How’s this so as to kick-off the 2016 NBA playoffs: through just eight total matchups, there have already been four blowouts of 25 or more points.  To place that into perspective, the 2011, 2012 and 2014 NBA playoffs each featured just four total blowouts of 25 or more points during their entire respective postseason runs.

Yes, things got a little wild because the Association’s annual postseason slugfest got underway Saturday.  And between Steph Curry’s ankle injury, Detroit’s feistiness and Toronto’s never-ending first-round woes, things will only get more exhilarating as we progress towards crowing a champion in June. 

For now, let’s check out how NBA teams have historically fared in a seven-game series in keeping with the series deficit before diving into some matchup-by-matchup analysis.

Best-of-7 series in NBA history:

1-0 lead: 372-111 (77.0%)2-0 lead: 254-16 (94.1%)3-0 lead: 118-0 (100.0%)2-1 lead: 294-71 (80.5%)3-1 lead: 220-9 (96.1%)3-2 lead: 238-42 (85.0%)

In addition, remember that only 23 teams in NBA history have emerged victorious within the first two games of a best-of-7 series at the road.  Of these 23 clubs, 20 went directly to win the series.

No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Houston Rockets

Game 1: Warriors 104, Rockets 78 (at Golden State)ATS result: Warriors -13 and UNDER 224.5Game 2: Monday at 10:30pm eastern in Oakland

What it's a must to know: From the outlet whistle, this game was never doubtful because the defending champs jumped out to a 33-15 first quarter lead and not looked back.  I USED TO BE at Oracle Arena on Saturday and will inform you first-hand that Houston’s body language was nothing in need of dreadful, which seemed to anyone with a pulse that the Rockets would otherwise be on a beach sipping margaritas than waging war with a 73-win juggernaut. 

However, MVP Steph Curry tweaked his ankle ahead of halftime, sat out practice on Sunday and is officially listed as “questionable” for Game 2 on Monday night.  But Houston point guard Patrick Beverley isn’t buying it, stating Sunday when asked if Curry was questionable for Game 2, “S--- no.  He’s playing.”

Trend to think about: Despite their dominance over the remainder of The Association, the soldiers are only 6-6 ATS at home in the course of the playoffs since last season.

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Detroit Pistons

Game 1: Cavaliers 106, Pistons 101 (at Cleveland)ATS result: Detroit +11 and OVER 200Game 2: Wednesday at 8:00pm eastern in Cleveland

What it's important to know: As predicted by several insiders previous to the beginning of this series, Detroit gave Cleveland all it might handle from the outlet tip by grabbing a 58-53 halftime lead that regressed right into a 78-76 edge entering the fourth quarter.  But LeBron James finally got some playoff assist in the shape of 59 combined points from Kyrie Irving (31) and Kevin Love (28) because the Cavaliers took control of an 88-88 tie with 6:29 remaining within the fourth quarter and taken down the curtain at the upstart Pistons way to a mixture of expertise and patience. 

Be suspicious of Detroit in Game 2, because the Pistons went 15/29 (51.7%) from three-point range on Sunday. That form of accuracy can be tough to take care of for a team that shot just 34.5% from deep through the regular season (t-21st in NBA).

Trend to think about: LeBron James has now won 14 consecutive first-round playoff games and hasn't ever did not advance past the conference quarterfinals in ten attempts.

No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers

Game 1: Pacers 100, Raptors 90 (at Toronto)ATS result: Indiana +7 and UNDER 195Game 2: Monday at 7:00pm eastern in Toronto

What it's a must to know: The Raptors at the moment are 0-8 all-time of their first game of the playoffs, with this latest loss coming way to an inability to defend Pacers forward Paul George, who became the primary Indiana player since Jalen Rose in 2000 to record 30 points and 5 assists in a postseason game.  Not just that, but George locked it down at the defensive end of the ground besides by limiting Raptors All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan to 3/15 shooting when marked by George.  Indiana’s upset victory marked the tip of the franchise’s five-game losing streak at Air Canada Centre. 

Trend to think about: The Pacers have now covered the spread in four straight games in addition to in five in their last six outings.

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies

Game 1: Spurs 106, Grizzlies 74 (at San Antonio)ATS result: Spurs -17 and UNDER 188.5Game 2: Tuesday at 9:30pm eastern in San Antonio

What you must know: San Antonio shot 68% from the sector through the third quarter while outscoring Memphis 33-14 handy the Grizzlies their worst postseason loss in franchise history on Sunday night. Never was the absence of both Memphis center Marc Gasol and point guard Mike Conley more evident than through the first quarter when the Grizzlies notched just 13 total points en path to a nine-point deficit after just 12 minutes of action. 

