Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

[ProfessaPackMan]

(1)Philadelphia 76ers vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

(2)Brooklyn Nets vs (3)Milwaukee Bucks

Gimme Philly in 6 and Milwaukee in 7 and no this isn’t some reverse psychology mess either.

We can put up points obviously but our issue is in the glass, where we got killed by Boston and our lack of size. Watching Blake get pulled out to the perimeter on switches isn’t gonna be pretty. I’m guessing DJ will get some minutes as well but I’m not gonna expect much from him.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Philly and Brooklyn in 5 IMO.

Really fascinated to see the Bucks-Nets series but I still just think the Nets offense will be overwhelming. Hope I'm wrong obviously.

[WarMMA]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Nets/Bucks will be an amazing series...hyped for it. I'm automatically pulling for the Nets cuz I'm a KD fan ever since the OKC days, but it will be a tough matchup. I say Nets take it in 6, but Giannis and his supporting cast may have something to say about that. As far as 6ers/Hawks, I see Philly handedly beating the Hawks in 5. Idk when Embiid returns. Even if he cant go right away, I think Philly is still quite capable of taking on the Hawks without him and holding down the fort until he gets back. Simmons just needs to hit his free throws lol

[kibaxx7]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Sixers in 6, Nets in 7. Really excited.

[cima]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Bucks in 5
76ers in 5


This is going to be the year of epic big-market collapses resulting in a Milwaukee/Utah Finals

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Alright Cima if we win more than 2 games or we look/play like we did in Game 2 in this series. don’t come back here posting some “This team is unstoppable and I don’t see anyone beating them” after making that prediction, lol

[cima]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

No promises, I'm kinda unpredictable

[jeebs9]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SI3kdPu_xE&t=2s

Great break down here. I love it. Major Challenge here. Might be a lot of points here

[JazzMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Sixers in 6 - Embiid being injured scares me for Philly, a meniscus tear is nothing to mess around with. He could be a game-time decision the rest of the playoffs with it. Have to play it by ear but I still think Philly has enough with Simmons, Tobi, and their shooters to get past Atlanta. Simmons will make life difficult for Trae, but the Hawks have enough offense without him going off to keep up with Philly and a hobbled Joel. Should be a good series IMO

Nets in 7 - Brooklyn's biggest obstacle IMO for their entire potential playoff run. I just have no idea what they're going to do to try and contain Giannis. Throw Blake on him? Have KD play helpside and try and double? Do they start DeAndre and play a hybrid zone? I legit have no idea how either team is going to guard each other in this series lol and it's going to be great. I could see every game finishing with stupid numbers for everybody. Average score gonna be 125-120 either way lmao. But, in the end Brooklyn just has too much offense, too much star power. Jrue and Giannis should do a good job on Irving/Harden and KD respectively, but one of Irving/Harden should be able to run rampant without Holiday shadowing them

[Junior Moe]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Hawks in 7. Philly is rightly the favorite but I want to see how well Embiid holds up in the pick and roll. I like the Nets over the Bucks in 7. That's the series where I cant wait to see how well defensively Holiday on Kyrie, Middleton on Harden and Giannis on KD hold up. This will be Brooklyn's toughest matchup, IMO.

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[ojandpizza]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Sixers in 6 - Embiid being injured scares me for Philly, a meniscus tear is nothing to mess around with. He could be a game-time decision the rest of the playoffs with it. Have to play it by ear but I still think Philly has enough with Simmons, Tobi, and their shooters to get past Atlanta. Simmons will make life difficult for Trae, but the Hawks have enough offense without him going off to keep up with Philly and a hobbled Joel. Should be a good series IMO

Nets in 7 - Brooklyn's biggest obstacle IMO for their entire potential playoff run. I just have no idea what they're going to do to try and contain Giannis. Throw Blake on him? Have KD play helpside and try and double? Do they start DeAndre and play a hybrid zone? I legit have no idea how either team is going to guard each other in this series lol and it's going to be great. I could see every game finishing with stupid numbers for everybody. Average score gonna be 125-120 either way lmao. But, in the end Brooklyn just has too much offense, too much star power. Jrue and Giannis should do a good job on Irving/Harden and KD respectively, but one of Irving/Harden should be able to run rampant without Holiday shadowing them

I think Middleton is just as good of a perimeter defender as Jrue and Giannis. I think their best bet might actually be putting him on KD and letting Giannis guard Harden because Harden can’t bully him and more length on those step backs.


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[JazzMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

I think Middleton is just as good of a perimeter defender as Jrue and Giannis. I think their best bet might actually be putting him on KD and letting Giannis guard Harden because Harden can’t bully him and more length on those step backs.


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Completely forgot about Middleton, that's my bad. Definitely agree that Giannis can defend Harden the best of anybody on their team, I just feel like KD is going to feast if Giannis isn't on him. Everyone else is either too small or too slow to check him, but Middleton has a decent chance to slow him down. Might be their best strategy, contain Harden and Kyrie with Giannis and Jrue

Last night I was talking with my coworker about that series and we were talking about what the Nets are going to do with Giannis defensively. Wonder who they'll throw on him, I was actually thinking Harden would be a good matchup on-ball for him as long as the helpside is there on the drive. Harden's quick enough and certainly strong enough to hold his own against Giannis IMO

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[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Bucks in 5
76ers in 5


This is going to be the year of epic big-market collapses resulting in a Milwaukee/Utah Finals

NBA Twitter and ESPN would lose their mind if this happens and I’m here for it.

[jfsolo]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

NBA Twitter and ESPN would lose their mind if this happens and I’m here for it.

Yeah, if the Lakers are gone, then I am too.

[illwill10]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

I do think Sixers-Hawks series depend on the health of Embiid. I don't think Sixers beat ATL without Joel or a limited Joel. But, don't want to rush him back and have him get a serious injury. ATL is a deeper team. I don't think Sixers could small like they did against Hawks. Sixers always has problems against smaller shifty players. But, I do think if Joel can be at least 75%, they can win in 6.

Really looking forward to Bucks-Nets. Whoever wins, should be the favorites to win it all. I'm not sure Blake will start this series. I think Sixers matchup better with the Bucks than Nets.