2013 CB Draft: Western Semi Finals: Minnesota(1) vs Golden State(5)

[Who]

I think Golden State has too many weapons for Minnesota.

Their twin towers of Aldridge and Hibbert will make it very difficult for Minnesota to play effective small ball lineups against them. Then they have Rondo running the show who has been incredible against LeBron's teams for a number of years now. A strong supporting cast around them.

I think GSW have matchup advantages at 4 of the 5 starting spots. And 3 of the 5 bench slots (GSW with guards and center, MIN for two forward slots). Albeit a disadvantage at head coach (Monty Williams vs Nate McMillan).

Too much for LeBron to overcome. GSW to win.

[Who]

LA is better then David West.

At 7-0 260lbs, L.Aldridge (PF/C) is much harder matchup than David West (undersized PF; 6-9, 240lbs).

You can matchup with small-ball forwards like Shane Battier or LeBron James on a David West much easier than you can against a LaMarcus Aldridge. Just too much size, skilled size. You could get away with it for a short spell now and again but not for long minutes over a 7 game playoff series. L.Aldridge is a very different type of player to David West and those small-ball lineups won't retain enough defensive integrity against Aldridge.

Especially with a playmaker like Rondo around. You can just see him whirling through the defense on dribble penetration and PnRs and picking off Minnesota's smaller defenders with lob passes around the basket to Hibbert and Aldridge. He'll kill them, Rondo will kill them. Pick them apart.

This is a really rough matchup for Minnesota.

[Rondo2287]

Would Bradley be guarding Rondo?  I actually think Bradley could give rondo fits on defense.

[Roy H.]

I'm not a huge fan of Minnesota's offense, but I think they get by Golden State.  I think Minnesota's elite defense + Golden State's lack of backcourt spacing will be enough.

[dark_lord]

tough series here and I need to think on it and hear what the teams have to say.  as of now, im leaning towards minny.  the lbj factor is real. he is that good (even tho I hate the guy)

[KGs Knee]

GS does seem to be well equipped to take down LeBron and his gang in this series.  They have the obvious advantage in the front court and a very good PG who has proven to be an elite playoff performer.

While I didn't think GS would beat LAL, I am willing to wait to make a decision on this series, and look forward to hearing the strategies from both sides.

[pearljammer10]

My first thought when I opened this thread was GS has a lot of fire power but there is no one to guard Lebron. Hibbert is certainly a force for him in the middle but I do worry about GSW's one on one defense on him.

GSW is going to be tough to guard with a trio of LA, Hibbert and Bargs to stretch the floor however. Tough one.

[Kane3387]

Got training all day. Stayed up late creating my posts and believe a lot if answers to questions are posted in there. I'll do my best to get in here and be active at lunch and on breaks. Also after work too.

Please, if you can, take the time to read as much as you can what I've already posted on the front page. Good luck to all and congrats to minny on advancing.

 

[KGs Knee]

I really question whether GS has enough perimeter shooting to keep the floor well enough spaced.  Jordan and Ibaka aren't as good as GS's bigs, but they don't need to be.  They just need to limit the damage.

I really don't see anyone capable of defending LeBron in this series.  He's too good of an outside threat now to simply be stopped by making him shoot jumpers.  He needs to be pressured more.

[Fafnir]

Yeah I'm having a tough time with this series, no one I like guarding LeBron one bit. Though it does help that I don't think that Minnesota can go small either.

Probably Minnesota but I'll ponder this some.

[KCattheStripe]

James has made
nine floaters over Hibbert over the last year (dating back to the 2012 playoffs). It's tough to find evidence he has attempted more than a couple against the rest of the league combined.

Hibbert alters James shots more then anyone else in the world. Hibbert is a beast.

Over the past year combined -- the 2012 playoffs, 2012-13 regular season, and Game 1 of this series -- James has taken 210 shots against the Pacers and made 106. I just watched them all. A grand total of four of the makes -- three in last year's playoffs and the one in the photo above from Game 1 -- came from James taking on Hibbert directly at the rim. There are James scores near Hibbert, for instance by sneaking in behind him, or one oddball hook shot moving away from the hoop. But only four when James identified Hibbert on duty and proceeded to attempt a layup or dunk.

Hibbert deters him so much he often kicks it out but there isn't a lot of quality shooting out there for minny to space the floor.

Meanwhile, James spends a lot of time driving close to Hibbert and then dishing (no small part of Chris Andersen's big Game 1) or pulling up from midrange, where LeBron is much-improved, but nothing like as effective. There was also one entire game -- the Heat's win over Indiana in the middle of their 27-game win streak -- when James drove just twice all game against a set defense of any kind.

This reticence has an effect. This season LeBron scored fewer points per game in the paint against Indiana than against any other team, according to the NBA's advanced stats website. Not surprisingly, with those high-percentage attempts down, James' shooting percentages are well below average against the Pacers compared to other teams.

The fact that hibbert anchors my defense is big in defending James. I will not ask one guy to shut down James. Team defense will defend Lebron with superior interior play and rim protection.

This shadowboxing between James and Hibbert has been playing out for at least a year, and matters. It's at the heart of a blossoming Pacers-Heat rivalry, and it could easily determine who'll win the East.

All that article proves to me is that Lebron added a shot to make himself more effective against the Pacers, which the stats bore out that he did.

[nickagneta]

Echoing the rest of the sentiment here. The Minny defense is staunch and would probably pack it in down low and just have Bradley hound Rondo full time in a box and one type defense. it would make GSW have to beat Minny by shooting outside over them, which I am not sure they can do.

And no one on GSW is stopping Lebron. I could see him having just an epic series. Still very close. I will wait to read and decide later but I am leaning Minny's way.

[Kane3387]

I really question whether GS has enough perimeter shooting to keep the floor well enough spaced.  Jordan and Ibaka aren't as good as GS's bigs, but they don't need to be.  They just need to limit the damage.

I really don't see anyone capable of defending LeBron in this series.  He's too good of an outside threat now to simply be stopped by making him shoot jumpers.  He needs to be pressured more.

Indianas best three point shooter was George hill against Miami. He shot 36 percent from three. Indiana played well. GS is better then Indiana and minny is much worse then Miami.

Rush can shoot. LA can shoot. Rondo is much better in the mid range and no one can guard him to the point they shut him down. I love AB but he got killed by Raymond Felton. He's the pg in Minnesota and last year the combo of running an offense and guarding a dynamic player wore him out and hurt his D. Same thing in this series.

If derozans shooting hurts us then ill put Lou Williams in. Lou like George hill shoots 36 percent from three. Leave him open and he will hit shots.

Again this is basically Lebron vs GS. Ibaka and monta are not bosh and wade.

[Kane3387]

Also Minnesotas lack of spacing really affects Lebrons ability to create. Compound that with my interior defense  and rim protection and Minnesota has a hard time scoring. More likely it's a lot if standing around and watching Lebron go iso.

Monta won't allow that. Works fine for me when he starts jacking shots up.

[Roy H.]

Also Minnesotas lack of spacing really affects Lebrons ability to create. Compound that with my interior defense  and rim protection and Minnesota has a hard time scoring. More likely it's a lot if standing around and watching Lebron go iso.

Monta won't allow that. Works fine for me when he starts jacking shots up.

You're right; I think the lack of spacing cuts both ways.  This series is going to have some ugly basketball.