Cleveland or Orlando?

[DowJones]

Who would you rather see in the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs?

[GJense4181]

Orlando would be easier to beat, as Cleveland is the better matchup.
However, we have bad blood with Cleveland (even the new-look Cavs still have Lebron, Boobie, Ilgauskus, and Side-show Bob) and would like revenge for last season.

[Low-Ki]

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=765226

[GJense4181]

Oh, and everybody else is going to say some variant of ^that^, but probably in greater detail.

I personally would prefer Orlando. Obviously a championship is more *vaild* if you took a harder path to get there, but I simply want to make it back to the Finals at whatever cost. Some teams are merely better/worse matchups, regardless of regular season standings.

[Rodya]

Cleveland, nothing would please me more than seeing Lebron and Ben get knocked out of the playoffs here at the Palace.

[Champs04bigshot]

Its not even close we want Orlando in the second round. Whoever says the Cavs are kidding themselves. We seen what has been taken out of us in the last couple series vs the Cavs. One losing to them and another wearing us down to play the Heat. If anyone here thinks we will have enough to beat the Cavs, Boston, and then whoever comes out of the west they are mistaken. If we play Orlando and get a easier series while Boston and the Cavs battle it out it will help us out tremendously.

[GJense4181]

What would be the hardest route for us?
San Antonio in the finals, Boston in the ECF, Cleveland in the second round, and New Jersey in the first round?
I suppose our first-round opponent is still far to early to be determined, but nevertheless.
I don't think it's too late to catch Boston for the first seed, either.

[Hunter]

What would be the hardest route for us?
San Antonio in the finals, Boston in the ECF, Cleveland in the second round, and New Jersey in the first round?
I suppose our first-round opponent is still far to early to be determined, but nevertheless.
I don't think it's too late to catch Boston for the first seed, either.

Washington dropping to 7th would be much worse than Jersey, although they have a 2.5 game lead and that isn't likely to happen.

[GJense4181]

That's what I was thinking, too. I'd much rather face New Jersey than Washington, but decided it was too much to speculate that Washington would drop to #7 or 8.

For all we know, teams like Chicago, Indiana, Atlanta, or worse could climb into the playoffs.

[Rodya]

Are the Washington and New Jersey teams of this year any better than the Orlando team we swept in the first-round a year ago? I really don't care which team we face in the first round, both are capable of stealing one game on their home court, thats it.

[Hunter]

Are the Washington and New Jersey teams of this year any better than the Orlando team we swept in the first-round a year ago? I really don't care which team we face in the first round, both are capable of stealing one game on their home court, thats it.

The playoffs are as much about matchups as anything. Look at what the Warriors did to the Mavs last year. Washington might not be better than last years Orlando team, but they always seem to play us tough. Neither Sheed or Dice like to go out on the perimeter to guard Jamison, and if they do move away from the basket it opens up driving lanes for Butler & Daniels. If they get Arenas back (and he's practicing this week) they could be a dangerous out.

Not saying I'm particularly worried about them, but I'd definitely say that's a tougher matchup for us than Jersey, Philly or anybody else we may potentially face us in the 1st round.

[Rodya]

-= original quote snipped =-

The playoffs are as much about matchups as anything. Look at what the Warriors did to the Mavs last year. Washington might not be better than last years Orlando team, but they always seem to play us tough. Neither Sheed or Dice like to go out on the perimeter to guard Jamison, and if they do move away from the basket it opens up driving lanes for Butler & Daniels. If they get Arenas back (and he's practicing this week) they could be a dangerous out.

Not saying I'm particularly worried about them, but I'd definitely say that's a tougher match up for us than Jersey, Philly or anybody else we may potentially face us in the 1st round.

I'm not arguing that match ups aren't important, but those match ups work both ways. Orlando and Washington have both gone with smaller line ups with Jamison and Hedo at the PF positions. Either way, Sheed and Dice will be forced to defend out on the perimeter more than they may be accustomed to. Yet at the same time they should have a field day in the paint against both teams, opening a lot of room for shooters on the perimeter.

I admit, Washington has played us tough in the past. But come playoff time, that goes out of the door. Chicago always plays us tough and we pretty much owned them in the playoffs last year. They are a tougher match up than Philly, but I wouldn't say they worry me anymore than Jersey or Atlanta. Again, each of these teams are only going to make at most two games close enough to watch till the fourth quarter.

[Test of Wills]

How about Toronto?

[Snakebites]

^Ill admit we on this board tend to assume (at least in the first round) that the team with the better record will win when looking at prospective matchups, a flaw particularly in the 4/5 matchup.

I think the Raptors would have a tough time getting past Cleveland if that is their first round matchup (and most of us feel (hope?) thats most likely). A Raptors/Magic series would be different, though.

Of the three, Id rather play Toronto, then Orlando, then Cleveland.

And thats not really a criticism of the Raptors, either. We matchup much better with them than with the other teams, especially Cleveland.

[Unclecreepy]

I would rather play Orlando.
I would rather try to stop Howard than LBJ.

[theBigLip]

We still have THREE games left with Cleveland.

[Derekman]

Don't worry guys. We'll beat the Cavs in the first round before we get swept by you.

[theBigLip]

Cleveland loses again!

Cleveland is 5 games behind Orlando in the loss column and they only have 16 games left. It looks like we will miss them in the 2nd round. Plus, three of those 16 is against Detroit, so we should be able to ensure the Celtics-Cavs 2nd round matchup.