Post by Brooklyn on Oct 22, 2016 16:10:01 GMT
EURASIA QUARTERFINALS
(1) Fire Horse BC vs (8) Brose Baskets
Fire Horse BC comes into the playoffs as one of the most interesting teams. They won the Eurasian conference with 55 wins, but over the course of the season had just a +2.8 point differential. Four Eurasian teams had a better point differential, as did another six American teams. Brose Baskets management has been absent for a lot of the season, but the team managed to sneak its way into the final playoff spot. They outscored Fire Horse BC 113.2PPG to 107.5PPG, but in the end Fire Horse BC’s big 4 of Paul, Jones, Wallace and Bynum, combined with home court advantage, will be too much for the Brose Baskets to handle.
Prediction: Fire Horse BC in 6 games
(2) Fubon Braves vs (7) Maccabi
After starting the season 10-12, Maccabi bounced back going 36-24 the rest of the way to grab a playoff spot. Unfortunately for them they get a first round matchup against Isiah Thomas’ Fubon Braves. The Fubon Braves will get Jiri Zidek back from injury just in time to play Maccabi. Watch for Isiah Thomas to walk all over rookie PG Nick Van Exel.
Prediction: Fubon Braves in 5 games
(3) Olympiacos BC vs (6) Eagles
It’s an unlikely first round rematch of last year’s finals when Olympiacos beat the Eagles in 7 games to win the championship. A year later both teams have had disappointing regular seasons, with Olympiacos winning 16 fewer games and the Eagles winning 14 fewer. Olympiacos comes in hot winning their last 9 games and should ride that out to a series win, although this one could probably go either way.
Prediction: Olympiacos BC in 7 games
(4) Aisin Seahorses vs (5) KK Partizan
These teams were separated by just 1 win in the regular season, which gave Aisin Seahorses home court advantage. Unfortunately for Belgrade, that might be the difference in the series. Another big factor is the fact that Belgrade’s 3rd big man Darko Milicic is out. It will be tough end to the season for the KK Partizan.
Prediction: Aisin Seahorses 6 games
AMERICA QUARTERFINALS
(1) Knicks vs (8) Spurs
Coming into this season the Spurs were the only franchise yet to make the playoffs. Management’s laptop broke mid-season which was a blessing for Spurs fans as he was unable to manage the team, so they made the playoffs. Unfortunately they get a first round matchup against this Knicks who seemed to have found the magic DC/GP early in the season, going 46-4 in their last 50 games. The Knicks have better players at almost every position, so this should be a quick series. There are even rumors circulating that the Knicks might rest some of their starters in this series.
Prediction: Knicks in 4
(2) Raptors vs (7) Trailblazers
The Raptors had the most surprising season of any team, grabbing the 2nd seed in America. The team has slipped a bit recently, going 2-5 to end the season, but lucky for them they get a first round matchup against a sub-.500 Trailblazers team who is without a key player in Gerald Wallace. The Trailblazers should put up a fight but ultimately the Raptors will FINALLY take a step outside of the mediocrity circle, and should get past the first round for the first time in franchise history.
Prediction: Raptors in 5
(3) Grizzlies vs (6) Nets
The Nets’ rebuild ended this past offseason and the team cruised to a playoff spot. Unfortunately they get a first round matchup against a talented Grizzlies team, who were predicted to challenge the Knicks for top spot in the conference. Although the Grizzlies won just 4 more games than the Nets this year, they won the season series 2-1 and should beat the Nets easily in this first round matchup.
Prediction: Grizzlies in 5
(4) Timberwolves vs (5) Bulls
The Timberwolves are back in the playoffs after a 1-year hiatus, and they’ll face a strong Bulls team. This is probably the most difficult series to predict, as the teams were separated by just 2 wins this season. Going for the Timberwolves is the fact that they have home court advantage and the Bulls were a terrible 17-24 on the road this year. Going for the Bulls is the fact that Willie Cauley-Stein will miss the entire series, and Marcus Smart will miss most of the series. As long as the Bulls can steal one game on the road, they could win the series.
