This topic contains 24 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by 
Sewok15 7 years, 2 months ago.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Posted on: Fri, 04/26/2019 - 9:24am #369091
high floorParticipantAs an avid NBA nerd I cannot wait for the Sixers / Raptors matchup that begins this weekend. I really wish Embiid were 100%, as he has already had his fair share of issues with Marc Gasol this season.
The matchups are so tasty. Simmons / Lowry….. Reddick / Green…… Butler / Kawhi….. Harris / Siakam…… this has the makings of an epic showdown.
I cannot get over how devastating the Raptors defense was against the Magic last series. I understand that Orlando was no offensive juggernaut, but Toronto swallowed them up in a manner that was incredibly demoralizing the final 4 games. It seemed like they had a hand on the ball every single Magic possession, and Kawhi showed glimpses of his historically great defensive pressue. The switches on DHO’s and P&R’s in this matchup are fascinating as well. Can Simmons handle Kawhi on a Lowry / Leonard 2-man game, can Harris slow down Siakam, will J.J be able to get his shot off against Danny Green?
The guy I’m looking at most in this series is Jimmy Butler. He has talked so much sh*t this year & now’s his chance to remedy his bad P.R with an awesome series agains Kawhi and Toronto. A great performance the next couple weeks could really change the complexion of his free agency.
But can he do it agains Kawhi? I don’t know….. but I can’t wait to find out!!
0 -
Posted on: Fri, 04/26/2019 - 10:05am #1132247
Memphis MadnessParticipantThis might be the best Eastern Conference "final four" in YEARS — maybe ever.
Usually the East was a dumpster fire. One legit team if that, OR very top heavy.
The late 80s/early 90s East was four deep (Pistons, Bulls, Cavs, Knicks) but that was about it, even then and the Pistons era and the Knicks "era" didn’t really overlap either.
Bucks/Raptors/Sixers/Celtics is as good as it gets. High wattage star power too with Greek Freak, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Embiid, Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, and Jayson Tatum/Gordon Hayward.
I guess the West is top heavy, too, although only the Warriors/Rockets look like legit bets to get to the Finals.
Still potential for "dream matchups" with Giannis vs. Durant obviously being a headliner, or the two MVP candidates facing off (Giannis/Harden). Kawhi/Durant would be a nifty matchup too as both the Warriors and Rockets are loaded (if very top heavy).
Warriors vs. Sixers or Celtics would also be good for ratings. Celtics draw well at least, but Philly has historically been a good "name" team.
Celtics/Rockets would actually be the THIRD Finals matchup between these two teams. Kind of an oddity of NBA history.
0 -
Posted on: Fri, 04/26/2019 - 11:30am #1132250
SubZeroParticipantMilwaukee-Boston is gonna be a bloodbath too. Rematch from last year’s playoffs and seems like they always play each other hard. Any combination of matchups between these teams is gonna be super fun to watch
0 -
Posted on: Fri, 04/26/2019 - 1:38pm #1132253
BKGingerSnapParticipantIn terms of excitement, I think it goes
1. 76ers vs. Raptors: Philly’s starpower vs. the best Toronto team ever. I think this series has the highest potential and has the most interesting mix of style or personality on the court. Embiid’s bullying vs. Kawhi’s blinking. Really exited for this one
2. Celtics vs. Bucks: I think whoever wins this makes the finals out of the east. I have it below 76ers rappers because Brogdon and Smart won’t be available for start of this but both should be back for the ECF.
3. Rockets vs. Warriors (Clippers): This should series could be amazing but it must be said that Harden is the most hated great player in a long time (for many obvious reasons) and this Warriors team is really underperforming its potential/max output. If Warriors somehow lose to the clips, then this series is still exciting cause this Clippers team has Lou Williams playing like 06 Baron Davis
4. Trail Blazers vs. Spurs/Nuggets: Dame stepped up his game big time and I think he’s about to dominate who ever wins Spurs/Nuggets.
0 -
Posted on: Fri, 04/26/2019 - 1:44pm #1132254
OhCanada-ParticipantPhillies gonna get swept. Not saying this as a Raptors homer, I honestly dont know if we’ll beat Milwaukee or Boston. They cant beat Toronto yet. They will probably hang for a bit game 1 will be close but once that doubt sets in its over.
Playoff Kawhi and playoff Gasol are incredibly different players than in the regular season and its starting to rub off on the rest of the team. Kawhi is a straight up killer.
