2016 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs predictions
The Warriors won 73 games and beat the record of the legendary Chicago Bulls. The Spurs finished with an amazing 39-1 home record. Kobe signed off and did it in the way only Kobe can by scoring 60 points in his final game. Quite a few highlights to sign off what has been a great season.
If the regular season finale still has you mesmerised, brace yourself because NBA basketball is going to get real serious now. Yes, playoff basketball is upon us and we attempt to predict what this year’s Eastern Conference is going to throw at us in the first round.
1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons
Cavaliers Record: 57-25 (Home 33-8; Road: 24-17)
Pistons Record: 44-38 (Home 26-15; Road 18-23)
Season series: 3-1 to the Pistons
The Cavaliers have had a turbulent season and still seem like a team that is lost in transition and faces an identity crisis. Nobody doubts the roster depth and the immense basketball ability the Cavs possess, but somehow they still seem to lack a rhythm that defines Championship teams.
The Cavs seem to go as far as LeBron takes them and that is a sorry waste because Kyrie, Love and Smith are too good to depend on LeBron to carry them through.
MVP of the series
LeBron has been on a rampage, averaging 28.4 points, 8 rebounds and 8.5 assists over the last 10 games. His shooting percentage has improved and his lift and mobility just seem a lot better. So yes, expect him to have a series in a similar tone.
Marcus Morris and Stanley Johnson will bear the load of guarding LeBron and he will have a field day against the duo. However, Stan Van Gundy is one of the best in the league at setting up teams and expect him to have a few tricks up his hat.
Key matchups
The key matchup in this series will be between the rebounding daemons in Andre Drummond and Tristan Thompson. The Drummond-Jackson pick-and-roll will also be key as the Pistons will look to attack Kyrie Irving, who despite being a very able defender can be faulted for taking time off on defence.
The rebounding battle will be critical as the Cavs need to put a body on Drummond on all times and ensure that he doesn’t earn many offensive rebounds and second-chance points.
X-Factor
The offensive sets for both teams will be a steady dose of LeBron and Kyrie and Jackson and Drummond, but the series will mostly be decided by the 3-point shooters in both teams.
The Pistons will be banking on Morris, Harris and Pope to have a good series shooting the ball as it is critical for the spacing on the floor and the Jackson-Drummond pick-and-roll to work.
The Cavs will try to get LeBron into the post as much as possible to take advantage of the size mismatch. Expect Van Gundy to throw multiple bodies at LeBron and force him into giving up the ball. LeBron is smart enough to find the open shooters but he will be hoping that Love, Frye, Smith and Dellavedova do make the most of the open shots.
Prediction:
Cavs in 5. But don’t expect the Cavs to run the Pistons out of the building. All games will be closely contested, but in the end, the Cavs just have too much talent to be bothered by the Pistons.