Around the League 2014-2015

GoSixersBro · Post #621 » by **GoSixersBro** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:38 pm

What do you guys think about the first round match-ups? Bolded my picks.

(1) Golden State
(8) New Orleans

(4) Portland
(5) Memphis

(3) Los Angeles
(6) San Antonio

(2) Houston
(7) Dallas

(1) Atlanta
(8) Brooklyn

(4) Toronto
(5) Washington

(3) Chicago
(6) Milwaukee

(2) Cleveland
(7) Boston

The Clippers-Spurs series definitely is going 7 games if you ask me. They split the season series two games apiece and both have been red hot, both finishing 9-1 in their final 10 games of the regular season. I heard the Spurs may be without Splitter, but ultimately, I have to go with the defending champs/Pop. The Clippers aren't a very deep team either, which I think is a crucial component of winning in the Playoffs. LAC's starters are going to log major minutes, which may be their downfall.

I have Memphis "upsetting" Portland in the 4-5 match-up. Both teams looked putrid down the stretch, but of course are dealing with respective injured players (Conley, Allen, Green, Gasol for the Grizzlies and Afflalo, Batum, Aldridge and Kaman for the Blazers). Memphis swept the season series 4-0 over Portland so I think they will take care of business this series and move on. Injuries can impact the outcome, however.

I have Golden State and Houston advancing rather easily. I don't want to sleep on Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, but the Warriors are red hot and handled New Orleans (3-1) in their season series. Dallas has looked mediocre as of late and I think James Harden will put his guys on his back this time around.

As for the East, the Hawks will dismantle Brooklyn. Anything else need to be said?

The 4-5 match-up here should be entertaining: Toronto vs. Washington. The Wiz haven't beat the Raps this season, but I think this series will go 6 or 7. These teams are led by two questionable coaches, but I think Toronto pulls it out. The Wizards haven't looked as sharp if you ask me.

I think Chicago takes care of the Bucks. Was the last playoff appearance for Milwaukee in 2010 when Jennings took the Hawks to 7 only to lose in the first round? Anyway, the Bulls have more experience and I just can't imagine/fathom MCW leading his guys to a series win. Love the Bucks' youth in MCW, Giannis, Middleton, etc., but I think Gasol will have a huge series and be unstoppable. Chicago also won 3 of 4 versus Milwaukee during the regular season.

Lastly is Cleveland-Boston. The Celtics, believe it or not, have been one of the top teams in the league since the All-Star break. They beat the Cavs bad last week in their home-and-home, but of course LBJ sat out that second game and played limited minutes the first one. Kyrie also sat out. Besides LeBron, the Cavs' main core has as much playoff experience as this new-look Boston squad, but the greatest player in the game is the x-factor and I really can't see this series going further than 5.

ExplosionsInDaSky · Post #622 » by **ExplosionsInDaSky** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:13 pm

I don't know why, but I LOLd at the mental picture I got from the report about Doug McDermotts dad calling the Bulls and complaining about lack of minutes. Doug is denying it, but we know it happened haha.

GoSixersBro · Post #623 » by **GoSixersBro** » Fri May 1, 2015 9:09 pm

Anyone else catch the Kobe Bryant's Muse documentary on Showtime? Absolute must watch. I always heard how hard of a worker Kobe has been over his long NBA career, but it really takes you in depth with his recent injuries and working back to get on the court. I don't know if there's another player in this league that loves the game like Kobe.

Kobblehead · Post #624 » by **Kobblehead** » Sun May 3, 2015 3:12 pm

Tony Parker needs to hang it up. He's been a bad basketball player for two straight years now.

Ericb5 · Post #625 » by **Ericb5** » Sun May 10, 2015 12:04 am

Have you guys seen the recent reports of Billy King getting a contract extension in Brooklyn?

Jeez.

He has put the Nets into maybe the worst position of any team in the league, and he started with incredible financial resources.

I feel the way I did when Rich Kotite left the Eagles and immediately got a job with the Jets.

Two good things that I can say about King though. I have met him a couple times and he is a very nice guy, and he is a pretty good drafter. However, his trades and decisions on contracts and future picks is about the worst that I have ever seen.

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Kobblehead · Post #626 » by **Kobblehead** » Sun May 10, 2015 12:04 am

Billy King must be a gawdlike interviewee.

MRxBLACK · Post #627 » by **MRxBLACK** » Sun May 10, 2015 12:11 am

I hope it's true. As long as he's not making decisions for the Sixers, I want him bringing down one of our divisional foes. Complete garbage of a GM.

Kobblehead · Post #628 » by **Kobblehead** » Sun May 10, 2015 12:17 am

Whenever teams acquire a first round pick in a trade, the new mandate is that they have to yell "King me" into the phone.

76thBearCub · Post #629 » by **76thBearCub** » Fri May 15, 2015 2:40 am

Kobblehead wrote:Whenever teams acquire a first round pick in a trade, the new mandate is that they have to yell "King me" into the phone.

I dislike you so much less after you got rid of that cheesy avatar.

Hardcore6erFan · Post #630 » by **Hardcore6erFan** » Tue May 19, 2015 12:50 am

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_h7Lm7C9Nk[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGdkaFZVyGc[/youtube]

Skates · Post #631 » by **Skates** » Tue May 19, 2015 1:03 am

Kobblehead wrote:Billy King must be a gawdlike interviewee.

