This is the kiddies at RealGM's topic of the month and I wanted to hear the views of the grown ups around here. I would like to play Philly in the first round because, when they're playing well, they use swarming perimeter defense like the Heat. They gamble like the Heat, as well, and I think that a Philly-Bulls series would prime the beloved for future play. The teams I don't want to play: Atlanta; Orlando; and Indiana. I don't see there being any advantage in playing a slog-fest where our players have a chance of being injured. I'd leave those match ups for the Heat. I'm not particularly worried about Boston, even though everyone in the media seems to be hyping their chances. I think the Bulls match up with them well and have for a number of years. And I think that a six game series against the Celtics would cause less wear and tear than a four or five game series against Orlando, Indiana or Atlanta. What say you?
I have a ton of respect for Doug Collins and like the way his team plays. Gimme the Knicks in the first round. I don't like 'em and I'll be more entertained beating them than Philly. Besides, I don't want a Heat-Knicks series because my only rooting interest in that series would be for the building to get blown up. Second round is tricky. The likely 3-6 seeds are all pretty good teams. The two that get through will have played very well. The order of my preference follows how these teams have been playing lately, which also happens to follow their overall records...Magic, Hawks, Celtics and Pacers. I think we're going to get Boston. As I recall, the last time the Bulls played them in the playoffs it was pretty entertaining though the wrong team advanced.
I worry about a Knicks-Bulls match up a little bit Transplant, which is more than I can say for a Bulls-Celtics match up. That team has a ton of talent, and they have such great home court advantage that I could see some bizarre first round upset. It looks like they are destined for the 7th seed, which is nice.
It sure looks like Philly or the Knicks to me. The Knicks did beat us last time in NY, but just by a point. We beat them handily at home. They are really dinged up, missing Lin and Stoudemire, but they do have Chandler and Anthony and a lockdown defender at PG. We have home court advantage, I think we win this series 4-1. Philly is young, deep, talented, and play with enthusiasm. They're going through a really rough stretch of games, 2-6 in their last 8 with losses to Toronto and NJ among them. I am far more worried about playing a 2nd round opponent like Indy or Atlanta, though Atlanta would be far tougher if Horford were healthy. In Teague and Collision, we'd face small quick and capable PGs who we've seen gave us fits in the past. Indy is deep and particularly deep at the bigs positions like we are, but have a better offensive balance than we do. Boston is playing really well this month. 7-3 in their last 10 with wins against Miami twice, Indy, Philly, and Atlanta. Their two losses against tough teams like the Bulls and Spurs say they're beatable, but doing it for 7 games is another story.
