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BwareDWare94
Where were you when the world stopped turning?
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2011
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Eastern Conference
(1) Atlanta Hawks versus (2) Cleveland Cavaliers
Summary
The perfect opportunity to throw the team versus star power argument under the microscope. Atlanta, a well oiled and deep machine of a team goes up against LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and the vaunted Cleveland Cavaliers. What this series will come down to--and it will be much more competitive than people realize--is which Atlanta team shows up each night. Will it be the laughable squad that never should have lost a game to Brooklyn, the team that wilted under the gaze of mostly washed-up Paul Pierce? Or will it be the team that took control of its series in games 5 and 6 in the first two rounds?
Key Pieces
Atlanta--Teague, Horford, Millsap, Carroll
Cleveland--James, Irving, Mozgov
X-Factors
Atlanta--Shroder, Budenholzer
Cleveland--Thompson, Smith
Maximum Win Totals
Atlanta--4
Cleveland--4
Minimum Win Totals
Atlanta--2
Cleveland--2
Prediction
When all is said and done, analysts and fans will be apologizing to the Atlanta Hawks after they've not only made this a competitive series, but have won it in 6 games. Cleveland might have the King on their side, but I don't buy that Kyrie Irving is truly healthy, and I just don't think they match up all that well with the Hawks. They aren't as deep. They aren't as well coached, even though I think Blatt has done a marvelous job regardless of what the media tells us. 3 out of 5 starting matchups favor the Hawks, and I'm not sure Cleveland has a single bench piece that's better than any Hawks bench piece that regularly sees time. If the Cavaliers were 100%, I'd call this a Cleveland win in 5, but they aren't even close to healthy, and I like what I've seen from Atlanta when they've played well. 4-2, Hawks
Western Conference
(1) Golden State Warriors versus (2) Houston Rockets
Summary
One team is a completed puzzle as far as how its pieces work together. The other is a mish-mash of discarded parts that for some reason has enough heart to overcome its shortcomings. One team has a dominant point guard, the other a dominant center and a 2 guard/point guard hybrid that either scores a bunch of points or tries to dish out a bunch of assists when his shots aren't falling. One team has the best all-around defender in the league, the other goes through spurts of such horrible defense fans will wonder how they got here in the first place. All the signs point toward the Warriors wiping the floor with the Rockets, but the Rockets still got here, somehow, and whatever that somehow is might just show its face again.
Key Pieces
GSW--Curry, Green, Thompson
Houston--Howard, Harden, Ariza
X-Factors
GSW--Bogut, Barnes
Houston--Smith, Brewer
Maximum Win Totals
GSW--4
Houston--4
Minimum Win Totals
GSW--2
Houston--1
Prediction
Lost in all the hoopla about the Warriors three point shooting is how vulnerable they've looked in the first two rounds. Good defense can control them just enough, and if an offensively challenged team like Memphis can take 2, there's no reason the Rockets can't take 4. This series can go one of two directions--the Rockets could get trounced, or they could grind and grit there way through another grueling series. I've shown no faith in my Rockets as of yet, and I'm not going to at this point, either. 4-2, Warriors
(1) Atlanta Hawks versus (2) Cleveland Cavaliers
Summary
The perfect opportunity to throw the team versus star power argument under the microscope. Atlanta, a well oiled and deep machine of a team goes up against LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and the vaunted Cleveland Cavaliers. What this series will come down to--and it will be much more competitive than people realize--is which Atlanta team shows up each night. Will it be the laughable squad that never should have lost a game to Brooklyn, the team that wilted under the gaze of mostly washed-up Paul Pierce? Or will it be the team that took control of its series in games 5 and 6 in the first two rounds?
Key Pieces
Atlanta--Teague, Horford, Millsap, Carroll
Cleveland--James, Irving, Mozgov
X-Factors
Atlanta--Shroder, Budenholzer
Cleveland--Thompson, Smith
Maximum Win Totals
Atlanta--4
Cleveland--4
Minimum Win Totals
Atlanta--2
Cleveland--2
Prediction
When all is said and done, analysts and fans will be apologizing to the Atlanta Hawks after they've not only made this a competitive series, but have won it in 6 games. Cleveland might have the King on their side, but I don't buy that Kyrie Irving is truly healthy, and I just don't think they match up all that well with the Hawks. They aren't as deep. They aren't as well coached, even though I think Blatt has done a marvelous job regardless of what the media tells us. 3 out of 5 starting matchups favor the Hawks, and I'm not sure Cleveland has a single bench piece that's better than any Hawks bench piece that regularly sees time. If the Cavaliers were 100%, I'd call this a Cleveland win in 5, but they aren't even close to healthy, and I like what I've seen from Atlanta when they've played well. 4-2, Hawks
Western Conference
(1) Golden State Warriors versus (2) Houston Rockets
Summary
One team is a completed puzzle as far as how its pieces work together. The other is a mish-mash of discarded parts that for some reason has enough heart to overcome its shortcomings. One team has a dominant point guard, the other a dominant center and a 2 guard/point guard hybrid that either scores a bunch of points or tries to dish out a bunch of assists when his shots aren't falling. One team has the best all-around defender in the league, the other goes through spurts of such horrible defense fans will wonder how they got here in the first place. All the signs point toward the Warriors wiping the floor with the Rockets, but the Rockets still got here, somehow, and whatever that somehow is might just show its face again.
Key Pieces
GSW--Curry, Green, Thompson
Houston--Howard, Harden, Ariza
X-Factors
GSW--Bogut, Barnes
Houston--Smith, Brewer
Maximum Win Totals
GSW--4
Houston--4
Minimum Win Totals
GSW--2
Houston--1
Prediction
Lost in all the hoopla about the Warriors three point shooting is how vulnerable they've looked in the first two rounds. Good defense can control them just enough, and if an offensively challenged team like Memphis can take 2, there's no reason the Rockets can't take 4. This series can go one of two directions--the Rockets could get trounced, or they could grind and grit there way through another grueling series. I've shown no faith in my Rockets as of yet, and I'm not going to at this point, either. 4-2, Warriors
