[casey38rayParticipant]

•  2) Cavs vs. 3) Bulls – I have the Bulls in 6. Alot of people don’t believe that the lost of Kevin Love and J.R Smith ( 2 games ) won’t matter in this series because the Cavs have the best player in the game in LeBron James. I don’t think just because you have the best player don’t automatically mean that that team will win just because of it. I believe by having the best player in curtain circumstances it will be enough, but not in this series. The key to this series is Derrick Rose. I say that because that when he’s on he might be the best player on the floor and look unstoppable, but when he’s off he might be a liability. I have confendece that Derrick Rose will be at his best because he always takes the challege to outperform the top level point guards. I believe he will be in attack mode. I aslo believe that Jimmy Butler can atleast slow LeBron James in some points in this series. 
• 1) Hawks vs. 5) Wizards – I have the Wizards in 5. I don’t believe that the " regular season " Hawks are back. Just because they beat the Nets by 23 doesn’t mean that he is back. As everybody know this isn;t the same old Wizards team that went 1-3 against Atlanta in the regular season. Bradley Beal looking like the Bradley Beal that we saw from him last postseason, Otto Porter playing great defense, Marcin Gortat playing like a top  5 center in the league, Paul Pierce being clutch, htey are going small ( never did it in the regular season, and John Wall playing like a top 3 point guard. If Atlanta had a benxh I would easily pick them because the Wizards can’t exend leads when John  Wall is off the court. Atlanta struggled last series containing Brook Lopez, Jarrett Jack, and ( at times ) Deron Williams and they struggled on the boards on both ends of the court. The Wizards can take advantage of that with their big 3.
• 2) Rockets vs. 3) Clippers – I have the Rockets in 7. This series is all about matchups. The Rockets matchup pretty well against the Clippers, if they played the Spurs I believe they would lose in 5. The Clippers might not have Chris Paul in the first game of the series, according to Doc Rivers. Nobody on the Clippers roster can stop Jaames Harden and in this yearplayoffs the refs giving him calls and I don’t see DeAndre Jordan shutting down Dwight Howard. The Clippers have the matchup of point guards ( Trevor Ariza will guard Chris Paul ) and power forward ( Dwight might guard Blake Griffin ), but I believe the Rockets can slow them down. The bench is in clear favor of the Rockets with Corey Brewer, Pablo, and Josh Smith. The Rocets just have good matchups, so that ‘s why  I believe the Rockets will beat a tired Clippers team.
• 1) Warriors vs. 5) Grizzlies – I have the Warriors in 6 – This can be a sweep if Mike Conley is out and I don’t know the timetable for his injury, so I’m assuming he will play. First, I thought the Pelicans should’ve won 2 games against the Warriors last series, but the lack of experience and bad coaching showed. The Grizzlies is a tough and experienced team that I believe can close out some games against the Warriors. Steph Curry going to be the difference maker in this series because I believe he will have to play like he’s the best player on the planet most nights because of the fact that I believe Klay Thompson will struggle with Tony Allen all series. I believe Steph Curry will play up to that this series .
•  

[trelos6Participant]

Good job casey38ray.  Instead of just negging you like other idiots, I’ll comment.

I think the East is wide open.  Anything could happen.  That said, I’d also take the Wiz is 5 or 6, I’d probably take Cavs in 6 or 7, purely because Bulls are also somehwat injured with Noah looking sluggish and Mirotic.

Rockets Clippers has the potential to be the best 2nd round match up.  I’d also take the Rockets in 7, maybe 6 if the Clips are flat out tired from playing 6 guys heavy minutes vs Spurs.

Finally, I think Warriors will take it in 4 or 5, especially with Conley’s injury.  Sure Pels should’ve won a few games, but the Warriors side is also quite young, and shows that they learned how to win the close games.  Expect the Warriors to get better.

 

 

 

[trelos6Participant]

Good job casey38ray.  Instead of just negging you like other idiots, I’ll comment.

I think the East is wide open.  Anything could happen.  That said, I’d also take the Wiz is 5 or 6, I’d probably take Cavs in 6 or 7, purely because Bulls are also somehwat injured with Noah looking sluggish and Mirotic.