That or he can hack the hell out of an owner's cellphone to get the necessary dirt on them better than the NSA can :lol:

Agnostifarian · Post #632 » by **Agnostifarian** » Fri May 22, 2015 12:13 pm

Kyrie Erving played in 51, 59, 71 and 75 games during his four year career. The trend is good but he's clearly hobbled in the playoffs. Do you guys think he can hold up over time or is the NBA wear and tear going to diminish his effectiveness?

Post #633 » by **Sixerscan** » Fri May 22, 2015 4:11 pm

Agnostifarian wrote:Kyrie Erving played in 51, 59, 71 and 75 games during his four year career. The trend is good but he's clearly hobbled in the playoffs. Do you guys think he can hold up over time or is the NBA wear and tear going to diminish his effectiveness?

People had the same concerns about Curry a few years ago.

I think he'll be fine long term. As you said the trend is in the right direction.

Kobblehead · Post #634 » by **Kobblehead** » Fri May 22, 2015 9:07 pm

Agnostifarian wrote:Kyrie Erving played in 51, 59, 71 and 75 games during his four year career. The trend is good but he's clearly hobbled in the playoffs. Do you guys think he can hold up over time or is the NBA wear and tear going to diminish his effectiveness?

And he missed 27 games in his only year at Duke. ESPN had a graphic up of Kyrie's body and the locations of all his injuries. It was literally his entire body.

Agnostifarian · Post #635 » by **Agnostifarian** » Fri May 22, 2015 9:23 pm

Kobblehead wrote:
Agnostifarian wrote:Kyrie Erving played in 51, 59, 71 and 75 games during his four year career. The trend is good but he's clearly hobbled in the playoffs. Do you guys think he can hold up over time or is the NBA wear and tear going to diminish his effectiveness?

And he missed 27 games in his only year at Duke. ESPN had a graphic up of Kyrie's body and the locations of all his injuries. It was literally his entire body.

CLE is cursed. They need to win this year before the wheels fall off the wagon.

Ericb5 · Post #636 » by **Ericb5** » Fri May 22, 2015 11:31 pm

Agnostifarian wrote:
Kobblehead wrote:
Agnostifarian wrote:Kyrie Erving played in 51, 59, 71 and 75 games during his four year career. The trend is good but he's clearly hobbled in the playoffs. Do you guys think he can hold up over time or is the NBA wear and tear going to diminish his effectiveness?

And he missed 27 games in his only year at Duke. ESPN had a graphic up of Kyrie's body and the locations of all his injuries. It was literally his entire body.

CLE is cursed. They need to win this year before the wheels fall off the wagon.

Yeah, cursed with winning the lottery every year.

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GoSixersBro · Post #637 » by **GoSixersBro** » Sat May 23, 2015 7:07 pm

Kobe reportedly will retire after next season. Crazy how all these players who ran the league when I first got into basketball are retiring (Iverson, Kidd, C-Webb, Shaq, Nash, McGrady) and soon to be the likes of Kobe, Dirk, Pierce, Garnett, etc. I miss the early 2000's.

ProcessDoctor · Post #638 » by **ProcessDoctor** » Thu May 28, 2015 1:18 am

The Love-Wiggins trade looks pretty bad for Cleveland in hindsight. It's going to be tough keeping Love and Thompson, and if they decide to keep both, you have a near-max or max player coming off the bench. Had they kept Wiggins, they would have more money in the short-term, and a brighter future in the long-term. I also think Wiggins' efficiency would have been phenomenal in Cleveland. I'm sure it was LeBron who pushed for this move, but I think they should have prioritized keeping Wiggins.

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Kobblehead · Post #639 » by **Kobblehead** » Thu May 28, 2015 1:23 am

Wiggins' high usage rate this year will pay dividends in the long run. He wouldn't have gotten that in Cleveland. And the slow cook method wouldn't have worked because he's a poor defender at this stage of his career. LeBron would have been too frustrated with him.

Ericb5 · Post #640 » by **Ericb5** » Thu May 28, 2015 1:25 am

sixers238 wrote:The Love-Wiggins trade looks pretty bad for Cleveland in hindsight. It's going to be tough keeping Love and Thompson, and if they decide to keep both, you have a near-max or max player coming off the bench. Had they kept Wiggins, they would have more money in the short-term, and a brighter future in the long-term. I also think Wiggins' efficiency would have been phenomenal in Cleveland. I'm sure it was LeBron who pushed for this move, but I think they should have prioritized keeping Wiggins.

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It does look pretty bad right now, but it is still early. I am assuming that Love resigns and he will mesh better with the team in the second year.

Love is a legit superstar in his own right and I'm confident that he and Lebron will figure it out.

The Heat got a lot better in the second year after Lebron joined them.

I think that Thompson can play at the 5.

Obviously, if Love doesn't resign though it is a disaster. I never thought that they should have made the deal unless it was contingent on Lebron signing with them in the first place that they would trade Wiggins for a current star.

I am just completely in awe of Lebron and what he is doing right now. He is a one man contender.

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