Post by Jordan on May 28, 2012 15:44:14 GMT -5
Eastern Conference Playoff Preview
Round 1
1) Orlando Magic v. 8) Detroit Pistons
Season Series: Magic 3 Pistons 0 (including 2 wins in the last twenty days of the season)
Key Injuries: Elmore Smith (4 days)
The Magic are the two time defending champion and just capped one of the best regular seasons in BBS history. They are the big favorite in this series. However, at one point in the second half of the season, the Pistons were as hot as any team in the league. This lead to teams, such as the Bobcats, admitting they wanted nothing to do with the Pistons come playoff time. As for the actual matchup, the Pistons are actually one of the worse teams the Magic could have run into. The Pistons have great interior defense and as talented of a rebounding trio as anyone in the league. When this is combined with the Pistons’ ability to shoot outside, they could give the Magic problems. Despite this, the Magic have been too dominant this season to not pick them. Anytime has won 31 more games in the regular season than its opponent, you have to pick them. Also, Bingo Smith is by far the best player in the league and the team plays too good of defense to be upset by the Pistons.
Prediction: Magic in 6
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this go seven and the Magic winning due to home court. It could just as easy be over in five. Regardless, I think the Pistons will take at least one of the first three games, which could make for an intriguing Round 1 Part 2 sim.
Note this was written with the belief that Smith will be back for game 1.
4) Milwaukee Bucks v. 5) New York Knicks
Season Series: Bucks 3-1
Key Injuries: None
In my opinion, the Bucks are one of the more over performing teams in recent memory. When I look at their roster, I would not think this team would be capable of winning 49 games. However, the same case could be made for the Knicks. This makes this a particularly difficult matchup to predict. Since Don Buse is a significantly better PG than Al Skinner, I have to go with the Knicks despite their poor regular season performance against the Bucks. I think the Knicks interior defense combined with their turnover creating backcourt will be too much for the mostly young Bucks squad. Also, the Bucks recently trade Bob Kauffman, which also hurts their chance of winning.
Prediction: Knicks in 5
I could be completely wrong here but I just don’t see the Bucks winning this series.
2) Charlotte Bobcats v. 7) Chicago Bulls
Season Series: 3-1 (Bulls win coming in the final 20 days)
Key Injuries: Derrek Dickey (23 games) Julius Keye (1game)
With Dickey out, the Bulls have next to no shot at winning this series. The Bobcats would be the easy favorite to win the title this year if it wasn’t for the ongoing Magic dynasty. The Bobcats probably have too much talent for anyone to really threaten them outside of the Magic. I will say I would have been very interested to see this series should Dickey of been healthy. Unlike Skillz, I still have a lot of faith in Play and believe he made some very smart moves at the deadline. I think Play will still put together a nice DC to make this series closer than it will seem.
Prediction: Bobcats in 5
The Bulls are outmanned. I think Play will turn in a good enough DC to win one game at home.
3) New Jersey Nets v. 6) Toronto Raptors
Season Series: Nets 3-1
Key Injuries: None
DJ’s Sam Lacey trade marked the end of a very good run for the Raptors. If the Raptors had anyone other than DJ as a GM, I think it would be safe to expect a complete rebuild in the offseason, but we probably won’t since most of his players will have little value. Nevertheless, the Lacey trade really sets the Raptors back in this series. I would have likely predicted them to upset the Nets if Lacey was still on their roster, but he is not. As a result, the Nets should win this series. They are a more talented team at
Prediction: Nets in 6
The Raptors run appear to be over, but they always seem to go further than you expect in the playoffs. Therefore, an upset is not out of question.
Round 2
1) Orlando Magic v. 5) New York Knicks
Season Series: 3-1 Magic (Knicks won most recent matchup)
In the Knicks one win against the Magic, Phil Jackson really slowed down Bingo Smith. This wasn’t a huge surprise to me because Jackson always had a lot of success on Ho Walker and Ho is somewhat similar to Bingo. However, banking on Jackson shutting down Bingo is probably not going to result in the Knicks being successful. The Knicks will need big games from Goodrich and Buse in the backcourt. While both have had great seasons, I don’t think they have enough to win four games. Since this is going to be a low scoring series, anything can happen though.
