Post by Herby New Year! on Jan 17, 2022 11:40:41 GMT -5
Hello and welcome to your 3019 playoff preview brought to you by Simon Says in partnership with *checks notes* MLK Day!
We have spent hours this weekend reviewing film, box scores, and scouting reports to being you in depth analysis of each round 1 match up in the 3019 playoffs!
Enjoy!
Eastern Conference
Knicks (63-19) v. Hawks (42-20)
Regular Season Results: 4-0 (Knicks)
Key Injuries: Anthony Randolph (12 days)
Key Match-up: Josh Jackson v. Paul Arizin. The Knicks signed Josh Jackson this off-season for match ups just like this. Expect him to shut down Arizin and give the Knicks a post-season sweep of the Hawks. If Arizin can get hot, the Hawks may win a game or two, but anything less than a 6-game series win for the Knicks will be a disappointment to fans in the Big Apple.
Final thoughts: Knicks sweep the series.
Cougars (59-23) v. Pipers (43-39)
Regular Season Results: 3-0 (Cougars)
Key Injuries: Darius Miles (32 days), Drew Gooden (21 days), John Beckman (32 days), Ricky Pierce (6 days)
Key Match-up: Ike Anigbogu v. Jahlil Okafor. This may come down to the training staffs and who can keep their squads healthy, but on the court you’ll want to pay attention to whether Anigbogu will be able to stay out of foul trouble enough to slow down the Pipers’ inside offense centered around Okafor. Expect the scrapy Pipers to win at least one game even without their star PG.
Final thoughts: Cougars win 4-1.
Raptors (59-23) v. Cavs (47-35)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: None
Key Match-up: Markelle Fultz v. The Toronto Raptors. Despite splitting the series 2-2, this match up looks very tough for the Cavs. The Toronto big man rotation is elite both offensively and defensively while the Cavs front court of Jason Jennings, Nikola Vucevic, and Bob Pettit is pedestrian in comparison. The Cavs’ hope lies in their superstar point guard Markelle Fultz, who should be able to feast on the Raptors rotation of Fat Lever and Andrew Harrison.
Final thoughts: Raptors win in 6.
Pacers (59-23) v. Bullets (57-25)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: Rudy Gobert (2 days)
Key Match-up: Caron Butler v. Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Pacers’ selection of Larry Bird in the rookie draft put notice on Giannis that it is put up or shut up time as he needs to prove his defensive acumen against the crafty veteran Butler. Also in a contract year, Butler will want to show the league that he is still an alpha that can lead a team to the promised land.
Final thoughts: Bullets win in 7.
Western Conference
Lakers (61-21) v. Amigos (45-37)
Regular Season Results: 3-1 (Lakers)
Key Injuries: Chris Mihm (4 days)
Key Match-up: Myles Turner v. Carlos Boozer. With Mihm missing at least one home game for the Lakers, it will be especially important that Boozer holds his own against Myles and the Amigos front court. Look for early foul calls in this series to put pressure on both teams’ front court depth. Look for the Amigos to steal home court advantage in game 1 again the Mihm-less Lakers.
Final thoughts: Amigos in 7.
Jazz (58-24) v. Chaps (46-36)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: Jerami Grant (7 days)
Key Match-up: Josh Smith v. Serge Ibaka. Youth v. Experience. There are match ups galore in this showdown, but the most intriguing will be Smith v. Ibaka. The Jazz’s deadline acquisition of Ibaka should pay dividends here as the Jazz serge past the Chaps to advance to the conference semi finals.
Final thoughts: Jazz in 5.
Sonics (59-23) v. Clippers (48-34)
Regular Season Results: 3-1 (Sonics)
Key Injuries: None
Key Match-up: LaSalle Thompson v. Dwight Howard. Howard, who has a nasty streak of blocking shots, will need to prove he’s more than a high light reel blocker and play fundamentally sound post defense to slow down Thompson and the Clippers. If the Sonics can hold Thompson in check, look for Mullin, Jefferson, and Winslow to put up a lot of points against the underwhelming Clippers defensive effort.
Final thoughts: Sonics in 5.
Blazers (51-31) v. Spurs (49-33)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: None
Key Match-up: Victor Oladipo v. CJ McCollum. Finally we get to a match up of wings. Both players are in contract years and hope to show the league what they can do in prime time. Can Oladipo’s ability to defend on the perimeter and contest shots be enough to slow down the electric CJ McCollum, or will McCollum shoot through the hand in his face and power the Spurs to a first round upset. With the potential of a first round upset taking the Lakers out, this match up becomes extra juicy for both of these teams.
