2021 NBA playoffs: The hater's guide to opening weekend, featuring a Clippers collapse and bad Lakers spacing

A look at the first eight games of the playoffs, through the lens of weaknesses that were not adequately covered up

Of the many truisms about playoff basketball, my favorite is that it is more about weaknesses than strengths. While a team can get through the regular season by doing things that work against most opponents most of the time, in the playoffs all that matters is the opponent in front of you. You must not only try to exploit every advantage you might have, but be clear-eyed about your disadvantages so you can anticipate how the other side will try to exploit them.  With that in mind, here's a look at everything that happened in the opening weekend of the 2021 NBA playoffs, through the lens of a weakness the losing team must try to cover up. Think of it as the hater's guide to all eight games.