Post by IanBoyd on Jun 27, 2014 9:28:18 GMT -6
Part II of my annual playoff preview articles, this time on the East
Round One
#1
vs
#8
Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Hornets
Series Overview:
As one of the lucky franchises to have their fortunes changed for the better in the chaotic free agency of 3002, the Hornets convinced star PG John Williamson that Charlotte was the place to be and signed Williamson to a full 6 year contract. Trying to stay on par in terms of talent with a now much tougher East; Hornets gm rv12 pushed all their draft picks in the middle of the table in a massive deal bringing Maurice Lucas in from Denver. Though the loss of M.L. Carr left many fans saddened, Williamson has done more than enough to fill in the gap, and despite Lucas not yet contributing at an elite level, the Hornets ended the season as only 1 of 2 teams in the East with over 60 wins and the #1 seed in conference as they begin their playoff journey.
For the 2nd year in a row the Pacers have seen a slight decline in their production and standings in the conference. What started off creation as a 50+ win franchise hosting the playoffs is now an 8th seed just trying not fall victim of a sweep. After trading 2 distant future draft picks for talented rookie Eddie Jones hoping to inject some life and much needed energy to the team, Indiana's focus is not on advancing in the playoffs, but on the effort to resign talented 2 guard Jamaal Wilkes. This is not a series that should produce too much shock due to the obvious talent disparity on multiple positions.
Prediction: Hornets win 4-1
#2
vs
#7
Regular Season Matches: 2-1 Celtics
Series Overview:
Concluding the offseason known simply as "THE DUMP FA" pulling off the mother of all free agency coups, Celtics T-Rex dumptime spent the entire season ranting and raving at every transaction, seeking attention and fishing for compliments as if looking for sunlight to heat up his reptilian blood. Despite the antics that reeks of "I'm never done this before", the Celtics talent is undeniable, being able to overcome an early season injury to starting PG World B. Free without missing much of a beat. A mid season trade for veteran guard Fred Brown to bolster the back court has the Celtics looking like one of the best starting units in the league en route to the franchise's first division title, narrowly missing out on 60 wins as they open the playoffs at home for the first time.
After the improbably title run that no one in the league saw coming, the city of Detroit made little noise in the offseason amongst the chaos that surrounded them. With the entire core group back, the defending champs quietly weaved through the regular season led by the brilliant but unheralded play of all world guard Paul Westphal, whom many felt robbed of the Finals MVP honor during last year's miraculous title win. Now playing on the road to start their title defense in a classic series featuring mismatches for both sides, the Pistons will need to rely on superior guard play to counter the dominance the Celtics hold in the front court. Likely the best match of the opening round, this is a series that could go the full 7 games and could swing in either directions.
Prediction: Celtics win 4-3
#3
vs
#6
Regular Season Matches: 2-2 Split
Series Overview:
With the contract of star center Kareem inked and faxed for a full 6 years and likely the rest of his career, Bucks gm trofie quickly shifted focus from franchise stability stocking up talent for a title run. The decision from Minnesota to get an early head start on the rebuilding process that signaled the end of a contending era suddenly injected the trade market with a plethora of all star talent which the Bucks were happy to take advantage of. Wasting little time, Milwaukee quickly worked out a deal for Dan Issel to pair up with Julius Erving for a devastating one two punch on the perimeter. A mid season roster shake up that sent Issel back out West gave the Bucks the cap space it needed to acquire PG Phil Chenier back after spending a few months soaking up the sun in LA as the Bucks now focus on the playoffs.
With the loss of Bob Lanier in free agency, Cavaliers front office employed every means trying to quell the riots in the streets of Cleveland; Artis Gilmore was moved out West in a two for one deal that Gm heel7tiger banked on for better depth, acquiring the young Marvin Webster and Lionel Hollins. Now gun shy about expiring superstars spurning the franchise in free agency and with little future draft picks in stock, Webster and Hollins were moved late in the season for the longer contracts of Bob McAdoo and Billy Knight. Though no longer the destructive force on the low block as in creation season, McAdoo still worries opposing teams and should provide the Cavs with plenty of production. However, with no one to deal with Julius Erving on the perimeter, this isn't a series that should go too many games.
Prediction: Bucks win 4-1
#4
vs
#5
Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Bulls
Series Overview:
The Bulls have been as active as any team in the league this season in the trading department. Following the acquisition of block brother Caldwell Jones and Chocolate Thunder, Chicago suddenly finds their young and talented front court with too many players and too few minutes to go around to keep everyone happy. Taking advantage of a front office change in Atlanta, Bulls gm Bruns sent the aforementioned Darryl Dawkins back to the Hawks for a much needed upgrade in the back court in the form of aging star Walt Frazier and commish special Foots Walker, one of the best point guards in the league. Now armed to the teeth with a roster balanced with experience and youth in all positions, the Bulls look to challenge the suddenly rugged Eastern Conference as they host the playoffs in round 1.
