Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

[Muzyk23]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Griz in 4

if manu doesn't play who knows

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

I don't care if Manu doesn't play and Pops gets the chicken pox and can't coach, they should still be able to handle the Memphis freakin Grizzlies without their best player.

I can't envision Lakers losing any of their first two games, and they should split at least one in NO's. Lakers have no excuse not to close the series out in 6.

If it goes 7, LA should take a real long look at themselves in the mirror. David West isn't playing for Christ sake.

And if Denver beats OKC... well that would be something.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Lakers have no excuse not to close it out in 5.

Gasol should go off in this series, honestly.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

They really don't but keep in mind Steve Blake won't play [chicken pox], meaning Fisher/Brown/Trey Johnson are gonna be playing big minutes. Not that Blake is that much better but he's at least stable and a real point guard.

Brown/Johnson are more combo guards. Johnson is being thrown into the fire straight out of the D-League and Fisher... well I don't think I have to explain why it's bad for him to play heavy minutes.

Also Matt Barnes' surgically repaired knee is giving him trouble and there's swelling and all that jazz. Not sure if he's anywhere near 100%. Meaning Puke Walton may have to play... it's clear that his career is over as an NBA player after his contract runs out.

I have a feeling Andrew doesn't just have a bone bruise. I think that's a BS report. That injury looked awful. I don't see how a bone bruise could result from that. I think it's a lot worse, but we'll be able to tell on Sunday.

I think it'd be acceptable for it to be pushed to 6 games. But I predicted 5 games.

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Spurs in 6
LA in 5
Dallas in 7
Denver in 7

I'm really looking forward to this OKC/Denver match-up, should be a good one.

[rdnk]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Dallas has a tough 1st Rd opener.

OKC and DEN should make for a good series too.

Pretty much this.

SA in 5, depending on Manu
LA in 4
Port in 6
OKC in 7

Much more interesting than the first round in the east, were it looks to be all chalk.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Teams that I wouldn't be surprised if they beat LA: SA, OKC, Boston, Miami

Only teams that I fear: OKC and Miami

LA has a nice draw if they were to advance to the finals [assuming Dallas beats Portland]. Depleted NO's, Dallas [whom they match up with very very well] and then either OKC/SA/DEN. IMO wouldn't have to face a "scary" team until the WCF's.

If Portland wins, they match up very well with LA and that would be a tougher match up than with Dallas IMO.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Butler may be avail second round, but I doubt it mattetd anyway

[goh]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

I was all ready to pick NO and Memphis "upsets" then the seeding changed.

Grizz in 6.

Lakers in 4 this barring Kobe and Artest coming down with chicken pox and Bynum not getting more injured.

Blazers in a very,very,very tough 7.

Thunder in 5.

Let's see what 2K11 says...

[ZB9]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Mavs-Blazers series is going to be interesting....these two teams are so similar in their style and roster (I call Portland a "poor man's" Mavericks )

One thing ill be interested to see, is if Tyson Chandler will run Camby ragged in this series. Chandler is like a pogo stick out there and quite athletic for a center. It might be difficult for Camby to keep up with him. The Blazers really have no true center outside of Camby and they will have to go small quite a bit with Aldridge at center, while Dallas has Haywood and a capable Mahimi backing up Chandler.

[jfsolo]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

I can't believe any regular view of NBA basketball would pick the Lakers in 4. You guys know how they are. I'll be shocked beyond belief if it is anything less then 6. Sweeping a team is about more then just the talent discrepancy, you have to play with an edge that these Lakers can't muster.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Mavs-Blazers series is going to be interesting....these two teams are so similar in their style and roster (I call Portland a "poor man's" Mavericks )

One thing ill be interested to see, is if Tyson Chandler will run Camby ragged in this series. Chandler is like a pogo stick out there and quite athletic for a center. It might be difficult for Camby to keep up with him. The Blazers really have no true center outside of Camby and they will have to go small quite a bit with Aldridge at center, while Dallas has Haywood and a capable Mahimi backing up Chandler.

I dunno about poor man's anyone.

I don't think Dallas has a perimeter defender the caliber of Nick Batum. I don't think they have a defender the caliber of a Gerald Wallace.

I don't think Dallas can get points in the paint like Portland can [didn't check any stats]. Portland can bang with any team in the league. Crash, Aldridge and Camby like to mix it up. Aldridge isn't soft anymore.

And I think Portland has a bit more firepower than Dallas does offensively.

Between Miller, Matthews, Wallace, Aldridge.. then Roy, Fernandez and Batum to chip in.

Outside of Dirk, you have a rusty Butler, washed up Matrix, JET and undersized JJ.

