Post by Jordan on May 28, 2012 17:06:41 GMT -5
Western Conference Playoff Preview
Round 1
1) Denver Nuggets v. 8) Los Angeles Clippers
Season Series: 4-0 Nuggets (Clippers have not come within 24 since Day 11 matchup)
Key Injuries: None
The Clippers probably aren’t the eighth best team in the West. They still managed to make the playoffs though. However, it looks like it will be a short lived playoffs for the Clippers because they do not have a shot of upsetting the Nuggets here. The Nuggets probably have the best starting five and the best bench in the West. Greeme has put together a very solid team. The Clippers biggest strength is its post play. While they may have a slight advantage in production, neither Neal nor Moore were efficient on offense. The Nuggets have one of the better frontcourt defenses in the league, which should only make Moore and Neal’s stat line look worse. The Nuggets also have Jon McGlocklin, and he always seems to lead teams deep into the playoffs.
Prediction: Nuggets in 4
4) Utah Jazz v. 5) Oklahoma City Thunder
Season Series: 2-2
Key Injuries: Dick Snyder (33 days) Rick Barry (3) days
The Jazz have played most of this season without Dick Snyder so his injury is of little concern. As for other personnel matters, the Thunder’s recent trade of Jim Washington may prove to be fatal, but Dave Robisch has played well thus far and may be capable of filling the void for this particular matchup. The actual matchup will feature two very different styles. The Jazz are a much more complete team and have a rebounding advantage while the Thunder sport the best 1-2-3 in the league. However, as it has been continuously demonstrated throughout BBS history, Jah builds teams that only see real success in the regular season. Habes has been very successful come the playoffs recently so you have to give him the nod.
Prediction: Thunder in 6
2) Los Angeles Lakers v. 7) Golden State Warriors
Season Series: 4-0 Lakers
Key Injuries: David Bing (10 days)
The Warriors have moved several key players throughout the season and now are without their star PG for at least the first 5 days, or 4 games, of the series. Since Lucius Allen will be starting, this is likely to be too much for them to overcome against the Lakers because the Lakers are simply more talented at every position except for SG. Lanier is on different level than Parish and Wesley. Goo Kennedy may not be ideal, but he is still more than adequate against those two. Hudson, Westphal, and Money should be able to light up the Warriors as well.
Prediction: Lakers in 4
If Bing was around, this could go to 5 or 6.
3) Minnesota Timberwolves v. 6) Portland Trail Blazers
Season Series: 3-1 Timberwolves (no games since Day 39)
Key Injuries: Bernie Fryer (7 days) Chet Walker (5 days)
As I mentioned in my powerpoll article, Game has finally put together a team that deserves some credit. The Timberwolves are a very nice team and would likely have been the 1 seed in the West if it wasn’t for Jasper Wilson’s injury. The Trail Blazers would have been a very unfortunate draw for the Timberwolves, but the injuries to Fryer and Walker will likely result in the Timberwolves seeing an easy 2-0. While I still doubt Game’s DC making ability and know broph is savy enough to pull an upset, a 2-0 deficit and the talent difference will be too much.
Prediction: Timberwolves in 5
Without the injuries, I still see the Timberwolves winning in 6 or 7.
Round 2
1) Denver Nuggets v. 5) Oklahoma City Thunder
Season Series: 3-1 Thunder
Even though the Thunder’s Barry-Mengelt combo is sensational, the Nuggets own combination of Swift and McGlocklin is not far behind. The Thunder also have a big advantage with Larry Jones at SF. However, no one in the Thunder’s frontcourt would even see minutes on the Nuggets. In my opinion, this is too much to overcome. I do think this has the potential to be one of the better series this postseason, but the Thunder’s frontcourt will keep it from prevailing any further. It is worth mentioning that I always seem to see teams like the Thunder rebound much better and sometimes outrebound their opponents at home. If this proves to be true, the Thunder may only need to steal one game in Denver to prevail.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7
Despite the similar talent and rebounding differential, I see this being a close series.
