Post by IanBoyd on Aug 26, 2014 9:35:43 GMT -6
Bringing back my annual playoff preview articles, starting with the West.
Round One
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Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Mavericks
Series Overview:
After being ousted in the 2nd round during their quest to be the first 4.0 franchise to win back to back championships by the red hot eventual champions Grizzlies, Gm soup sweated out another off-season for the retirement decision of the future hall of fame candidate Rick Barry in hopes of another title run. With the team back in full strength following Barry's decision to keep getting dem checks, the Mavericks wanted extra insurance this year for their quest for the ring. Enter the massively controversial Moses Malone trade that almost resulted in a GM getting the axe, the Mavericks has now paired up two of the best defensive players in the league in Teddy Catfish™ and Moses with 3 of the premier scorers; the deadly trio of David Thompson, Rick Barry and Larry Kenon. With 2 wins shy of a historic 70 win season, the Mavericks once again enter the playoffs with the best record in the league with their sights set squarely on gold.
For the Suns, to say 4.0 has the franchise in turmoil would be an understatement. Now a full year after the Bowie Gate saga; whose position has now been filled by Dick Mumma after Ernie Grunfeld's services were felt to be no longer in need with the acquisition of rookie Evan Turner, the Suns find themselves stumbling through the season mostly in limbo with too much talent to tank and not enough star power to truly contend. With a 40-42 record, Phoenix becomes only the 2nd team in the West in 4.0 to make the playoffs with a record below .500 and now has the honor of facing off against the most talented team in the league. Though a late season trade that sent Tom Barker from Atlanta to the Suns now gives them an intriguing trio of Barker, King and Turner to build for the future, playoff success in 3005 is not in their immediate future.
Prediction: Mavericks win 4-1
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Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Lakers
Series Overview:
Now quickly becoming a playoff tradition in the West, the annual first round exit of the Lakers at the hands of Magic Johnson and the Clippers has become a rather large and annoying monkey on GM buster's back. With the shocking news of Magic Johnson's departure to Orlando, no one in the West was more happy than the Laker fans and front office. After pulling off the mother of all resigning heists, locking up Sidney Moncrief, Kim Hughes and Eric Montross for less money combined than what Bob McAdoo is making this year, the Lakers have no more excuse for having 0 career playoff series wins. At 64 wins, the LA franchise owns the 2nd best record in the entire league as they open the playoffs hosting the defending champion Grizzlies.
Following the amazing playoff run that required come back wins following a 1-2 record in multiple series, the Grizzlies captured GM druce dickinson's first ever TMBSL title, perhaps ending one of the longest running theme in the league of "bad luck druce". Facing looming salary cap difficulties and Bill Laimbeer's free agency departure, the Grizzlies spent this season shedding some additional money from their roster, sending Billy Knight to Golden State in exchange for a lottery pick and young Derrick Favors. With defending Finals MVP Don Buse and all league forward Bobby Jones as well as defensive big man Lawrence Funderburke locked up long term, Vancouver can shift their focus to culminating the younger players like Favors and Marques Johnson for a future contention run. Though still undoubtedly a talented roster, this year's Grizz can't yet match up with the Lakers squad in firepower, that is not to say that Don Buse won't give the Lakers fits or their fans many sleepless nights in between games.
Prediction: Lakers win 4-3
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Regular Season Matches: 4-0 Timberwolves
Series Overview:
Now a few years into the great leap forward of a rebuild, the Timberwolves roster finally looks equal if not better in talent than those creation teams that was once thought as a title contender. With the ascension of Grant Hill turning into one of the league's best scorer as well as one of the most versatile; GM IanBoyd has found a new center piece to the Timberwolves' brand of highly efficient methodical slow paced offense, setting a new league record for team assists in a season. With the conclusion of a regular season that saw the Timberwolves tying the Lakers for the 2nd best record in the league, Minnesota has the talent to contend for a title as the Wolves open the 3005 playoffs hosting Midwest rival the Denver Nuggets.
