J2's Playoff Preview Pt.2 (Round 2)
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 1:34 pm
So, first off, a recap...
Nuggets win 4-2 (Nailed it)
Suns win 4-0 (Right winner, wrong number)
Pelicans win 4-1 (Right winner, wrong number)
Clippers win 4-2 (Failed it)
Knicks win 4-2 (Nailed it)
Heat win 4-1 (Right winner, wrong number)
Bucks win 4-3 (Wrong winner, right number)
Pacers win 4-1 (Right winner, wrong number)
#1 Nuggets vs #5 Suns
H2H: Nuggets 4-0
Key Matchup: Love vs. whatever poor sap has to guard him.
While the Nuggets straight-up obliterated the Suns during the regular season, Love is just...my goodness. The unholy mutant is averaging 49.5 ppg a game so far! And it's not like Favors/Patterson/the kitchen sink were all orange/orange trash, too. As usual, it's up to Love to carry the Suns, because they're completely ovematched everywhere else, with Thornton about to have an especially tough time against Klay. Depth vs. Talent, but when the talent is the best damn player in the league...Sheesh. I had a dream a few days ago that the Jazz were actually able to beat the Nuggets through sheer talent...maybe that's a sign?
Suns win 4-3
#2 Clippers vs. #3 Pelicans
H2H: Pelicans 2-1
Key Matchup: Ron Artest vs. Kevin Durant
Though the Pelicans were able to claim the talent advantage over the Kings last round, they'll have no such luxury this time around. Durant's averaging 40 ppg so far this playoffs, and he looks to be in prime form. It's pretty much a given that Ron Artest will have to slide over to SF for this series, since asking Tobias Harris to guard KD is crazy talk. This does present the interesting question of how to exploit the Clippers' glaring weakness at SG, made even more apparent by McLemore's injury. Does Nick trust Jeff Teague enough to have him start and put Dame at the 2? It may not even matter though. The Pelicans not only can score a bit better than LA (especially if Blake destroys Biyombo), but have a better defense to boot. The Clippers' fate is once again in Durant's hands....
Pelicans win 4-2
#2 Heat vs. #3 Knicks
H2H: Knicks 2-1
Key Matchup: Lin vs. LeBron
Even with Jokic's injury, the Knicks are still the more balanced team, as proven by their regular season performance against Miami. Miami's only real shot at victory lies in their two stars, Dragic and James. While the Knicks can contain Dragic, James is another problem entirely, especially if he remains at PG. Still, he's just one man, and not even a man on Love/Durant's level. Expect this to be a defensive slugfest, as both teams were Top 5 in Points Allowed. Actually, looking at the numbers, the Heat should take this, as they're better offensively and much more efficient overall, which is quite surprising when looking at them.
Knicks win 4-2
#1 Pacers vs #5 Bucks
H2H: Even at 2-2
Key Matchup: Irving vs. Shumpert
Congratulations Quail, you've beaten Wig! Your reward?
A matchup with the #1 seed! It's almost poetic in a way, Pauly vs. his biggest critic throughout the regular season. And it's not like Pauly has the clear advantage, one does not simply beat the Hawks and not be favored to win the next series. As Gay has the clear edge against Deng, Stoudemire the edge against whoever the Bucks send out to die, and Deron the edge against Rubio, the equalizer has to be Kyrie. Standing in his way is Shumpert, who has the size and defensive ability to slow, if not stop, Kyrie, but gets blown out from an athletic standpoint. This will likely be Pauly's toughest test in these playoffs, and should be the best series in the 2nd Round.
Pacers win 4-3
Nuggets win 4-2 (Nailed it)
Suns win 4-0 (Right winner, wrong number)
Pelicans win 4-1 (Right winner, wrong number)
Clippers win 4-2 (Failed it)
Knicks win 4-2 (Nailed it)
Heat win 4-1 (Right winner, wrong number)
Bucks win 4-3 (Wrong winner, right number)
Pacers win 4-1 (Right winner, wrong number)
#1 Nuggets vs #5 Suns
H2H: Nuggets 4-0
Key Matchup: Love vs. whatever poor sap has to guard him.
While the Nuggets straight-up obliterated the Suns during the regular season, Love is just...my goodness. The unholy mutant is averaging 49.5 ppg a game so far! And it's not like Favors/Patterson/the kitchen sink were all orange/orange trash, too. As usual, it's up to Love to carry the Suns, because they're completely ovematched everywhere else, with Thornton about to have an especially tough time against Klay. Depth vs. Talent, but when the talent is the best damn player in the league...Sheesh. I had a dream a few days ago that the Jazz were actually able to beat the Nuggets through sheer talent...maybe that's a sign?
Suns win 4-3
#2 Clippers vs. #3 Pelicans
H2H: Pelicans 2-1
Key Matchup: Ron Artest vs. Kevin Durant
Though the Pelicans were able to claim the talent advantage over the Kings last round, they'll have no such luxury this time around. Durant's averaging 40 ppg so far this playoffs, and he looks to be in prime form. It's pretty much a given that Ron Artest will have to slide over to SF for this series, since asking Tobias Harris to guard KD is crazy talk. This does present the interesting question of how to exploit the Clippers' glaring weakness at SG, made even more apparent by McLemore's injury. Does Nick trust Jeff Teague enough to have him start and put Dame at the 2? It may not even matter though. The Pelicans not only can score a bit better than LA (especially if Blake destroys Biyombo), but have a better defense to boot. The Clippers' fate is once again in Durant's hands....
Pelicans win 4-2
#2 Heat vs. #3 Knicks
H2H: Knicks 2-1
Key Matchup: Lin vs. LeBron
Even with Jokic's injury, the Knicks are still the more balanced team, as proven by their regular season performance against Miami. Miami's only real shot at victory lies in their two stars, Dragic and James. While the Knicks can contain Dragic, James is another problem entirely, especially if he remains at PG. Still, he's just one man, and not even a man on Love/Durant's level. Expect this to be a defensive slugfest, as both teams were Top 5 in Points Allowed. Actually, looking at the numbers, the Heat should take this, as they're better offensively and much more efficient overall, which is quite surprising when looking at them.
Knicks win 4-2
#1 Pacers vs #5 Bucks
H2H: Even at 2-2
Key Matchup: Irving vs. Shumpert
Congratulations Quail, you've beaten Wig! Your reward?
A matchup with the #1 seed! It's almost poetic in a way, Pauly vs. his biggest critic throughout the regular season. And it's not like Pauly has the clear advantage, one does not simply beat the Hawks and not be favored to win the next series. As Gay has the clear edge against Deng, Stoudemire the edge against whoever the Bucks send out to die, and Deron the edge against Rubio, the equalizer has to be Kyrie. Standing in his way is Shumpert, who has the size and defensive ability to slow, if not stop, Kyrie, but gets blown out from an athletic standpoint. This will likely be Pauly's toughest test in these playoffs, and should be the best series in the 2nd Round.
Pacers win 4-3