2) Los Angeles Lakers v. 3) Minnesota Timberwolves
Season Series: 2-2
This series will come down to who can make the better DC, which has proven to be a problem for both GMs in the past. Since it is hard to say who will do this, what teams both have is what will determine this prediction.
With the return of Jasper Wilson, the Timberwolves go from an average team to one of the best rebounding teams in the league. KAJ is the best center in the league and McAdoo as well as Monroe are in the conversation for the best player at their positions. The one major flaw for the Timberwolves is PG. Silas is adequate, but how often do teams advance to the conference finals with a player of his quality at PG? Conversely, the Lakers are lead by rising star Eric Money. Money is by no means elite, but he is significantly better than Silas. In what always seems to be a PG driven playoffs, the Lakers have a big advantage from this difference. Outside of Money, the Lakers also have a roster that can come close to matching the Timberwolves. As a result, this will be a close series where a home lost may prove to be fatal.
Prediction: Lakers in 7
On paper, I think this is how it would turn out, but both GMs past postseason failures makes this series likely to be shorter and determined by who makes the better DC. I have more confidence in styro doing this.
Western Conference Finals
1) Nuggets v. 2) Lakers
Season Series: 2-2
Like both second round matchups, this series is going to be very close. Also, it could just as easily be a Timberwolves-Thunder matchup as a Nuggets-Lakers one. Should the conference finals turn out as I predict, I think the Nuggets are going to come out on top. As I already mentioned, McGlocklin always seems to go far in the playoffs. He also does not have turnover concerns like Money. Although the Lanier is the best big man in the series, the Nuggets have a better frontcourt. The one big advantage the Lakers have is at SF. Hudson should have some good games on McMillen. By itself, I don’t think it will be enough to hand the Lakers one game.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6
I’m really torn on this one, but I’m going with what I’ve thought for a long time. Pick McGlocklin.
Also, I’m not sure if styro has tried it in the past but starting Kenon and making Hudson a supersub could be interesting. Probably, too late for that though.
Round 1
1) Denver Nuggets v. 8) Los Angeles Clippers
Season Series: 4-0 Nuggets (Clippers have not come within 24 since Day 11 matchup)
Key Injuries: None
The Clippers probably aren’t the eighth best team in the West. They still managed to make the playoffs though. However, it looks like it will be a short lived playoffs for the Clippers because they do not have a shot of upsetting the Nuggets here. The Nuggets probably have the best starting five and the best bench in the West. Greeme has put together a very solid team. The Clippers biggest strength is its post play. While they may have a slight advantage in production, neither Neal nor Moore were efficient on offense. The Nuggets have one of the better frontcourt defenses in the league, which should only make Moore and Neal’s stat line look worse. The Nuggets also have Jon McGlocklin, and he always seems to lead teams deep into the playoffs.
Prediction: Nuggets in 4
4) Utah Jazz v. 5) Oklahoma City Thunder
Season Series: 2-2
Key Injuries: Dick Snyder (33 days) Rick Barry (3) days
The Jazz have played most of this season without Dick Snyder so his injury is of little concern. As for other personnel matters, the Thunder’s recent trade of Jim Washington may prove to be fatal, but Dave Robisch has played well thus far and may be capable of filling the void for this particular matchup. The actual matchup will feature two very different styles. The Jazz are a much more complete team and have a rebounding advantage while the Thunder sport the best 1-2-3 in the league. However, as it has been continuously demonstrated throughout BBS history, Jah builds teams that only see real success in the regular season. Habes has been very successful come the playoffs recently so you have to give him the nod.
Prediction: Thunder in 6
2) Los Angeles Lakers v. 7) Golden State Warriors
Season Series: 4-0 Lakers
Key Injuries: David Bing (10 days)
The Warriors have moved several key players throughout the season and now are without their star PG for at least the first 5 days, or 4 games, of the series. Since Lucius Allen will be starting, this is likely to be too much for them to overcome against the Lakers because the Lakers are simply more talented at every position except for SG. Lanier is on different level than Parish and Wesley. Goo Kennedy may not be ideal, but he is still more than adequate against those two. Hudson, Westphal, and Money should be able to light up the Warriors as well.
