Post by New Jersey Nets on Feb 1, 2008 23:49:40 GMT -5
East[/size]
#1 Detroit Pistons (57-25) vs. 
#8 Washington Wizards (39-43)
Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. 
This is a terrible matchup for Brand on defense. He is a good/great defender but Murphy doesn't like to post up and can shoot from three. Murphy will probably get all the jump shots he wants but Brand will destroy him on the glass and in the post. Brand is a superstar and he should shine in this series. Edge: Pistons
Power Forward
vs. 
Andrei Kirilenko is a very versatile player and Shareef Abdur-Rahim is going to get to know how versatile. AK is a great defender anywhere on the floor and should shut down Rahim as he is more of a jump shooter now. AK doesn't have a great offensive game but when he wants to he can take over stretches of games. Rahim is adequate on defense at best. Expect another abusing by AK. Edge: Pistons
Small Forward
vs. 
Battie and Maggette is the matchup to watch. Maggette has the talent to slice and dice teams but rarely lives up to it. This could be his time to show what he can do. He is solid on D and can tear it up at times on offense. If he is motivated he should outplay Battie. Battie is a solid all-around player. He doesn't do any one thing great but can do everything. He's a playoff type player and expect him to play at his highest level. In a close one...Edge: Wizards
Shooting Guard
vs. 
Ginobili is a great scorer. He can defend at times but can also disappear at times. Dunleavy can disappear all the time. He is a solid player but doesn't stand out. He will outrebound Ginobili but Ginobili will outscore him. Since Dunleavy doesn't require a lot defense...Edge: Pistons
Point Guard
vs. 
On playoff rep alone Billups should get the nod over Parker. Parker has more rings but Billups hit more game winning shots and has unshakable resolve. This is another close matchup. Parker is younger and faster than Billups which will give him problems on defense. Parker also sets up the other players on his team like no one else. I'll go with quicks here...Edge: Wizards
Bench
vs. 
This would be a closer call if Juwan Howard wasn't out for the series. The Pistons have more bench players scoring 6+ ppg than the Wizards. The Wizards have three really high quality bench players in Hawes, Daniels, and Stevenson. The Pistons have five quality bench players in Antonio Davis, Brevin Knight, Radmanovic, May, and Carroll. I'll have to give it to the Pistons based on quality and a little more depth. Also, they have a more flexible bench. Edge: Pistons
Total Edge: Pistons 4, Wizards 2
Series Breakdown:
The Pistons had the best record in the league with 57 wins. They very well could have the best starting five in the league too. Brand had 20 ppg and 10 rpg and AK did his thing with 14 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.6 spg, and 1.6 bpg. Maggette chipped in with 16.8 ppg and 7 rpg and both Billups and Ginobili had 19 ppg apiece. With the overall lack of team defense the Pistons are facing the series could be over quickly. The only concern is injury even though the bench is good. The drop off from a starter to backup is huge for the Pistons.
The Wizards are in trouble. Not only is Tony Parker (20 ppg and 6 apg) playing hurt, they are without Juwan Howard. He is an important bench player and they don't have a replacement for him. Even though Dunleavy had 15 ppg, he isn't expected to have the same type of success in this series. Murphy (10 ppg and 8 rpg), Rahim (12 ppg and 6 rpg), and Battie (13.9 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.7 spg) will contribute but unless all three play better this series will be very long from the Wiz. The only real hope the Wiz have is the bench. Stevenson, Daniels, and Hawes were major contributers off the bench and if they play better this series could last a game or two longer than it should.
I really, really feel bad for the Wizards. They got the worst draw possible and have no shot at winning this series. Hopefully they can come back next year stronger and hungrier.
Prediction: Pistons 4, Wizards 0
#4 Cleveland Cavs (52-30) vs. 
#5 Boston Celtics (50-32)
Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. 
Even though Brad Miller is obviously faster than Z (a snail is), this should go Illgauskas' way. He's a great jump shooter and is good on the block which will give Miller problems. He's a better rebounder and no one is better at tip ins. As long as he doesn't have to play extended minutes the Big Z should outplay Miller. Edge: Cavs
Power Forward
vs. 
There is no contest here. Kevin Garnett is a beast. He can't be stopped on offense and now that he has a great supporting cast his teammates give other teams trouble. He is a do it all type of player and does everything with an overwhelming passion. Boris Diaw has no chance guarding him and won't even dent the box score on offense. Let the man handling being...Edge: Celtics
Small Forward
vs. 