Final thoughts: Someone wins in 7. This is going to be a fun series.
We have spent hours this weekend reviewing film, box scores, and scouting reports to being you in depth analysis of each round 1 match up in the 3019 playoffs!
Enjoy!
Eastern Conference
Knicks (63-19) v. Hawks (42-20)
Regular Season Results: 4-0 (Knicks)
Key Injuries: Anthony Randolph (12 days)
Key Match-up: Josh Jackson v. Paul Arizin. The Knicks signed Josh Jackson this off-season for match ups just like this. Expect him to shut down Arizin and give the Knicks a post-season sweep of the Hawks. If Arizin can get hot, the Hawks may win a game or two, but anything less than a 6-game series win for the Knicks will be a disappointment to fans in the Big Apple.
Final thoughts: Knicks sweep the series.
Cougars (59-23) v. Pipers (43-39)
Regular Season Results: 3-0 (Cougars)
Key Injuries: Darius Miles (32 days), Drew Gooden (21 days), John Beckman (32 days), Ricky Pierce (6 days)
Key Match-up: Ike Anigbogu v. Jahlil Okafor. This may come down to the training staffs and who can keep their squads healthy, but on the court you’ll want to pay attention to whether Anigbogu will be able to stay out of foul trouble enough to slow down the Pipers’ inside offense centered around Okafor. Expect the scrapy Pipers to win at least one game even without their star PG.
Final thoughts: Cougars win 4-1.
Raptors (59-23) v. Cavs (47-35)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: None
Key Match-up: Markelle Fultz v. The Toronto Raptors. Despite splitting the series 2-2, this match up looks very tough for the Cavs. The Toronto big man rotation is elite both offensively and defensively while the Cavs front court of Jason Jennings, Nikola Vucevic, and Bob Pettit is pedestrian in comparison. The Cavs’ hope lies in their superstar point guard Markelle Fultz, who should be able to feast on the Raptors rotation of Fat Lever and Andrew Harrison.
Final thoughts: Raptors win in 6.
Pacers (59-23) v. Bullets (57-25)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: Rudy Gobert (2 days)
Key Match-up: Caron Butler v. Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Pacers’ selection of Larry Bird in the rookie draft put notice on Giannis that it is put up or shut up time as he needs to prove his defensive acumen against the crafty veteran Butler. Also in a contract year, Butler will want to show the league that he is still an alpha that can lead a team to the promised land.
Final thoughts: Bullets win in 7.
Western Conference
Lakers (61-21) v. Amigos (45-37)
Regular Season Results: 3-1 (Lakers)
Key Injuries: Chris Mihm (4 days)
Key Match-up: Myles Turner v. Carlos Boozer. With Mihm missing at least one home game for the Lakers, it will be especially important that Boozer holds his own against Myles and the Amigos front court. Look for early foul calls in this series to put pressure on both teams’ front court depth. Look for the Amigos to steal home court advantage in game 1 again the Mihm-less Lakers.
Final thoughts: Amigos in 7.
Jazz (58-24) v. Chaps (46-36)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: Jerami Grant (7 days)
Key Match-up: Josh Smith v. Serge Ibaka. Youth v. Experience. There are match ups galore in this showdown, but the most intriguing will be Smith v. Ibaka. The Jazz’s deadline acquisition of Ibaka should pay dividends here as the Jazz serge past the Chaps to advance to the conference semi finals.
Final thoughts: Jazz in 5.
Sonics (59-23) v. Clippers (48-34)
Regular Season Results: 3-1 (Sonics)
Key Injuries: None
Key Match-up: LaSalle Thompson v. Dwight Howard. Howard, who has a nasty streak of blocking shots, will need to prove he’s more than a high light reel blocker and play fundamentally sound post defense to slow down Thompson and the Clippers. If the Sonics can hold Thompson in check, look for Mullin, Jefferson, and Winslow to put up a lot of points against the underwhelming Clippers defensive effort.
Final thoughts: Sonics in 5.
Blazers (51-31) v. Spurs (49-33)
Regular Season Results: 2-2
Key Injuries: None
Key Match-up: Victor Oladipo v. CJ McCollum. Finally we get to a match up of wings. Both players are in contract years and hope to show the league what they can do in prime time. Can Oladipo’s ability to defend on the perimeter and contest shots be enough to slow down the electric CJ McCollum, or will McCollum shoot through the hand in his face and power the Spurs to a first round upset. With the potential of a first round upset taking the Lakers out, this match up becomes extra juicy for both of these teams.
Final thoughts: Someone wins in 7. This is going to be a fun series.
