Takeaways From the NBA 2022 Playoff First Round

The first round of the NBA playoffs was definitely fun. Now, there are some key takeaways from the first round. As some teams advanced and had some players show out, some others have some major questions about their futures. Who and what will this list include? Here are some of the takeaways from the NBA 2022 playoff first round.

Desmond Bane Becomes an All-Star in the Near Future?

Bane has had an immaculate sophomore season this year. He averaged career-highs in every category, putting up 18.4 points, 4.4 boards, 3.6 dimes, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocks, and three threes a game on insane efficiency: 46% from the field, 44% from three and 90% from the line. In the first round of the playoffs, the guy averaged some star numbers: 28.2 points, five boards, 2.6 dimes, one steal and 1.4 blocks a game. The guy also averaged an amazing 5.4 threes on 49% from the three-point line. The second-year player looks like one of the biggest steals of last year’s draft and his trajectory is point straight north right now. Bane looks like a star in the making.

Utah Shakes Things up

The Jazz got eliminated in the first round this year and it’s really disappointing given their roster and their expectations. What’s even wilder is that this team lost against a Dallas team missing their best player. Donovan Mitchell averaged a mediocre 25.5 points on 39.8% from the field and just 21% from the three-point line. Not to mention his subpar effort on the defensive end. Rudy Gobert was possibly the best player on the court for this club because of his defensive effort but then again, he got exposed a couple of times. This team also needs to move on from Conley and Bogdanovic due to their age and defensive liabilities. Now, what this team does will be anyone’s guess. If they run it back with the same core, there’s going to be some issues. If they shake it up, this will get interesting.

DeAngelo Russell on the Move

Russell had a very rough go of it in this year’s playoffs. He averaged just 12 points, 2.5 boards, 6.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.8 turnovers a game on some bad efficiency: 33% from the field, 39% from three and 75% from the line. It wasn’t fun to see and this team honestly could’ve swept this Memphis squad if they had maintained any of their leads. Unfortunately, that is not how that went and this team is now packing up and heading to Cancun. Due to Russell’s struggles and defensive liability, he may be getting shopped. It was a bad turn of events for this team that held a ten-point lead in just about every game but it happens to the best of them. Now, the Timberwolves’ offseason will get interesting and fans everywhere are going to be wondering where Russell and possibly others will go.