Official 2010-2011 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Miramonti]

I was working and missed the game, but I'm about to watch the recording of it. That said, I expected a split in Chicago for the Heat to win in 6. I still expect that.

Spo is a very smart coach and has a great x and o mind. Without having seen the game but going on vi edit's analysis, I would suspect that the Heat stop trapping Rose (really they did that?) and stay at home on everyone else. If you tread back on the thread I said that the way the Pacers and Hawks stalled the Chicago offense was by letting Rose get his but not allowing the shooters to get hot.

I think that's a good point, and what they might have to do because what they did didn't work.

But if they do, they are at ground zero. Teams try trapping Rose because he puts soooo much pressure on the defense if they don't. That wasn't always the case, but Thibs has taught him that he must be aggressive if they play him that way. Even if he attacks and misses, he draws so much traffic for offensive boards to be had or kick-outs to open shooters.

Players have to rotate once Rose gets by his defender. But imo the Heat don't have that defense to be affective...not enough height/athleticism with bigs to stuff him and/or have a chance at the boards. So they will probably have to collapse with the 2's and 3's, which will leave good shooters open outside.

That's probably the risk they are better off taking...hope that the Bulls other players have an off night around the perimeter...which they absolutely will at times. Even tho all of the bulls perimeter players (starters and bench players) can make 3's, they sometimes go cold all together as well. Korver is of course the most dangerous, Bogans the least predictable.

And if the Heat are having success, then we have closer games in the 4th and 'Rose the machine-oiler and run-diffuser' (like last night) then turns into the 'refuse-to-lose Rose', relentlessly attacking in the 4th and carrying the team on his shoulders.

Overall I think the Heat are better off with what you suggested and not trapping him.

 

[vi edit]

The other part that will be interesting to see is how they address the board situation. On the defensive end do they keep more bodies back hoping to convert a Chicago offensive rebound into a Miami defensive at the sake of the transition game? Noah had like 8 or 9 offensive boards. That's insane.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Wanna bet your PC on that?

I'm not a gambling man. Besides watching Lefail James fall flat on his face is way better than any amount of money I could win. I guess the Heat already had their championship after they beat Boston.

Did you watch any of the game? To call that a statement game would be a understatement. That was a straight punking. The Bulls are a serious threat to the mavs title hopes.

 

[vi edit]

Did you watch any of the game? To call that a statement game would be a understatement. That was a straight punking. The Bulls are a serious threat to the mavs title hopes.

I have no idea what Chicago would do with Dirk. He's basically unguardable and as a whole Dallas is a better passing team. They are a tough matchup to Dallas's style and spread with shooters.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I have no idea what Chicago would do with Dirk. He's basically unguardable and as a whole Dallas is a better passing team. They are a tough matchup to Dallas's style and spread with shooters.

Yeah Noah or Boozer would get eaten alive by Dirk. How tall is Gibson? He might have a chance of slowing Dirk down although Dirk has really got his postup game going lately. Chicago's defense is the scariest thing to me. Then you add Rose in the mix and they are a serious contender for the title. If Chicago continues to hit the 3 ball they are unbeatable. No one can stop Rose from getting in the lane and if the supporting cast is nailing wide open 3's then it's over. All kidding aside the heat are done. They might win a game or 2 but they have more holes than swiss cheese.

 

[Miramonti]

The other part that will be interesting to see is how they address the board situation. On the defensive end do they keep more bodies back hoping to convert a Chicago offensive rebound into a Miami defensive at the sake of the transition game? Noah had like 8 or 9 offensive boards. That's insane.

Yep. Being more competitive on the boards has got to be a priority for Miami.

Without it, they give up either easy put backs, or let the Bulls get into their transition, or miss creating their own transition opportunities like you mentioned.

You'd think James would try and crash the boards more, but he's too busy hoping to get the ball back from his teammates or trying to cherry pick a layup. If Pippen were on this team, he'd probably be crashing the boards at every chance to help his team stay in the game.

Come to think of it, one of the bulls greatest successes last night was taking Joel Anthony out of the game. He did have 3 blocks and a steal, but 0-1 shooting and only 6 boards while the bulls dominated the paint.

 

[zerocool84]

Game 2 is a super important game for the Heat. It's going to show that they can win @ Chicago and put some fear into the Bulls because with how Game 1 played out, the Heat are the ones that are scared.

 

[Miramonti]

Game 2 is a super important game for the Heat. It's going to show that they can win @ Chicago and put some fear into the Bulls because with how Game 1 played out, the Heat are the ones that are scared.

All the Heat need to do is win one in Chicago, then they have home court advantage and don't have to win there again. And one thing about this young Chicago team is that they haven't learned (or shown yet) that they can put the petal to the metal and keep it there.

 

[Miramonti]

An excellent article on the value of offensive rebounding...or it's lack of value and how the league has de-emphasized it lately.

Basically it says that offensive rebounding is at the expense of not getting back on defense and giving up easier buckets at the other end as well as giving up defensive rebounds. Boston in contrast, another elite defensive team, is the worst team in the league for offensive rebounds and focuses more on getting back.

However the Bulls are the ONLY team in the league that are an elite offensive rebounding team AND an elite defensive rebounding team.

And the reason they attribute that to?...

