Unusual: Forward-looking picks

Schedule of all second round series has been released and now we can closely look at it considering how many players we have from every team. It is important to think about it now as it has impact on not only 2nd round, but also Conference Finals and Finals. So let's take a look of what can happen in next two weeks and how to plan your picks for 2nd round.

 

Don't rush with West

Both of Phoenix-Denver and Utah-LAC/Mavs series have one game in which we have to pick from this series as this is the only game of the day (Phoenix-Denver G2 on Wednesday, Utah-LAC/Mavs G3 on Saturday). Keep that in mind especially if you already took some players from these teams, which is natural as we didn't expect both Suns and Nuggets to win (I'm lucky I picked just Booker and Jokic) and Mavs-LAC series is 7-games battle. 

Taking in consideration that we already picked some players from West teams (in contrast to East in which there were clear favorites), there are games in which we have to pick from those series and there aren't clear favorites of those series, I recommend to sit and wait with those series for three games (as we still have to pick one player in first three games of both series) before making tough decisions from which team we should pick, especially Jazz-LAC/Mavs as they'll play the same day as Philly-Hawks (probably the shortest series) starting from Game 4.

So lie down like Devin and wait for results of first three games of West series to come ;)

Fly with Hawks

Even if Joel Embiid doesn't play for some time, Sixers are still clear favorites to win this series. This is why I looked closely who should I pick from Atlanta... And it looks like we have a lot of choices as 3 players had average more than 25 FP per game in 1st round - Young (43,6), Capela (27,8) and Bogdanovic (26,0). Moreover there is John Collins who played 4 solid games with over 20 FP and only one awful with 2 FP, so we can consider him as solid pick. So there is possibly four good options (plus maybe Gallo is also worth considering in some cases), which is really encouraging for me to fly with Hawks.

I consider to do it even in Game 1 and go with Capela as Embiid will probably not play, so Capela shouldn't have foul trouble and we remember that Dwight was his teammate in Houston, so it can be even more motivation for him. Of course if you still have Luka/Kawhi/PG13, go ahead and take him as there is too big risk to lose him, but someone else like THJ/Porzingis/R.Jackson is firstly pick with not that much ceiling (considering we can have 4 Hawks with similar or better production) and secondly is risky because if their team win, we can't pick him later.

This Hawk is surprised with that, me too ;) Also unusual, against the grain pick can be Dwight Howard for today as without Embiid and against Capela he can really play many minutes and contribute nicely.

Bucks-Nets rivalry

Nets won Game 1, but lost Harden due to injury and we have to wait for more information. If you still think Nets win without Harden, then you should probably pick Bucks. If Brooklyn loses Game 2, then more complication appears and probably it'll be time to at least think about picking someone from Nets - of course Kyrie and KD are best options, but we can also consider Griffin and Joe Harris as nice solid options.

Full 2nd round schedule

Sunday, June 6th: Hawks@Sixers G1, Mavs@Clippers G7

Monday, June 7th: Bucks@Nets G2, Nuggets@Suns G1

Tuesday, June 8th: Hawks@Sixers G2, TBD@Utah G1

Wednesday, June 9th: Nuggets@Suns G2

Thursday, June 10th: Nets@Bucks G3, TBD@Utah G2

Friday, June 11th:  Sixers@Hawks G3, Suns@Nuggets G3 

Saturday, June 12th:  Utah@TBD G3

June 13th, 15th, 17th: Bucks-Nets, Nuggets-Suns G4-G6

June 14th, 16th, 18th: Hawks-Sixers, TBD-Utah G4-G6

June 19th: Bucks-Nets G7

June 20th: Hawks-Sixers, TBD-Utah, Nuggets-Suns G7

What do you think about 2nd round series, what are your predictions and picks? And do you also consider now flying with Hawks? Let me know in the comments and whenever you read it, have a nice day :)