This topic contains 6 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar RUDEBOY_ 12 years, 10 months ago.

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  • #28731
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    Tongue-Out-Like-23
    Participant

    Do you guys really think the Hawks and Grizzlies are legit title contenders? 

    I for one still don’t think the Grizzlies are a legit championship contender.  Yes, they have their post scorers, rebounders, and defenders in the paint as well as two shut down defenders in Battier and Allen.  My question is, do they have enough perimeter scoring or will they continue to ride Zach Randolph?  At one point or another Ibaka is going to get the best of Zach and slow him down.  If that doesn’t happen this series, Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood will make it even more difficult for Zach.

     

    When the Atlanta Hawks play as a team, they are as good as anyone out there.  The thing is, if they actually advance, they are going to play against a team (Boston or Miami) that has better individual talent than them that also plays like a team.  The reason they beat Orlando and they are 2-2 vs Chicago is because both teams were one man teams.  If they play Boston or Miami, they will be matched or outmatched at each position.

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  • #529909
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    NJHooper95
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    The Lakers are out, Spurs are Out, Orlando is out. Memphis is the only Team Left with dominant offensive inside BIG Men . Sure they have a chance as do all the teams remaining. Atlanta is inconsistent. If Josh Smith can continue to stay off the perimeter and play inside, then the Hawks can play with anyone. When the Celtics won their championship three years ago, its was the Hawks that took them to game 7 and gave them more problems than any other team in the playoffs.

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  • #529910
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    omphalos
    Participant

    Yeah I don’t consider Atlanta a threat to win it all, but Memphis certainly. If they can beat the Thunder, they play with enough heart and grittiness to ruffle the Mavericks’ feathers. Also, George Karl just got his revenge on the Lakers for that WCF loss after that whiteboard material he gave the Mavs before the playoffs.

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  • #529928
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    Cardinal_Fan
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     Imo if Memphis comes out of the west they can beat any team that comes out of the east, They would overmatch the Bulls wit their depth and i think they could overwhelm Miami down low

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  • #529931
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    Tongue-Out-Like-23
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    I think one problem with the Grizzlies is do they have enough perimeter scoring and can they defend elite scoring power forwards.  They haven’t played an elite scoring big man these entire playoffs.  Serge Ibaka and Perkins don’t score and Tim Duncan isn’t what he used to be.  I would like to see how they do against bigs who can create their own shot.  Guys like Dirk, KG, and Bosh.

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  • #529950
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    Memphis Madness
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    I worry some about the Grizzlies lack of perimeter attack sometimes.  But Conley, OJ, and Shane can knock down some 3’s.  But, I think the Thunder offer the most resistance down low.  If the Griz win the series then they should attack Dallas down low.  Nobody has a top shelf banger at power forward AND center other than the Griz.  The Mavs have Dirk at the 4 but I think Z Bo can back him down. 

    The Grizzlies have hit some 3’s when they need to.  I think they can hit enough to keep a team honest.  A good thing though, is the Grizzlies don’t take enough 3’s to shoot themselves out of the game.  No, we can’t get into a 3 point shooting contest with Dallas (if we beat OKC) but I don’t think anyone else can either.  If we pound the ball inside and use Conley to penetrate then I think we will be ok.  I would be comfortable with Battier on Dirk, Tony Allen on Jason Terry, and OJ on  Kidd.  Gasol can protect the paint.  Z Bo might not be the best guy to put on Marion, but I think DA can do a good job on him (or Dirk) off the bench.  If I were the Grizzlies, I would try to score inside and penetrate with Conley and OJ.  On defense I would use Battier to lock up Dirk, and Tony Allen to lock up Jason Terry.  OJ, Conley, and GV would be good at guarding Kidd.  I would use Darrell Arthur a lot; the Mavs have no answer for him off the bench.  I would let Shawn Marion try to beat us with outside jumpers.

    Out East, I think that the Hawks are dangerous.  If they meet the Heat in the conference finals I like the way that Atlanta matches up with Wade, LeBron, and Bosh.  Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford are long and athletic and can handle Wade ok.  I like Josh Smith (strong, athletic, long, creative) on LeBron.  Marvin Williams has size and could bother LeBron.  Al Horford has good size and length to battle Bosh.  Collins and ZaZa can do the same things that the Heat centers do.  Jeff Teague could put Bibby into retirement.  If Captain Kirk coems back I like him as depth at guard.  The Hawks (especially with Kirk) have a better 9 rotation. 

     

     

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  • #529952
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    RUDEBOY_
    Participant

    You ask are Memphis & Dallas Legit?

    Question…Who would’ve expected U Conn to be National Champs this year? Sometimes things can fall in the right direction ,in order to go your way…

    With the Lakers Swept out of the playoffs in the west…It opens the door for Memphis to get to the finals..Becuz during the regular season they won the season series against both Dallas & OKC…

    And though Dallas played flawless in game 4..The Lakers had a chance to win all 3 of the 1st games..But a lack of execution down toward the end caused them to lose….

    And with the Hawks you never know what team will show up..They have the talent to beat anybody..But sometimes they fail to stay focused….

     

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