Another intriguing matchup. LeBron is almost unguardable but is still learning on defense. Pierce is playoff experienced vet who can take over a game at any time. He can play good defense but will find it hard to play adequate defense on LeBron. LBJ doensn't need to be spectacular on this team. He just needs to make everyone else better. Edge: Cavs
Shooting Guard
vs. 
This matchup would be laughable most of the time. Joey Graham decided to change that. He put in multiple surprising efforts at the end of the season and grabbed the starting shooting guard job. He may not outplay Stephen Jackson but he won't be far behind. Jackson is a great defensive player, good offensive player, and a much needed vocal team leader. Expect fireworks between him and KG. Edge: Cavs
Point Guard
vs. 
Daniel Gibson is a young point guard and already has the offense part of the game down. He is a great jump shooter and has shown glimpses of creating his own offense in the playoffs before. That being said. He is no match for Jason Kidd. Kidd is a great defender, great rebounder, great passer, and doesn't force his ugly shot. He picks apart teams and thrives on fast breaks. Expect Kidd to KG a lot in this series. Edge: Celtics
Bench
vs. 
With a thin bench and just ok production, the Celtics have a major problem. In a seven game series players tend to ware down and they can't afford their starters to miss a beat. Joe Smith, Jarvis Hayes, and Kendrick Perkins can't see much time or the series will be over. They are role players at best and Hayes and Perkins are too inconsistent to expect much. The Cavs have a great bench. Damon Jones, Raja Bell, Luke Walton, and Drew Gooden not only fill roles but can play extended minutes, save Jones. Bell, Walton, and Gooden can start on most teams and should produce better than in the regular season as the Celtics tire. Edge: Cavs
Total Edge: Cavs 4, Celtics 2
Series Breakdown:
Even though KG (21.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.44 spg, and 1.89 bpg) and Kidd (21.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.52 spg) are a great tandem the Celtics really need more depth to compete with any team in the playoffs. Paul Pierce (19 ppg) and Brad Miller (15.9 ppg) will be asked to do more than they did during the season. Joey Graham (9.7 ppg) will also have to really step up the contribution for the Celtics to get by the Cavs. The defense and bench will decide this series.
The Cavs have everything going for them. LeBron (18.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 5.3 apg), Jackson (15.5 ppg), and Illgauskas (19.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 1.5 bpg) form a good core that feeds off of each other. I expect LeBron to go off from Game 1 and grab control. He needs to step up the team defense and get the bench players involved. The bench for the Cavs is the deciding factor in the series. They need to be just as productive and consistent.
This series comes down to which players want it more. Can KG rally his team for the upset? Or will Jackson? I can't pick against LeBron so...
Prediction: Cavs 4, Celtics 2
#3 Toronto Raptors (55-27) vs. 
#6 Charlotte Bobcats (47-35)
Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. 
Andrea Bargnani better be prepared. Okafor is a very physical center and will crash for every board. Emeka may not be the greatest low post player but he gets by. He is at his best on the block posting up players like Bargnani. His defense is good and should be able to contain Bargnani unless he gets hot from three. Edge: Bobcats
Power Forward
vs. 
Even though Webber played out of his mind during the season, he cooled off a lot and that concerns me. Bosh has a good jump shot inside of 15 feet and is very long and athletic. Webber has really slowed down the last few years and is no longer explosive near the basket. Bosh should have his way. Edge: Raptors
Small Forward
vs. 
I like Morris Peterson and think he can still be #2 option but Gerald Wallace stepped it up this year. Always known for his defense, Wallace has slowly become a force on the offense. Look for him to take advantage of Peterson on both sides of the ball. Edge: Bobcats
Shooting Guard
vs. 
Anthony Parker is one of those stat sheet fillers. He'll score points, rebound, make good passes, and play solid defense. He also makes smart decision with the basketball. His overall game is better than Morrison's and Morrison still hasn't shaken that bust label yet. This could be Morrison's coming out party but he'd have to carry the scoring load for that to happen. Parker in an easy choice. Edge: Raptors
Point Guard
vs. 
Chris Paul has developed into a top 5 point guard. His offense is getting better, his passing is superb, and his defense is terrorizing. He also rebounds his position better than he should for his size. Terry can shoot lights out at times and has become a better point guard since his Hawks' days. He will really have to step it up if he wants to outplay Paul, who is already the better point guard. Edge: Bobcats
Bench
vs. 