With the lack of success following the free agency theft of perhaps the best player in the league George Gervin, the Nuggets now find themselves in a crossroads period of the franchise again. Gervin at 29 years old is starting to show signs of slowing down after having the worst season of his career not to mention the youngster Glenn Robinson, whom was once thought of as one of the most valuable players in the league as a rookie regressed in the latest training camp in his free agency year. Regression seems to be the common theme for the Nuggets in 3005, affecting even veteran big man Marvin Webster, whose shooting took a gigantic step backwards this year after being traded from the Rockets to the mile high city. Facing a team that has swept them in the regular season, the Nuggets will need to find a way to play themselves out of the slump this year against a team that has historically struggled defending their home court in the playoffs. Though George Gervin is more than capable of out-playing Grant Hill in a series to prove to the award winners that he is still the top SG in the league, the rest of the Nuggets roster are likely severely outclassed.
Prediction: Timberwolves win 4-2
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Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Supersonics
Series Overview:
Like the Timberwolves, the Kings of Kansas City now enter year 2 of following their rebuild. With the upgrade in the front office as veteran GM 20x4 replaced the often absent oopspowsurprise and a brand new franchise name plus a move to the highly competitive Midwest, the Kings picked up perhaps the most talented rookie in the heralded 3004 draft in Charles Barkley in 20x4's first season as GM and haven't looked back. Taking advantage of their cap flexibility, the Kings were able to acquire several talented guards in World B. Free early in the year as well as Ricky Sobers at the deadline. Combined with part 2 of the Moses saga Nets blowup in the form of blue chipper Neon "Fake Shaq", the Kings have one of the youngest rosters for a title contender in the league, with none of the starters over the age of 28 yet. Welcoming 20x4's first ever trip to the playoffs however, is a team that has given them fits in the regular season as Kansas City prepares to host their first ever 4.0 playoffs against the Supersonics of the Pacific Northwest.
For much of 4.0, the Seattle Supersonics have largely remained under the radar, their star wing players often not discovered by the rest of the league until they are playing for another team (Nate Williams, Robert Hawkins etc) with this season not being much different. Following the addition of big man Bill Laimbeer to team up with Robert Parish, the Sonics left free agency suddenly with one of the best defenses in the league. With a rejuvenated Al Skinner as well as another under the radar wing player Terrance Stansbury in the backcourt; the Sonics have enjoyed one of the best seasons in the franchise, winning over 50 games as well as giving the Kings and Timberwolves fits for much of the season. Should that trend continue in the playoffs, we might witness our first playoff upset series in the West.
Prediction: Kings win 4-3
Conference Semifinals
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Regular Season Matches: 4-0 Mavericks
Series Overview:
Following what should be an opening round dismissal of a Suns team they had little trouble with during regular season, the Mavericks should face some actual competition in the 2nd round for a match against the Kings. With the addition of Moses on the squad this year, the Mavericks should be able to limit the damage the talented Charles Barkley can do in the paint with the combined efforts of Catfish™, Moses and Larry Kenon. After slowing down their pace at the expense of David Thompson's scoring title and perhaps MVP race chances, the Mavericks offense have operated much more efficiently by incorporating more passes to look for better shots. Against a team they swept in the regular season, Dallas can keep riding the momentum of their new style of offense and still turn up the face any time they wish and punish the difference in talent between their back court and the Kings guards.
For the Kings, they will need to rely on quite a few things to go right for them simultaneously in order to pull off the upset: For one, their newly assembled back court will need to hold defensively against the onslaught of the all world duo of Rick Barry and David Thompson. Secondly, Charles Barkley and Neon will need to put the Mavericks big man in foul trouble to take advantage of perhaps their only weakness - the lack of quality backups in the front court. If the trio of Moses, Catfish™ and Larry Kenon does not spend extended periods of time on the bench, the Kings chances of winning are extremely slim.
Prediction: Mavericks win 4-2
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Regular Season Matches: 2-2 Split
Series Overview:
After finally winning a playoff series in 4.0, the Lakers will face much stiffer competition in the 2nd round. Should the Lakers advance, Buster will for the first time compete against the team where his GM tenure in 2.0 started. With both teams having identical records; tied for seconds in the league and having the exact home record, a more in depth look at each roster reveals some incredible similarities. Both teams have a defensive center and a shot blocking backup in the front, both have a talented creation veteran big man in the power forward spot, both have an elite scorer on the perimeter and both have youngsters to run the point. With the season series split right down the middle, this match could easily go 6 or 7 games if both teams play up to their potential.