Prediction: Magic in 5
If the Knicks somehow win, I’m not getting on bbs for a day to avoid Skillz talking about Buse.
2) Bobcats v. 3) Nets
Season Series: 4-0 Bobcats (closest game was 19 points)
I don’t usually put a lot of weight in a regular season series, but the Bobcats success against the Nets this season is too much to overlook. When this success is combined with the Bobcats talent, they have to be a huge favorite. You can probably even make the case that the Bobcats have an easier route the Eastern Conference Finals than the Magic. Even though the Nets have a lot of young talent, the Bobcats probably have the three if not the four best players in the series. It is also important to keep in mind that these two teams were separate by 12 regular season wins despite their playoff seeds.
Prediction: Bobcats in 5
The Bobcats are just too talented for the Nets. If the Nets had realized what they had in Don Buse, this would have been interesting.
Eastern Conference Finals
1) Magic v. 2) Bobcats
Season Series: 2-2
This is the series everyone wants to see. It matches the traditional dominant fbb team in the Bobcats against the dominant system team in the Magic. I’m sure repole would argue with that statement, but on paper that is exactly what it appears to be. If UKjohn had added better depth, I would have no problem in picking the Bobcats to win this series. Since he did not, I can see this series going either way. The one thing that stood out from the regular season boxes was the second matchup. The Bobcats won 128 to 116. In this game, Dan Issel was moved to SG where he went 12 of 14 from the field while George Trapp went 0-3. The game was really only close because Lamar Green came out of nowhere with 28 points. Did I mention this game was at Orlando? I think this is performance is enough to justify picking and upset and that is exactly what I see happening.
Prediction: Bobcats in 6
If John uses Issel at SG, I think he has an excellent shot at upsetting the defending champions.
Round 1
1) Orlando Magic v. 8) Detroit Pistons
Season Series: Magic 3 Pistons 0 (including 2 wins in the last twenty days of the season)
Key Injuries: Elmore Smith (4 days)
The Magic are the two time defending champion and just capped one of the best regular seasons in BBS history. They are the big favorite in this series. However, at one point in the second half of the season, the Pistons were as hot as any team in the league. This lead to teams, such as the Bobcats, admitting they wanted nothing to do with the Pistons come playoff time. As for the actual matchup, the Pistons are actually one of the worse teams the Magic could have run into. The Pistons have great interior defense and as talented of a rebounding trio as anyone in the league. When this is combined with the Pistons’ ability to shoot outside, they could give the Magic problems. Despite this, the Magic have been too dominant this season to not pick them. Anytime has won 31 more games in the regular season than its opponent, you have to pick them. Also, Bingo Smith is by far the best player in the league and the team plays too good of defense to be upset by the Pistons.
Prediction: Magic in 6
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this go seven and the Magic winning due to home court. It could just as easy be over in five. Regardless, I think the Pistons will take at least one of the first three games, which could make for an intriguing Round 1 Part 2 sim.
Note this was written with the belief that Smith will be back for game 1.
4) Milwaukee Bucks v. 5) New York Knicks
Season Series: Bucks 3-1
Key Injuries: None
In my opinion, the Bucks are one of the more over performing teams in recent memory. When I look at their roster, I would not think this team would be capable of winning 49 games. However, the same case could be made for the Knicks. This makes this a particularly difficult matchup to predict. Since Don Buse is a significantly better PG than Al Skinner, I have to go with the Knicks despite their poor regular season performance against the Bucks. I think the Knicks interior defense combined with their turnover creating backcourt will be too much for the mostly young Bucks squad. Also, the Bucks recently trade Bob Kauffman, which also hurts their chance of winning.
