Round 2 D5 Playoff Predictions
May 31, 2017 0:21:48 GMT
Ian Noble, Walt Frazier, and 3 more like this
Post by Brian Scalabrine on May 31, 2017 0:21:48 GMT
2nd Round:
(4) Denver Nuggets
(1) Golden State Warriors
C: Brook Lopez - Zaza Pachulia - DEN
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge - Pau Gasol - DEN
SF: Luol Deng - Lebron James - GSW
SG: James Harden - Klay Thompson - DEN
PG: John Wall - Stephen Curry - GSW
Bench: Push
Prediction:
These are 2 of the best 5 teams in D5 talent wise. The Nuggets are fresh of a shocking 4 game sweep of Kyrie, PG and the Blazers. Harden and Wall are locked and loaded averaging 50.6 PPG 15 APG and 10 RPG combined in the postseason. However the Dubs are off a sweep of their own against the Clips and Lebron, Curry and Thompson is as good a Big 3 as the NBA has ever seen The Nuggets lack a “Lebron Stopper” and their interior presence lacks the wherewithal to punish Golden State’s bigs. Fresh of a 72 win season and riding a 16 game winning streak I see the Warriors pushing through and overcoming a juggernaut Denver squad.
GSW in 6
(6) Houston Rockets
(2) Minnesota Rockets
C: Kevin Love - Clint Capela - HOU
PF: Bismack Biyombo - Derrick Favors - MIN
SF: Giannis - Jae Crowder - HOU
SG: TJ Warren - CJ McCollum - MIN
PG: Eric Gordon - Eric Bledsoe - MIN
Bench: MIN
Prediction:
Giannis and the Rockets are riding high after defeating Kevin Durant, Demarcus Cousins and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 games, and are playing their best basketball of the season. Kevin Love has thrived at Center, averaging 30, 15 and 4, while TJ Warren and Shaun Livingston have stepped up big for this team. However, the Timberwolves are also peaking, winning their first round series against the Spurs in 5 games as well and McCollum & Bledsoe is the best backcourt outside of the two other Western Conference semi-finalists. They faced a depleted Spurs squad while Houston’s upset of OKC may have revealed a lethal formula. If Love’s shooting and Giannis’ athleticism overwhelm Minnesota they could continue on their Cinderella Run, but the TWolves are deeper, more talented and sport a multitude of creators. It’s going to be close either way.
HOU in 7
(4) Miami HEAT
(1) Chicago Bulls
C: Dwight Howard- Robin Lopez - MIA
PF: Steven Adams - Julius Randle - MIA
SF: Trevor Ariza - Kawhi Leonard - CHI
SG: Dwyane Wade- Jimmy Butler - CHI
PG: Mike Conley - Chris Paul - CHI
Bench: CHI
Prediction:
The Bulls rolled the Magic and are humming. It’s still almost unreal that Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard are on the same team and Lopez and Randle have had solid seasons themselves. Miami is the old guard. Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard are having throwback playoffs and Mike Conley’s heroic 29 point performance in Game 7 has the HEAT riding a high. But every good thing comes to an end and despite a formidable defensive lineup, they have little shot against perhaps the most talented team in the league. Kawhi and Jimmy and CP are ace defenders along with being superstar offensive talents and outside of Lebron I can’t see this team being stopped.
CHI in 5
(3) Charlotte Hornets
(2) Milwaukee Bucks
C: Nerlens Noel - Marc Gasol - MIL
PF: Serge Ibaka - Anthony Davis - MIL
SF: Khris Middleton- Doug McDermott - CHA
SG: KCP - Bradley Beal - MIL
PG Russell Westbrook - Jeff Teague - CHA
Bench: PUSH
Prediction:
The Bucks are absolutely loaded and are rested after their 4 game sweep of Indiana. Davis and Gasol up front up a sublime mix of passing, scoring and defense. Ibaka and Noel are sort of the poor man’s version of this, more focused on the defensive end. Milwaukee’s weakness is backcourt defense and I expect major playing time for Avery Bradley. Russell Westbrook is a one man wrecking crew and he has both spacing and and expert defenders behind him. Although they are sans Andrew Wiggins, the Hornets are still the defending champs and have the defense to somewhat contain Gasol and AD while their backcourt and wing rotation is superior to Milwaukee's. It's going to be a dogfight and an unexpected contribution from either side could tip it.
