Post by jupee on Dec 20, 2023 7:55:23 GMT -6
New York Knicks - Indiana Pacers
(regular season 3:0)
Pacers put together very strong perimeter accompanied by Dwight Jones, All-League First Team just last season. The problem is, first-after-rebuild regular season results, for some reason, were not that impressive. The 2nd problem is, their first round opponents - Knicks - managed to put together even greater perimeter line. This, to my opinion, is the strongest squad in the history of ITP8.
I see Indiana snatching one game at home, but series, in comparison to their GM's discussions in forum, should be much less heated.
My Prediction: 4:1 Knicks win
Golden State Warriors - Phoenix Suns
(regular season 3:1)
WCF repeats itself in the first round. However, teams trajectories were very different this season. Suns lost both of their starting bigs, one of them - Kevin Kunnert - to Warriors. Then had to trade their best player Brandon Roy in attempt to fix the situation. Eventually Suns made the playoffs as 8th seed, but Phoenix regular season struggles clearly shows how fragile their Western title is.
Meanwhile Warriors added one of the best (still!) small forwards in the league Larry Kenon and started to dominate the West. As such, GSW should get their revenge.
My Prediction: 4:1 Warriors win
Toronto Raptors - Boston Celtics
(regular season 4:0)
Despite shopping their quality pieces for future assets, the only Canadian team put wonderful performance in the regular season. This is mostly because of Killlian Hayes, who, I'd say, had good shot at winning MVP this season. However, if we talk about how far this team can go, when your 2nd best scorer is Meriweather, that is just not super convincing. And first round could be challenging already.
The first part of the season was huge disappointment and we witnessed Boston among the bottom teams. However, after beatonz reminded them, that they are indeed a playoff team, things went up really fast. And now 6'5'' Ray Allen will get to compete against 6'10'' Joe Meriweather.
On paper, I actually like Celtics better. However, Boston, even if 3 of those matches happened in the first half, got swept by Toronto in regular season.
My Prediction: 4:3 Raptors win
Dallas Mavericks - Portland Trailblazers
(regular season 2:2)
I'd call this matchup of two unsuccessful teams.
3rd season in a row Mavs wins Midwest, but in the history of ITP8 they have never won a play-off series. Dallas is being led by 3-Point Shootout Champion and All-Star Game Participant Bogdanovic, however, most of his teammates are on their last legs.
Portland got hyped few off-seasons ago, when they signed Andrew Wiggins, Marcus Smart and traded future player Hal Greer for league MVP Théo Maledon. But the truth is, PTB was never completed - lacked depth and had very mediocre frontcourt. This resulted into two first round upsets in a row, as 4th seed in 2007 and then as #1 in 2008.
Both teams are very vulnerable in post, but both teams have no tools to use this opponent weakness. The decisive factor in the series might be outside shooting. Mavericks are 2nd worst 3pt defenders, while Portland attempts (and makes) most three pointers in the league. It will be battle of perimeters, and Blazers simply have more talent there.
My Prediction: 4:2 Trailblazers win
Detroit Pistons - Chicago Bulls
(regular season 1:3)
Detroit had turbulent year - big trade with Lakers, then GM change, then the other big trade with Pacers. Fred Brown will miss first two games (of course) but all in all Detroit is strong enough to play in Conference Final.
Bulls had a lot ups and downs this season. Their results will be surprisingly good against certain teams, and depressing against other. Best example - this season Chicago beat Warriors twice and lost to Grizzlies twice. But this is bad news for Detroit, as Bulls seems to have great potential to deliver a surprise result in playoffs. In fact I dare to guess, that this is exactly what is going to happen.
My Prediction: 4:3 Bulls win
Sacramento Kings - Minnesota Timberwolves
(regular season 3:1)
Timberwolves do not expect to go deep in playoffs themselves. They have a lot of talent, but team is still in process. Making as 6th seed is nice achievement indicating that talent is being developed in the right way in Minnesota.
Timberwolves are one of the worst outside-shot defenders in the league, luckily for them, they will be facing team which decided to go with all-inside style. Unluckily for Minnesota, they lack size as well, so Hines, Towns and Abdul-Jabbar should feel quite comfortably. Kings perimeter is also up to a task to slow down Nightingale and Hal Greer duo. Having in mind current and potential 2nd round opponents, I'd say Kings have a highway to WCF in front of them.
My Prediction: 4:1 Kings win
Philadelphia 76ers - Orlando Magic
(regular season 3:1)
Reigning champions fall last in 4 team race in the East. Nothing new tho, their last 4 playoff appearances, every time they started at #4.
Welcome back, former 3-times Eastern champion Orlando Magic. This team equipped with Inside scoring focused perimeter could be a headache. Their 2nd best scorer Jamaal Wilkes might have some unfinished business with Philly, who traded him away last season after not really giving a chance, however, he will miss the first 3 games. Chris Kaman is developing into very solid center, but the main man is this team is definitely John Drew - member of this seasons All-League Third Team as well as All-Defensive Second Team. His duel vs Bill Willoughby will be very interesting to follow.
All in all 76ers simply have more guns in every position, therefore are expected to go further.
My Prediction: 4:1 76ers win
Los Angeles Clippers - Seattle Sonics
(regular season 3:1)
LAC is the most improved Western team. The league best center Moses Malone gets some decent help from Anthony Edwards and other guards. All this resulted into tie for a 2nd best record in West.
With regards to Seattle, I expected more after they signed Damon this offseason. Maybe Ron Lee was important player after all, and Bargnani actually scored more than allowed to score on him. I mean Sonics still a strong team, just somewhat limited.
Clippers should win this with their efficient offense against not that good Sonics defence. Ill be surprised if Moses will be averaging less than ~32 points.