Prediction: Lakers in 4
If Bing was around, this could go to 5 or 6.
3) Minnesota Timberwolves v. 6) Portland Trail Blazers
Season Series: 3-1 Timberwolves (no games since Day 39)
Key Injuries: Bernie Fryer (7 days) Chet Walker (5 days)
As I mentioned in my powerpoll article, Game has finally put together a team that deserves some credit. The Timberwolves are a very nice team and would likely have been the 1 seed in the West if it wasn’t for Jasper Wilson’s injury. The Trail Blazers would have been a very unfortunate draw for the Timberwolves, but the injuries to Fryer and Walker will likely result in the Timberwolves seeing an easy 2-0. While I still doubt Game’s DC making ability and know broph is savy enough to pull an upset, a 2-0 deficit and the talent difference will be too much.
Prediction: Timberwolves in 5
Without the injuries, I still see the Timberwolves winning in 6 or 7.
Round 2
1) Denver Nuggets v. 5) Oklahoma City Thunder
Season Series: 3-1 Thunder
Even though the Thunder’s Barry-Mengelt combo is sensational, the Nuggets own combination of Swift and McGlocklin is not far behind. The Thunder also have a big advantage with Larry Jones at SF. However, no one in the Thunder’s frontcourt would even see minutes on the Nuggets. In my opinion, this is too much to overcome. I do think this has the potential to be one of the better series this postseason, but the Thunder’s frontcourt will keep it from prevailing any further. It is worth mentioning that I always seem to see teams like the Thunder rebound much better and sometimes outrebound their opponents at home. If this proves to be true, the Thunder may only need to steal one game in Denver to prevail.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7
Despite the similar talent and rebounding differential, I see this being a close series.
2) Los Angeles Lakers v. 3) Minnesota Timberwolves
Season Series: 2-2
This series will come down to who can make the better DC, which has proven to be a problem for both GMs in the past. Since it is hard to say who will do this, what teams both have is what will determine this prediction.
With the return of Jasper Wilson, the Timberwolves go from an average team to one of the best rebounding teams in the league. KAJ is the best center in the league and McAdoo as well as Monroe are in the conversation for the best player at their positions. The one major flaw for the Timberwolves is PG. Silas is adequate, but how often do teams advance to the conference finals with a player of his quality at PG? Conversely, the Lakers are lead by rising star Eric Money. Money is by no means elite, but he is significantly better than Silas. In what always seems to be a PG driven playoffs, the Lakers have a big advantage from this difference. Outside of Money, the Lakers also have a roster that can come close to matching the Timberwolves. As a result, this will be a close series where a home lost may prove to be fatal.
Prediction: Lakers in 7
On paper, I think this is how it would turn out, but both GMs past postseason failures makes this series likely to be shorter and determined by who makes the better DC. I have more confidence in styro doing this.
Western Conference Finals
1) Nuggets v. 2) Lakers
Season Series: 2-2
Like both second round matchups, this series is going to be very close. Also, it could just as easily be a Timberwolves-Thunder matchup as a Nuggets-Lakers one. Should the conference finals turn out as I predict, I think the Nuggets are going to come out on top. As I already mentioned, McGlocklin always seems to go far in the playoffs. He also does not have turnover concerns like Money. Although the Lanier is the best big man in the series, the Nuggets have a better frontcourt. The one big advantage the Lakers have is at SF. Hudson should have some good games on McMillen. By itself, I don’t think it will be enough to hand the Lakers one game.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6
I’m really torn on this one, but I’m going with what I’ve thought for a long time. Pick McGlocklin.
Also, I’m not sure if styro has tried it in the past but starting Kenon and making Hudson a supersub could be interesting. Probably, too late for that though.