Prediction: Bulls in 7
(1) Fire Horse BC vs (8) Brose Baskets
Fire Horse BC comes into the playoffs as one of the most interesting teams. They won the Eurasian conference with 55 wins, but over the course of the season had just a +2.8 point differential. Four Eurasian teams had a better point differential, as did another six American teams. Brose Baskets management has been absent for a lot of the season, but the team managed to sneak its way into the final playoff spot. They outscored Fire Horse BC 113.2PPG to 107.5PPG, but in the end Fire Horse BC’s big 4 of Paul, Jones, Wallace and Bynum, combined with home court advantage, will be too much for the Brose Baskets to handle.
Prediction: Fire Horse BC in 6 games
(2) Fubon Braves vs (7) Maccabi
After starting the season 10-12, Maccabi bounced back going 36-24 the rest of the way to grab a playoff spot. Unfortunately for them they get a first round matchup against Isiah Thomas’ Fubon Braves. The Fubon Braves will get Jiri Zidek back from injury just in time to play Maccabi. Watch for Isiah Thomas to walk all over rookie PG Nick Van Exel.
Prediction: Fubon Braves in 5 games
(3) Olympiacos BC vs (6) Eagles
It’s an unlikely first round rematch of last year’s finals when Olympiacos beat the Eagles in 7 games to win the championship. A year later both teams have had disappointing regular seasons, with Olympiacos winning 16 fewer games and the Eagles winning 14 fewer. Olympiacos comes in hot winning their last 9 games and should ride that out to a series win, although this one could probably go either way.
Prediction: Olympiacos BC in 7 games
(4) Aisin Seahorses vs (5) KK Partizan
These teams were separated by just 1 win in the regular season, which gave Aisin Seahorses home court advantage. Unfortunately for Belgrade, that might be the difference in the series. Another big factor is the fact that Belgrade’s 3rd big man Darko Milicic is out. It will be tough end to the season for the KK Partizan.
Prediction: Aisin Seahorses 6 games
AMERICA QUARTERFINALS
(1) Knicks vs (8) Spurs
Coming into this season the Spurs were the only franchise yet to make the playoffs. Management’s laptop broke mid-season which was a blessing for Spurs fans as he was unable to manage the team, so they made the playoffs. Unfortunately they get a first round matchup against this Knicks who seemed to have found the magic DC/GP early in the season, going 46-4 in their last 50 games. The Knicks have better players at almost every position, so this should be a quick series. There are even rumors circulating that the Knicks might rest some of their starters in this series.
Prediction: Knicks in 4
(2) Raptors vs (7) Trailblazers
The Raptors had the most surprising season of any team, grabbing the 2nd seed in America. The team has slipped a bit recently, going 2-5 to end the season, but lucky for them they get a first round matchup against a sub-.500 Trailblazers team who is without a key player in Gerald Wallace. The Trailblazers should put up a fight but ultimately the Raptors will FINALLY take a step outside of the mediocrity circle, and should get past the first round for the first time in franchise history.
Prediction: Raptors in 5
(3) Grizzlies vs (6) Nets
The Nets’ rebuild ended this past offseason and the team cruised to a playoff spot. Unfortunately they get a first round matchup against a talented Grizzlies team, who were predicted to challenge the Knicks for top spot in the conference. Although the Grizzlies won just 4 more games than the Nets this year, they won the season series 2-1 and should beat the Nets easily in this first round matchup.
Prediction: Grizzlies in 5
(4) Timberwolves vs (5) Bulls
The Timberwolves are back in the playoffs after a 1-year hiatus, and they’ll face a strong Bulls team. This is probably the most difficult series to predict, as the teams were separated by just 2 wins this season. Going for the Timberwolves is the fact that they have home court advantage and the Bulls were a terrible 17-24 on the road this year. Going for the Bulls is the fact that Willie Cauley-Stein will miss the entire series, and Marcus Smart will miss most of the series. As long as the Bulls can steal one game on the road, they could win the series.
Prediction: Bulls in 7
