Best playoff path to follow + matchups to beat each team

[BruceO]

Whats the best path we can make through the playoffs and what seed allows us to follow that path. Chart what seed you'd want us to have and path we'd follow vs teams to try and get to the ECF.
Also in addition to charting our playoff journey how can we beat each individual team. What would be your free coaching advice to get us past the east. What would you do during the last remaining regular season games and during the playoffs.
what do you think the stregths and weaknesses of the individual teams and how can we nutralize or take advantage of this knowledge

[BigA]

I'd vote for 4th if offered. I think the probability of the Wizards making 4th might be higher than falling to 8th.

But if we aren't going to have home court, I guess my preference would be 6th and 7th about even (for Orlando and Detroit), then Cleveland and last Boston. Although I'd be indifferent between 5th-6th-7th if the 4th seed is anyone but Cleveland

[Wizards2Lottery]

The preferable seeds are 6 and 7.

I really doubt Stern would let the Chosen One get eliminated in the first round and the Celtics flopping in the first round = even less ratings for a boring Eastern Confrence.

[omarvelous]

I'd hope to get the 4th spot. I wouldn't mind playing cleveland again with all our players healthy. But we've done decent against Boston this year (2-1), but I still wouldn't want to play them, or especially detroit or orlando.

[Soup's Uncle]

I'd love to play Cleveland personally, but then we are playing the refs as well. But, this year we have the Big 3. And we can have Haywood hard foul LeBron in his back.

I think we can beat the Magic. Just contain Dwight Howard and hope Turkoglu doesn't torch us.

I think if we were to get Boston or Detroit, we'd lose.

[fishercob]

As much as I'd like to beat Cleveland, I think reality is that there is at least some emotional baggage there. Maybe not, maybe the players think they're a far better squad than two seasons ago and laugh at inclusion of last year's series in any kind of discussions.

The Magic don't scare me. They're not deep and they haven't been there before. So I'd prefer to play them, especially because beating them yields a better second round matchup (Pistons) than beating the Cavs would (Celts).

That said, all I really want is a healthy team and I'll play anyone.

[nate33]

I'd rather play Toronto first, then Orlando, then Cleveland. I know Cleveland is ailing a bit lately, but they're still a veteran team with a core who has made it to the Finals. I'd rather go against the inexperienced Magic or Raptors.

[daSwami]

i feel a fo-fo-fo

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I believe Boston's defense is too sound for them to lose a first round series. They've got big time stars who won't go out like that. No way do I want Washington to finish eighth.

Detroit's too good to lose in round one for much the same reasons. McDyess and Maxiell would be going against Songaila in EJ's rotation. Not pretty even though Darius is seriously balling. I just think the Pistons have too much depth and have been too good to go out in round one. Rip will kill the Wizards perimeter defenders. I'd like to see Washington win a round before stepping up to "Detroit Basketball".

Orlando is a team the Wizards I believe the Wizards might beat in a series if they defend the perimeter and if they keep Howard in foul trouble. I think the Wizards are better than them but that they have the better coach. Ron Jeremy would have Hedo shooting 20 threes and the Wizards would let him, while they collapse inside on Howard. So, while I think the Wizards have better talent overall I don't like the matchup if it comes down to coaching.

Cleveland's already taken the Wizards out a couple times in the playoffs. They're a tough match up for several reasons. They're full of veterans. They have James and most of the time two refs on their side. Mike Brown's owned Eddie in the playoffs. Washington just doesn't believe in hard fouls. Songaila covering Ilgauskas is not pretty, nor is seeing Varejao all over Jamison's back at the end of games grabbing rebounds for them. Washington loves to collapse inside whenever Damon Jones is standing on the perimeter. Delonte West has recently found his shot and he's the type of guard that will give the Wizards fits. Again, a tough matchup but that's pumping Cleveland up too much....

Since getting rid of Gooden and Hughes, the Cavs have struggled to be consistent. They're having a tough time scoring points. Ben Wallace hasn't been good and he's struggling health-wise. Varejao doesn't provide the offense or the bounce as a starter that Gooden did despite being a better defender than Drew. Mike Brown hasn't figured out how to use the offense of Joe Smith or Wally Szcerbiak. The Cavs are really a one-man team with parts not that cohesive. They're slumping going into the playoffs. James is already whining and showing signs of being panicky about his teammates.

And, the Wizards HATE them!

I want Cleveland! Doesn't matter if it's fourth or fifth seed, but obviously fourth would be better. I think Washington will beat them in a series barring bad coaching from EJ.

By all means, Cleveland's the playoff opponent I want the Wizards to see first.

[rockymac52]

^ cosign.

you have to remember that this is the cleveland team that two years ago we battled against. they're better now, so are we. we were capable of beating them then, and we are now as well. we split the series with them 2-2 this season. One game they lost they didn't have lebron. One game we lost we didn't have Caron. Oh, and gilbert didn't play all 4.

in the past cleveland has beat us because of DREW GOODEN. yeah, lebron's had some killer performances, but that's just not going to be enough most of the time. Drew Gooden had always destroyed antawn jamison, but thanks to the trade, that's not gonna be happening this year. I really like the matchup against the cavs; if we're healthy, I can't see us not winning in a 7 game series against them.

Then taht would likely lead us to face the celtics, who i'd much rather see than the pistons. we're 2-1 against them, and we matchup really well.

then of course i'd prefer to see the magic, but more than likely it would be detroit, and sorry i just can't see us beating detroit yet.

[nate33]

Good points CCJ and rockymac.

In years past, Cleveland matched up with us pretty well because they had Gooden to abuse Jamison and they had Hughes to contain Arenas. Now they have neither. Also, their #2 scoring option is a guy Haywood can cover single-handedly. Finally, Stevenson and Butler have the strength (and mindset) to give Lebron some trouble.