From the Timberwolves standpoint, not having home court advantage could work in their favor as the Timberwolves have historically been prone to choking at home during the playoffs. Opening the series on the road and stealing a win against an evenly matched team could be what ends up deciding the series. At this point in the season, a major DC change that could potentially upset team chemistry in the playoffs is unlikely; instead the Timberwolves will need to ride the momentum of a 2-0 record vs the Lakers in the last 30 days of the season as the blue print in the series with the key focus on hoping Lonnie Shelton can duplicate his defensive success against Dr. J and for Swen to put the Laker bigs in foul trouble like they have been prone to do this year. In a series this evenly matched, 1 game could make all the difference in the world.
Prediction: Timberwolves win 4-3
Conference Finals
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Regular Season Matches: 2-2 Split
Series Overview:
Now back in the Conference Finals with another trip to the Finals within grasp, the Mavericks could duplicate the Jazz (not) dynasty in 4.0, with 2 titles in 3 years. With the team firing on all cylinders in the final days of the regular season, closing out the year on a 15-1 run and dropping no games against Western Conference teams, Dallas has but one goal in mind before once again entering an off season sweating out Rick Barry's retirement decision as well as the free agency of Teddy Catfish™. Following 2 early season blow-out losses to the Timberwolves, the addition of Moses seems to have made all the difference as Dallas ended the season avenging their losses, winning 2 games in the final 10 days of the season against Minnesota and seemingly overcame their foul trouble. With the front court in good hands, Dallas can exploit the difference in talent at the point guard position, perhaps unleashing the full scoring talents of Skywalker on the still young and inexperienced Alvin Robertson.
For the Timberwolves, A first ever trip to the Finals to continue the tradition of Midwest dominance over the East is on the line. Should they survive the series unscathed against the Lakers, another series against the most loaded roster in the league awaits. If the Timberwolves were to have any chance in going to the Finals, they will need to make some adjustments so that the last 10 days of the season doesn't become the norm against the Mavericks. Free throw attempts will be one of the biggest indicators for this series as it has now historically become in this match, whichever team manages to put the other team's front court in foul trouble will likely advance to the Finals for a shot at the title.
Prediction: Mavericks win 4-2
Round One
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Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Mavericks
Series Overview:
After being ousted in the 2nd round during their quest to be the first 4.0 franchise to win back to back championships by the red hot eventual champions Grizzlies, Gm soup sweated out another off-season for the retirement decision of the future hall of fame candidate Rick Barry in hopes of another title run. With the team back in full strength following Barry's decision to keep getting dem checks, the Mavericks wanted extra insurance this year for their quest for the ring. Enter the massively controversial Moses Malone trade that almost resulted in a GM getting the axe, the Mavericks has now paired up two of the best defensive players in the league in Teddy Catfish™ and Moses with 3 of the premier scorers; the deadly trio of David Thompson, Rick Barry and Larry Kenon. With 2 wins shy of a historic 70 win season, the Mavericks once again enter the playoffs with the best record in the league with their sights set squarely on gold.
For the Suns, to say 4.0 has the franchise in turmoil would be an understatement. Now a full year after the Bowie Gate saga; whose position has now been filled by Dick Mumma after Ernie Grunfeld's services were felt to be no longer in need with the acquisition of rookie Evan Turner, the Suns find themselves stumbling through the season mostly in limbo with too much talent to tank and not enough star power to truly contend. With a 40-42 record, Phoenix becomes only the 2nd team in the West in 4.0 to make the playoffs with a record below .500 and now has the honor of facing off against the most talented team in the league. Though a late season trade that sent Tom Barker from Atlanta to the Suns now gives them an intriguing trio of Barker, King and Turner to build for the future, playoff success in 3005 is not in their immediate future.
Prediction: Mavericks win 4-1
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Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Lakers
Series Overview:
Now quickly becoming a playoff tradition in the West, the annual first round exit of the Lakers at the hands of Magic Johnson and the Clippers has become a rather large and annoying monkey on GM buster's back. With the shocking news of Magic Johnson's departure to Orlando, no one in the West was more happy than the Laker fans and front office. After pulling off the mother of all resigning heists, locking up Sidney Moncrief, Kim Hughes and Eric Montross for less money combined than what Bob McAdoo is making this year, the Lakers have no more excuse for having 0 career playoff series wins. At 64 wins, the LA franchise owns the 2nd best record in the entire league as they open the playoffs hosting the defending champion Grizzlies.