The Raptors have a deep bench with Kapono, Head, Mason, Calderon, and Moore. Expect substitutions to get these players minutes and keep the likes of Bosh and Terry fresh. The Bobcats are hoping quality outweighs quantity. They have Bowen, Diogu, and Bobby Jackson as the main cogs of the second unit. Bowen is a defensive specialist and Bobby Jackson can light up the scoreboard. Both will need to be special in order to outplay the depth of the Raptors bench. Edge: Raptors
Total Edge: Raptors 3, Bobcats 3
Series Breakdown:
The Raptors have a superstud in Bosh (21 ppg and 10 rpg) and a star point guard in Terry (19.1 ppg, 6.5 apg, 1.92 spg). Both are leaders on the court and help the younger players. Parker (15 ppg) and Bargnani (12.4 ppg and 7.6 rpg) need to grow up fast to counter the players they will be guarding. The bench is deep enough to overcome a injury to a starter and still keep the Raptors chances alive at getting by the Bobcats.
The Bobcats also have a great starting five. Okafor (15 ppg, 8.9 rpg, and 2 bpg), Wallace (11.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.89 bpg), Webber (18 ppg), and Paul (18 ppg, 6 apg, 1.8 spg) will be hard to beat. All four can outplay the players they will match up against but need to be ready for a hungry Raptors team. The bench will also need to step up to keep this series competitive. Bobby Jackson needs to be the spark he once was with the Kings.
Both stating fives are great and matchup up well overall. The benches will be huge. The overall talent and depth goes to the Raptors.
Prediction: Raptors 4, Bobcats 3 (1 OT game)
#2 Atlanta Hawks (54-28) vs. 
#7 Chicago Bulls (49-33)
Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. 
Ming is the favorite in this matchup. No one can guard him in the post and he is unstoppable if he doesn't settle for jumpers and fade aways. Curry has always been an offensive specialist but will find it hard to do much with Yao guarding him. Yao is a great defender on post players and Curry isn't good enough to take advantage of Yao's slow feet. Edge: Hawks
Power Forward
vs. 
Josh Smith is a defensive specialist with some offensive game. He will be playing a much bigger Chis Wilcox. Wilcox should be able to do whatever he wants on Smith in the post. Also, Wilcox is a decent defender and Josh Smith isn't good on offense yet. This matchup could go either way but I'll side with the better offensive players. Edge: Bulls
Small Forward
vs. 
This has to be a matchup Nocioni dreads. Deng is a long and athletic player that can nail any jump shot inside the 3-point line. Deng isn't as good a defensive player as he should be which bodes well for Nocioni. Nocioni is a hustle player but will find it hard to get good looks against Deng. it is close again but I'll go with...Edge: Hawks
Shooting Guard
vs. 
This is Kobe hands down. I like Joe Johnson and he is versatile but Kobe is the best player in the world. Johnson could slow him down but he is hurt so look for Kobe to drop a 50 a few times. Edge: Bulls
Point Guard
vs. 
Iverson has always been one of my favorite players. He is a big man in a small man's body. He doesn't care is Shaq is baring down on him. He'll still go up for the layup. That fearlessness is AI. He tries hard on defense but won't have to try to hard against Hinrich. Hinrich can be a good player but can also fade if his shot is off. He won't be able to slow down Iverson. So in a cake walk...Edge: Hawks
Bench
vs. 
The benches for both teams are about equal. Glen Davis, Sefolosha, Hassell, and Collison for the Bulls provide depth at all positions. They will be called up to help Kobe drive back the Hawks. The Hawks bench is also good with Childress, Robinson, Croshere, and Smush. There is less flexibility here and with Johnson out Parker will be forced to start at point. Edge: Bulls
Total Edge: Hawks 3, Bulls 3
Series Breakdown:
The key will be how the Hawks can overcome Joe Johnson's absence. If he misses a game or two the Hawks should be ok but if he's out longer they could find themselves is nice big mess and Kobe right in the middle of it. Their team defense needs to be at an all-time high and AI (21.2 ppg, 6.5 apg, and 2 spg) needs to match Kobe basket for basket. The bench will be shorter but still need to be at late season form.
The Bulls will rely on Kobe, Kobe, and Kobe (24.3 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, 1.8 spg). If he can be efficient while scoring in the 30's, the Bulls have a great shot at winning the series. They will need to steal the first and/or second game of the series while Joe Johnson mends. Eddy Curry (17.5 ppg and 9 rpg) also needs to try and get more than 5 rebounds. He has the ability to be a Kobe's Shaq. The bench should be deep enough to keep the game close until Kobe checks back in. This series could be fun.
