It's never a great spot to be in when you're down in the NBA Playoffs. A one game deficit feels manageable to comeback from, but if the hole is 0-2, the chips start to stack ever more so against you. This is what is facing the Clippers, Celtics, Wizards and Heat right now. All four teams find themselves down two games to none in their best-of-seven first round matchups. So the question has to be asked, which team of the bunch is the most screwed?
The Los Angeles Clippers have been a wild disappoint so far in the NBA Playoffs. They entered the season and the postseason with legitimate title aspirations and all of a sudden find themselves down to the Mavericks 2-0. The defense for Tyronn Lue's squad has been dreadful but, there's still reason for optimism.
It's hard to foresee a team led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George just rolling over completely and mailing it in. There's a lot of talent on this Clippers team even though it seems the chemistry is off at times. Despite the roller coaster ride, the Clippers are not the team to worry about the most.
The Miami Heat entered the NBA Playoffs as the No. 6 seed and after a nail-biting overtime loss in Game 1 to the Bucks, they were throttled in Game 2 by 34 points.
Yet, this is a team that won the Eastern Conference a year ago and has plenty of experience on the roster. While a comeback in this series against Milwaukee seems unlikely, it isn't totally out of the realm of possibilities.
Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal have paved the way for the Washington Wizards as they finished the regular season on a tear to punch a ticket to the NBA Playoffs.
Westbrook's ankle injury is a serious cause for concern and the Wizards looked straight up overmatched in Game 2. But this is an offense that can find its rhythm at home and steal a game or two. Like Miami, it's unlikely they turn it all the way around in their series, but they can still make a dent.
This brings us to the Boston Celtics. Brad Stevens said before the series he had a hard time seeing the Nets losing this series. He said that, with his own team facing them.
Pile on that Jaylen Brown is out for the year and Jayson Tatum is dealing with an eye that was poked, it's been a mess for the Celtics in the NBA Playoffs so far.
Boston lost by 11 in Game 1 and by 22 in Game 2 and have looked lifeless at times. Add the cherry on top that they are squaring off against Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden and it blends together all the miserable ingredients for a disaster scenario for the Celtics.
Out of the four teams trailing 2-0, the Celtics are the team the most in trouble. They aren't healthy, they've lost the first two games by double digits each, their own coach picked against them and they are facing a legit super team.
If Boston is able to get this back to Brooklyn for a Game 5, it should be considered a success.
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