Luck is a curious thing that escapes many in the league not named scatmanduse. Following the inexplicable yet completely predictable news of the Nets jumping into the top 3 in the lottery that yielded the towering blue blood prospect Neon Boudeaux as well as the resigning of Moses Malone, many around the league feared the voodoo-esque luck coming from the Nets heading into the monster free agency period with enough cap space for 2 max level super stars. Fortunately for the rest of the league, no such doomsday scenario played out as the Nets were able to only sign SF Campy Russell in a late free agency (illegal) bid. Tasked now with playing on the road in round one, scatmanduse will need to hope his luck holds true against a more talented Bulls squad.
Prediction: Bulls win 4-2
Conference Semifinals
#1
vs
#4
Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Bulls
Series Overview:
With what should be a relatively easy opening round dismissal the Pacers concluded, the Hornets shift their attention to likely a team that has had their number in the regular season. Due to a slump in the production of PF Jim Chones and with center Billy Paultz's penchant for playing a more perimeter oriented game, the Hornets are susceptible to teams that play more of a punishing style of inside attack. To counter their weakness on the interior, the Hornets will need to utilize their superior outside shooting to draw defenders away from the paint and count on the hard earned home court advantage being a factor.
Though the trade that sent Sharone Wright and Darryl Dawkins to Atlanta has provided the Bulls with a more balanced team, Chicago might now wish to have those players back in the 2nd round of the playoffs against a team that can be taken advantage of in the paint. Despite regular season success against the Hornets, the playoffs are a different brand of basketball where star players matter more than mere depth. Without the ability to get the Hornets bigs into foul trouble by throwing the ball into a dominant low post scorer, this series could turn into a high scoring shoot out on the perimeter, something that all world PG John Williamson has made his fame and fortune in.
Prediction: Hornets win 4-2
#2
vs
#3
Regular Season Matches: 2-1 Bucks
Series Overview:
An unfavorable playoff bracket for the Celtics produces perhaps the toughest road any team has to go through in either conferences. After a round one duel with the defending champions, should Boston escape Detroit unscathed, they will face a talented Bucks squad waiting for them in front of a rowdy Bradley Center crowd to start the conference semi finals on the road. On paper, neither team will have much of an advantage at any position and the duel between Bob Lanier - Kareem as well as Alvan Adams against Julius Erving will have fans throwing wads of cash at the scalpers.
From the Bucks standpoint, their game plan is similar to that of Boston: hope for better production from their superstar duo against an equally matched one two tandem of the Celtics. The absence of Dan Issel to match up against Alvan Adams and freeing up Dr J to be unleashed on the Celtics back court is a huge disadvantage. With the Celtics now more confident in backup PG Jim Clemons' ability to put up solid minutes and the solid production of Fred Brown, the Bucks may end up regretting the decision to Dan Issel.
Prediction: Celtics win 4-3
Conference Finals
#1
vs
#2
Regular Season Matches: 4-0 Celtics
Series Overview:
The match that many anticipated would be for the Eastern crown after the day 1 FA signing of Bob Lanier and John Williamson pits 2 teams where both GMs, even dating back to the OG 1.0 years have never been to the Finals, much less winning it. For the Hornets, the biggest attention and the primary focus should be on stopping Bob Lanier and limiting his damage on the front lines. The new Hornet players Maurice Lucas and John Williamson will have their minutes occupied with trying to stop Alvan Adams and matching his production in points, so the burden and the key match up in the series will rest on Jim Chones and Billy Paultz's ability to stay out of foul trouble to punch in a trip to the Finals against one of the monster rosters from the West.
As with the counterparts in the Conference Finals, bragging rights for a first ever trip to the Finals is on the line for dumptime. Should the Hornets start utilizing John Williamson at his natural point guard position, Boston will have a hard time limiting him with just WBF or backup Jim Clemons. As mentioned previously, the Hornets' susceptibility to interior play will be the key for the Celtics; feed the beast Bob Lanier 30 times a game and rack up as many fouls as possible on the thin front court will kill two birds with one stone: provide Alvan and Bob with more scoring opportunities as well as limiting the outside shooting of Billy Paultz. The results of this series could very well be predicted looking at the simple stat of FT attempts, if Boston can average 5-10 more FT attempts per game than the Hornets, the road to the Finals becomes clear.
