Post by Moscow on Jun 23, 2015 2:05:33 GMT -6
It's the most wonderful time of the month, the ABCA Playoffs! Congrats to everyone that didn't strike out and well done to those still playing and those who are happy with their draft position 
Here's some things I typed.
(1) New York Knicks vs (8) Indiana Pacers
The perennial powerhouse Knicks posted a franchise record 65 wins this season, on the backs of the four-headed monster combination of Zoran Slavnic, Adrian Dantley, Elvin Hayes and Otis Birdsong. The highest scoring team in the league, by a lot, these guys play fast and throw up a lot of long balls. Boasting the lowest turnover % and highest rate of steals, this team should be very dangerous despite some rough flameouts in recent years.
The new Pacers GM had a very solid last month and snuck into the playoffs in his first season, despite stiff competition from Brazil and Harlem. This team definitely has some dangerous players for an 8 seed. They’re anchored by the one and only SHAQ and Vinnie Johnson, but don’t have an abundance of depth across the board. Ultimately, point guard Dennis Johnson is getting old and trade prize Gerald Wilkins is sluggish on D, which will lead to a predictable early exit for Indiana.
Prediction: Knicks in 5. Shaq is a star, but New York has a team full of them. Barring a game plan mismatch I see this as a short series. The Knicks have a great shot at a long run in these playoffs.
(4) San Francisco Warriors vs (5) Washington Bullets
Last year’s champion Warriors are back in the game, despite trading away Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Absolute beast Ralph Sampson has been left to take care of business with sidekick Byron Scott and glue man Mychal Thompson. On a 12-1 run to end the season, this team is obviously still very good, but I think they’ll be missing Magic in the post-season. I think the Warriors have an enviable amount of “win now” and an enviable amount of young talent, but I don’t see those combining for a deep post-season run.
14-3 over the final stretch, the Bullets are quietly looking like a very solid team. Headed by Dominique Wilkins and heavily backed by Mitch Richmond and trade acquisition Kevin Mchale. This team has a small problem with perimeter defense and depth. They aren’t huge weaknesses, but combined I don’t see this team getting very far against a team that can specifically game plan against them.
Prediction: Warriors in 7. Both of these teams have some really nice talent to go along with some visible flaws. I’m taking the Warriors with a solid game plan.
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs (7) Los Angeles Lakers
Count me as one of a few people around here that forgot the Spurs were an ABCA team. This guy doesn’t talk much, but he’s built a team that secured the #2 seed in America. Len Bias scores the points, but Fat Lever and Bill Walton are the men behind the curtain. Lever is earning his [some thought questionable] max contract and Walton is putting up 20/10 with elite defense. Unfortunately this team has a dearth of good depth players, despite having some nice looking young blood. Kudos for a really nice regular season, but I see a slight drop off coming in the playoffs.
Hakeem. Wait. Lakers. That’s who we’re talking about. This team has the best player in the league, bar none. Hakeem single handedly wins a lot of games in this league. However, he’s underperformed against the spurs this year, to go along with a 1-2 record. James Worthy aside, he has a solid supporting cast. This team goes as far as the dream can take them, and I would hate to bet against him.
Prediction: Lakers in 7. I’m going with the MVP. The matchup should come down to who wins on the gameplan menu, but if Hakeem is on the court, I’ll take his team to be safe.
(3) Mexico City Titans vs (6) Seattle Supersonics
Mexico City is coming into the playoffs on a 10 game winning streak, and a 17-3 run. They’re lead by superstar point guard Gary Payton, with a very solid wingman in Hersey Hawkins. Beyond that, they will struggle to find scorers in the playoffs. Statistically they’ve been a great team this season, but my scout really doesn’t seem to like them. I think a team that can shut down Hawkins and hold their own on the boards will be able to take down the Titans.
The Sonics are a 6th seed, a what? At 55-27, Seattle posted their worst record in 10 years. Aging legends Jo Jo White and Ivan Bisson are refusing to let their franchise die, with a lot of help from Danny Manning and breakout star Arpad Losonczy. Rim protector Dennis Awtrey might be over the hill at this point, but he’s still putting up 4.5 blocks per/36. I think this team is good for one more interesting playoff run on Jo Jo’s back.
Prediction: Sonics in 6. Rough draw for the Titans to put up a great season and run into a fantastic 6th seed.
