Post by Keyser Soze on May 25, 2009 13:00:35 GMT -6
The regular season has officially come to an end, and now there are only 16 teams left standing. Starting tommorow the remaining 16 will battle it out for the 4th ever ITP championship. Lets take a deeper look at all 8 playoff matchups in Round one.
Eastern Conference -
(1) Chicago Bulls Vs (8) New Jersey Nets
Despite winning 45 games this season the Nets were stuck with the number 8 seed, which means they get the luxury of playing the 3 time Eastern Conference champs the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are loaded with talent; their lineup consists of 5 all-star caliber players in ITP scoring champ Larry Bird, ITP most valuable player of the year Magic Johnson, 4-time all-star Moses Malone, 2-time all-star Thurl Bailey, and 1984 first team defense Alton Lister. Fortunately for the Nets, Bird will miss the first 5 days of the series with an Inflamed Appendix. But will the Nets be able to take advantage of this injury? They have their own superstar in Buck Williams, who averaged 22.6 PPG and 10.9 RPG. But in the end it's a solid talented Nets team facing a juggernaut.
X Factor - Johnny Moore will have the challenge of slowing down the leagues MVP. Will Moore get the job done? Or will Magic have his way?[/i]
(2) Miami Heat Vs (7) Indiana Pacers
The Pacers got out of round 1 matchup against the Bulls as they finished with just 1 more win than New Jersey. Their prize for that accomplishment is to face the Atlantic Division champs the Miami Heat. The heat won 65 games this year, and recently got some great news with the return of superstar point guard Clyde Drexler. Drexler, and the combination of Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon is a lot of firepower for the Pacers to worry about. The Indiana front office recently pulled off a trade which showed they're more concerned about their future than this season, when they shipped off Jack Sikma to the Charlotte Hornets, who later traded him to Seattle. The Pacers management doesn't seem too high on the teams chances this year, will the players prove them wrong?
X Factor - Terry Cummings remains unsigned for next season, this will be his chance to step up and earn himself a big payday.
(3) Philadelphia 76ers Vs (6) Charlotte Hornets
During the first 3 years of the Jordan era, the sixers weren't much of a threat come playoff time. Every single postseason has been one and done for them. But this year with a more talented supporting cast around Jordan, things look to be different. Philly won 54 games this season, and they will have homecourt advantage in round 1. The Hornets on the other side have made changes all year long, and that made it harder for the team to gel. But now that this group with Gerald Wilkins, Xavier McDaniel, Mark Eaton, Herb Williams, and Derek Harper have had over 1 month together, they're ready to make some noise in the playoffs.
X Factor - 76ers Point Guard Brad Davis has gone under the radar during Philly's success. But it should be noted Davis is averaging 10.2 APG against 1.6 TPG in 23 games with the sixers. The ironic part is that he was a member of the Hornets earlier this season.
(4) New York Knicks Vs (5) Detroit Pistons
This might be the most exciting series of the first round. Both of these teams love to score the basketball, so every game this series should be a shootout. However, both teams have different offensive philosophies. The Knicks are more known for their outside shooting with most improved player of the year Drazen Petrovic, sharpshooting Dale Ellis, and 6th man Conor Henry. The Pistons on the other hand are an inside orientated team with former all-star Jay Vincent, James Donaldson, and Larry Smith. Their best player James Worthy can attack you both and outside though. This one is gonna be fun to watch, so much sure you got your ITP leaguepass bill paid.
X Factor - LaSalle Thompson will have to man the paint for the Knickerbockers. With multiple talented low post scorers on the Pistons, Thompson's low post D is gonna be very important.
Western Conference -
(1) Golden State Warriors Vs (8) Houston Rockets
This season the young Warriors went from a solid playoff team to an ITP championship contender. They swipped the first seed in the Western Conference from the defending champ Twolves, and now they're ready to finally advance past round 1. The Rockets took a different path to the playoffs. They lost their final 7 games of the regular season, and finished just 1 game ahead of 9th place Phoenix. The Rockets nearly fell victim to one of the worst collaspes in league history. Now this Rockets team will need to regroup and focus on the 60-22 Warriors.
X Factor - If the Rockets want to have any chance to win this series they'll need their 22 year old center Bill Wennington to step up. Wennington will have his hands full as he'll be matched up against the 7"4 Arvidas Sabonis.