Prediction: Hawks 4, Bulls 2[/color]
#1 Detroit Pistons (57-25) vs. #8 Washington Wizards (39-43)Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. This is a terrible matchup for Brand on defense. He is a good/great defender but Murphy doesn't like to post up and can shoot from three. Murphy will probably get all the jump shots he wants but Brand will destroy him on the glass and in the post. Brand is a superstar and he should shine in this series. Edge: Pistons
Power Forward
vs. Andrei Kirilenko is a very versatile player and Shareef Abdur-Rahim is going to get to know how versatile. AK is a great defender anywhere on the floor and should shut down Rahim as he is more of a jump shooter now. AK doesn't have a great offensive game but when he wants to he can take over stretches of games. Rahim is adequate on defense at best. Expect another abusing by AK. Edge: Pistons
Small Forward
vs. Battie and Maggette is the matchup to watch. Maggette has the talent to slice and dice teams but rarely lives up to it. This could be his time to show what he can do. He is solid on D and can tear it up at times on offense. If he is motivated he should outplay Battie. Battie is a solid all-around player. He doesn't do any one thing great but can do everything. He's a playoff type player and expect him to play at his highest level. In a close one...Edge: Wizards
Shooting Guard
vs. Ginobili is a great scorer. He can defend at times but can also disappear at times. Dunleavy can disappear all the time. He is a solid player but doesn't stand out. He will outrebound Ginobili but Ginobili will outscore him. Since Dunleavy doesn't require a lot defense...Edge: Pistons
Point Guard
vs. On playoff rep alone Billups should get the nod over Parker. Parker has more rings but Billups hit more game winning shots and has unshakable resolve. This is another close matchup. Parker is younger and faster than Billups which will give him problems on defense. Parker also sets up the other players on his team like no one else. I'll go with quicks here...Edge: Wizards
Bench
vs. This would be a closer call if Juwan Howard wasn't out for the series. The Pistons have more bench players scoring 6+ ppg than the Wizards. The Wizards have three really high quality bench players in Hawes, Daniels, and Stevenson. The Pistons have five quality bench players in Antonio Davis, Brevin Knight, Radmanovic, May, and Carroll. I'll have to give it to the Pistons based on quality and a little more depth. Also, they have a more flexible bench. Edge: Pistons
Total Edge: Pistons 4, Wizards 2
Series Breakdown:
The Pistons had the best record in the league with 57 wins. They very well could have the best starting five in the league too. Brand had 20 ppg and 10 rpg and AK did his thing with 14 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.6 spg, and 1.6 bpg. Maggette chipped in with 16.8 ppg and 7 rpg and both Billups and Ginobili had 19 ppg apiece. With the overall lack of team defense the Pistons are facing the series could be over quickly. The only concern is injury even though the bench is good. The drop off from a starter to backup is huge for the Pistons.
The Wizards are in trouble. Not only is Tony Parker (20 ppg and 6 apg) playing hurt, they are without Juwan Howard. He is an important bench player and they don't have a replacement for him. Even though Dunleavy had 15 ppg, he isn't expected to have the same type of success in this series. Murphy (10 ppg and 8 rpg), Rahim (12 ppg and 6 rpg), and Battie (13.9 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.7 spg) will contribute but unless all three play better this series will be very long from the Wiz. The only real hope the Wiz have is the bench. Stevenson, Daniels, and Hawes were major contributers off the bench and if they play better this series could last a game or two longer than it should.
I really, really feel bad for the Wizards. They got the worst draw possible and have no shot at winning this series. Hopefully they can come back next year stronger and hungrier.
