2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

I think a underrated aspect of the playoffs is that the teams\players known for 'out hustling' you tend to fade a little but because everyone is out there playing as hard as possible....

Could be a valid point, do you have any specific examples from the past?

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Seeing lots of diff opinions regarding Raptors-Nets.

ESPN people are basically split(9 say Nets,8 say Raptors).ESPN polls are in big favor of the Nets. NBA.com is in big favor of Raptors.

This is a 50/50 in my eyes. Can't call it but right now gun to my head I'm favoring the Raps.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

USA in 6 but I'm hoping 4 so we can end this cinderella story and Raptors' Fans can STFU til next season.

Support your country, OS.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Later ex, I cant quite fully explain what I mean at the current moment w\o rushing, lol

I am undecided on Raptors\Nets....but I think it will be one of the better series of the first round....

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Pack is really goin hard

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Pack is really goin hard

Never had a problem with them and basically paid them no attention. But over the last few weeks/months they've been so annoying.

Best believe if we win this series, they'll bust out the "The league wants it's premier market team in the 2nd rd instead of Toronto since it means better ratings" nonsense.

As for my thoughts on this series, this is the time where Deron HAS to step his game back up. I honestly think he needs to be the difference maker for us to advance. Blatche is up there as well but that depends if he gets minutes over Plumlee and Teletovic because since he's come back, he hasn't shown he can take minutes from Plumlee.

This holding KG thing needs to stop. We're in the playoffs so unless he's in foul trouble, you play him. Bench has been among one of the better units in the league throughout the year so hopefully they keep that up. And getting Livingston and Anderson back should help with the perimeter defense as well.

[aholbert32]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

There's no doubt in my mind that the Wizards can make this a 7 game series. I just see Thibbs as a rude playoff welcome for John Wall's first appearance. Maybe he'll too young and dumb to feel the pressure though...

I'm not concerned about that because a healthy Wizards team has a good amount of offensive options. I've watched 50 plus Wizards games this year and Wall can thrive no matter what you throw at him this year. He can run P&Rs with Gortat. The drive and kick game with Ariza, Webster and Beal. Or run post ups with Gortat and Nene. The Wiz dont need him to score to be successful so denying him the ball or throwing traps at him wont affect them much if they are knocking down shots.

My concern is that Thibs is a MUCCCCCCCCCHHHHH better coach than Wittman and I'm not confident that Wittman will be able to adjust to some of the stuff Thibs throws at him. Also, I'm concerned that the young guns like Wall and Beal will be affected by the new playoff spotlight and not step up. Particularily Beal.

[JODYE]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Ehh, may be my homerism but would be surprised if the Bulls/Wiz series goes any further than 5 games.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Never had a problem with them and basically paid them no attention. But over the last few weeks/months they've been so annoying.

Best believe if we win this series, they'll bust out the "The league wants it's premier market team in the 2nd rd instead of Toronto since it means better ratings" nonsense.

As for my thoughts on this series, this is the time where Deron HAS to step his game back up. I honestly think he needs to be the difference maker for us to advance. Blatche is up there as well but that depends if he gets minutes over Plumlee and Teletovic because since he's come back, he hasn't shown he can take minutes from Plumlee.

This holding KG thing needs to stop. We're in the playoffs so unless he's in foul trouble, you play him. Bench has been among one of the better units in the league throughout the year so hopefully they keep that up. And getting Livingston and Anderson back should help with the perimeter defense as well.

I hear ya. Like I said before, I don't blame Raps fans for being excited that they've been performing well all season.

I need Deron to take his game to another level. I fear he may not have that next gear, or at least keep that gear consistently.

I'm not concerned about that because a healthy Wizards team has a good amount of offensive options. I've watched 50 plus Wizards games this year and Wall can thrive no matter what you throw at him this year. He can run P&Rs with Gortat. The drive and kick game with Ariza, Webster and Beal. Or run post ups with Gortat and Nene. The Wiz dont need him to score to be successful so denying him the ball or throwing traps at him wont affect them much if they are knocking down shots.

My concern is that Thibs is a MUCCCCCCCCCHHHHH better coach than Wittman and I'm not confident that Wittman will be able to adjust to some of the stuff Thibs throws at him. Also, I'm concerned that the young guns like Wall and Beal will be affected by the new playoff spotlight and not step up. Particularily Beal.

That is all I meant by the Thibbs comment. You give this man time to game plan..