(2) Minnesota Timberwolves Vs (7) San Antonio Spurs
Both Minnesota and the Spurs have young rosters. The average age of the Spurs starting 5 is just 22 years old, and the Wolves are just 23. But while both teams share age in common, they're both completely different. The Spurs are built on their twin towers with Benoit Benjamin and first overall pick David Robinson. This duo muscled the Spurs into the postseason. The Wolves are built around the perimenter with all-star Chris Mullin and last year's finals MVP Detlef Schrempf. What will prevail? The inside scoring of the Spurs, or the three point shooting of Minnesota?
X Factor - If the Wolves want to defend their ITP championship they'll need a big postseason performance out of Kevin Duckworth. This series especially as he'll be matched up against Benjamin, who averaged 26.0 PPG during the regular season.
(3) Seattle Supersonics Vs (6) Sacremento Kings
This series will feature a huge battle at the shooting guard position. The Kings are led by their in season acquistion Dominique Wilkins. Wilkins missed 39 this year due to head injuries, but now the former all-star is ready to show the world why the Kings traded for him. Wilkins was acquired to give Sacremento a push come playoff time, but will he deliver. On the other side of the ring is emerging 24 year old superstar Joe Dumars, who helped lead the Sonics to 48 wins. Dumars had career highs in points (25.0), rebounds (7.3), steals (2.3), field goal percentage (.481), and three point percentage (.443).
X Factor - Rookie Kenny Smith was benched midseason in favor of Rickey Green, and has been in coach Jlafavors doghouse for most of the year. But he better grow up fast or Mark Price will embarrass him.
(4) Los Angeles Clippers Vs (5) Portland Trailblazers
The Clippers have a very young team. Their starting backcourt of Jeff Hornacek and Scott Skiles are still wet behind their ears, and the veteran on the team Kevin Willis just turned 25 years old. The Blazers are a more battled tested unit. The point guard center duo of John Stockton and Sam Bowie are entering their 4th straight postseason together. Off-season free agent pickup Michael Ray Richardson went to the ITP Finals last year, and 35 year old Bill Walton has playoff experience from his days with the Dallas Mavericks. Will the young Clippers defeat the experienced Blazers and their stingy defense?
X Factor - The Clippers dished out 93 million to small forward Clark Kellogg, and now it's his turn to earn that contract. Kellogg missed 10 games this year, while suffering through career lows in field goal percentage (.481) and assists (2.8). He better step his game up for the playoffs.
Eastern Conference -
(1) Chicago Bulls Vs (8) New Jersey Nets
Despite winning 45 games this season the Nets were stuck with the number 8 seed, which means they get the luxury of playing the 3 time Eastern Conference champs the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are loaded with talent; their lineup consists of 5 all-star caliber players in ITP scoring champ Larry Bird, ITP most valuable player of the year Magic Johnson, 4-time all-star Moses Malone, 2-time all-star Thurl Bailey, and 1984 first team defense Alton Lister. Fortunately for the Nets, Bird will miss the first 5 days of the series with an Inflamed Appendix. But will the Nets be able to take advantage of this injury? They have their own superstar in Buck Williams, who averaged 22.6 PPG and 10.9 RPG. But in the end it's a solid talented Nets team facing a juggernaut.
X Factor - Johnny Moore will have the challenge of slowing down the leagues MVP. Will Moore get the job done? Or will Magic have his way?[/i]
(2) Miami Heat Vs (7) Indiana Pacers
The Pacers got out of round 1 matchup against the Bulls as they finished with just 1 more win than New Jersey. Their prize for that accomplishment is to face the Atlantic Division champs the Miami Heat. The heat won 65 games this year, and recently got some great news with the return of superstar point guard Clyde Drexler. Drexler, and the combination of Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon is a lot of firepower for the Pacers to worry about. The Indiana front office recently pulled off a trade which showed they're more concerned about their future than this season, when they shipped off Jack Sikma to the Charlotte Hornets, who later traded him to Seattle. The Pacers management doesn't seem too high on the teams chances this year, will the players prove them wrong?
X Factor - Terry Cummings remains unsigned for next season, this will be his chance to step up and earn himself a big payday.
(3) Philadelphia 76ers Vs (6) Charlotte Hornets
During the first 3 years of the Jordan era, the sixers weren't much of a threat come playoff time. Every single postseason has been one and done for them. But this year with a more talented supporting cast around Jordan, things look to be different. Philly won 54 games this season, and they will have homecourt advantage in round 1. The Hornets on the other side have made changes all year long, and that made it harder for the team to gel. But now that this group with Gerald Wilkins, Xavier McDaniel, Mark Eaton, Herb Williams, and Derek Harper have had over 1 month together, they're ready to make some noise in the playoffs.
