday’s action. The top–heavy West produced four 20+ point margins of victory while the more “even” East still saw two double–digit victories, including the Heat’s 32–point drubbing of the Hornets in what was expected to be a balanced matchup.

By any measure, the 2016 playoffs are off to the most lopsided start since the postseason format switched to a best-of-7 series for the first round in 2003.

Thanks in part to 30+ point wins by the Spurs, Thunder and Heat, the average margin of victory in the eight Game 1s played over the weekend was 20.5 points, easily eclipsing 2013 (average MOV of 16) as the highest since 2003.

• MORE NBA: NBA playoff schedule, results | Expert picks | SI's awards

The eye–popping factoids continue from there:

• Oklahoma City’s 38-point thrashing of Dallas was the biggest first–round Game 1 victory since the Magic beat the Celtics by 47 points in 1995.

• Last weekend’s three 30+ point Game 1 wins marked the first time since the 2003 format change that more than one team opened the postseason winning by 30+ points.

• In fact, last weekend’s three 30-point wins were more than the total number of 30+ point wins in first-round Game 1s from 2003 to 2015 combined (two).

• Last weekend’s four 20+ point Game 1 wins marked the most such wins since 2003, surpassing 2004, 2009 and 2013 (three each).

• Last weekend’s six double-digit Game 1 wins tied with 2004 and 2013 for the most such wins.

So what gives? Why so many blowouts? Let's examine the top storylines from the opening weekend of the postseason:

1. The cream rose to the top

With the notable exception of the Cavaliers, the NBA’s top contenders handled their business against weaker foes. The Warriors, Spurs and Thunder ranked 1–2–3 in regular season point differential while their first-round opponents ranked No. 15, No. 20 and No. 16, respectively. In fact, the Rockets, Mavericks and Grizzlies entered the weekend with the three worst point differentials out of the 16 playoff teams, setting the stage perfectly for a triple demolition.

2. Great offenses rolled

Golden State, Oklahoma City and San Antonio also entered the postseason ranking 1–2–3 in offensive efficiency. Their league–leading attacks often looked unstoppable against the relatively weak defenses of Houston (No. 20), Dallas (No. 16) and Memphis (No. 19). In other words, this was a case of “great teams smoking so–so teams” as well as “great offenses smoking so–so defenses.”

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3. Health mattered

Dallas and Memphis were fighting with at least one hand tied behind their backs. The Mavericks dropped Game 1 without Chandler Parsons, their best individual match–up for Durant. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, will limp through their series with the Spurs without both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, among others.

Aside from Curry, who tweaked his ankle and sat out most of the second half, and Chris Bosh, who has been sidelined since the All-Star break, the star players for the dominant teams were both available and excellent. The list of stars who have missed time in recent years or been banged up in recent playoffs who performed well this weekend includes: Durant, Leonard, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Dwyane Wade.

4. Experience seemed to count

The Heat and Clippers scored convincing Game 1 blowout victories over younger, less tested teams in the Hornets and Blazers. According to Basketball-Reference.com, the Heat’s roster is the league’s fifth–oldest while the Clippers are the fourth–oldest. On the flip side, Charlotte’s roster is the 12th youngest while Portland’s is the fifth–youngest. Playoff veterans dominated both games: Luol Deng and Wade led the way for the Heat, while Paul, Griffin and DeAndre Jordan all did whatever they wanted against the upstart Blazers.

GALLERY: NBA championship rings through the years

NBA Championship Rings Through the Years

2017-18 Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third title in four years. The team got reversible rings with 74 sapphries on one side of the ring. The 74 represents the total number of victories the team earned during the regular season and playoffs in bringing home the franchise's sixth championship.

2016-17 Golden State Warriors

The Warriors beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals to win their second title in three years.

2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

NBA Finals MVP LeBron James and the Cavs defeated the defending champion Warriors in seven games for these rings featuring the Cavaliers’ “C” wrapped around the Larry O’Brien trophy.

2014-15 Golden State Warriors

The Warriors took home these beauties after upending LeBron James and the Cavaliers in six games for their first title in 40 years.

2013-14 San Antonio Spurs

The Heat aimed to three-peat, but the Spurs had other ideas. Kawhi Leonard had a couple of breakout performances on his way to series MVP, and San Antonio ran away from Miami in five games.

2012-13 Miami Heat

These rings would have never seen the light of day had Ray Allen not made one of the greatest shots in NBA Finals history. Thanks to Allen, the Heat rallied and defeated the Spurs in overtime in Game 6, and then won two days later to repeat as champs.

2011-12 Miami Heat

LeBron James got his first ring as the Heat overwhelmed the Thunder in five games. James averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists.

2010-11 Dallas Mavericks

Dallas won three straight games to erase a 2-1 deficit and squash the newly formed Miami Big Three's title dreams. This was also the Mavericks' first NBA title in franchise history.

2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

The Celtics held a 3-2 lead in this series, but the Lakers took care of business at the Staples Center in Game 6 and 7 to repeat as champs. This was the fifth and final set of rings for Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant.

2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers survived in a pair of overtime battles and then pulled away from the Magic in Game 5 to win their first NBA title since 2002's three-peat. Kobe Bryant won series MVP with averages of 32.4 points and 7.4 assists.

2007-08 Boston Celtics

Acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen during the off-season paid off quickly for Boston. In their first year, Garnett and Allen teamed up with Paul Pierce to defeat the Lakers in six games and bring the Celtics new jewelry for the first time since 1986.

2006-07 San Antonio Spurs

LeBron James' Cavaliers broke through to the finals, but they were no match for the Spurs, who completed the sweep for their third title in five years.

2005-06 Miami Heat

In their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, the Heat became the third team in league history to win a championship after trailing 0-2. Dwayne Wade averaged 39.3 points in the next four games as Miami won the series in six.