Prediction: Celtics win 4-2
Round One
#1
vs
#8
Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Hornets
Series Overview:
As one of the lucky franchises to have their fortunes changed for the better in the chaotic free agency of 3002, the Hornets convinced star PG John Williamson that Charlotte was the place to be and signed Williamson to a full 6 year contract. Trying to stay on par in terms of talent with a now much tougher East; Hornets gm rv12 pushed all their draft picks in the middle of the table in a massive deal bringing Maurice Lucas in from Denver. Though the loss of M.L. Carr left many fans saddened, Williamson has done more than enough to fill in the gap, and despite Lucas not yet contributing at an elite level, the Hornets ended the season as only 1 of 2 teams in the East with over 60 wins and the #1 seed in conference as they begin their playoff journey.
For the 2nd year in a row the Pacers have seen a slight decline in their production and standings in the conference. What started off creation as a 50+ win franchise hosting the playoffs is now an 8th seed just trying not fall victim of a sweep. After trading 2 distant future draft picks for talented rookie Eddie Jones hoping to inject some life and much needed energy to the team, Indiana's focus is not on advancing in the playoffs, but on the effort to resign talented 2 guard Jamaal Wilkes. This is not a series that should produce too much shock due to the obvious talent disparity on multiple positions.
Prediction: Hornets win 4-1
#2
vs
#7
Regular Season Matches: 2-1 Celtics
Series Overview:
Concluding the offseason known simply as "THE DUMP FA" pulling off the mother of all free agency coups, Celtics T-Rex dumptime spent the entire season ranting and raving at every transaction, seeking attention and fishing for compliments as if looking for sunlight to heat up his reptilian blood. Despite the antics that reeks of "I'm never done this before", the Celtics talent is undeniable, being able to overcome an early season injury to starting PG World B. Free without missing much of a beat. A mid season trade for veteran guard Fred Brown to bolster the back court has the Celtics looking like one of the best starting units in the league en route to the franchise's first division title, narrowly missing out on 60 wins as they open the playoffs at home for the first time.
After the improbably title run that no one in the league saw coming, the city of Detroit made little noise in the offseason amongst the chaos that surrounded them. With the entire core group back, the defending champs quietly weaved through the regular season led by the brilliant but unheralded play of all world guard Paul Westphal, whom many felt robbed of the Finals MVP honor during last year's miraculous title win. Now playing on the road to start their title defense in a classic series featuring mismatches for both sides, the Pistons will need to rely on superior guard play to counter the dominance the Celtics hold in the front court. Likely the best match of the opening round, this is a series that could go the full 7 games and could swing in either directions.
Prediction: Celtics win 4-3
#3
vs
#6
Regular Season Matches: 2-2 Split
Series Overview:
With the contract of star center Kareem inked and faxed for a full 6 years and likely the rest of his career, Bucks gm trofie quickly shifted focus from franchise stability stocking up talent for a title run. The decision from Minnesota to get an early head start on the rebuilding process that signaled the end of a contending era suddenly injected the trade market with a plethora of all star talent which the Bucks were happy to take advantage of. Wasting little time, Milwaukee quickly worked out a deal for Dan Issel to pair up with Julius Erving for a devastating one two punch on the perimeter. A mid season roster shake up that sent Issel back out West gave the Bucks the cap space it needed to acquire PG Phil Chenier back after spending a few months soaking up the sun in LA as the Bucks now focus on the playoffs.
With the loss of Bob Lanier in free agency, Cavaliers front office employed every means trying to quell the riots in the streets of Cleveland; Artis Gilmore was moved out West in a two for one deal that Gm heel7tiger banked on for better depth, acquiring the young Marvin Webster and Lionel Hollins. Now gun shy about expiring superstars spurning the franchise in free agency and with little future draft picks in stock, Webster and Hollins were moved late in the season for the longer contracts of Bob McAdoo and Billy Knight. Though no longer the destructive force on the low block as in creation season, McAdoo still worries opposing teams and should provide the Cavs with plenty of production. However, with no one to deal with Julius Erving on the perimeter, this isn't a series that should go too many games.
Prediction: Bucks win 4-1
#4
vs
#5
Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Bulls
Series Overview:
The Bulls have been as active as any team in the league this season in the trading department. Following the acquisition of block brother Caldwell Jones and Chocolate Thunder, Chicago suddenly finds their young and talented front court with too many players and too few minutes to go around to keep everyone happy. Taking advantage of a front office change in Atlanta, Bulls gm Bruns sent the aforementioned Darryl Dawkins back to the Hawks for a much needed upgrade in the back court in the form of aging star Walt Frazier and commish special Foots Walker, one of the best point guards in the league. Now armed to the teeth with a roster balanced with experience and youth in all positions, the Bulls look to challenge the suddenly rugged Eastern Conference as they host the playoffs in round 1.