Rockets Clippers has the potential to be the best 2nd round match up.  I’d also take the Rockets in 7, maybe 6 if the Clips are flat out tired from playing 6 guys heavy minutes vs Spurs.

Finally, I think Warriors will take it in 4 or 5, especially with Conley’s injury.  Sure Pels should’ve won a few games, but the Warriors side is also quite young, and shows that they learned how to win the close games.  Expect the Warriors to get better.

 

 

 

[trelos6Participant]

At this stage, I’ll take GSW to win the whole thing.

[trelos6Participant]

At this stage, I’ll take GSW to win the whole thing.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 The Co let injury is not as big a deal as people are making it. Udrih and Calathes are capable of replacing him to an extent. The series is still going to be close. Memphis will not get swept.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 The Co let injury is not as big a deal as people are making it. Udrih and Calathes are capable of replacing him to an extent. The series is still going to be close. Memphis will not get swept.

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

I read this somewhere else, but I agree completely; the Grizzlies need Conley to create from the wing, as no other play can do that. Even though your offense can run through big men like Gasol and Randolph you need at least one guy on the wing who can ‘force’ something from the outside when necessary. 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

I read this somewhere else, but I agree completely; the Grizzlies need Conley to create from the wing, as no other play can do that. Even though your offense can run through big men like Gasol and Randolph you need at least one guy on the wing who can ‘force’ something from the outside when necessary. 

[omphalosParticipant]

I feel like Memphis is almost a certainty to get swept, Golden State is so deep at every position and despite foul trouble for Bogut and Green today had no problems containing Randolph and Gasol with their bench guys.

Also, glad to see David Lee get some run, I have a feeling he’ll have a good series.

Oh, and I think Bulls and Wizards meet in the ECF.

Bulls are too deep for an inexperienced Cavs roster and have been tested, plus the Wizards (if Beal can stay healthy) have a roster with the answers for Atlanta’s stretch players.

 

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

I feel like Memphis is almost a certainty to get swept, Golden State is so deep at every position and despite foul trouble for Bogut and Green today had no problems containing Randolph and Gasol with their bench guys.

Also, glad to see David Lee get some run, I have a feeling he’ll have a good series.

Oh, and I think Bulls and Wizards meet in the ECF.

Bulls are too deep for an inexperienced Cavs roster and have been tested, plus the Wizards (if Beal can stay healthy) have a roster with the answers for Atlanta’s stretch players.

 

 

 

 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 I’d go:-Atlanta in 7 

           -Chicago in 6

           -Golden State in 5

           -Rockets in 6

 

         

 

[sitlbitoParticipant]

 I’d go:-Atlanta in 7 

           -Chicago in 6

           -Golden State in 5

           -Rockets in 6

 

         

 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Cavs in 7; They still have more than enough quality despite missing some important pieces. LeBron has taken his team to the finals on his own before (Cavs, 07) and this time he has a much better supporting cast. 

Hawks in 7; Maybe this is more hope than anything else, but I believe Horford will find his midrange shot back and the Hawks as a whole their confidence. This will be a great, competitive and hard-fought series though!

Rockets in 5; Rockets had a lot of rest, and Howard is starting to play like the best (defensive) C in the league again. Curious who picks up who on defense (Harden? Paul?), but overall I like the Rockets team a lot better.

Warriors in 4; Simply too much fire power, too much on defense, and the Grizzlies sincerly miss Conley!

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Cavs in 7; They still have more than enough quality despite missing some important pieces. LeBron has taken his team to the finals on his own before (Cavs, 07) and this time he has a much better supporting cast. 

Hawks in 7; Maybe this is more hope than anything else, but I believe Horford will find his midrange shot back and the Hawks as a whole their confidence. This will be a great, competitive and hard-fought series though!

Rockets in 5; Rockets had a lot of rest, and Howard is starting to play like the best (defensive) C in the league again. Curious who picks up who on defense (Harden? Paul?), but overall I like the Rockets team a lot better.

Warriors in 4; Simply too much fire power, too much on defense, and the Grizzlies sincerly miss Conley!

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