Following the amazing playoff run that required come back wins following a 1-2 record in multiple series, the Grizzlies captured GM druce dickinson's first ever TMBSL title, perhaps ending one of the longest running theme in the league of "bad luck druce". Facing looming salary cap difficulties and Bill Laimbeer's free agency departure, the Grizzlies spent this season shedding some additional money from their roster, sending Billy Knight to Golden State in exchange for a lottery pick and young Derrick Favors. With defending Finals MVP Don Buse and all league forward Bobby Jones as well as defensive big man Lawrence Funderburke locked up long term, Vancouver can shift their focus to culminating the younger players like Favors and Marques Johnson for a future contention run. Though still undoubtedly a talented roster, this year's Grizz can't yet match up with the Lakers squad in firepower, that is not to say that Don Buse won't give the Lakers fits or their fans many sleepless nights in between games.
Prediction: Lakers win 4-3
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Regular Season Matches: 4-0 Timberwolves
Series Overview:
Now a few years into the great leap forward of a rebuild, the Timberwolves roster finally looks equal if not better in talent than those creation teams that was once thought as a title contender. With the ascension of Grant Hill turning into one of the league's best scorer as well as one of the most versatile; GM IanBoyd has found a new center piece to the Timberwolves' brand of highly efficient methodical slow paced offense, setting a new league record for team assists in a season. With the conclusion of a regular season that saw the Timberwolves tying the Lakers for the 2nd best record in the league, Minnesota has the talent to contend for a title as the Wolves open the 3005 playoffs hosting Midwest rival the Denver Nuggets.
With the lack of success following the free agency theft of perhaps the best player in the league George Gervin, the Nuggets now find themselves in a crossroads period of the franchise again. Gervin at 29 years old is starting to show signs of slowing down after having the worst season of his career not to mention the youngster Glenn Robinson, whom was once thought of as one of the most valuable players in the league as a rookie regressed in the latest training camp in his free agency year. Regression seems to be the common theme for the Nuggets in 3005, affecting even veteran big man Marvin Webster, whose shooting took a gigantic step backwards this year after being traded from the Rockets to the mile high city. Facing a team that has swept them in the regular season, the Nuggets will need to find a way to play themselves out of the slump this year against a team that has historically struggled defending their home court in the playoffs. Though George Gervin is more than capable of out-playing Grant Hill in a series to prove to the award winners that he is still the top SG in the league, the rest of the Nuggets roster are likely severely outclassed.
Prediction: Timberwolves win 4-2
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Regular Season Matches: 3-1 Supersonics
Series Overview:
Like the Timberwolves, the Kings of Kansas City now enter year 2 of following their rebuild. With the upgrade in the front office as veteran GM 20x4 replaced the often absent oopspowsurprise and a brand new franchise name plus a move to the highly competitive Midwest, the Kings picked up perhaps the most talented rookie in the heralded 3004 draft in Charles Barkley in 20x4's first season as GM and haven't looked back. Taking advantage of their cap flexibility, the Kings were able to acquire several talented guards in World B. Free early in the year as well as Ricky Sobers at the deadline. Combined with part 2 of the Moses saga Nets blowup in the form of blue chipper Neon "Fake Shaq", the Kings have one of the youngest rosters for a title contender in the league, with none of the starters over the age of 28 yet. Welcoming 20x4's first ever trip to the playoffs however, is a team that has given them fits in the regular season as Kansas City prepares to host their first ever 4.0 playoffs against the Supersonics of the Pacific Northwest.
For much of 4.0, the Seattle Supersonics have largely remained under the radar, their star wing players often not discovered by the rest of the league until they are playing for another team (Nate Williams, Robert Hawkins etc) with this season not being much different. Following the addition of big man Bill Laimbeer to team up with Robert Parish, the Sonics left free agency suddenly with one of the best defenses in the league. With a rejuvenated Al Skinner as well as another under the radar wing player Terrance Stansbury in the backcourt; the Sonics have enjoyed one of the best seasons in the franchise, winning over 50 games as well as giving the Kings and Timberwolves fits for much of the season. Should that trend continue in the playoffs, we might witness our first playoff upset series in the West.
