Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

So tonight has got be one of those signature LeBron nights where he goes no lower than 41 points, posts at least 12 rebounds, dishes out at least 13 assists and shoots like 60 something percent from the field in a Cavs win right? I’d be STUNNED if the Cavs lose this game


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Needs to spend more than a few minutes guarding Oladipo instead of worrying about Bogdanovich.

Nance ain’t sticking with him(we seen how that turned out on quite a few possessions)so he might as well take that load as well.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Wall or Beal has to go...

Sent from my SGH-M819N using Tapatalk

I'd rather Gortat and Mahinmi leave (though Mahinmi played better this season than he has previously). Porter can walk, too, but I know he's a "glue" guy and does a lot of small things that nobody else would pick up. I don't think the team needs to be blown up, but they need a big man that can score consistently especially from outside of the paint. Plus, anybody has to rotate faster than Gortat.

But this season has been pretty bad from top to bottom. Last year they enjoyed an awesome stretch of basketball where everything was clicking. John's health and absence obviously creates issues as well as the high turnover rate of their bench. KO was a bright spot and stepped up his play tremendously, but his slump post-ASG has been depressing to watch. Sato coming into his role (finally) was great. There's enough good things to build upon for next season, but there's A LOT to work on. Notably their slower-paced, late game offense, their switches and rotations on screens, and John's habit of looking for contact when driving to the basket.

[SPTO]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Masai's drafting has been on point besides the Bruno pick

I think a lot of GMs are kicking themselves for shying away from OG. The guy was projected to be a lottery pick before he got hurt in college and teams basically took a pass on him for medical reasons. Masai and Co. were smart enough to do their homework and the consultation of their director of sports science Alex McKechnie basically gave em the confidence to take OG.


BTW as for the Wiz, as Jack Armstrong said on the Canadian broadcast last night one of the major issues for the Wizards is that they're an overhelp defensive team. Last night they were so committed to stop the jumper/penetration in the paint that the Raptors could penetrate or make like they're going to the hole then pass the ball around for a great look at an outside 3. The team is flawed from a defensive perspective that way. It'll be interesting to see if they make any adjustments against the Raptors perimeter game.

As for the Wall/Beal thing. I kind of thing they're redundant. They seem to be the same kind of player with Wall being better defensively so he has the upper hand in staying if they want to blow things up a bit. One thing I notice is that Wall tends to hold onto the ball for a long stretch. It reminds me a lot of the Raptors the last few years where they played tons of iso/zero ball where there just isn't enough spacing or movement and thus they can be clamped down defensively a lot easier than other teams.

[z Revis]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Dipo got LeBron a couple times in game 1 too. That new move of his where he backs all the way up to almost half court and then runs full speed ahead at his man is kind of unstoppable. I don’t remember seeing that until the last few games of the season. He got like 3 or 4 of his 3’s off of that in game 1. What do you do as a defender? Guard the 3 and Dipo could just run right past you or you do what Nance was doing which was taking a few steps back expecting Dipo to go to the hole only for him to stop and pull up for an open 3.

But yeah I expect LeBron to come out really aggressive tonight. Wouldn’t surprise me if he has one of those games. The key is who else will step up for them. I expect they’ll try and trap Dipo early and often too. Hopefully we’re prepared for that.




Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[areobee401]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Ainge has some decisions to make on Smart and Rozier after the season wraps up. Smart is a RFA and Rozier will be entering the final year of a rookie deal. I wonder what the trade market will be for Rozier. Or do you do the unthinkable and trade Kyrie?

Joking about that last part, btw. Or am I...

[23]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Dipo got LeBron a couple times in game 1 too. That new move of his where he backs all the way up to almost half court and then runs full speed ahead at his man is kind of unstoppable. I don’t remember seeing that until the last few games of the season. He got like 3 or 4 of his 3’s off of that in game 1. What do you do as a defender? Guard the 3 and Dipo could just run right past you or you do what Nance was doing which was taking a few steps back expecting Dipo to go to the hole only for him to stop and pull up for an open 3.

But yeah I expect LeBron to come out really aggressive tonight. Wouldn’t surprise me if he has one of those games. The key is who else will step up for them. I expect they’ll try and trap Dipo early and often too. Hopefully we’re prepared for that.




Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

You run to a guy in that situation not give him the space.

If you have sufficient help defense then the collective effort should be enough.

That's pretty much Westbrook's stop an pop move.

[23]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Ainge has some decisions to make on Smart and Rozier after the season wraps up. Smart is a RFA and Rozier will be entering the final year of a rookie deal. I wonder what the trade market will be for Rozier. Or do you do the unthinkable and trade Kyrie?

Joking about that last part, btw. Or am I...

I've only heard people say they might look to trade Smart..

Why did they keep him over Avery Bradley again?

[areobee401]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

I've only heard people say they might look to trade Smart..



Why did they keep him over Avery Bradley again?

I don't believe it was possible to keep Bradley alongside Irving and Hayward under the cap. Turned out fine because Morris and Smart > Bradley and it's not even close.

[23]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

I don't believe it was possible to keep Bradley alongside Irving and Hayward under the cap. Turned out fine because Morris and Smart > Bradley and it's not even close.

Yeah that's cool, just that they're talking about moving Smart...well that's been the talk, Ainge didn't necessarily say it.

[Vni]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

So tonight has got be one of those signature LeBron nights where he goes no lower than 41 points, posts at least 12 rebounds, dishes out at least 13 assists and shoots like 60 something percent from the field in a Cavs win right? I’d be STUNNED if the Cavs lose this game


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Really excited for this game, hoping the Pacers can pull it off but it's gonna be tough, you know Lebron is gonna come out very aggressive.

[areobee401]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Yeah, comes down to what kind of deal Smart can get in FA. I'm fascinated to see what the market will be for him. Such an interesting player.

[23]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

Yeah, comes down to what kind of deal Smart can get in FA. I'm fascinated to see what the market will be for him. Such an interesting player.

Agreed, but Well Ill save that convo for the offseason.

[redsox4evur]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

I'll be shocked if the Celtics let Smart walk. If they want to trade for any big time player and keep their core (Kyrie, Gordon and Al) together, Smart is the $$$ piece in the trade.

[RedSceptile]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

I'll be shocked if the Celtics let Smart walk. If they want to trade for any big time player and keep their core (Kyrie, Gordon and Al) together, Smart is the $$$ piece in the trade.

Realistically, they are going to have to do quite a bit of shuffling as after Smart they have Jaylen Brown who is up for extension and Kyrie (who is obviously getting the max) and Horford who I doubt even though it isn't impossible, is going to opt out of 30 mil. Unless Kyrie, Brown, Horford etc all willing to take paycuts in the future, something or someone is probably gonna have to give (don't forget Jayson Tatum in a few years). I don't know what big time player you think they'd be able to get with a package centered around Marcus Smart? But logistically, it might not be feasible.

[BluFu]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 1st Round Discussion Thread

I think a lot of GMs are kicking themselves for shying away from OG. The guy was projected to be a lottery pick before he got hurt in college and teams basically took a pass on him for medical reasons. Masai and Co. were smart enough to do their homework and the consultation of their director of sports science Alex McKechnie basically gave em the confidence to take OG.

They should be kicking themselves. Even with his injury, a forward with his length, shooting, finishing, and ability to guard 1-4 should not have fell that far.

But I'm not complaining lol