0 -
Posted on: Sat, 04/27/2019 - 5:29am #1132267
SwatLakeCityParticipantSixers wont get swept, but I could see it going 5 or 6 games. We still don’t know if Embiid will play at all. And Marjonovic is going to have a tough time against Gasol. Harris and Siakam should be fun. So should Butler against Kawhi, and Reddick against Green. Simmons may be bigger than Lowry, but his shot is questionable so I think Lowry will be able to contain him with Green and Kawhi as help defenders. Honestly this series depends on whether or not Embiid will play or not. But there is so much uncertainty surrounding him, that I can see him playing maybe 1 or 2, and thus the Raptors will need only one maybe two bad games to adjust.
0 -
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 3:09am #1132288
Sewok15ParticipantI think tonight will be a much closer game. Kawhi and Siakam shot 28-38 and combined for 74 points. I kinda knew Kawhi would kill them as I stated weeks ago the Sixers can’t stop opposing stars from scoring to save their life.
Countless players have recorded career highs vs Philly this year and Brett Brown does nothing about it. Perhaps once in a while a double team on Kawhi would help get the ball out of his hands and make him utilize one of his weaker skills of passing.
Simmons and Ennis were the only guys who had above average offensive games for Philly. A lot of that is the Toronto D but there is no way Embiid, Butler and Harris all stink it up again.
Gasol is a tough matchup for Embiid to score on because he doesn’t give up ground and just let Joel push him under the basket like most big men he faces. I’m not sure if it was the knee or just frustration but Embiid didn’t look like himself at all. He looked clumsy and missed a couple of the few easy shots he had. That being said the Sixers were still +4 with Embiid on the floor in game 1.
Boban was -17 in 10 minutes of game 1. I am not sure you can play him anymore this series. His height is not as much as an advantage as his lack of quickness is a disadvantage. Honestly the Sixers might be better off playing TJ McConnell as backup center.
I would only play 3 guys off the bench if I was Brown… Ennis, TJ and Bolden. I can’t believe how much losing Mike Scott hurts this team. Everyone knew their depth was poor but for a team with title aspirations this bench is pathetic.
With all that being said the Sixers could still win this series. They win tonight and they have homecourt advantage. Simmons was their best offensive player in game 1 but took 4 fewer shots than any other starter. Ben needs to be more aggressive because if he isn’t attacking he is useless on offense. Embiid needs to use his quickness and midrange game more against Gasol. Jimmy Butler needs to redeem himself after Kawhi make him look just like any other guy Saturday. Harris and Reddick need to hit shots early.
The odds aren’t in Philly’s favor but that is where Philly teams thrive. I predict they win tonight and the narrative of the series changes at 1-1 heading back to the Wells Fargo Center.
0-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 9:51am #1132294
OhCanada-ParticipantTonights gonna be a blowout. Browns gonna get fired after this series.
0
-
-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 12:01pm #1132297
r377ParticipantLove the second round matchups. I guess GS are favoured over Houston but other than that, there are no clear favourties and each could go 7 games…
0 -
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 2:37pm #1132307
OhCanada-ParticipantGame 2 so far Phillies been impressive. Simmons defense is spectacular, Embiid looks like hes seen a ghost.
0-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 3:06pm #1132308
r377ParticipantPhillie up 16 nearly half time. I think Toronto comes back and a close finish.
0
-
-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 4:29pm #1132311
r377ParticipantThat foul call on gasol fouling Butler decided the whole game !!
0-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 4:52pm #1132315
OhCanada-ParticipantPhilly really showed some grit here. Great win very suprising how well they played. Especially Simmons defense on Kawhi/Siakam. Absolutely amazing, didnt know he had that in him. Monroe was a huge impact no clue why Ujiri let him go. Brown is slowly figuring things out but for some reason he is still going with Marjonovic instead of Monroe at times. Game 1 he tried to let Kawhi/Siakam beat him instead of daring Raptors open shooters to knock down shots. Has he even watched a single Raptors game?
About the Butler call…did you watch the whole game? Curious to know if you thought the refs called it fair, obviously Im biased so Im wondering what you think. I mean Brett Brown was past halfcourt standing right next to Kawhi in front of the ref and didnt get a tech but Toronto got a bunch of techs. Siakam goes to the rim on every single drive and gets 2 free throws. Come on.
Either way Philly earned my respect with that win.
