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Post by Miege22 on Apr 18, 2021 20:48:40 GMT -5
WEST: Houston vs. SeattleHow They Got Here Houston is the #1 seed in the Western Conference, finishing 12-2. They were first in the Midwest Division, and they defeated the 4th-seeded Portland Trailblazers in the last round, 6-3.Seattle comes in as the #3 seed in the Western Conference, finishing at 10-4. They were first in the Pacific Division. The Sonics defeated the Kansas City Kings in the conference semis.Regular Season Meeting(s)These two played in week 12 (Feb. 3-9). The Rockets won, 5-4.KEY INJURIESHouston – Kyle Lowry (old – DTD); Steph Cury (ankle – DTD); Jordan Clarkson (ankle – DTD); Damian Lillard (hamstring - DTD); Donte DiVincenzo (toe - DTD); Malik Beasley (hamstring – out)Seattle – James Harden (hamstring – out); Dennis Schroder (foot - DTD)HOW DID THESE TWO GET HERE?The Rockets looked terrifying for much of the season… then the injuries started piling up. The annoying thing, I’m sure, for Houston is that only Beasley is a known quantity from an injury standpoint. Seemingly all the injuries Houston is dealing with are last minute situations. Guys that look like they may or may not play, then get shut down at the last minute. To wit, PJ Washington was probable, then was sat anyway for multiple games. Donte DiVincenzo was fine… until a mysterious toe injury kept him out. Kyle Lowry appeared to be just find coming back from a foot infection, then Toronto decided they wanted to “rest” him. Kawhi had been an iron man, relatively speaking, until he was sat maybe for rest or a foot injury, who knows. The good news for Houston is that Portland was dealing with just as much, if not more, injury/rest shenanigans, and that ultimately allowed Houston to move on. When healthy, this team is a juggernaut, and even with all the missed games, they still smashed all playoff teams in points and threes. However, it’s the other categories that the missed games really come into play… And that’s because the other categories are where Seattle seems to thrive. The Sonics played the first round without Harden and Ball, and Beal wasn’t quite himself, but they still moved on rather easily. They didn’t score quite as easily, but they led every team in boards, steals and blocks. Given all the injury question marks on the other side, now is the chance for Seattle to strike. If Harden can come back, they may just be the favorite. WHAT DID THE X-FACTORS/PLAYERS TO WATCH DO?Well, the player to watch for Houston was Malik Beasley, and if you watched him you were only watching the bench. He got hurt and missed the whole series. The X-Factor, though, did exactly what an X-Factor should do: he won the damn series. For as bad as the Horford and Lowry trades have seemed to go, the Draymond Green trade almost SINGLE-HANDEDLY won this series. The Rockets may still have won with Wendell Carter Jr., but Draymond's contributions in assists, steals and blocks locked up the victory. For Seattle, we kept an eye on Lonzo Ball, and as is becoming tradition around these parts with our players to watch category, he stunk. He played hurt for two games, shot 38.5% and then proceeded to miss almost the rest of the series. KPJ was the X-Factor, and he was… pretty good, actually. He shot it poorly (41%), but he averaged 16-7.5-6 which was sorely needed IS THERE HISTORY HERE?Much like last year, Seattle’s lack of playoff history means that most of their playoff match-ups are going to be new experiences, and this certainly fits that bill. These two have never played each other in the postseason, though they proved to be the two most consistent teams in the West. WHAT'S AT STAKE?After having what looked like a championship season cut short by COVID, the Sonics are on the verge of their first “official” Finals appearance. It would be the first time this team has competed in the Finals, and would be a fitting way to finish what they started last year. For Houston, they’re looking to get back to the mountaintop for the first time since 2017. Injuries and the expensive reality of being a title contender set them back since that last trip to the Finals, but they look poised to finally get a second title. They’ve gone all in to do it too, and this off-season is going to be loaded with tough decisions. Of course, none of that matters as much as right now, and right now it’s about getting that ring.
