2011 CB Draft Western Playoffs: 1st Round

[StartOrien]

Excellent, excellent job laying out your points, Who.

That should serve as a perfect example of how to lay out a strategy.

[Roy H.]

A reminder:  the Warriors have home court in this series, as they have a better record.

[StartOrien]

Who, is there any games or series' that you could point to that show Bynum is capable of being dominant?

[Roy H.]

Interesting matchup.  Which superstar goes off more, Rose vs. Curry/Terry, or Dirk vs. Humphries?

[Rondo2287]

Also, I think the Miami vs Dallas comparison is a bit misleading.

Dallas was carried to victory by a superstar having a transcendent playoff run.  I do not think that Phoenix has any player capable of putting together that type of run in the playoffs.  

Some things that Phoenix does do well that scares me though as their opponent is,

Their ability to put the ball on the floor positions 1-4

very good rebounding tandem in Bynum and Odom

4 key players that have done it before in the playoffs and in big games.

[Kane3387]

Am I just totally lost/crazy or was Memphis supposed to be playing Utah? 

[StartOrien]

Rondo, do you foresee Milsap having any trouble keeping up with Lamar Odom?

[Roy H.]

Am I just totally lost/crazy or was Memphis supposed to be playing Utah? 

Memphis was a division winner, so they're guaranteed a seed in the top four.  That moved them up, and Golden State and Denver down.

[StartOrien]

Interesting matchup.  Which superstar goes off more, Rose vs. Curry/Terry, or Dirk vs. Humphries?

It depends, I'd be interested to see if we see Batum on Rose. He doesn't have the speed, but neither do the other options, but he does provide a bit more length and strength

[Rondo2287]

Rondo, do you foresee Milsap having any trouble keeping up with Lamar Odom?

Things where we don't matchup well


•A.Bynum struggles on pick and rolls. He doesn't show well and often stays back giving the attacker the advantage. LeBron is one of the most lethal pick and roll attackers in the league and he should be able to gain traction.
This is the main reason why I think Sacramento wins the series. The teams that have beaten LeBron in the past have had much stronger PnR defenses and have been able to keep him outside of the paint because of it. I don't think we are capable of matching that.
•The Kings have the best pick and roll defense and the best transition defense in the league. Limits the opportunities for easy baskets + makes life difficult for Manu's pick and roll game (a main weapon for the Suns).
•Lamar Odom used to torch the Utah Jazz on the regular basis over the past few seasons. This was mainly due to Boozer's + Okur's complete lack of lateral quickness and inability to cover Odom off the bounce. Millsap, on the other hand, was a credible defender against Odom. And now he has an elite interior defender in T.Chandler and elite team defense (Kings) around him to help. That should be enough to make that matchup even for Sacramento

[Kane3387]

Am I just totally lost/crazy or was Memphis supposed to be playing Utah? 

Memphis was a division winner, so they're guaranteed a seed in the top four.  That moved them up, and Golden State and Denver down.

Got ya. Ok cool so I am not crazy. I think this series - as simple as this sounds - might be Dirk vs Rose...

[jgod213]

Interesting matchup.  Which superstar goes off more, Rose vs. Curry/Terry, or Dirk vs. Humphries?

How about Sam Young trying to chase Ray around those screens?

[Kane3387]

Interesting matchup.  Which superstar goes off more, Rose vs. Curry/Terry, or Dirk vs. Humphries?

I like Dirk on Humphries. Dirk will not be asked to play defense. Curry will keep Rose honest. I think Ray has to have a big series to help Rose out because Rose has become a much less efficient player historically in the playoffs.

[Rondo2287]

However I will say about Odom, I really like him and wanted him on our team as Who can attest.  I can probably guarentee that he has at least two huge games this series.  But then he will have probably three where he has minimal effect on the game.  That has been his MO his entire lakers career.

[Kane3387]

Interesting matchup.  Which superstar goes off more, Rose vs. Curry/Terry, or Dirk vs. Humphries?

How about Sam Young trying to chase Ray around those screens?

Rather see Batum or Brewer do that.