2022 Conference Finals Previews
Mar 6, 2022 23:11:31 GMT -5
Tampa Bay Bull Sharks, fernans (MIAMI HEAT), and 1 more like this
Post by Miege22 on Mar 6, 2022 23:11:31 GMT -5
EAST: New York vs. Tampa Bay
How They Got Here
New York is the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference and winners of the North Division. They defeated Chicago in round 1, 6-3, advancing to the first conference finals in franchise history.
Tampa Bay is the #2 seed at 11-5. They won the Southeast Division and took out the Brooklyn Nets, 8-1, making their 8th appearance in the ECF.
Regular Season Meeting(s)
The Knicks and Bull Sharks played in week 11 (Dec. 27 – Jan. 2). The Knicks won, 5-4.
KEY INJURIES
New York - Tim Hardaway (foot – out); Kyle Lowry (personal – DTD); Larry Nance Jr. (knee – out); Norm Powell (foot – out); Enes Freedom (bad at basketball – out); Nerlens Noel (foot - out)
Tampa Bay – Chris Paul (thumb – out); Jarrett Allen (finger - out); Derrick Rose (ankle – DTD)
HOW DID THESE TWO GET HERE?
The New York Knicks did it. They finally, finally, won a playoff game. Things looked bleak when their series with Chicago started, but the injuries eventually evened out. They’ll enter the conference finals with their big three (LeBron, Mitchell, Embiid) playing at the top of their game. LeBron is coming off a 56-point masterpiece. The problem the Knicks will run into in the next round is the Bull Sharks aren’t like the Bulls. They’re not banged up beyond belief. The Knicks will be down four roster spots, but if Kyle Lowry comes back, they just might have a shot at this thing.
Tampa Bay had their match-up locked pretty much the day it started. Yes, they lost Chris Paul, but everyone else was there and playing at the top of their game. De’Aaron Fox has been lighting it up, scoring at least 20 points in every game of the first round match-up. He finished the series with a 44-point explosion. In fact, the Bull Sharks would have defeated every other team in the first round. It’s been a bit of uneven season for the Bull Sharks. COVID and injuries didn’t really allow them to find their footing, until about the last month of the season. They ripped off five straight wins to end the year, and now they’re here. Their fourth straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
WHAT DID THE X-FACTORS/PLAYERS TO WATCH DO?
Kyle Lowry was the player to watch for NY, and he played half the series. He averaged 17.5/6/6 and played reasonably well, but the personal issues that continue to pull him away from the floor are concerning. First because the Knicks need him to play, but second, and more importantly, because no one really knows what’s going on. We pegged Duncan Robinson as the X-Factor, and while he hit 19 threes, he… did not play well. At this point, all NY will be able to count on him for are threes.
We definitely jinxed the Bull Sharks on their player to watch, because Chris Paul got two games then broke his thumb. He will now miss the rest of the playoffs. Zach LaVine was the X-Factor, and he basically was the exact opposite of Chris Paul. He missed the first two games of the series, then came back and played pretty darn well. He averaged 24/5/5 and shot 49% from the floor. The Bull Sharks are going to need him to keep it up to match Mitchell.
IS THERE HISTORY HERE?
Oh, absolutely. Before the Knicks were the Knicks, they were the Boston Celtics and they simply could not defeat the Bull Sharks. They made the playoffs four times in their history, playing the Bull Sharks all four times… and losing all four times. Two of those times, the Knicks were the higher seed. The last time the Knicks were the higher seed was an especially painful loss as Tampa Bay came back from a massive deficit in the final weekend and won by just a couple of shots. Last year was the final straw. They lost to the Bull Sharks in round one, then up and moved to New York. Of course, all those match-ups happened in round one. Now that it’s happening in the conference finals, it is the 9th unique match-up in ECF history.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Obviously for New York, it’s about making their first NBA Finals. They’ve already gotten the playoff monkey off their back and ended that drought. Now, can they exorcise some more demons and take down the one team that has constantly stood in their way? Maybe they can look to the regular season for some hope. In twelve match-ups, the Knicks and Bull Sharks have each won 6 games. The Knicks are also looking to become the 6th different team out of the East to make the Finals. And of course… if they make the Finals, then LeBron is back on the big stage yet again.
It may not seem like a long drought, given that there are teams that still have never made the Finals, but Tampa Bay hasn’t made the Finals since 2016. What makes that significant is that they are making their fourth straight conference finals appearance. They’re the first team to accomplish that feat since the Brooklyn Nets did it in 2013-2016. Brooklyn won titles the first two years of those conference finals trips. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has not made a single Finals in this stretch. If they lose again this year, they’ll be the first team to lose four straight conference finals. If they do manage to get past the Knicks and make it back to the Finals, they’ll have a chance to match the Nets’ four NBA championships.