Between one of the vital deepest rosters within the league in San Antonio and probably the most banged-up clubs within the league in Memphis, this series has all of the makings of a blowout.

Trend to think about: San Antonio is now 5-0 straight-up and 4-1 ATS against Memphis this season while winning by a normal of 16.4 points per game.

No. 3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 Dallas Mavericks

Game 1: Thunder 108, Mavericks 70 (at Oklahoma City)ATS result: Oklahoma City -12 and UNDER 206Game 2: Monday at 8:00pm eastern in Oklahoma City

What it's important to know: Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant looked at of Game 1 for good with 4:43 remaining within the third quarter.  At that point, Durant and All-Star teammate Russell Westbrook had outscored all of the Mavericks roster 43-42 by themselves.  The 70 total points Dallas posted on Saturday night marks the fewest points scored in a playoff game in franchise history, while Oklahoma City’s 38-point win was the club’s second-largest margin of victory in a playoff game in team history. 

Be advised that only two teams in NBA history have gone directly to win a playoff series after losing a game by no less than 38 points.

Trend to think about: Oklahoma City is now 5-0 straight-up and 3-2 ATS in five games against Dallas this season.

No. 3 Miami Heat vs. No. 6 Charlotte Hornets

Game 1: Heat 123, Hornets 91 (at Miami)ATS result: Miami -4.5 and OVER 199Game 2: Wednesday at 7:00pm in Miami

What it's important to comprehend it: was a performance for the ages in South Beach on Sunday because the Heat tied a franchise playoff record with 41 first-quarter points and broke another franchise playoff record with 123 total points in a 32-point route of a Hornets team that was outmatched and out-hustled from the jump. 

Making just their third playoff appearance since re-emerging because the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004-2005, the Hornets shot just 6/17 (35.3%) from three-point range and recorded a grand total of only 11 assists, while the warmth went 9/18 from deep and notched 27 assists with just six turnovers committed. 

Trend to think about: The OVER has hit in each of Charlotte’s last six games.

No. 4 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 5 Boston Celtics

Game 1: Hawks 102, Celtics 101 (at Atlanta)ATS result: Boston +5.5 and UNDER 206Game 2: Tuesday at 7:00pm in Atlanta

What you have to know: Despite a valiant second-half effort, the Boston Celtics have now dropped six straight playoff games for the primary time since losing eight consecutive postseason showdowns from 2003-2004 thanks, in large part, to Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague’s third career postseason effort of a minimum of 20 points (23) and 10 assists (12).  Boston fell behind 30-19 within the first quarter and 51-34 at halftime before a second-half surge brought the club to within striking distance throughout the final minute. 

However, the lack of point guard Avery Bradley to a hamstring injury with 6:42 left within the fourth quarter ultimately doomed Boston’s chances.  Bradley is currently considered doubtful to play within the remainder of the series consistent with Celtics head coach Brad Stevens.

Trend to think about: The Hawks at the moment are 4-1 straight-up and 3-2 ATS in five games against Boston this season.

No. 4 L. a. Clippers vs. No. 5 Portland Trail Blazers

Game 1: Clippers 115, Trail Blazers 95 (at Portland)ATS result: La -8.5 and UNDER 210.5Game 2: Wednesday at 10:30pm eastern in Los Angeles

What you have to know: The second-largest Game 1 victory in Clippers playoff history featured La point guard Chris Paul’s 21st career postseason game with no less than 20 points (28) and 10 assists (11). Damian Lillard and the Blazers proved no match in Game 1 as Portland was outscored in all four quarters and pummeled within the second half by a margin of 65-53. 

Perhaps what’s most terrifying for the Blazers is that La power forward Blake Griffin (19 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists in 31 minutes) seems to be back in form after returning to action just two weeks ago following a 45-game absence because of both hand and quadriceps injuries.  Bear in mind that the Clippers have now won four straight games against the path Blazers dating back to the regular season.

Trend to think about: The path Blazers are 2-13 all-time in a best-of-7 playoff series when falling behind 1-0. However, the Clippers have lost three in their last four playoff series after winning Game 1.

Read More... [Source: Covers.com: NBA News and Stories]