NBA Playoffs 2023

[Who]

The possible SAC vs LAL matchup

Starters

G: D Fox vs D Russell
G: Huerter vs A Reaves
F: H Barnes vs LeBron
F: K Murray vs Vanderbilt
C: D Sabonis vs A Davis

Fox has a clear advantage over D Russell. Russell is a bad defensive player who struggles to stay in front of normal speed guards nevermind one of the quickest PGs in the league in D Fox.

I like Reaves over Huerter. Reaves has a more dynamic offensive game. He is better on the ball creating his own offense and creating for others. A better passer and driver.

Keegan Murray should be able to create an advantage for SAC over Vanderbilt. This is something MEM did not have. That is an offensive threat at PF to matchup against the defense-only Vanderbilt and exploit his lack of offensive game. This is what Tillman was unable to do. What Aldama was not good enough to do. What MEM lacked after the loss of Kyle Anderson a year ago. Keegan Murray does do this and he will give SAC an advantage at PF over Vanderbilt.

I like the C and SF matchups for LAL. A Davis is a dynamic two way player whereas Sabonis is only a one way player. LeBron is an exceptional passer and rebounder whereas H Barnes is far closer to average in almost everything.

Bench

G: Davion Mitchell vs Schroder
G: Monk vs Malik Beasley
F: T Davis vs Troy Brown
F: Lyles vs Hachimura
C: A Len vs Mo Bamba

That Monk vs Beasley is a big advantage for SAC. Hachimura gives LAL an advantage at PF over Lyles who is a very limited player. The C options do not figure to play much and are fairly even anyways. I prefer Terrence Davis over Troy Brown. The Davion Mitchell vs Schroder matchup will be fun. Not sure how that plays out.

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Before the playoffs, I thought LAL would be able to exploit SAC's weak interior defense but LAL was so bad against MEM for most of that series that have lost a fair amount of confidence in their ability to that well.

Particularly in LeBron James who struggled to create dribble penetration for most of that series even when presented with clear mismatches in his favour. A Reaves ended up being their best dribble drive threat which was ... unexpected.

And then Anthony Davis who was up and down like a yo-yo on offense for LAL. Not convincing either.

Not sure what to think about LAL now. I am wavering on them beating SAC.

[Phantom255x]

The possible SAC vs LAL matchup

Starters

G: D Fox vs D Russell
G: Huerter vs A Reaves
F: H Barnes vs LeBron
F: K Murray vs Vanderbilt
C: D Sabonis vs A Davis

Fox has a clear advantage over D Russell. Russell is a bad defensive player who struggles to stay in front of normal speed guards nevermind one of the quickest PGs in the league in D Fox.

I like Reaves over Huerter. Reaves has a more dynamic offensive game. He is better on the ball creating his own offense and creating for others. A better passer and driver.

Keegan Murray should be able to create an advantage for SAC over Vanderbilt. This is something MEM did not have. That is an offensive threat at PF to matchup against the defense-only Vanderbilt and exploit his lack of offensive game. This is what Tillman was unable to do. What Aldama was not good enough to do. What MEM lacked after the loss of Kyle Anderson a year ago. Keegan Murray does do this and he will give SAC an advantage at PF over Vanderbilt.

I like the C and SF matchups for LAL. A Davis is a dynamic two way player whereas Sabonis is only a one way player. LeBron is an exceptional passer and rebounder whereas H Barnes is far closer to average in almost everything.

Bench

G: Davion Mitchell vs Schroder
G: Monk vs Malik Beasley
F: T Davis vs Troy Brown
F: Lyles vs Hachimura
C: A Len vs Mo Bamba

That Monk vs Beasley is a big advantage for SAC. Hachimura gives LAL an advantage at PF over Lyles who is a very limited player. The C options do not figure to play much and are fairly even anyways. I prefer Terrence Davis over Troy Brown. The Davion Mitchell vs Schroder matchup will be fun. Not sure how that plays out.

-------------------------------

Before the playoffs, I thought LAL would be able to exploit SAC's weak interior defense but LAL was so bad against MEM for most of that series that have lost a fair amount of confidence in their ability to that well.

Particularly in LeBron James who struggled to create dribble penetration for most of that series even when presented with clear mismatches in his favour. A Reaves ended up being their best dribble drive threat which was ... unexpected.

And then Anthony Davis who was up and down like a yo-yo on offense for LAL. Not convincing either.

Not sure what to think about LAL now. I am wavering on them beating SAC.

To me, Sacramento also plays at a fast pace similar to the Warriors. And both are definitely way faster than Memphis (not even close). I'm curious to see how the Lakers defense can hold up and how Lebron/AD hold up in a series with them. Truth be told I didn't think those guys were really challenged by the Grizzlies. Kings/Warriors offer up a bunch of challenges.