If Haywood can give Lebron a hard foul early, and if Stevenson can get into his mind a bit, Lebron's game could be disrupted. Then all we really have to do is make sure Pavlovic, Gibson and Damon Jones don't kill us from behind the arc.

[MJG]

Order I'd like to play the other Eastern teams:

1. Atlanta
2. Toronto
3. Philadelphia
4. Cleveland
5. Orlando
6. Detroit
7. Boston

Obviously not all are first round possibilities, but I'm thinking of the entire playoff picture.

Orlando is very underrated, I think, judging by how many people want them as our opponent. They've been the clear third best team in the East all year, certainly better than Cleveland. I'd rather play the Cavs than the Magic ten out of ten times.

[miller31time]

I really want Cleveland in the first round. More than Orlando and especially more than Detroit.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the Wallace acquisition will be their downfall if they play us.

With Wallace on the floor, his defender can help with containing James, without worrying in the least that Big Ben will score.

And when the Cavaliers go with the frontcourt of James, Wallace and Varejao, we will absolutely dominate.

That series, with proper officiating and health for the good guys, will go 6 games in my opinion.

[MrCool1]

Remember dudes - we have beaten the Celts twice - we had some luck that game where we limited Howard, but we have to make sure we limit Turkoglu if we play the Magic. The inexperience may be the weakness..... detroit will destroy us. No way do I want to play them.

[BanndNDC]

I want Cleveland. Like was said, w/out Gooden and Hughes I really like our matchups. Gooden has always been their key to beating us (dude just always played great against jamison). No Gooden and they dont have that second guy to step up (Z/Wood will be even).

Orlando is who Im worried about. Their 3 point shooting will punish any mental lapses we have on D.

But at this point I'm just ready for the playoffs to start. It's time for other places to recognize and fear our mighty juju.

[mhd]

I want Cleveland. Like was said, w/out Gooden and Hughes I really like our matchups. Gooden has always been their key to beating us (dude just always played great against jamison). No Gooden and they dont have that second guy to step up (Z/Wood will be even).

Orlando is who Im worried about. Their 3 point shooting will punish any mental lapses we have on D.

But at this point I'm just ready for the playoffs to start. It's time for other places to recognize and fear our mighty juju.

There are pros and cons to both matchups. Hedo really plays well against Caron. Orlando has really good 3-point shooters and a proven coach. Their downside is a lack of depth (which won't be an issue in the playoffs) and lack of proven guard play (with the exception of Nelson).

Cleveland has the constant in Lebron. Jones always kills us. However, I think a key in that series would be Joe Smith. He doesn't have the activity of Gooden, but he can play. I don't understand why he doesn't play more for the Cavs.

[dobrojim]

I prefer CLE for the same reasons that have already been laid
out so well. I do fear the refs in a series against LeTravel though.

ORL is a somewhat iffy proposition. The strange thing about
them is that although we're the team that has a pair of AllStar
forwards, their fwds might just hold their own or better against
ours. Turkeyglue has been really solid this year. They're both
tough covers who have games out beyond the arc. Having said
that, Haywood can hopefully neutralize Howard to some extent
and our guards should destroy their's (knock on wood and assuming
Gil is closer to being Gil). Gil, DS and Mason/N1 will need to score
efficiently and AD will need to protect and distribute. No monster
games from the likes of Bogans.

I'll reserve judgement on DET until after we play them one more
time. We had a great win against them last time but they handled
us easily the time before that.

One thing almost no one else has brought up is the possibility
(maybe I'm not being realistic) of one of the other lower ( 5-8 )
seeds winning in the first round. I don't see BOS losing but it
wouldn't shock me if any of the others lost. PHL has been outstanding,
at least recently. Obviously sustaining that at this time of year is
a questionable proposition. But I doubt anyone wants to
play them right now. TOR has been in a funk but could turn i
t around anytime. ATL now has a playoff tested
PG even if the rest of the team has zero playoff experience. That's
the one position where you'd like most to have the experience.
That said, they are almost certain to face BOS. Doubtful that BOS
loses even one game in that series. ATL has no serious fan base
at home. There'd probably be a lot of green in the crowd down at
Phillips (which would really p!ss me off if I was a Hawk fan).

But if PHL faces DET, they could knock them off. My philly friends
don't like the ORL matchup which seems a little strange to me since
Dalembert is similar to Haywood in likely effectiveness against Dwight.
Miller has had a really solid year for them so I like the matchup of
PHL guards...Miller could even have some success against Billups
if they play DET and Iggy on Rip isn't that bad for them either.

CLE, the more I think about it seems quite vulnerable. D West has
no playoff experience IIRC. Wallace as someone else put it, suddenly
seems years older. They better hope Gibson repeats his success
of the Finals last year or LeTravel will need to avg 45 pts/gm for
them to score enough.

[Kanyewest]

Even though it is improbable, who do the Wizards want to play in the finals?

[miller31time]

Even though it is improbable, who do the Wizards want to play in the finals?

Oddly enough, New Orleans.

[BruceO]

i secretly think NO isn't going anywhere. They're a high seed that can be beat. I also secretly think Detroit will go farther than Boston.
I know alot of people are pointing out who they want to face in the first round. But overall factoring if we win the first round, and who we are likely to face in the second who do you want to play.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but playing orlando and winning leads to detroit, and playing cleveland and winning leads to Boston. I think those are the teams we should be narrowing down on. We are not going to play atlanta, philly or toronto in the first round. The first three seeds has already been determined. Meaning we can only play cleveland, detroit, orlando and Boston depending on how we jockey for position