For the first time, the last two play-off participants at each NBA Conference will be decided in the Tournament Play. The match kicks off with “NBA May Madness” Wednesday night with the first two games in the East. But from an Austrian point of view, it won’t be fun until 25 hours later (Thursday, 1.30 CEST) when the San Antonio Spurs and Vienna’s Jacob Boltel will perform in Memphis Grizzlies in the West.
It’s like “March Madness” of the NCAA League and it’s “Do or Die Game”, because only the winner of this game keeps the chance to get a playoff spot. On the other hand, the loser has to go on early vacation. If Tottenham wins the duel with the Grizzlies, a very difficult task awaits Saturday night to move into the post-season stage: because the winner from Memphis-San Antonio gets rid of the loser from the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers – Golden State. Do warriors.
Tottenham need two wins away from home
For Pöltl and Spurs, the calculation is very simple: you need two off-ground wins to qualify for the title race for the Top 16, which starts at the weekend. “It won’t be easy, but we are playing for that challenge.” As he reviews the match in Memphis, where his former Toronto Raptors teammate Jonas Valancionas is playing, Boltel said, “I look forward to it. The center with a height of 2.13 meters from Lithuania will be the direct opponent of the Austrian NBA leader (2.16 meters). “Jonas plays a very tough season,” Pöltl knows a huge mission awaits him.
After the match in Memphis (Thursday, 4.00 CET) in Los Angeles at Match Lakers-Warriors there will also be a big star duel between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who averaged nearly 32 points for the second time since 2016. He was named Best Basketball League In the world. “It’s a big problem for every team, and we have to limit their activity as much as possible,” said second Lakers star Anthony Davis. Especially the strength of the three (42.1 percent) of Curry gives every opponent a headache. Considered the “greatest NBA shooter ever,” the 33-year-old is a constant source of danger even at the height of the middle slogan.
Words of praise from “King James”
And for LeBron James, “Chef Curry” is the most valuable player (MVP) of the NBA season. “We are now – in my opinion – against the best player in our league this year,” said the King James Warriors captain on top of the tune. “Just look what he’s done this year. I don’t know what else it takes when looking for an MVP. If Steve doesn’t play for the Golden State, what kind of team do you have?” The Los Angeles game winner secured his place in the playoff.
(What or what)
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