I really don't think Tyson Chandler is gonna make the difference in the series with his offensive production.. no matter how slow Camby is.

Buuuuut, in the end Dallas still has Dirk. So they're probably gonna pull the series out just based on that. Dirk has that ability.

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Portland won this series.

[TMagic]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Spurs in 7
Thunder in 6
Portland in 7
Lakers in 5

Thunder in 7
Lakers in 7

Lakers in 7

One of the most exciting western conference playoffs EVER!!! lol

[ZB9]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

I dunno about poor man's anyone.

The Blazers are a good team but they are the six seed for a reason

I don't think Dallas has a perimeter defender the caliber of Nick Batum. I don't think they have a defender the caliber of a Gerald Wallace.

Both are good defensive squads. Both were ranked in the top 10

Shawn Marion is probably a better defender than both. He's been playing out of his mind over the past few months. DeShawn Stevenson and Cory Brewer are pretty solid defenders. Terry's perimeter defense has been good overall this season. Kidd is a good defender against the types of guards Portland has as well. The teams Kidd and Dallas have the most trouble with are those helter skelter up tempo teams with fast, quick, athletic guards (like Denver).

However, Portland's size at guard will make it difficult for the Mavs to play their small 3 guard lineup that they like to use sometimes without being forced to utilize a zone (which they do like to mix in the zone sometimes anyway). The Mavs are going to have to play a lot of zone this series and Stevenson as well as Brewer are going to have to be in the rotation this series.

I don't think Dallas can get points in the paint like Portland can [didn't check any stats]. Portland can bang with any team in the league. Crash, Aldridge and Camby like to mix it up. Aldridge isn't soft anymore.

Portland is going to have to play Aldridge at center much of the time while Dallas has 2 top caliber defensive centers to guard the hole as well as a capable Mahimi to fill in at spots.

Dirk has excellent post moves when he wants to or needs to use them and he usually takes it to the hole quite a bit more in the playoffs. Then there are guys who can take it to the hole when it's there like JJB, JET, Marion, Brewer, Roddy B.

JJB will have problems on defense against Portlands big guards, but the Blazers have had a very difficult time on defense keeping Barea from scoring in the lane. He can very often get to the rim at will against the Blazers.

Most of all, Chandler is the first offensive threat at the center position that Dallas has had in the Dirk era. The Mavs were basically playing with 4 on offense when they had brick hands Dampier and Diop. Haywood is more of a threat than those guys also. Im not saying Chandler/Haywood/Mahimi are great, but the Blazers will have to account for them on D. They are better than anything the Mavs have had in this era.

And I think Portland has a bit more firepower than Dallas does offensively.

Between Miller, Matthews, Wallace, Aldridge.. then Roy, Fernandez and Batum to chip in.

Outside of Dirk, you have a rusty Butler, washed up Matrix, JET and undersized JJ.

Butler wont be playing, which hurts

but overall Dallas has been better on offense than the Blazers overall all season. They have scored more points with a higher field goal percentage. They have been one of the better "ball movement" teams in the league, and when they are moving the ball, they are very tough to defend. The Mavs are certainly better team wise at shooting the 3 (as well as defending the 3 for that matter) I dont see that changing now but we will see

JET, Peja, Stevenson, JJB, and even Brewer are going to have to step up though. Peja is going to have to be able to at least fake it guarding Fernandez and put pressure on Fernandez and Batum on the offensive end spacing the floor. Brewer is going to have to at least be able to halfway guard Batum. Idk but for some reason, im pretty confident that Stevenson and Terry will be able to guard Mathews. He will cause them problems but Dallas has been pretty solid overall in defending the 3 ball.

I really don't think Tyson Chandler is gonna make the difference in the series with his offensive production.. no matter how slow Camby is.

he's been a huge difference for this team all season (except against the Lakers where he was horrible)...id bet he will make a difference just for the fact that Dallas has never had any sort of offensive threat at the center position in the Dirk era. The fact that Portland will have to account for him at all should make a difference compared to what Dallas has had in recent seasons with Dallas basically playing 4 on 5 on offense. It will be interesting. Im very curious to see this particular match up

Buuuuut, in the end Dallas still has Dirk. So they're probably gonna pull the series out just based on that. Dirk has that ability.

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Portland won this series.

I wouldnt be surprised either. I think Dallas is the better team overall, but I wouldnt want to bet on this series cause it could go either way. It should be fun.

[Tydis]

Re: Western Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

If JET makes his shots, Dallas wins; if not, they don't.

Simple as that as far as this Mavs fan is concerned.