Prediction: Pistons 4, Wizards 0
#4 Cleveland Cavs (52-30) vs. #5 Boston Celtics (50-32)Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. Even though Brad Miller is obviously faster than Z (a snail is), this should go Illgauskas' way. He's a great jump shooter and is good on the block which will give Miller problems. He's a better rebounder and no one is better at tip ins. As long as he doesn't have to play extended minutes the Big Z should outplay Miller. Edge: Cavs
Power Forward
vs. There is no contest here. Kevin Garnett is a beast. He can't be stopped on offense and now that he has a great supporting cast his teammates give other teams trouble. He is a do it all type of player and does everything with an overwhelming passion. Boris Diaw has no chance guarding him and won't even dent the box score on offense. Let the man handling being...Edge: Celtics
Small Forward
vs. Another intriguing matchup. LeBron is almost unguardable but is still learning on defense. Pierce is playoff experienced vet who can take over a game at any time. He can play good defense but will find it hard to play adequate defense on LeBron. LBJ doensn't need to be spectacular on this team. He just needs to make everyone else better. Edge: Cavs
Shooting Guard
vs. This matchup would be laughable most of the time. Joey Graham decided to change that. He put in multiple surprising efforts at the end of the season and grabbed the starting shooting guard job. He may not outplay Stephen Jackson but he won't be far behind. Jackson is a great defensive player, good offensive player, and a much needed vocal team leader. Expect fireworks between him and KG. Edge: Cavs
Point Guard
vs. Daniel Gibson is a young point guard and already has the offense part of the game down. He is a great jump shooter and has shown glimpses of creating his own offense in the playoffs before. That being said. He is no match for Jason Kidd. Kidd is a great defender, great rebounder, great passer, and doesn't force his ugly shot. He picks apart teams and thrives on fast breaks. Expect Kidd to KG a lot in this series. Edge: Celtics
Bench
vs. With a thin bench and just ok production, the Celtics have a major problem. In a seven game series players tend to ware down and they can't afford their starters to miss a beat. Joe Smith, Jarvis Hayes, and Kendrick Perkins can't see much time or the series will be over. They are role players at best and Hayes and Perkins are too inconsistent to expect much. The Cavs have a great bench. Damon Jones, Raja Bell, Luke Walton, and Drew Gooden not only fill roles but can play extended minutes, save Jones. Bell, Walton, and Gooden can start on most teams and should produce better than in the regular season as the Celtics tire. Edge: Cavs
Total Edge: Cavs 4, Celtics 2
Series Breakdown:
Even though KG (21.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.44 spg, and 1.89 bpg) and Kidd (21.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.52 spg) are a great tandem the Celtics really need more depth to compete with any team in the playoffs. Paul Pierce (19 ppg) and Brad Miller (15.9 ppg) will be asked to do more than they did during the season. Joey Graham (9.7 ppg) will also have to really step up the contribution for the Celtics to get by the Cavs. The defense and bench will decide this series.
The Cavs have everything going for them. LeBron (18.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 5.3 apg), Jackson (15.5 ppg), and Illgauskas (19.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 1.5 bpg) form a good core that feeds off of each other. I expect LeBron to go off from Game 1 and grab control. He needs to step up the team defense and get the bench players involved. The bench for the Cavs is the deciding factor in the series. They need to be just as productive and consistent.
This series comes down to which players want it more. Can KG rally his team for the upset? Or will Jackson? I can't pick against LeBron so...
Prediction: Cavs 4, Celtics 2
#3 Toronto Raptors (55-27) vs. #6 Charlotte Bobcats (47-35)Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. Andrea Bargnani better be prepared. Okafor is a very physical center and will crash for every board. Emeka may not be the greatest low post player but he gets by. He is at his best on the block posting up players like Bargnani. His defense is good and should be able to contain Bargnani unless he gets hot from three. Edge: Bobcats
Power Forward
vs. Even though Webber played out of his mind during the season, he cooled off a lot and that concerns me. Bosh has a good jump shot inside of 15 feet and is very long and athletic. Webber has really slowed down the last few years and is no longer explosive near the basket. Bosh should have his way. Edge: Raptors
Small Forward
vs. I like Morris Peterson and think he can still be #2 option but Gerald Wallace stepped it up this year. Always known for his defense, Wallace has slowly become a force on the offense. Look for him to take advantage of Peterson on both sides of the ball. Edge: Bobcats
Shooting Guard
vs. Anthony Parker is one of those stat sheet fillers. He'll score points, rebound, make good passes, and play solid defense. He also makes smart decision with the basketball. His overall game is better than Morrison's and Morrison still hasn't shaken that bust label yet. This could be Morrison's coming out party but he'd have to carry the scoring load for that to happen. Parker in an easy choice. Edge: Raptors
Point Guard
vs. Chris Paul has developed into a top 5 point guard. His offense is getting better, his passing is superb, and his defense is terrorizing. He also rebounds his position better than he should for his size. Terry can shoot lights out at times and has become a better point guard since his Hawks' days. He will really have to step it up if he wants to outplay Paul, who is already the better point guard. Edge: Bobcats
Bench
vs. The Raptors have a deep bench with Kapono, Head, Mason, Calderon, and Moore. Expect substitutions to get these players minutes and keep the likes of Bosh and Terry fresh. The Bobcats are hoping quality outweighs quantity. They have Bowen, Diogu, and Bobby Jackson as the main cogs of the second unit. Bowen is a defensive specialist and Bobby Jackson can light up the scoreboard. Both will need to be special in order to outplay the depth of the Raptors bench. Edge: Raptors
Total Edge: Raptors 3, Bobcats 3
Series Breakdown:
The Raptors have a superstud in Bosh (21 ppg and 10 rpg) and a star point guard in Terry (19.1 ppg, 6.5 apg, 1.92 spg). Both are leaders on the court and help the younger players. Parker (15 ppg) and Bargnani (12.4 ppg and 7.6 rpg) need to grow up fast to counter the players they will be guarding. The bench is deep enough to overcome a injury to a starter and still keep the Raptors chances alive at getting by the Bobcats.