My Prediction: 4:1 Clippers win
(regular season 3:0)
Pacers put together very strong perimeter accompanied by Dwight Jones, All-League First Team just last season. The problem is, first-after-rebuild regular season results, for some reason, were not that impressive. The 2nd problem is, their first round opponents - Knicks - managed to put together even greater perimeter line. This, to my opinion, is the strongest squad in the history of ITP8.
I see Indiana snatching one game at home, but series, in comparison to their GM's discussions in forum, should be much less heated.
My Prediction: 4:1 Knicks win
Golden State Warriors - Phoenix Suns
(regular season 3:1)
WCF repeats itself in the first round. However, teams trajectories were very different this season. Suns lost both of their starting bigs, one of them - Kevin Kunnert - to Warriors. Then had to trade their best player Brandon Roy in attempt to fix the situation. Eventually Suns made the playoffs as 8th seed, but Phoenix regular season struggles clearly shows how fragile their Western title is.
Meanwhile Warriors added one of the best (still!) small forwards in the league Larry Kenon and started to dominate the West. As such, GSW should get their revenge.
My Prediction: 4:1 Warriors win
Toronto Raptors - Boston Celtics
(regular season 4:0)
Despite shopping their quality pieces for future assets, the only Canadian team put wonderful performance in the regular season. This is mostly because of Killlian Hayes, who, I'd say, had good shot at winning MVP this season. However, if we talk about how far this team can go, when your 2nd best scorer is Meriweather, that is just not super convincing. And first round could be challenging already.
The first part of the season was huge disappointment and we witnessed Boston among the bottom teams. However, after beatonz reminded them, that they are indeed a playoff team, things went up really fast. And now 6'5'' Ray Allen will get to compete against 6'10'' Joe Meriweather.
On paper, I actually like Celtics better. However, Boston, even if 3 of those matches happened in the first half, got swept by Toronto in regular season.
My Prediction: 4:3 Raptors win
Dallas Mavericks - Portland Trailblazers
(regular season 2:2)
I'd call this matchup of two unsuccessful teams.
3rd season in a row Mavs wins Midwest, but in the history of ITP8 they have never won a play-off series. Dallas is being led by 3-Point Shootout Champion and All-Star Game Participant Bogdanovic, however, most of his teammates are on their last legs.
Portland got hyped few off-seasons ago, when they signed Andrew Wiggins, Marcus Smart and traded future player Hal Greer for league MVP Théo Maledon. But the truth is, PTB was never completed - lacked depth and had very mediocre frontcourt. This resulted into two first round upsets in a row, as 4th seed in 2007 and then as #1 in 2008.
Both teams are very vulnerable in post, but both teams have no tools to use this opponent weakness. The decisive factor in the series might be outside shooting. Mavericks are 2nd worst 3pt defenders, while Portland attempts (and makes) most three pointers in the league. It will be battle of perimeters, and Blazers simply have more talent there.
My Prediction: 4:2 Trailblazers win
Detroit Pistons - Chicago Bulls
(regular season 1:3)
Detroit had turbulent year - big trade with Lakers, then GM change, then the other big trade with Pacers. Fred Brown will miss first two games (of course) but all in all Detroit is strong enough to play in Conference Final.
Bulls had a lot ups and downs this season. Their results will be surprisingly good against certain teams, and depressing against other. Best example - this season Chicago beat Warriors twice and lost to Grizzlies twice. But this is bad news for Detroit, as Bulls seems to have great potential to deliver a surprise result in playoffs. In fact I dare to guess, that this is exactly what is going to happen.
My Prediction: 4:3 Bulls win
Sacramento Kings - Minnesota Timberwolves
(regular season 3:1)
Timberwolves do not expect to go deep in playoffs themselves. They have a lot of talent, but team is still in process. Making as 6th seed is nice achievement indicating that talent is being developed in the right way in Minnesota.
Timberwolves are one of the worst outside-shot defenders in the league, luckily for them, they will be facing team which decided to go with all-inside style. Unluckily for Minnesota, they lack size as well, so Hines, Towns and Abdul-Jabbar should feel quite comfortably. Kings perimeter is also up to a task to slow down Nightingale and Hal Greer duo. Having in mind current and potential 2nd round opponents, I'd say Kings have a highway to WCF in front of them.
My Prediction: 4:1 Kings win
Philadelphia 76ers - Orlando Magic
(regular season 3:1)
Reigning champions fall last in 4 team race in the East. Nothing new tho, their last 4 playoff appearances, every time they started at #4.
Welcome back, former 3-times Eastern champion Orlando Magic. This team equipped with Inside scoring focused perimeter could be a headache. Their 2nd best scorer Jamaal Wilkes might have some unfinished business with Philly, who traded him away last season after not really giving a chance, however, he will miss the first 3 games. Chris Kaman is developing into very solid center, but the main man is this team is definitely John Drew - member of this seasons All-League Third Team as well as All-Defensive Second Team. His duel vs Bill Willoughby will be very interesting to follow.
All in all 76ers simply have more guns in every position, therefore are expected to go further.
My Prediction: 4:1 76ers win
Los Angeles Clippers - Seattle Sonics
(regular season 3:1)
LAC is the most improved Western team. The league best center Moses Malone gets some decent help from Anthony Edwards and other guards. All this resulted into tie for a 2nd best record in West.
With regards to Seattle, I expected more after they signed Damon this offseason. Maybe Ron Lee was important player after all, and Bargnani actually scored more than allowed to score on him. I mean Sonics still a strong team, just somewhat limited.
Clippers should win this with their efficient offense against not that good Sonics defence. Ill be surprised if Moses will be averaging less than ~32 points.
My Prediction: 4:1 Clippers win