2015 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Simmy]

I can't fathom how without Kevin Love and with a banged up team, if we get through the Bulls tomorrow, we're a very strong chance of making the NBA Finals. Unreal. As much as a criticize him, that LeBron James provide things that nobody else on any other team in the NBA can. And that's still our edge, right there.

 

[Real Deal]

Reason's I would rather play the Hawks:

1) They have no shot blockers. Horford and Milsap are both undersized. LeBron should score at will inside
2) Kyrie is hurt and can hide on Korver - if the Cavs play the Wiz, he can't hide on either Wall or Beal
3) No star player to take the last second shot (Wall/Beal/Pierce are able to create their own shot better than anyone on the Hawks)
4) Horford and Milsap will not have a chance to keep TT off the offensive glass. Nene and Gortat at least have the size to do a better job on him. TT may average 7 ORB against the Hawks.
5) No player on the Hawks has ever been to the ECF, AFAIK. Wiz have Pierce to lean on for experience/leadership factor

Reason's I would rather play the Wiz:

1) HCA

Don't get me wrong, I'm not scared of the Wiz, but the Hawks have proven to be very mediocre in the playoffs and there is nothing that scares me outside of them getting hot from 3.

I would agree but Horford was pretty good in that 4th quarter at defending the rim. Also, kyrie is hobbling I'm damn sure Korver will run around relentlessly to exploit that matchup. It would definitely be bulletin board material.

Either way our bigs are better defensively than theirs so it would would make up for our lack of offense. Hawks just scare me at the ability to catch fire. Three 3s in a row could hurt when its a tie game. We have to be very disciplined. And one more thing, all Horford does is stretch the floor and we know Moz struggles at defending that, so I'll expect a ton of small ball with LeBron guarding Milsap. And I love Kyrie-JR-Shump-Bron-TT vs them.

 

[Taiter]

I think Horford totally blew that coverage on Pierce which is why he was so open.

My biggest concern w/the Hawks is where they "hide" Kyrie... can he stay on their guards in his condition?

I compare the two series and the Cavs one just seems a lot more grinding, a lot tougher, and higher quality. Maybe that's a homer's eyes though.

 

[PIP]

I rather play the Hawks...

At the end of the day if the playoff games are close-- Pierce has been there and is dangerous in those situations -- plus they size up front whereas the Hawks are undersized..

They don't just have Beal running off screens, but they have the fastest PG in the league....

Playoffs are a half court game and IMO the Hawks only have one guy in their starting 5 who can create for himself and others (Teague) and he's not half the player at that position as to what the Cavs are defending currently in Rose...

Essentially the Wizards have 3 guys who can fill it up... 3 who can attack the defense multiple ways...

The Hawks have limited weapons...

 

[Real Deal]

I think Horford totally blew that coverage on Pierce which is why he was so open.

My biggest concern w/the Hawks is where they "hide" Kyrie... can he stay on their guards in his condition?

I compare the two series and the Cavs one just seems a lot more grinding, a lot tougher, and higher quality. Maybe that's a homer's eyes though.

I don't see Carroll as a threat, so maybe we can get away with Kyrie defending him and live with it whatever, just play tight and make him put the ball on the floor.

 

[Real Deal]

Yikes! What a nutcracker

 

[Zog]

I would agree but Horford was pretty good in that 4th quarter at defending the rim. Also, kyrie is hobbling I'm damn sure Korver will run around relentlessly to exploit that matchup. It would definitely be bulletin board material.

Either way our bigs are better defensively than theirs so it would would make up for our lack of offense. Hawks just scare me at the ability to catch fire. Three 3s in a row could hurt when its a tie game. We have to be very disciplined. And one more thing, all Horford does is stretch the floor and we know Moz struggles at defending that, so I'll expect a ton of small ball with LeBron guarding Milsap. And I love Kyrie-JR-Shump-Bron-TT vs them.

You're right that Korver is going to run around. But Beal would run around a lot too. At least Korver is really not a threat off the dribble. Beal is a threat off the dribble.

I guess watching Kyrie the last couple games, he seems to be OK at running in mostly a straight light. He really seems to struggle to me when he is relatively stationary in a defensive stance guarding the ball and has to react to a crossover or change of direction from the ball handler. He seems to have a hard time with the injury making quick lateral movements more so than running forward.

 

[Real Deal]

You're right that Korver is going to run around. But Beal would run around a lot too. At least Korver is really not a threat off the dribble. Beal is a threat off the dribble.

I guess watching Kyrie the last couple games, he seems to be OK at running in mostly a straight light. He really seems to struggle to me when he is relatively stationary in a defensive stance guarding the ball and has to react to a crossover or change of direction from the ball handler. He seems to have a hard time with the injury making quick lateral movements more so than running forward.

Right. So either way we're fucked on defense and will have to help a lot. And at times Delly may get a quick call. But I'm confident of we face either team because the Bulls are head over shoulders better. I always said a Cavs/Bulls series before the ECF will still be the ECF.

 

[Gus Zing]

I was really hoping Memphis would knock Golden State out.

Just cant see the Clippers beating them. I'd have more confidence against the Clippers than the Warriors if the Cavs made the finals.

 

[mhi]

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I still can't get over it. Nene should have had that board.

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/tnt_overtime/2015/05/14/0041400205-was-atl-play16.nba/

He's fighting with Horford over on the left side, then he breaks for the basket. He loses his leverage trying to box out Millsap, and Horford comes flying in to rip the ball away from him as he is falling down. It's like Nene overran the play. If he just goes up for the board, he gets it. Maybe if Gortat is in, both Millsap and Horford get boxed out. Horford made a great play, but it never should have happened, from the Wizards' perspective.

 

[Gus Zing]

That fucking sucks. Nene had his goddamn hands on that rebound. Grab it, for fuck's sake.

Regardless of matchups, having home court is a big deal for this team, and a series against the Wizards would go 5 games at best.

We don't play well in Atlanta and you just know all these bricks the Hawks have been throwing up will turn into raining threes the very minute we start playing them.

Someone who gets it.

We're still without Kevin Love. The Hawks are better coached than the Wiz. Also their offense would really make our defense work. Carroll can guard LeBron better than any Wizard.

I'm not afraid. We can beat them. But at times I think "Orlando" when thinking about a possible Hawks matchup.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Did Barnes pull a groin there?

 

[nikolajz1]

No one is beating the Warriors this year.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

No one is beating the Warriors this year.

Weird you didn't post this when the Grizz were up 2-1...

This team isn't unbeatable. Memphis played like crap and the Warriors caught fire. I wouldn't at all be surprised if the Clippers took them out. I actually think it will be a great 7 game series. Beyond that if you really don't think we can beat the Warriors you can go root for Buffalo