The transformation of Andrew Wiggins into a real playoff factor has been fun to watch

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What’s up y’all. This is Prince here for today’s Layup Lines, and I want talk about something you likely forgot about up until last night’s game between the Warriors and Mavericks (and the reason I know you did is because I did too)? Andrew Wiggins was an All-Star starter back in February.

See! That memory of when it was first announced just popped back in your head. The confusion that came over you when a guy who was drafted first overall and had his previous team give up on him after falling way short of expectations not only made an All-Star team for the first time, but was one of the 10 players in the entire NBA with the privilege to start the game…and the realization that it was totally deserved.

The 180 Wiggins made since leaving Minnesota has been incredible to see, and he reminded us again on Wednesday that it’s not a fluke. He was a game-best +25 on the floor, and his 19 points tied for second-most on the team behind Steph Curry’s 21. Ten of his points came in the first quarter and helped set the tone for what was to come. And more importantly, Wiggins continued to show that he’s a legit defender now. As the primary player guarding Luka Doncic, he helped limit the Mavericks star to 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting and seven turnovers.

That won’t happen every game. Doncic is too good to contain for entire an series. He’s going to figure out how to be a factor. But it’s fun to see Wiggins become the player everyone thought he could be. It just goes to show that everyone develops at a different pace, and team situations matter.

His new situation, where he doesn’t have to be the first or second or even third option, makes him all the more dangerous. And that’s where the Warriors have the edge in this series.

The Tip-Off

The things NBA prospects get asked leading up to the draft are always tricky, because on one hand we like for our athletes to be honest, but then the things they say can have real consequences on the court. And so when they’re asked things like, “Who do you want to play against the most?” or “Who do you think is the best player in the league?” the answers aren’t always as easy as you might think.

That’s what makes potential No. 1 pick Chet Holmgren’s answer to the latter question so savvy, as our guy Sykes wrote. Holmgren said it’ll be “myself in two months.”

“Smart kid. Definitely a smart response right there. Spoken like a true vet.

Of course, he’s going to take it on the chin a bit for his confidence. But who can really knock you for believing in yourself! Nobody, that’s who.

I don’t know how this whole NBA thing will work out for Chet on the court. By all accounts, he’s got loads of talent and should be pretty awesome at the next level.

But, regardless, it seems to be that he has this media thing down already.”

It was a bold statement, but you can’t blame someone for having confidence in themselves.

One to Watch

(All odds via Tipico.)

Celtics (+102) vs. Heat (-1.5, -125), O/U 206.5, 8:30 PM ET

Just when it looked as though the Celtics would roll in Game 1, the Heat came storming out of halftime and completely flipped the script. They went from down by 13 to up by as much as 20 and winning by 11. But the previously shorthanded Celtics have reinforcements on the way. I think they’ll be able to sustain a lead longer and tie this series up.

Who’s in and out?

— Al Horford (health and safety protocols) is available

— Marcus Smart (foot) is probable

— Derrick White (personal) is out

— Kyle Lowry (hamstring) is out

Shootaround