EPTNBA 2013-14 Season - Page 239
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
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Doraemon
Australia14949 Posts
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Zorkmid
4410 Posts
On April 08 2014 03:59 zulu_nation8 wrote: Can't think of the last time a team self destructed this hard this close to the playoffs See Toronto Maple Leafs. | ||
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TwoToneTerran
United States8841 Posts
But yeah the Pacers definitely pissed away the #1 seed. | ||
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RowdierBob
Australia12956 Posts
Indy has just utterly imploded. They'll still make the ECF imo, partly because of their D and the horrid east, but can't see them beating Miami now. There will def be upsets in the west. | ||
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
I think the East has more upset potential. It's too bad Brooklyn and Chicago are going to off each other at the start, but both of those teams and Toronto can cause problems for IND and Miami. | ||
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seiferoth10
3362 Posts
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Scarecrow
Korea (South)9172 Posts
On April 08 2014 13:22 RowdierBob wrote: Indy has just utterly imploded. They'll still make the ECF imo, partly because of their D and the horrid east, but can't see them beating Miami now. Indy doesn't have long to fix whatever's gone wrong. The way they're playing atm they'll be lucky to get out of the first round. | ||
XaI)CyRiC
United States4471 Posts
The top 4 each have issues that could lend to them being upset: SAS: age of their stars, the recent Parker injury, they've been beat by playoff teams (POR, LAC, OKC, HOU, PHO) OKC: Westbrook being in and out of the lineup, reliance on young/inexperienced role players, recent losses to playoff teams (HOU, PHO, DAL, LAC) LAC: first year after a lot of additions (Doc, Redick, Granger, Big Baby, etc.), inconsistent lineup all season due to injury, health issues (JJ, Crawford, Granger), weak frontcourt rotation behind Blake and DJ HOU: inconsistency, D12 and Beverley injuries, relatively young/inexperienced roster, questionable perimeter defense The potential bottom 4 all look very dangerous and capable of an upset: POR: could return to early season form, great offense built like the Mavs championship team (perimeter PF with shooters/passers all around), has done well in close games GS: became a very good defensive team, still has great offensive potential with Splash Bros, combo of great defense outside (Iggy) and inside (Bogut) DAL: very effective offense, experienced roster, great coaching, Dirk PHO: can run any team out of the building, Dragic/Bledsoe combo with perimeter big like Frye/Morris twin has been very difficult to stop all season, 3pt shooting always gives them a chance to win any game if they get hot MEM: grind it out game that is well-suited to the playoffs, still an elite defense, experienced roster with core that is familiar with each other that got some help in their main weakness (3pt shooting) What also makes things interesting are the matchups: SAS is 0-3 vs OKC and HOU OKC is 1-2 vs LAC, PHO and DAL LAC is 1-2 vs MEM (plus difficulties in past 2 postseasons) and SAS HOU is 0-4 vs LAC, 1-3 vs OKC POR is 1-3 vs PHO and HOU, 1-2 vs GS, DAL and MEM GS is 1-2 vs HOU and OKC and 0-4 vs SAS DAL is 1-3 vs GS and LAC and 0-3 vs SAS PHO is 1-2 vs HOU and SAS, 1-3 vs LAC, and 0-3 vs MEM MEM is 0-3 vs DAL, 1-3 vs OKC, and 0-4 vs SAS Based on the likely standings, you'd have interesting matchups: SAS vs DAL (3-0), PHO (2-1), or MEM (4-0) = SAS very likely to advance OKC vs DAL (1-2), PHO (1-2), or MEM (3-1) = OKC likely to advance despite struggles vs DAL and PHO b/c I don't think DAL can defend OKC and PHO is too young/inexperienced LAC vs GS (2-2) = Coin flip (and scary for LAC fans), could argue LAC more likely to advance due to homecourt HOU vs POR (3-1) = HOU very likely to advance SAS vs HOU (0-3) = scary matchup for the Spurs, and there's a legitimate chance the Rockets make the conference finals OKC vs LAC (1-2) = the Thunder would not be happy with their matchup either as the Clippers have played them well in the regular season; they would likely prefer it if GS (2-1) advances instead SAS faces a scary 2nd and 3rd round due to HOU and OKC being likely opponents, with LAC still being a handful OKC has potentially good matchups if they make to the conf finals since they have winning records vs SAS and HOU LAC has a decent chance of getting to the conference finals if they can get past GS since they match up well with OKC, and then they'd be hoping for HOU to beat SAS HOU has a very nice path set up with favorable matchups vs POR and SAS, but then would run into two teams they have struggled against in the conference finals (OKC or LAC); they'd hope GS somehow makes it past LAC and OKC Exciting! :D | ||
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AxionSteel
United States7754 Posts
 Can't wait. | ||
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Doraemon
Australia14949 Posts
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Doraemon
Australia14949 Posts
JIBBA. COME BACK | ||
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Cloud9157
United States2968 Posts
On April 08 2014 13:22 RowdierBob wrote: Portland has just come back to the mean after a ridiculously good start to the year. They've hugely over achieved this year though. Indy has just utterly imploded. They'll still make the ECF imo, partly because of their D and the horrid east, but can't see them beating Miami now. There will def be upsets in the west. I disagree with the Pacers in the ECFs. Right now I'd take Chicago and hell, Tornoto too, over them to have a better chance to beat the Heat. Though the Bulls never beat the Heat in playoffs, they always find ways to play them extremely tough and push them to their limits. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Pacers went out second round. Bulls will be looking to settle the score with them probably. Honestly, only way the Pacers even make it to the Heat is if Paul George finds himself again, which he has been doing over the last few games to be fair. Who knows what the hell will happen out west. I think the only given right now is the Spurs and probably OKC are going to make the next round of the playoffs. That 3-6 seed range is a mess right now, and LA, Portland, Houston, and Golden State are all capable of taking games off of each other. | ||
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
I think Eastern Conference will be sneaky good. Brooklyn, Washington and Charlotte all play defense. | ||
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Haiq343
United States2548 Posts
On April 09 2014 04:28 Jerubaal wrote: Meh, the only 'real' upset I can see is Houston over SA. Everything else doesn't seem likely (I guess that's why they call them upsets) or isn't really an upset. I think Eastern Conference will be sneaky good. Brooklyn, Washington and Charlotte all play defense. They may be competitive, but I'm pretty sure 'good' is the wrong word. Brooklyn Chicago was a competitive series last year but it was also horrifically awful to watch. | ||
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Vindicare605
United States16055 Posts
On April 09 2014 07:07 Haiq343 wrote: They may be competitive, but I'm pretty sure 'good' is the wrong word. Brooklyn Chicago was a competitive series last year but it was also horrifically awful to watch. Nate Robinson made it worth watching. He was about it though. | ||
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RowdierBob
Australia12956 Posts
The west is ripe for upsets. GS and LAC will be epic. Portland's the only dead duck IMO. | ||
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Ace
United States16096 Posts
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Haiq343
United States2548 Posts
The Pacers went from a total-lock (injuries excepted) to be a legit challenge to Mia in the ECF to a complete disaster. I would be in full panic mode if I was a fan. Until they show some evidence of a turn-around there's no reason to trust them to even beat Charlotte as you say. Vogel just said they're going to prioritize rest for the last few games, finally recognizing that things are full on Titanic bad over there. | ||
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RowdierBob
Australia12956 Posts
The Pacers may not do it in style but they'll crush them. Greens an upgrade at PF for the dubs imo. | ||
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