Prediction: Knicks in 5
I could be completely wrong here but I just don’t see the Bucks winning this series.
2) Charlotte Bobcats v. 7) Chicago Bulls
Season Series: 3-1 (Bulls win coming in the final 20 days)
Key Injuries: Derrek Dickey (23 games) Julius Keye (1game)
With Dickey out, the Bulls have next to no shot at winning this series. The Bobcats would be the easy favorite to win the title this year if it wasn’t for the ongoing Magic dynasty. The Bobcats probably have too much talent for anyone to really threaten them outside of the Magic. I will say I would have been very interested to see this series should Dickey of been healthy. Unlike Skillz, I still have a lot of faith in Play and believe he made some very smart moves at the deadline. I think Play will still put together a nice DC to make this series closer than it will seem.
Prediction: Bobcats in 5
The Bulls are outmanned. I think Play will turn in a good enough DC to win one game at home.
3) New Jersey Nets v. 6) Toronto Raptors
Season Series: Nets 3-1
Key Injuries: None
DJ’s Sam Lacey trade marked the end of a very good run for the Raptors. If the Raptors had anyone other than DJ as a GM, I think it would be safe to expect a complete rebuild in the offseason, but we probably won’t since most of his players will have little value. Nevertheless, the Lacey trade really sets the Raptors back in this series. I would have likely predicted them to upset the Nets if Lacey was still on their roster, but he is not. As a result, the Nets should win this series. They are a more talented team at
Prediction: Nets in 6
The Raptors run appear to be over, but they always seem to go further than you expect in the playoffs. Therefore, an upset is not out of question.
Round 2
1) Orlando Magic v. 5) New York Knicks
Season Series: 3-1 Magic (Knicks won most recent matchup)
In the Knicks one win against the Magic, Phil Jackson really slowed down Bingo Smith. This wasn’t a huge surprise to me because Jackson always had a lot of success on Ho Walker and Ho is somewhat similar to Bingo. However, banking on Jackson shutting down Bingo is probably not going to result in the Knicks being successful. The Knicks will need big games from Goodrich and Buse in the backcourt. While both have had great seasons, I don’t think they have enough to win four games. Since this is going to be a low scoring series, anything can happen though.
Prediction: Magic in 5
If the Knicks somehow win, I’m not getting on bbs for a day to avoid Skillz talking about Buse.
2) Bobcats v. 3) Nets
Season Series: 4-0 Bobcats (closest game was 19 points)
I don’t usually put a lot of weight in a regular season series, but the Bobcats success against the Nets this season is too much to overlook. When this success is combined with the Bobcats talent, they have to be a huge favorite. You can probably even make the case that the Bobcats have an easier route the Eastern Conference Finals than the Magic. Even though the Nets have a lot of young talent, the Bobcats probably have the three if not the four best players in the series. It is also important to keep in mind that these two teams were separate by 12 regular season wins despite their playoff seeds.
Prediction: Bobcats in 5
The Bobcats are just too talented for the Nets. If the Nets had realized what they had in Don Buse, this would have been interesting.
Eastern Conference Finals
1) Magic v. 2) Bobcats
Season Series: 2-2
This is the series everyone wants to see. It matches the traditional dominant fbb team in the Bobcats against the dominant system team in the Magic. I’m sure repole would argue with that statement, but on paper that is exactly what it appears to be. If UKjohn had added better depth, I would have no problem in picking the Bobcats to win this series. Since he did not, I can see this series going either way. The one thing that stood out from the regular season boxes was the second matchup. The Bobcats won 128 to 116. In this game, Dan Issel was moved to SG where he went 12 of 14 from the field while George Trapp went 0-3. The game was really only close because Lamar Green came out of nowhere with 28 points. Did I mention this game was at Orlando? I think this is performance is enough to justify picking and upset and that is exactly what I see happening.
Prediction: Bobcats in 6
If John uses Issel at SG, I think he has an excellent shot at upsetting the defending champions.