[Who]

Keegan Murray also gives them a guy who can play Hachimura who caused MEM so much problems off the bench. SAC can keep one of H Barnes or K Murray out there at PF to matchup against Hachimura and play T Davis at SF next to them.

That would reduce the Lyles vs Hachimura matchup which is in LAL's favour. Help neutralize Hachimura. Although SAC will probably still have to use Lyles some against Hachimura when LAL uses Hachimura at C next to LeBron at PF while AD rests.

[celticsclay]

Keegan Murray also gives them a guy who can play Hachimura who caused MEM so much problems off the bench. SAC can keep one of H Barnes or K Murray out there at PF to matchup against Hachimura and play T Davis at SF next to them.

That would reduce the Lyles vs Hachimura matchup which is in LAL's favour. Help neutralize Hachimura. Although SAC will probably still have to use Lyles some against Hachimura when LAL uses Hachimura at C next to LeBron at PF while AD rests.

A wild thing to think about if Lebron doesn’t hit that high off the glass layup to send the game overtime the lakers are headed to memphis for a game 7. Easy to think about the lakers dominating them cause of how game 6 went but truly a game of inches.

[mef730]

Anyone think Sacramento can beat Warriors in game 7 & then beat Lakers in 2nd round?? Hate say this but Warriors got better chance at beating Lakers than Kings..I just don’t want see Lakers winning!

Lakers are dangerous when the play defense like last night. If Kings advance, Lakers in 5. If Warriors advance, Warriors in 7.

Regardless, hate that they have a cakewalk path in the playoffs

And the Lakers played with the killer instinct that the Celtics haven’t shown. Stepped on Memphis’s neck and didn’t let them up.

[gouki88]

Budenholzer's brother died in a car crash during that MIA vs MIL series. Might explain some of his coaching miscues. His brother died before Game 4.

Wow, that's terrible. Very tough to function so soon after something like that.

Yeah, that's super tough. Can imagine his head being completely elsewhere. Poor bloke

[SparzWizard]

Anyone think Sacramento can beat Warriors in game 7 & then beat Lakers in 2nd round?? Hate say this but Warriors got better chance at beating Lakers than Kings..I just don’t want see Lakers winning!

Lakers are dangerous when the play defense like last night. If Kings advance, Lakers in 5. If Warriors advance, Warriors in 7.

Regardless, hate that they have a cakewalk path in the playoffs

And the Lakers played with the killer instinct that the Celtics haven’t shown. Stepped on Memphis’s neck and didn’t let them up.

Hachimura was an exceptional pickup for them. Dang it, Danny. When healthy they're a solid team. C's needa step on the 76ers throat even when they down a man or two.

[Phantom255x]

Budenholzer's brother died in a car crash during that MIA vs MIL series. Might explain some of his coaching miscues. His brother died before Game 4.

Wow, that's terrible. Very tough to function so soon after something like that.

Yeah, that's super tough. Can imagine his head being completely elsewhere. Poor bloke

Yeah I feel bad. RIP. I can't imagine still coaching right after something like that.

[Phantom255x]

Good first quarter in Suns-Nuggets. This could be another awesome series in the West

[Who]

Durant is frisky tonight. Putting on a show.

[tenn_smoothie]

Celtics will have faced 2 of their 4 oldest rivals in this year's playoffs and could potentially play the other two if they get that far.

Hawks (St. Louis/Atlanta), Sixers, possibly Knicks & Lakers. A Boston - New York ECF takes me back to the great early/mid 70's.

Just an interesting thought, though we have lots of hard work ahead of us to get there. No looking ahead.

[Phantom255x]

Celtics will have faced 2 of their 4 oldest rivals in this year's playoffs and could potentially play the other two if they get that far.

Hawks (St. Louis/Atlanta), Sixers, possibly Knicks & Lakers. A Boston - New York ECF takes me back to the great early/mid 70's.

Just an interesting thought, though we have lots of hard work ahead of us to get there. No looking ahead.

If the Rangers and B's advance, and Knicks + Celtics win next round, then we can see an ECF of both sports (NBA, NHL) have Boston vs. New York. That'd be pretty cool

[SparzWizard]

The Nuggets pummeled the Suns. That was... unexpected

[Who]

NY shot only 28% from 3PT% in their series with CLE. I wonder how they will handle MIA's zone defenses.

[Ed Monix]

Obviously Denver has a deeper squad than Phoenix, but their real advantage lies in the positional matchups.

Jokic dragging Ayton out of the paint will be a huge advantage, as it mitigates the Suns only good rebounder and rim protection.

Porter Jr has the size and length to at least bother Durant & make him work for his points, & because Okogie isn’t an offensive threat, Gordon can double or switch onto Durant.

KCP has the defensive ability to annoy Booker.

Jamal Murray’s size, strength and quick release shot won’t allow CP3 to rest on defence.