From The Sabre:
Author Kris Wright
The 2020 NBA Playoffs begin on Monday, August 17, following this weekend’s play-in matchup(s) between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies, who are vying for the 8th spot in the Western Conference and the right to face the Los Angeles Lakers. Five former University of Virginia basketball players suit up for teams in this year’s NBA Playoffs.
Malcolm Brogdon, Point Guard
Brogdon, in his first year with Indiana, led the Pacers to the No. 4 seed and a matchup with No. 5 seed Miami. The two teams begin the best-of-seven series on Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST (TNT will televise).
Indiana closed out the regular season – the final eight games plus the playoffs are being held in the NBA “Bubble” in Orlando – by winning six of eight games. Brogdon played in six of those games and averaged 18.2 points (43.5% FG, 40% 3PFG), 6.3 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2.7 turnovers per game. The former Hoo scored 24 points (8-13 shooting, 4-6 from 3), dished out 6 assists, pulled down 5 rebounds, and committed 5 turnovers in a win over the Lakers.
Brogdon, who signed a 4-year, $85 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal with Indiana last offseason, concluded the 2019-20 regular season with averages of 16.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 turnovers per game. He made 43.8% of his field goals, including 32.6% from beyond the arc. If he can help the Pacers advance past the Heat, Brogdon could face his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks, in the second round. The Bucks drafted Brogdon with the 36th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Joe Harris (Small Forward) and Justin Anderson (Shooting Guard)
The former Virginia teammates have reunited in Brooklyn. Harris is in the second year of a 2-year contract and is expected to make a lot of money this offseason (the Nets are making re-signing Harris a priority). Meanwhile, Anderson earned a spot for the remainder of the Nets’ season as a substitute player. His stint with the Nets began with a 10-day contract signed this past January.
Harris has shined since the NBA returned to action in Orlando. In six games played, he averaged 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The points per game and assists per game numbers are increases from his previous performance in the 2019-20 regular season, improving his final regular season stats to 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Harris has shot the lights out in the Bubble, making 62% of his field goals including 20-37 (54.1%) from beyond the arc. The No. 7 seed Nets, who went 5-3 to close out the regular season, take on No. 2 seed Toronto in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The series begins on Monday with a 4 p.m. EST matchup that will be televised by ESPN.
Anderson played in seven games in the Bubble, averaging 13 minutes per game. A rough outing on Tuesday (August 11) versus Orlando, in which he went 1-of-15 from the field including 0-of-12 from 3, dragged down his numbers significantly. Anderson wound up averaging 3.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, and he added five blocks in 91 minutes of play. Aside from the Orlando performance, he made 47.1% of his field goals and 42.9% of his 3s.
Mike Scott, Power Forward
Scott and the Philadelphia 76ers are the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Boston Celtics beginning Monday at 6:30 p.m. EST (ESPN will televise).
After missing the 76ers first three games of bubble action, Scott returned to play the final five and averaged 10 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. The former Cavalier standout shot 61.3% from the field, including 53.8% (7-13) from beyond the arc. A top reserve for the Sixers, Scott averaged 17.8 minutes per game during the regular season, averaging 6 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest.
Philly enters the playoffs with star guard Ben Simmons, who is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.
Devon Hall, Shooting Guard
Hall, who signed on with Oklahoma City as a substitute player in June, totaled 12 points (4-12 shooting, including 3-6 from 3), 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 rebounds and 1 turnovers as the Thunder dropped a 107-103 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night. The former Hoo made some highlight worthy plays in defeat.
Hall saw 61 minutes of action spread out over six games in Bubble action. He finished with 15 points (5-25 field goals, 4-12 3s), 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 turnovers. Hall played in 11 games in total for OKC during the regular season, averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 assists per game. He played 30 games for OKC’s G-League team, the Oklahoma City Blue, and played well, averaging 15.5 points (45% FG, 35.7% 3PFG), 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 turnovers per game.
The Thunder earned the No. 5 seed and will take on No. 4 seed Houston beginning Tuesday (August 18) at 6:30 p.m. (TNT will televise).
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