The first games of the 2022 NBA Playoffs have been phenomenal. Home-court advantage snatched away in two series in the West while home-court was defended in the East including a buzzer-beater. The top-seeds in both conferences showed their dominance in the opening games and the Nets-Celtics series looking to be a thriller after Game One. However, young emerging talent headline this past weekend as the playoffs are off and running as Golden State, Minnesota, and Philadelphia taking 1-0 leads without their main stars being the focus.
Poole Party in San Francisco
Saturday night inside Chase Center was Game One between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry was a go with limited minutes restriction after dealing with a foot injury, but a Poole took the spotlight in San Francisco. Jordan Poole.
Making his playoff debut in the starting role as Curry was coming off the bench, Poole put on a show. Dropping 30 points on 69% shooting including five 3-pointers, Poole gave the Warriors the 1-0 lead in the series. The Splash Brothers combined for 35 points on 42.9% shooting, and it didn't matter. as the Warriors smothered the Nuggets 123-107. The Warriors were already the most anticipated team to watch with the return of the Splash Brother, but Jordan Poole's performance Saturday night makes this team more dangerous than expected.
This could be a long series for the Denver Nuggets. How will they response in Game Two?
Edwards Takes Morant's Spotlight and Home
The most shocking result of the weekend comes from Memphis, Tennessee. FedEx Forum and the second seed Memphis Grizzlies are left with questions after the seventh seed Minnesota Timberwolves took Game One and home-court. Ja Morant went for 32 points and eight assists, but he wasn't the talk after Game One. That would the T-wolves young star Anthony Edwards.
Edwards making his playoff debut on the road in a hostile environment and was not afraid of the moment. Going for 36 points on 52% shooting with six assists led to the surprising upset win in Memphis. Whatever Ja Morant did, Anthony Edwards answered. Edwards and Morant became the first opposing players in the NBA history to score 30 points in a playoff game while being at the age of 22 or younger.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a good himself, going for 29 points and 13 rebounds. Malik Beasley and Jaden McDaniels combined 38 points coming off the bench for the T-wolves.
How will Ja Morant and the Grizzlies response in Game Two now knowing what they are dealing with in the Wolves?
To The Maxey in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia 76ers, a team where the NBA world is watching closely because of James Harden and MVP finalist Joel Embiid. All the pressure in the NBA world fixated on James Harden, but Harden wasn't the headline after Game One. As the Sixers hosted the Toronto Raptors in the four-five matchup, somebody by the name of Maxey stole the show. Tyrese Maxey.
The second-year pro, put on a display that took pressure off of James Harden for the time being. Coming off the bench last postseason in eight appearances to starting Game One against the Raptors. Going off for 38 points on 66.7% shooting including five 3-pointers. Vastly different from last postseason where Maxey averaged only six points on 44% shooting. Saturday's performance made Maxey the youngest 76ers to score 30 points in a playoff game.
This could be just the begin of a new star being born in Philly and that will bold well for James Harden.