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Post by Miege22 on Apr 18, 2021 20:52:53 GMT -5
EAST: Tampa Bay vs. ChicagoHow They Got HereTampa Bay is the #1 seed at 12-2. They won the Southeast Division and took out the Boston Celtics, 8-1, making their 7th appearance in the ECF. Chicago is the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference and winners of the North Division. They knocked off Miami in round 1, 7-2, advancing to the first conference finals in franchise history.Regular Season Meeting(s)The Bull Sharks and Bulls played in week 1 (Dec. 22-27). The Bull Sharks won, 6-3.KEY INJURIESTampa Bay – Jamal Murray (knee – out); LeBron James (ankle – out); Zach LaVine (health protocols – out); Alec Burks (health protocols - out)Chicago - Donovan Mitchell (ankle - out); Rui Hachimura (knee - DTD)HOW DID THESE TWO GET HERE?Tampa Bay’s match-up ended up being a little too close comfort, even though they led multiple nights 9-0. Injuries have just been devastating to this team, and it’s a testament to their depth that they were able to push through it and make the ECF. In the span of about 72 hours, it was confirmed that LeBron would miss the conference finals, they lost Jamal Murray to an ACL tear, and Zach LaVine got put into health and safety protocols due to COVID exposure. That last one was arguably the toughest blow, as LaVine had been playing brilliantly, and one could easily see him carrying the team to the Finals where LeBron would be waiting to join them. Instead, the Bull Sharks head into the biggest match-up of the season at a serious disadvantage, and it looks like it might take some serious Chris Paul magic to get them to the final round. Chicago, on the other hand, did exactly what they were supposed to do against an undermanned Miami team: they dominated. The Bulls left no doubt who the better team was, winning handily in five categories. D’Angelo Russell returned from injury to play solid ball, and Donovan Mitchell looked like a flat out superstar (though he was, unfortunately, lost to an ankle injury late in the match-up). The surprising part of Chicago’s win had to be their steals numbers, which easily outpaced the Bull Sharks. If that trend holds for the next two weeks, we could be looking at a Chicago blowout. WHAT DID THE X-FACTORS/PLAYERS TO WATCH DO?Remind us to never pick a player to watch again because they always underperform. Thad Young was the guy on our radar for Tampa Bay, and he was ho hum putting up 10-5-3. Of course, the big reason he was on our radar were his defensive numbers, and he thoroughly disappointed there too, averaging less than a block and steal per game. He’s capable of multiple stocks, so if he does it in the conference finals, Tampa should feel good. The X-Factor missed most of the series, then tore his ACL when he finally did come back. Let’s just move on. Well, let’s see, who was Chicago’s player to watch… LMAO, you guys, I know I’m kind of breaking character here, but it was Isaiah Roby. The same Isaiah Roby who picked up a concussion and missed the first week, only to come back and do essentially nothing. Seriously, remind me to do away with this category next year, this is embarrassing. Pat Williams was our X-Factor, and as long as you don’t count shooting, scoring, rebounding, or assists, he was huge. Seriously, he picked up 11 steals on the week, and Chicago is going to need that kind of defensive production to make the Finals. IS THERE HISTORY HERE?There sure is! These two faced off in the first round back in 2017, a match-up the Bull Sharks won without much trouble. OK, so it’s less exciting than I initially thought, but it is a rematch of sorts. WHAT'S AT STAKE?The Bull Sharks are looking to finally get back to the Finals, in what would be their first appearance since winning it all in 2016. They made the conference finals in 2017, 2019, and 2020, losing all three times. A fourth consecutive loss in the conference finals, including three straight years, would be a bitter pill to swallow, especially since they’ve pushed all their chips to the center of the table. And despite the injuries, they should be as healthy as they could be if they do manage to make it to the final round. For Chicago, it’s about finally advancing. After winning their first playoff match-up in franchise history, just how far can this team go? Can they win it all? I don’t see why not. Their best players are playing at the peak of their abilities, and they are right there with all the other heavyweights in this league. They’re also, probably, the best set up to contend again next year of the final four teams. We look to be heading into a future of Chicago dominance, and it starts right now.
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