NBA playoffs lacking drama

Cleveland, Golden State remain unbeaten, destined for rematch

Think back to the very first game of this NBA post-season: A one-point nail-biter of a win for Cleveland over Indiana, that outcome not getting decided until the final second. Hardly any have gone like that since. Dramatic playoff finishes have been very rare this year. Through 68 games, the average victory margin is 12.9 points. More than half of the 23 games in May have seen one team lead by 25 points or more. A post-season record has already been tied with four 4-0 sweeps — all by Golden State and Cleveland, who are a combined 19-0 and en route to what seems like an inevitable third consecutive NBA Finals matchup. If you like blowouts, you love these NBA playoffs. “Double-digit leads and wins are pretty surprising,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. “But it’s just part of it right now.” They seem less surprising every day. Only eight playoff games this season have been decided by three points or less, while 40 have been decided by 10 points or more — a rate significantly higher than the NBA average over the last 30 years.

San Antonio’s blowout-filled post-season has included winning a game by 39 and losing another by 36, both without star forward Kawhi Leonard. And the lone “upset” in a series so far was fifthseeded Utah topping the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers in their first-round Western Conference matchup. Calling that an upset is a real stretch, since both teams finished the regular season 51-31.

“So many blowouts, it has surprised me a little bit,” Miami centre Willie Reed said.