The Bobcats also have a great starting five. Okafor (15 ppg, 8.9 rpg, and 2 bpg), Wallace (11.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.89 bpg), Webber (18 ppg), and Paul (18 ppg, 6 apg, 1.8 spg) will be hard to beat. All four can outplay the players they will match up against but need to be ready for a hungry Raptors team. The bench will also need to step up to keep this series competitive. Bobby Jackson needs to be the spark he once was with the Kings.
Both stating fives are great and matchup up well overall. The benches will be huge. The overall talent and depth goes to the Raptors.
Prediction: Raptors 4, Bobcats 3 (1 OT game)
#2 Atlanta Hawks (54-28) vs. #7 Chicago Bulls (49-33)Starting Five Breakdown:
Center
vs. Ming is the favorite in this matchup. No one can guard him in the post and he is unstoppable if he doesn't settle for jumpers and fade aways. Curry has always been an offensive specialist but will find it hard to do much with Yao guarding him. Yao is a great defender on post players and Curry isn't good enough to take advantage of Yao's slow feet. Edge: Hawks
Power Forward
vs. Josh Smith is a defensive specialist with some offensive game. He will be playing a much bigger Chis Wilcox. Wilcox should be able to do whatever he wants on Smith in the post. Also, Wilcox is a decent defender and Josh Smith isn't good on offense yet. This matchup could go either way but I'll side with the better offensive players. Edge: Bulls
Small Forward
vs. This has to be a matchup Nocioni dreads. Deng is a long and athletic player that can nail any jump shot inside the 3-point line. Deng isn't as good a defensive player as he should be which bodes well for Nocioni. Nocioni is a hustle player but will find it hard to get good looks against Deng. it is close again but I'll go with...Edge: Hawks
Shooting Guard
vs. This is Kobe hands down. I like Joe Johnson and he is versatile but Kobe is the best player in the world. Johnson could slow him down but he is hurt so look for Kobe to drop a 50 a few times. Edge: Bulls
Point Guard
vs. Iverson has always been one of my favorite players. He is a big man in a small man's body. He doesn't care is Shaq is baring down on him. He'll still go up for the layup. That fearlessness is AI. He tries hard on defense but won't have to try to hard against Hinrich. Hinrich can be a good player but can also fade if his shot is off. He won't be able to slow down Iverson. So in a cake walk...Edge: Hawks
Bench
vs. The benches for both teams are about equal. Glen Davis, Sefolosha, Hassell, and Collison for the Bulls provide depth at all positions. They will be called up to help Kobe drive back the Hawks. The Hawks bench is also good with Childress, Robinson, Croshere, and Smush. There is less flexibility here and with Johnson out Parker will be forced to start at point. Edge: Bulls
Total Edge: Hawks 3, Bulls 3
Series Breakdown:
The key will be how the Hawks can overcome Joe Johnson's absence. If he misses a game or two the Hawks should be ok but if he's out longer they could find themselves is nice big mess and Kobe right in the middle of it. Their team defense needs to be at an all-time high and AI (21.2 ppg, 6.5 apg, and 2 spg) needs to match Kobe basket for basket. The bench will be shorter but still need to be at late season form.
The Bulls will rely on Kobe, Kobe, and Kobe (24.3 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, 1.8 spg). If he can be efficient while scoring in the 30's, the Bulls have a great shot at winning the series. They will need to steal the first and/or second game of the series while Joe Johnson mends. Eddy Curry (17.5 ppg and 9 rpg) also needs to try and get more than 5 rebounds. He has the ability to be a Kobe's Shaq. The bench should be deep enough to keep the game close until Kobe checks back in. This series could be fun.
Prediction: Hawks 4, Bulls 2[/color]
JK. i actually agree with that prediction, sadly.
