Sacramento vs LAL
I think the Lakers have an advantage at their starting two guard position while Sacramento have an advantage at their starting PF position and backup big man slots.
I think the point guard battle is fairly even between Rose and S.Curry. Rose being the more prolific scorer and better defender while Curry supplies more efficiency, shooting and playmaking.
The backup wings -- Q vs RJ and Garcia/Lee -- are fairly even. The Kings would have an advantage whenever Tracy McGrady plays but I'm assuming by the playoffs that the Lakers realize he's finished and have him glued to their bench.
The backup guards, Augustin vs Teague, another neutral battle. Augustin the superior shooter vs Teague the superior slasher. If Augustin gets back to where he was as a rookie, I'd give him a slight advantage. Then again, if Teague improves, he may claim it. For now, without knowing or truly expecting either outcome, I'm going to call it even.
The Lewis vs Prince matchup. Prince making slightly more in the non-scoring departments while Lewis provides a bit more scoring and more offensive efficiency. Largely equal, small advantage Sacramento.
LA Lakers
If I am LA, I am starting Bargnani and switching Tyson Chandler onto Boozer while giving Bargnani the Dampier assignment. Tyson Chandler has done a good job on Boozer several times in the past and Dampier is no problem for Bargs defensively.
That would open up the Lakers pick and roll game. An interior finisher in Tyson and a pick and pop shooter + floor spacer in Bargnani. That would help open things up for Steph Curry and Brandon Roy even further. Q-Rich and Tayshaun Prince supply solid perimeter shooting from the other wing spot.
The question then becomes, does Bargnani's added offensive punch allow LA to outplay Sacramento while these lineups are in the game? Or does his horribly inadequate team defense + very weak rebounding keep things even?
Anyways, then Sacramento plugs in Zach Randolph forcing Bargnani to guard a credible offensive threat. At that point, Bargnani gets cooked defensively in one-on-one + team defense situations + he gets out-rebounded badly (very badly). Sacramento also see a drop in their team defense and become increasingly vulnerable in transition and in the pick and roll.
Which brings me to another question, does Tyson Chandler's defense keep LA in the game at this point? With both teams scoring freely and often. Or does Sacramento's rebounding pound LA into submission?
Either way, it's all over whenever Tyson sits down because Sacramento will destroy their three (Beasley, Bargnani, Al Harrington) big men. The lack of an adequate defensive + rebounding big man to give Tyson a breather ends the Lakers postseason hopes.
Conclusion
Sacramento move on. LA steal a game when their offense is running high.
4-1 Kings win
Topic: CB Draft '10 Playoffs First Round Western Conference (Read 52191 times)