 

[zerocool84]

An excellent article on the value of offensive rebounding...or it's lack of value and how the league has de-emphasized it lately.

Basically it says that offensive rebounding is at the expense of not getting back on defense and giving up easier buckets at the other end as well as giving up defensive rebounds. Boston in contrast, another elite defensive team, is the worst team in the league for offensive rebounds and focuses more on getting back.

However the Bulls are the ONLY team in the league that are an elite offensive rebounding team AND an elite defensive rebounding team.

And the reason they attribute that to?...

Mistake Spoelstra did was not suiting up Ilgauskas. He thought he could out hustle the Bulls with a smaller line-up but they killed them on the boards. They need Z to cover the inside. Sure no one can stop D-Rose but Z can stop others from getting inside since he's so damn tall and help with the rebounding. Z needs to play next game for the Heat.

 

[Miramonti]

Mistake Spoelstra did was not suiting up Ilgauskas. He thought he could out hustle the Bulls with a smaller line-up but they killed them on the boards. They need Z to cover the inside. Sure no one can stop D-Rose but Z can stop others from getting inside since he's so damn tall and help with the rebounding. Z needs to play next game for the Heat.

Wow, I thought he must have been injured or something to not have been playing.

 

[actuarial]

Yeah offensive rebounding really isn't that important, defensive rebounding is.

Top 5 offensive rebounding teams this year: Chi/Sac/Min/Por/LAL. Bottom 5 offensive rebounding teams this year: Bos/Atl/Pho/Den/Dal. Of the top 10 offensive teams this year, only 2 were top 10 in offensive rebounding.

All stats courtesy of knickerblogger.net

 

[Miramonti]

Yeah Noah or Boozer would get eaten alive by Dirk. How tall is Gibson? He might have a chance of slowing Dirk down although Dirk has really got his postup game going lately. Chicago's defense is the scariest thing to me. Then you add Rose in the mix and they are a serious contender for the title. If Chicago continues to hit the 3 ball they are unbeatable. No one can stop Rose from getting in the lane and if the supporting cast is nailing wide open 3's then it's over. All kidding aside the heat are done. They might win a game or 2 but they have more holes than swiss cheese.

Any thoughts on what's going to happen with Dallas against the Thunder (aside from your prediction that Dallas will win ), or the keys etc.? I've watched very little of these teams in the playoffs, and pretty much only in the regular season when playing the bulls.

 

[vi edit]

Any thoughts on what's going to happen with Dallas against the Thunder (aside from your prediction that Dallas will win ), or the keys etc.? I've watched very little of these teams in the playoffs, and pretty much only in the regular season when playing the bulls.

Kidd vs. Westbrook.

So far Kidd has needed to guard Fisher (old) and Miller (old). Westbrook is damn near half his age and blazing fast. It'll be interesting to see how much Barea and Terry we'll see this matchup.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Mavs have played well against the Thunder in the past. As Vi Edit said Kidd is going to have trouble with Westbrook. I believe Dallas has a very underrated defense and should be able to help Kidd enough to keep Westbrook under control. They have Corey Brewer and Marion to guard Durant and usually Dallas has done a good job of keeping him in check. I actually believe the Thunder getting Perkins is to Dallas' advantage. Dallas has the big men to play with Perkins but not enough athletic players to keep Durant, Westbrook, Green under control. I think where Dallas has the edge is in scoring and experience. At the end of the game Dallas being a savy veteran team is going to out-execute the Thunder when it counts and that's going to be the difference in the series. Also Dallas has been a tough place to play this postseason. Probably not so much in the past but this year Mavs fans are really hyped up.

Dallas in 7

 

[vi edit]

Ibaka is going to be the "X" factor. He's likely going to pull Dirk detail. Can his speed, length and pogo stick jumping ability provide the right combo to slow down and bother Dirk? And can he stay out of foul trouble?

 

[Via]

I think the Mavs are going to win the series fairly easily, but I've been wrong before. They really looked sharp and hungry against the Lakers, and if Tyson Chandler plays at a high level it makes the Mavs pretty tough.

I want to see the Bulls hold serve on Wed before thinking any further in the ECF.

 

[AMDZen]

Go CHI destroy MI !

 

[zerocool84]

I think the Mavs bench is going to hurt the Thunder. Mavs have a real good bench. I have a feeling we're going to see those flaps down by the Jet a lot this series. Like Vi said though, Westbrook should dominate Kidd. Honestly, not one can stop Dirk, they need to focus on the rest of the team. No need to double Dirk.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Still kinda quiet at the Dallas mavs arena.:biggrin:

 

[a123456]

I don't really understand the rules, but some people are mentioned that the rules prevented the Clips from protecting their pick that they traded to the Cavs. What's the exact rule?

Davis and Irving for Williams and Moon.

 

[zerocool84]

Nowitzki is already having his way.

 

[wheresmybacon]

I don't think I've ever seen a better stroke than Peja's. Perfect technique.

 

[Via]

Man, Dirk's having a game.

Dallas/Chicago is my dream final; I'd root as hard as anyone for the Bulls, but seeing Dirk get a ring would be ok.

Especially since the Bulls will be around for a while.

 

[James3shin]

Wow, Dirk is getting a lot of light fouls called in his favor. Playoff basketball is usually "let them play"?