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Semi Final: Knicks > Warriors in 6, Sonics > Lakers in 6
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Finals: Knicks > Sonics in 6
Here's some things I typed.(1) New York Knicks vs (8) Indiana Pacers
The perennial powerhouse Knicks posted a franchise record 65 wins this season, on the backs of the four-headed monster combination of Zoran Slavnic, Adrian Dantley, Elvin Hayes and Otis Birdsong. The highest scoring team in the league, by a lot, these guys play fast and throw up a lot of long balls. Boasting the lowest turnover % and highest rate of steals, this team should be very dangerous despite some rough flameouts in recent years.
The new Pacers GM had a very solid last month and snuck into the playoffs in his first season, despite stiff competition from Brazil and Harlem. This team definitely has some dangerous players for an 8 seed. They’re anchored by the one and only SHAQ and Vinnie Johnson, but don’t have an abundance of depth across the board. Ultimately, point guard Dennis Johnson is getting old and trade prize Gerald Wilkins is sluggish on D, which will lead to a predictable early exit for Indiana.
Prediction: Knicks in 5. Shaq is a star, but New York has a team full of them. Barring a game plan mismatch I see this as a short series. The Knicks have a great shot at a long run in these playoffs.
(4) San Francisco Warriors vs (5) Washington Bullets
Last year’s champion Warriors are back in the game, despite trading away Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Absolute beast Ralph Sampson has been left to take care of business with sidekick Byron Scott and glue man Mychal Thompson. On a 12-1 run to end the season, this team is obviously still very good, but I think they’ll be missing Magic in the post-season. I think the Warriors have an enviable amount of “win now” and an enviable amount of young talent, but I don’t see those combining for a deep post-season run.
14-3 over the final stretch, the Bullets are quietly looking like a very solid team. Headed by Dominique Wilkins and heavily backed by Mitch Richmond and trade acquisition Kevin Mchale. This team has a small problem with perimeter defense and depth. They aren’t huge weaknesses, but combined I don’t see this team getting very far against a team that can specifically game plan against them.
Prediction: Warriors in 7. Both of these teams have some really nice talent to go along with some visible flaws. I’m taking the Warriors with a solid game plan.
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs (7) Los Angeles Lakers
Count me as one of a few people around here that forgot the Spurs were an ABCA team. This guy doesn’t talk much, but he’s built a team that secured the #2 seed in America. Len Bias scores the points, but Fat Lever and Bill Walton are the men behind the curtain. Lever is earning his [some thought questionable] max contract and Walton is putting up 20/10 with elite defense. Unfortunately this team has a dearth of good depth players, despite having some nice looking young blood. Kudos for a really nice regular season, but I see a slight drop off coming in the playoffs.
Hakeem. Wait. Lakers. That’s who we’re talking about. This team has the best player in the league, bar none. Hakeem single handedly wins a lot of games in this league. However, he’s underperformed against the spurs this year, to go along with a 1-2 record. James Worthy aside, he has a solid supporting cast. This team goes as far as the dream can take them, and I would hate to bet against him.
Prediction: Lakers in 7. I’m going with the MVP. The matchup should come down to who wins on the gameplan menu, but if Hakeem is on the court, I’ll take his team to be safe.
(3) Mexico City Titans vs (6) Seattle Supersonics
Mexico City is coming into the playoffs on a 10 game winning streak, and a 17-3 run. They’re lead by superstar point guard Gary Payton, with a very solid wingman in Hersey Hawkins. Beyond that, they will struggle to find scorers in the playoffs. Statistically they’ve been a great team this season, but my scout really doesn’t seem to like them. I think a team that can shut down Hawkins and hold their own on the boards will be able to take down the Titans.
The Sonics are a 6th seed, a what? At 55-27, Seattle posted their worst record in 10 years. Aging legends Jo Jo White and Ivan Bisson are refusing to let their franchise die, with a lot of help from Danny Manning and breakout star Arpad Losonczy. Rim protector Dennis Awtrey might be over the hill at this point, but he’s still putting up 4.5 blocks per/36. I think this team is good for one more interesting playoff run on Jo Jo’s back.
Prediction: Sonics in 6. Rough draw for the Titans to put up a great season and run into a fantastic 6th seed.
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Semi Final: Knicks > Warriors in 6, Sonics > Lakers in 6
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Finals: Knicks > Sonics in 6