2004-05 San Antonio Spurs

This series was almost as close as possible. The Spurs and the Pistons entered the fourth quarter of Game 7 tied, and Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili led San Antonio in the fourth quarter to its third title under coach Greg Popovich.

2003-04 Detroit Pistons

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Larry Brown had an NCAA title ring, and a 4-1 victory over the Lakers gave the coach his first NBA championship ring. Brown remains the only coach to win an NCAA and NBA title.

2002-03 San Antonio Spurs

In one of the great all-time playoff performances, Tim Duncan fell barely shy of a quadruple double with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks in the series-clinching Game 6.

2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers

The Nets did not put up much resistance as the Lakers completed a 4-0 sweep for their third straight title, giving coach Phil Jackson his ninth NBA title in 12 seasons.

2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers

Allen Iverson carried the 76ers to a Eastern Conference title and Game 1 victory against the Lakers, but Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were too much for The Answer. Los Angeles won the next four games, including three straight in Philadelphia, to win its second straight championship.

1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers

In his return to coaching, Phil Jackson guided the Lakers to a 4-2 series victory against the Pacers, coached by Larry Bird. Shaquille O'Neal averaged 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, earning his first of three straight Finals MVPs.

1998-99 San Antonio Spurs

In a battle of dominant frontcourts, David Robinson and Tim Duncan bested Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson as the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games for their first NBA title.

1997-98 Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan's jump shot with 5.6 seconds remaining in Game 6 gave the Bulls their second three-peat of the decade. Since then, Chicago has no NBA Finals appearances and only one conference finals appearance.

1996-97 Chicago Bulls

In a series featuring six Hall of Fame players, the Bulls defeated the Jazz in six games as Michael Jordan fought through food poisoning to lead Chicago to wins in Game 5 and Game 6.

1995-96 Chicago Bulls

Dennis Rodman tied an NBA Finals record in Game 2 with 11 offensive rebounds against Seattle and then did it again in Game 6, the series clincher, but Michael Jordan was once again the no-brainer series MVP, averaging 27.3 points 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

1994-95 Houston Rockets

Hakeem Olajuwon taught young Shaquille O'Neal a few lessons in this series as the Rockets swept the Magic for their second consecutive NBA title. The Rockets were the first No. 6 seed to win a Finals series.

1993-94 Houston Rockets

The Rockets ended a five-season title drought for the Western Conference as Hakeem Olajuwon charged victories in Game 6 and Game 7 in Houston.

1992-93 Chicago Bulls

The Bulls became the first team to three-peat since Bill Russell's Celtics in the 1960s. Chicago defeated Phoenix in six games, leaving Charles Barkley without a ring.

1991-92 Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan shrugged his way to a NBA Finals record six first-half three-pointers in Game of 1 of this series, and the Bulls went on to win in six games.

1990-91 Chicago Bulls

The Bulls recorded their first-ever NBA title as Michael Jordan led the way averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks to defeat the Showtime Lakers in five games.

1989-90 Detroit PIstons

For the first time since 1979, the NBA Finals did not include at least one of the Celtics or the Lakers. The Bad Boy Pistons faced Clyde Drexler and the Trail Blazers, winning in five games for their second straight championship.

1988-89 Detroit PIstons

The Lakers led entering the fourth quarter three times during this series but could never hold on as the Pistons swept them in four games.

1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers

This time, the Lakers got the best of the Pistons in a thrilling seven games series where the final two games were decided by a combined four points.

1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

In a high-scoring series, the Lakers and the Celtics each broke the century in the first five games. Then Los Angeles held Boston to 93 points to win the series in Game 6.

1985-86 Boston Celtics

The Celtics captured their second title in three years, defeating the Rockets in six games. Larry Bird fell just shy of averaging a triple with 24 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists.

1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers

In a series that featured nine Hall of Fame players, the Lakers got revenge from one year earlier with a 4-2 victory against the Celtics.

1983-84 Boston Celtics

The Celtics came out on top in the first of three 1980s finals meetings with the Lakers. Larry Bird averaged 27.4 points and 14 rebounds, getting the best of Magic Johnson, who's Michigan State team got defeated Bird's Indiana State squad in the 1979 NCAA championship.

1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers

In a rematch of the 1982 finals, Moses Malone tore up the Lakers front line for 25.8 points and 18 rebounds per game as Philadelphia swept Los Angeles.

5. Extra strong home–courts

Although a rush to judgment after one game can be a dicey proposition, it might take some time for this year’s playoff bracket to truly tighten up. Remember, San Antonio (an NBA record-tying 40-1) and Golden State (39-2) entered the postseason with two of the top nine home records and two of the top 20 home point differentials in league history.

Recent history suggests that the Warriors, Spurs and Thunder will be especially tough to beat at home in the postseason. En route to the 2015 title, Golden State went 9-2 at Oracle Arena. The year before, the Spurs went 11-2 at the AT&T Center on their way to the championship. The last time the Thunder had Durant, Westbrook and Serge Ibaka all healthy in the playoffs was 2012; they went 9-1 at home before losing to the Heat in the Finals.

Before losing too much sleep over these one–sided opening games, keep in mind that the destroyers will eventually have to face off against each other. Already, a Spurs/Thunder second-round tilt looks incredibly juicy, while the prospect of a Warriors/Clippers showdown looks more intriguing after Griffin enjoyed a strong outing (19 points, 12 rebounds and six boards) against the Blazers. Today’s boring rout is tomorrow’s title tilt.

Published Apr 18, 2016

BEN GOLLIVER

Ben Golliver is a staff writer for SI.com and has covered the NBA for various outlets since 2007. The native Oregonian and Johns Hopkins University graduate currently resides in Los Angeles.