[aholbert32]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Ehh, may be my homerism but would be surprised if the Bulls/Wiz series goes any further than 5 games.

You are gonna be shocked. The Wiz can score and unless guys like Gibson and Augustin have a big series, the Bulls will struggle to keep up.

[JODYE]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

You are gonna be shocked. The Wiz can score and unless guys like Gibson and Augustin have a big series, the Bulls will struggle to keep up.

Oh I'm well aware for sure. They gave us trouble in the regular season for sure (albeit right after the Deng trade when we were lost) and not discrediting what they have done this year at all. They have built a nice core and Wittman has done a hell of a job.

However, I just think when it comes down to it, the Bulls physicality on the defensive end, and their ability to rebound the basketball will prove to be too much. Especially against the youth and inexperience of the Wizards in a intensified playoff series. Also doesn't hurt that Nene is still on the mend and both Noah/Gibson/Augustin are playing some of the best basketball they have ever played.

I think from the Wizards standpoint, Gortat has to be their difference maker if they really want to sniff the next round.

[aholbert32]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Oh I'm well aware for sure. They gave us trouble in the regular season for sure (albeit right after the Deng trade when we were lost) and not discrediting what they have done this year at all. They have built a nice core and Wittman has done a hell of a job.

However, I just think when it comes down to it, the Bulls physicality on the defensive end, and their ability to rebound the basketball will prove to be too much. Especially against the youth and inexperience of the Wizards in a intensified playoff series. Also doesn't hurt that Nene is still on the mend and both Noah/Gibson/Augustin are playing some of the best basketball they have ever played.

I think from the Wizards standpoint, Gortat has to be their difference maker if they really want to sniff the next round.

Augustin scares the **** out of me which is something I never thought I'd say. He has been playing great ball the last few months.

I like the number of bodies the Wiz can throw at them. Nene is pretty much 100% and will be good for at least 30 min. Gortat as u mentioned. Also Gooden and Seraphin are good for at least 6 fouls,

I'm just excited for this series man. I've already made 600 bucks selling playoff tickets today so I feel like a winner even if the Wiz get swept. I'm going to Game 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday and UFC 172 on Saturday in Baltimore. Should be a hell of a weekend.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

I feel that if Beal is consistent Beal the Wiz will be a tough match up for them. Also Ariza, he's had lots a great shooting games this year, hopefully he saved a few for the playoffs.

Wall has been great this year, though I think he's been slightly overrated, I think we know what to expect from him. I don't really feel defense will fluster him or force him in to bad shots or anything like that. I think he'll attack when it's there and dish out when it isn't. I think he's smart enough, though young, to not let stingy defense take him out of games..

I think it depends on how well the Wizards defend the Bulls. Their offense already doesn't come easy so it depend how tough they can make it on them.. Rebounding too, can't let Noah dominate the series. Taj off the bench will be huge, he's been playing great lately, at least in games I've saw.


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[JODYE]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

Augustin scares the **** out of me which is something I never thought I'd say. He has been playing great ball the last few months.

I like the number of bodies the Wiz can throw at them. Nene is pretty much 100% and will be good for at least 30 min. Gortat as u mentioned. Also Gooden and Seraphin are good for at least 6 fouls,

I'm just excited for this series man. I've already made 600 bucks selling playoff tickets today so I feel like a winner even if the Wiz get swept. I'm going to Game 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday and UFC 172 on Saturday in Baltimore. Should be a hell of a weekend.

If Nene is indeed 100%, then that does change things a little defensively for us. Don't know how comfortable I feel putting Boozer on either Gortat or Nene for an extended period of time. Especially a healthy Nene at that.

I think a real advantage for us is going to be having Noah distribute from the high post. Drawing one of those guys out of the paint and freeing up space for Boozer/Bulter/Augustin to operate IMO is going to be what wins us this series at the end of the day. Assuming we rebound and play defense like we have the past really all season long.

I agree it should be competitive either way.

And why did I think you were a Rockets fan? Didn't you have an Aaron Brooks avi for the longest time?

[aholbert32]

Re: 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs -1st Round Discussion Thread

And why did I think you were a Rockets fan? Didn't you have an Aaron Brooks avi for the longest time?

I did but it was a joke. I thought it was funny that a few years back Brooks signed a deal with a Chinese team like 3 days before the lockout ended. He was forced to stay in China for most of that season so I had a caption that said "Lost in China" or something like that.

I'm actually a Lakers fan but I've been a Wiz season ticket holder for 6 years so they have become my defacto second team.