0-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 5:23pm #1132319
r377ParticipantAt work so kept an eye on it. Tech fouls – I used to referee aswell as play. I never used to give techs, doing it the playoffs when players emotions are so high isn’t right. A player letting off steam and questioning a call shouldn’t be teed up. We used to also give players a warning to clam down before a tech foul
0 -
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 6:20pm #1132323
Sewok15ParticipantI can’t say I hate to say I told ya so. The refs let them play for the most part which I like. There were certainly some questionable calls and no calls both ways but that always happens.
The T on their coach seemed a bit harsh but the ref was probably fed up with players complaining most notably Kyle Lowry. He reaches and slaps people constantly on D and everytime he goes to the basket he is out of control just flailing and slamming into people hoping for a foul. Then he complains about everything. Constant complaining to the refs has been really bad this post season.
Embiid didn’t look like himself but he made that huge bucket at the end. Jimmy Butler looked rejuvenated and a lot of that probably has to due with Ben Simmons guarding Kawhi most of the game. Simmons was great defensively tonight. It helps to have Butler run the offense late since Simmons doesn’t shoot free throws well. As much as Simmons can be a liability offensively when he is locked in on D he is great. James Ennis needs some recognition as well…he has been great both games and made some big plays and defended Kawhi fairly well at points.
I look for this series to go 7 games. Toronto plays really good defense and I would guess tonight will be their worst shooting game in the series….game 1 likely their best.
Toronto will adjust and put Gasol in the post more if the Sixers are going to put Embiid on Siakam like they did tonight. There were many times Gasol had mismatches but he stayed on the outside. Kawhi will need more help especially from Lowry and Gasol if they want to win this series.
0-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 8:19pm #1132325
OhCanada-ParticipantYeah you were right. But other than Siakam, Leonard and Lowry Toronto goes 4-25, with 13 points and 5 bench points. Siakam gets 2 free throws on 25 shots and Philly gets to the line twice as many times as Toronto yet they only win by 5. I just dont see this lasting 7 games.
0-
Posted on: Tue, 04/30/2019 - 6:29am #1132331
Sewok15ParticipantTraditionally role players play better at home but the Raptors role players were not great in either game this series so far. I imagine they will play better going forward as well simply because it can’t be much worse. I also expect Embiid to play better but he seems way off his game so maybe that won’t happen.
You would think Kawhi might come back to Earth, but as you said in a different post, playoff Kawhi is a different animal. I expect Toronto to take one of the next two in Philly. Then each team likely holds serve on their home court until game 7 where Toronto will have the edge but anything can happen. These two teams are closely matched. The raptors have to rely on one player more than the Sixers do but when that player is one of the top 3 on the planet it will make for a great series.
I have probably shaken my head ten times in two games at the difficult shots Kawhi makes look routine. This is the best Raptors team ever and I hope Kawhi stays in Toronto. The East will be so fun to watch this time of year with these four teams battling it out to get to the finals for the next four or five years.
0
-
-
-
-
-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 7:40pm #1132324
r377ParticipantHow much will Jokic feast on Kanter this round ?
0-
Posted on: Mon, 04/29/2019 - 10:43pm #1132326
tblazer_NZParticipantA hole lot, but Kanter will get his too.
0-
Posted on: Tue, 04/30/2019 - 11:18am #1132339
OhCanada-ParticipantHard to say if I would rather have Kanter matched up with Jokic or Poeltl from the last round. Poeltl did a good job getting his stops at crucial moments here and there from time to time but in the long run couldnt slow him down. Kanter will offer little to no resistance but will work him on the other end and give you buckets/rebounds. I think its fair to say Kater is pretty underated for what he provides.
Speaking of underrated. Greg Monroe. Was amazing last night and Ujiri needs to be heavily critiqued for releasing him like he did. Should have at least included him in the Memphis deal and had them agree not to release him, just take back one of their G-League guys and drop them.
0-
Posted on: Sat, 05/04/2019 - 4:08pm #1132435
r377ParticipantI used to make fun on Kanters defence, but I think he has improved in that area.
0
-
-
-
-
Posted on: Thu, 05/02/2019 - 4:30pm #1132390
r377ParticipantREally not liking Embiid’s showboating…
0-
Posted on: Thu, 05/02/2019 - 6:10pm #1132392
OhCanada-ParticipantI’ve got no problem with it. Hes earned the right. This Philly teams impressed.
0
-
-
AuthorPosts
| You must be logged in to reply to this topic. | Login |