X Factor - 76ers Point Guard Brad Davis has gone under the radar during Philly's success. But it should be noted Davis is averaging 10.2 APG against 1.6 TPG in 23 games with the sixers. The ironic part is that he was a member of the Hornets earlier this season.
(4) New York Knicks Vs (5) Detroit Pistons
This might be the most exciting series of the first round. Both of these teams love to score the basketball, so every game this series should be a shootout. However, both teams have different offensive philosophies. The Knicks are more known for their outside shooting with most improved player of the year Drazen Petrovic, sharpshooting Dale Ellis, and 6th man Conor Henry. The Pistons on the other hand are an inside orientated team with former all-star Jay Vincent, James Donaldson, and Larry Smith. Their best player James Worthy can attack you both and outside though. This one is gonna be fun to watch, so much sure you got your ITP leaguepass bill paid.
X Factor - LaSalle Thompson will have to man the paint for the Knickerbockers. With multiple talented low post scorers on the Pistons, Thompson's low post D is gonna be very important.
Western Conference -
(1) Golden State Warriors Vs (8) Houston Rockets
This season the young Warriors went from a solid playoff team to an ITP championship contender. They swipped the first seed in the Western Conference from the defending champ Twolves, and now they're ready to finally advance past round 1. The Rockets took a different path to the playoffs. They lost their final 7 games of the regular season, and finished just 1 game ahead of 9th place Phoenix. The Rockets nearly fell victim to one of the worst collaspes in league history. Now this Rockets team will need to regroup and focus on the 60-22 Warriors.
X Factor - If the Rockets want to have any chance to win this series they'll need their 22 year old center Bill Wennington to step up. Wennington will have his hands full as he'll be matched up against the 7"4 Arvidas Sabonis.
(2) Minnesota Timberwolves Vs (7) San Antonio Spurs
Both Minnesota and the Spurs have young rosters. The average age of the Spurs starting 5 is just 22 years old, and the Wolves are just 23. But while both teams share age in common, they're both completely different. The Spurs are built on their twin towers with Benoit Benjamin and first overall pick David Robinson. This duo muscled the Spurs into the postseason. The Wolves are built around the perimenter with all-star Chris Mullin and last year's finals MVP Detlef Schrempf. What will prevail? The inside scoring of the Spurs, or the three point shooting of Minnesota?
X Factor - If the Wolves want to defend their ITP championship they'll need a big postseason performance out of Kevin Duckworth. This series especially as he'll be matched up against Benjamin, who averaged 26.0 PPG during the regular season.
(3) Seattle Supersonics Vs (6) Sacremento Kings
This series will feature a huge battle at the shooting guard position. The Kings are led by their in season acquistion Dominique Wilkins. Wilkins missed 39 this year due to head injuries, but now the former all-star is ready to show the world why the Kings traded for him. Wilkins was acquired to give Sacremento a push come playoff time, but will he deliver. On the other side of the ring is emerging 24 year old superstar Joe Dumars, who helped lead the Sonics to 48 wins. Dumars had career highs in points (25.0), rebounds (7.3), steals (2.3), field goal percentage (.481), and three point percentage (.443).
X Factor - Rookie Kenny Smith was benched midseason in favor of Rickey Green, and has been in coach Jlafavors doghouse for most of the year. But he better grow up fast or Mark Price will embarrass him.
(4) Los Angeles Clippers Vs (5) Portland Trailblazers
The Clippers have a very young team. Their starting backcourt of Jeff Hornacek and Scott Skiles are still wet behind their ears, and the veteran on the team Kevin Willis just turned 25 years old. The Blazers are a more battled tested unit. The point guard center duo of John Stockton and Sam Bowie are entering their 4th straight postseason together. Off-season free agent pickup Michael Ray Richardson went to the ITP Finals last year, and 35 year old Bill Walton has playoff experience from his days with the Dallas Mavericks. Will the young Clippers defeat the experienced Blazers and their stingy defense?
X Factor - The Clippers dished out 93 million to small forward Clark Kellogg, and now it's his turn to earn that contract. Kellogg missed 10 games this year, while suffering through career lows in field goal percentage (.481) and assists (2.8). He better step his game up for the playoffs.