Orlando vs. Boston: the match-ups

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Rondo vs. Nelson

We all know it, this will be the toughest test for Rondo thus far in the playoffs. Arroyo is streaky at best and Mo Williams is the starting pg for the all front-running turd team.

Rondo made first team defense, but he struggles, especially when he gambles, against guys who attack him. Nelson is dangerous - mostly because he can get Rondo into foul trouble.

It's critical that Rondo stays on the floor.


PP vs. whoever

They have no one who can stop Paul. Defensively, Paul will just have to manage to keep playing team d, while staying home on their shooters.


V.C. vs. whoever

This is going to be a huge advantage for the celtics. Ray, PP, and TA have proven they can guard anyone after the way the defended Wade and James. And Vince can't chase Ray, can't stop Paul, and probably will lose sight of TA, who will cut straight to the hoop on him.


Howard vs. Perk

Howard's dominance inside against most teams is how Orlando gets most of its offense. Yes Howard has the edge in this match-up, but the fact that Perk so greatly minimizes that edge, is going to be another boon for boston.


KG vs. Lewis

Lewis is a much better play than Jamison, defensively as well, so this will be KG's toughest test. But i'm sick of hearing the celtic-doubting experts tell us that KG wont be able to chase guys out to the three point line. We always hear the experts saying what matters is points in the paint, but they seem to forget this every time KG has to guard a guy who can hit the 3. Just throw it down to KG and Lewis is at his mercy. They will be forced to double team, and KG is a great passing big man.


Bench Battle

It's a bit of a wash. Both Teams have very good benches, with guys who know their role and can thoroughly impact a game. It may just be a matter of whose night it is.


Overall, I give the edge to Boston, I wouldn't say there's a key match-up since both teams are so versatile... you never really know where it's going to come from, or if it will be a balanced attack. but I really think it depends on Rondo. If he can't stay on the floor and slow down Nelson, while running our "stuff", we're in trouble.

[kg is king]

Barnes and Pietrus are both plus defenders. While not dominating and elite like Ron Artest or Lebron, Pierce will also have to earn his points against those two. So I don't think it's fair to say Orlando has no one that can stop Paul. They have the personnel, we'll just have to see how both sides respond. Also, if they decide to put Barnes on Ray, then Ray might potentially be bothered by the length of Barnes...just a thought.

[PosImpos]

It's similar to the last series in the sense that they have the best player but we have 3 or 4 out of the 5 best players in the series.

I like the way our wings match up with theirs.  I agree that KG vs. Rashard will be the most interesting matchup because they are both difficult to cover for each other.  I'm gonna go ahead and say that KG is a much better player than Rashard, though, so I think the edge is with KG.  Even despite his injuries this season, KG was much better statistically than Rashard and he impacts the game on both ends of the floor in a way Rashard can't.

Rondo vs. Nelson will be interesting considering how well Nelson is playing in the post-season but he's had two pretty easy matchups so far in Felton and Bibby.  I expect Rondo to be a lot harder for him to handle.  Rondo is 1st Team All-Defense, and as long as he plays smart defense he can do a good job on Nelson.  Rondo struggles with big point guards who can muscle him around, not muscle-mouses like Nelson who rely on their outside shot and first step.

[LB3533]

To win this series we need to just shut down their 3 point shooting.

Lewis can not make 46% of this 3 pointers against us.

We chase them off the line and that's how we win the series.

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I haven't seen Pietrus play much defense... not saying he doesn't... just saying I haven't seen it. I know Barnes is a better than avg. defender, but I think Paul can pretty much have his way with either of them. but if he can't, just set a quick pick and you've got your instant mismatch.

I don't think Orlando has that luxury. the mismatches wont be as easy to find or take advantage of once found. The only guy that can cause real mismatches is Lewis, but he's shown a reluctance in the past to exploit this.