Luck is a curious thing that escapes many in the league not named scatmanduse. Following the inexplicable yet completely predictable news of the Nets jumping into the top 3 in the lottery that yielded the towering blue blood prospect Neon Boudeaux as well as the resigning of Moses Malone, many around the league feared the voodoo-esque luck coming from the Nets heading into the monster free agency period with enough cap space for 2 max level super stars. Fortunately for the rest of the league, no such doomsday scenario played out as the Nets were able to only sign SF Campy Russell in a late free agency (illegal) bid. Tasked now with playing on the road in round one, scatmanduse will need to hope his luck holds true against a more talented Bulls squad.
Prediction: Bulls win 4-2
Conference Semifinals
#1
vs
#4
Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Bulls
Series Overview:
With what should be a relatively easy opening round dismissal the Pacers concluded, the Hornets shift their attention to likely a team that has had their number in the regular season. Due to a slump in the production of PF Jim Chones and with center Billy Paultz's penchant for playing a more perimeter oriented game, the Hornets are susceptible to teams that play more of a punishing style of inside attack. To counter their weakness on the interior, the Hornets will need to utilize their superior outside shooting to draw defenders away from the paint and count on the hard earned home court advantage being a factor.
Though the trade that sent Sharone Wright and Darryl Dawkins to Atlanta has provided the Bulls with a more balanced team, Chicago might now wish to have those players back in the 2nd round of the playoffs against a team that can be taken advantage of in the paint. Despite regular season success against the Hornets, the playoffs are a different brand of basketball where star players matter more than mere depth. Without the ability to get the Hornets bigs into foul trouble by throwing the ball into a dominant low post scorer, this series could turn into a high scoring shoot out on the perimeter, something that all world PG John Williamson has made his fame and fortune in.
Prediction: Hornets win 4-2
#2
vs
#3
Regular Season Matches: 2-1 Bucks
Series Overview:
An unfavorable playoff bracket for the Celtics produces perhaps the toughest road any team has to go through in either conferences. After a round one duel with the defending champions, should Boston escape Detroit unscathed, they will face a talented Bucks squad waiting for them in front of a rowdy Bradley Center crowd to start the conference semi finals on the road. On paper, neither team will have much of an advantage at any position and the duel between Bob Lanier - Kareem as well as Alvan Adams against Julius Erving will have fans throwing wads of cash at the scalpers.
From the Bucks standpoint, their game plan is similar to that of Boston: hope for better production from their superstar duo against an equally matched one two tandem of the Celtics. The absence of Dan Issel to match up against Alvan Adams and freeing up Dr J to be unleashed on the Celtics back court is a huge disadvantage. With the Celtics now more confident in backup PG Jim Clemons' ability to put up solid minutes and the solid production of Fred Brown, the Bucks may end up regretting the decision to Dan Issel.
Prediction: Celtics win 4-3
Conference Finals
#1
vs
#2
Regular Season Matches: 4-0 Celtics
Series Overview:
The match that many anticipated would be for the Eastern crown after the day 1 FA signing of Bob Lanier and John Williamson pits 2 teams where both GMs, even dating back to the OG 1.0 years have never been to the Finals, much less winning it. For the Hornets, the biggest attention and the primary focus should be on stopping Bob Lanier and limiting his damage on the front lines. The new Hornet players Maurice Lucas and John Williamson will have their minutes occupied with trying to stop Alvan Adams and matching his production in points, so the burden and the key match up in the series will rest on Jim Chones and Billy Paultz's ability to stay out of foul trouble to punch in a trip to the Finals against one of the monster rosters from the West.
As with the counterparts in the Conference Finals, bragging rights for a first ever trip to the Finals is on the line for dumptime. Should the Hornets start utilizing John Williamson at his natural point guard position, Boston will have a hard time limiting him with just WBF or backup Jim Clemons. As mentioned previously, the Hornets' susceptibility to interior play will be the key for the Celtics; feed the beast Bob Lanier 30 times a game and rack up as many fouls as possible on the thin front court will kill two birds with one stone: provide Alvan and Bob with more scoring opportunities as well as limiting the outside shooting of Billy Paultz. The results of this series could very well be predicted looking at the simple stat of FT attempts, if Boston can average 5-10 more FT attempts per game than the Hornets, the road to the Finals becomes clear.
Prediction: Celtics win 4-2