CHA in 7
(4) Denver Nuggets
(1) Golden State Warriors
C: Brook Lopez - Zaza Pachulia - DEN
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge - Pau Gasol - DEN
SF: Luol Deng - Lebron James - GSW
SG: James Harden - Klay Thompson - DEN
PG: John Wall - Stephen Curry - GSW
Bench: Push
Prediction:
These are 2 of the best 5 teams in D5 talent wise. The Nuggets are fresh of a shocking 4 game sweep of Kyrie, PG and the Blazers. Harden and Wall are locked and loaded averaging 50.6 PPG 15 APG and 10 RPG combined in the postseason. However the Dubs are off a sweep of their own against the Clips and Lebron, Curry and Thompson is as good a Big 3 as the NBA has ever seen The Nuggets lack a “Lebron Stopper” and their interior presence lacks the wherewithal to punish Golden State’s bigs. Fresh of a 72 win season and riding a 16 game winning streak I see the Warriors pushing through and overcoming a juggernaut Denver squad.
GSW in 6
(6) Houston Rockets
(2) Minnesota Rockets
C: Kevin Love - Clint Capela - HOU
PF: Bismack Biyombo - Derrick Favors - MIN
SF: Giannis - Jae Crowder - HOU
SG: TJ Warren - CJ McCollum - MIN
PG: Eric Gordon - Eric Bledsoe - MIN
Bench: MIN
Prediction:
Giannis and the Rockets are riding high after defeating Kevin Durant, Demarcus Cousins and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 games, and are playing their best basketball of the season. Kevin Love has thrived at Center, averaging 30, 15 and 4, while TJ Warren and Shaun Livingston have stepped up big for this team. However, the Timberwolves are also peaking, winning their first round series against the Spurs in 5 games as well and McCollum & Bledsoe is the best backcourt outside of the two other Western Conference semi-finalists. They faced a depleted Spurs squad while Houston’s upset of OKC may have revealed a lethal formula. If Love’s shooting and Giannis’ athleticism overwhelm Minnesota they could continue on their Cinderella Run, but the TWolves are deeper, more talented and sport a multitude of creators. It’s going to be close either way.
HOU in 7
(4) Miami HEAT
(1) Chicago Bulls
C: Dwight Howard- Robin Lopez - MIA
PF: Steven Adams - Julius Randle - MIA
SF: Trevor Ariza - Kawhi Leonard - CHI
SG: Dwyane Wade- Jimmy Butler - CHI
PG: Mike Conley - Chris Paul - CHI
Bench: CHI
Prediction:
The Bulls rolled the Magic and are humming. It’s still almost unreal that Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard are on the same team and Lopez and Randle have had solid seasons themselves. Miami is the old guard. Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard are having throwback playoffs and Mike Conley’s heroic 29 point performance in Game 7 has the HEAT riding a high. But every good thing comes to an end and despite a formidable defensive lineup, they have little shot against perhaps the most talented team in the league. Kawhi and Jimmy and CP are ace defenders along with being superstar offensive talents and outside of Lebron I can’t see this team being stopped.
CHI in 5
(3) Charlotte Hornets
(2) Milwaukee Bucks
C: Nerlens Noel - Marc Gasol - MIL
PF: Serge Ibaka - Anthony Davis - MIL
SF: Khris Middleton- Doug McDermott - CHA
SG: KCP - Bradley Beal - MIL
PG Russell Westbrook - Jeff Teague - CHA
Bench: PUSH
Prediction:
The Bucks are absolutely loaded and are rested after their 4 game sweep of Indiana. Davis and Gasol up front up a sublime mix of passing, scoring and defense. Ibaka and Noel are sort of the poor man’s version of this, more focused on the defensive end. Milwaukee’s weakness is backcourt defense and I expect major playing time for Avery Bradley. Russell Westbrook is a one man wrecking crew and he has both spacing and and expert defenders behind him. Although they are sans Andrew Wiggins, the Hornets are still the defending champs and have the defense to somewhat contain Gasol and AD while their backcourt and wing rotation is superior to Milwaukee's. It's going to be a dogfight and an unexpected contribution from either side could tip it.
CHA in 7