JGuessing what would have happened in certain circumstances is one of the great debates in the world of sport. The famous ‘What if…?’ that opens a range of infinite possibilities with which to imagine. For example, what would have become of the Cleveland Cavaliers sin tanta lesin?
The Ohio team, which still has a bullet in the chamber after losing to the Brooklyn Nets, raised the curtain of the course outside all kinds of pools to enter the playoffs. A team full of pvots, with good players but without experience, everything pointed to a course looking more at the draft than at the elite positions from the east.
However, Bickerstaff’s hosts defied the odds and believed in themselves more than anyone else in the entire NBA…until their leader snapped. Ricky Rubio was injured and said goodbye to the season and planted doubts on the path of the Cavs. However, the spirit of Cleveland prevailed and they not only overcame the injury of the Spanish and Colin Sexton. They also did to the intermittent casualties of Evan Mobley o Jarrett Allenwhich was also not against the Nets.
However, none of that has been possible with some Cavs that have been sustained thanks to a great Darius Garland, who once again did his best to stand up to New Yorkers. Accompanied by veteran Kevin Love and Mobley, Garland finished with 34 points and five assists proving that with him on the track, the Cavs can aspire to anything. And more if it had all its healthy pieces.
The Clippers have little time to forget their disconnection in the final minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves that led them to lose 10 rental points. Tyron Lue’s men barely have 48 hours to reflect and improve aspects such as the turnovers that weighed down the team against the Wolves. Especially those of Reggie Jackson with 5.
RESULTS OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE ‘PLAY-IN’
- Nets 115-108 Cavaliers
- Timberwolves 109-105 Clippers
The Nets cemented their victory in the good game of a lethal Kyrie Irving who missed just three shots from the field throughout the game. His 12 of 15 served to mask the bad night of a specialist like Seth Curry, who kept the score clean after missing the four field goals he attempted, all of them from the triple.
The one who best symbolized the warrior character of the Wolves was Patrick Beverley, incendiary and inexhaustible with each ball, who celebrated the victory in tears and who has become an idol in Minepolis. And more after maintaining his particular streak of appearances in the playoffs. Some playoffs that, if he is not injured, he has not missed in his entire NBA career.
There was little or nothing else Paul George could do to try to get the Clippers into the first round of the playoffs. The forward showed once again that his physical problems are totally forgotten and he finished the game against the Wolves with 34 points (10 of 24 shooting from the field), seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