Prediction: Kings win 4-3
Conference Semifinals
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Regular Season Matches: 4-0 Mavericks
Series Overview:
Following what should be an opening round dismissal of a Suns team they had little trouble with during regular season, the Mavericks should face some actual competition in the 2nd round for a match against the Kings. With the addition of Moses on the squad this year, the Mavericks should be able to limit the damage the talented Charles Barkley can do in the paint with the combined efforts of Catfish™, Moses and Larry Kenon. After slowing down their pace at the expense of David Thompson's scoring title and perhaps MVP race chances, the Mavericks offense have operated much more efficiently by incorporating more passes to look for better shots. Against a team they swept in the regular season, Dallas can keep riding the momentum of their new style of offense and still turn up the face any time they wish and punish the difference in talent between their back court and the Kings guards.
For the Kings, they will need to rely on quite a few things to go right for them simultaneously in order to pull off the upset: For one, their newly assembled back court will need to hold defensively against the onslaught of the all world duo of Rick Barry and David Thompson. Secondly, Charles Barkley and Neon will need to put the Mavericks big man in foul trouble to take advantage of perhaps their only weakness - the lack of quality backups in the front court. If the trio of Moses, Catfish™ and Larry Kenon does not spend extended periods of time on the bench, the Kings chances of winning are extremely slim.
Prediction: Mavericks win 4-2
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Regular Season Matches: 2-2 Split
Series Overview:
After finally winning a playoff series in 4.0, the Lakers will face much stiffer competition in the 2nd round. Should the Lakers advance, Buster will for the first time compete against the team where his GM tenure in 2.0 started. With both teams having identical records; tied for seconds in the league and having the exact home record, a more in depth look at each roster reveals some incredible similarities. Both teams have a defensive center and a shot blocking backup in the front, both have a talented creation veteran big man in the power forward spot, both have an elite scorer on the perimeter and both have youngsters to run the point. With the season series split right down the middle, this match could easily go 6 or 7 games if both teams play up to their potential.
From the Timberwolves standpoint, not having home court advantage could work in their favor as the Timberwolves have historically been prone to choking at home during the playoffs. Opening the series on the road and stealing a win against an evenly matched team could be what ends up deciding the series. At this point in the season, a major DC change that could potentially upset team chemistry in the playoffs is unlikely; instead the Timberwolves will need to ride the momentum of a 2-0 record vs the Lakers in the last 30 days of the season as the blue print in the series with the key focus on hoping Lonnie Shelton can duplicate his defensive success against Dr. J and for Swen to put the Laker bigs in foul trouble like they have been prone to do this year. In a series this evenly matched, 1 game could make all the difference in the world.
Prediction: Timberwolves win 4-3
Conference Finals
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Regular Season Matches: 2-2 Split
Series Overview:
Now back in the Conference Finals with another trip to the Finals within grasp, the Mavericks could duplicate the Jazz (not) dynasty in 4.0, with 2 titles in 3 years. With the team firing on all cylinders in the final days of the regular season, closing out the year on a 15-1 run and dropping no games against Western Conference teams, Dallas has but one goal in mind before once again entering an off season sweating out Rick Barry's retirement decision as well as the free agency of Teddy Catfish™. Following 2 early season blow-out losses to the Timberwolves, the addition of Moses seems to have made all the difference as Dallas ended the season avenging their losses, winning 2 games in the final 10 days of the season against Minnesota and seemingly overcame their foul trouble. With the front court in good hands, Dallas can exploit the difference in talent at the point guard position, perhaps unleashing the full scoring talents of Skywalker on the still young and inexperienced Alvin Robertson.
For the Timberwolves, A first ever trip to the Finals to continue the tradition of Midwest dominance over the East is on the line. Should they survive the series unscathed against the Lakers, another series against the most loaded roster in the league awaits. If the Timberwolves were to have any chance in going to the Finals, they will need to make some adjustments so that the last 10 days of the season doesn't become the norm against the Mavericks. Free throw attempts will be one of the biggest indicators for this series as it has now historically become in this match, whichever team manages to put the other team's front court in foul trouble will likely advance to the Finals for a shot at the title.
Prediction: Mavericks win 4-2
