[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

What is the most important matchup in each of the series?

Western Conference:

• Serge Ibaka vs Dirk Nowitzki
• Kevin Durant vs Shawn Marion
• Russell Westbrook vs Jason Kidd
• Thunder bench vs Mavericks bench

I would have to go with the point guard play on this one.  We all know Jason Kidd isn’t fast enough to keep up with Russell Westbrook.  RW will get into the lane and get KD easy shots for three or backdoor cuts.  Russell Westbrook will need to dominate this series and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets two triple doubles this series and averages 26pts, 9.5asts, 7rpg.

 

Eastern Conference:

• Carlos Boozer vs Chris Bosh
• LeBron James vs Luol Deng
• Ronnie Brewer vs Dwyane Wade
• Derrick Rose vs Mario Chalmers
• Derrick Rose vs Dwyane Wade
• Bulls bench vs Heat bench

Obviously the Bulls bench has a major advantage, but that’s not what Miami cares much about.  If Miami’s bench plays well, that’s a plus but this is a team that can easily win with their bench scoring 10-15 pts.  The fact that LBJ, DWade, and Bosh can amount to 75-85pts in a night, Chalmers gets two easy threes and 3 easy buckets off LeBron’s/Wade’s penetration for Anthony, the Miami Heat still pull out 90+ points.  The most important matchup is Dwyane Wade vs Derrick Rose.  The two Chicago kids going one on one.  I’m hoping we see Wade guard Rose more often as the series goes on.  It will wear both of them out if this series gets long but if Wade is playing great defense on Rose, the entire Bulls offense is done.  Whereas the Heat still have two guys that can create for themselves and get 20+pts consistently.

[DanEboyParticipant]

ECF

I was leaning towards Deng vs LeBron because of how well Deng played him on Sunday but the reason the Bulls won isn’t because of individual match ups. They played amazing team defense, switching up on guys, rotating over to prevent LeBron and Wade from getting penetration to the hole and swarming whoever had the ball. Asik even took a turn guarding LeBron and played him well until Bron drained a long 3 on him.

So I will say the Bulls footwork vs. the Heat.

Or Taj versus Wade….ha

[OhCanada-Participant]

I think youve got it all wrong, good post but just my own opinion. The key is who will not perform well, there should not be any one on one action in the playoffs especially when you look at those matchups. Everyone should be gaurding alongside their teammates as a team with weakside doubles, strongside doubles, help off penetraton, executed switches, closeouts on shooters, etc. In the ECF last game we saw Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah switch on Lebron and Wade at times and continue to play good D. Its more about will Lebron and Wade fold under that pressure or find a way to perform.

I will say this though, if Westbrook is not decisive with his shot selection, and if he does not play better then he did against Dallas in the regular Season OKC loses plain and simple.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Maybe I wrote it wrong.

I didn’t necessarily mean one on one matchups rather production from each position.  If Luol Deng plays as defensive and as aggressive on offense like in game 1 but LeBron still outscores him, Luol Deng got the better of LeBron because he kept him honest on defense, kept LeBron on his toes, and made LeBron work.  I’m not sure how else to explain it. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Ok I misunderstood you. Well with the ECF I think it is the benches that will make the difference, if the Heat bench can stand toe to toe with the Bulls bench and give their stars a rest it would really help that team.

In the WCF gotta be the PG matchup. Kidd is a very underrated defender dispate his lack of explosiveness and athletisism. Not onl that but they will also have Barea, and guys like Stevenson and Brewer to likely switch onto Westy. Westbrook shot an extremely low percentage in their season series and needs to perform.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

In the East it is Deng vs. LeBron.  Deng did very well on LeBron and he also scored some points.  Rose, Bogans, and Brewer can slow Wade down.  The Bulls can’t let LeBron run all over them.  If Deng is scoring some (15 or 16 points a game) then that would force LeBron to work on defense, really helping out the Bulls.

I think the power forward matchup is important.   Bosh was killing Boozer.  Gibson played better than Boozer in the first game.  So look for Taj to keep on getting a lot of minutes, because Bosh over Boozer is the Heat’s only great matchup.  (Boozer is the Bulls biggest liability on defense). 

In a thread last night, someone was asking if LeBron has lost a step.  I think he might have.  He is bulky too, so that could be it (as someone else said).  So Bogans, Deng and Brewer can really slow down LeBron. 

The Bulls strategy may be to shut down Wade and LeBron and let Bosh dominate Boozer.  Bosh can’t beat the Bulls by himself, then the Bulls bring in Taj Gibson who can overwhelm a tired Miami front line.

LeBron isn’t as explosive as he used to be.  And he is still not a great outside shooter, and he doesn’t really post up either.  Oh, and he is mediocre at best from the foul line.  This is his 8th year in the league.  When did MJ peak physically and overall-talent wise?  In his 8th year against the Blazers in 1992?  In his 9th year against the Suns in 1993?  Jordan peaked between his 8th and 9th years from a pure talent and athletic standpoint.  Barkley peaked in 1993 with the Suns (his 9th year).  Olajuwon peaked in 1994 when he won his first title (his 10th year, but he had great fundamentals and incredible footwork).  Pippen peaked in 1994 with his great regular season when MJ was retired.  Not sure how long he had been in the league that year.  Might have been his 7th or 8th year.

LeBron has a lot of mileage and relies primarily on his athletic ability and raw natural talent.  Shawn Kemp might be a good comparison.  Kemp peaked pretty early (1994-1996 might have been his peak years).  In the Finals run year of 1995-1996 Kemp was playing in his 7th year in the league at the age of 26.  Arguably, that was his peak.  People say that MJ peaked later, but yeah he had a great second act, but his fundamentals were awesome and he took a year and a half off in between to play baseball.  But, MJ’s athletic peak and physical prime was over by the time he left to go play in the minors.  In the 72 win Bulls season both MJ and Pippen were both past their physical primes.  I think Rodman really put them over the top in 1996 (Toni Kukoc helped too).

I wouldn’t be surprised if LeBron and Wade are both at their peaks now, and start to decline sometime during the next season.  I think next year will also be the year of Peak Bosh. 

LeBron can extend his prime somewhat but he really needs to work on his fundamentals. 

[Jlv2011]

Wade

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I think it’s the matchup between Westbrook and Kidd. I know everyone wants to see Dirk and Durant go shot for shot, but if Westbrook is turning the ball over and allowing Kidd to run the open floor that will never happen. Whichever point guard controls the tempo of the game better, that team will win. 

[Author]

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