Round 1 Predictions

[Brooklyn]

EURASIA

(1) Auckland Breakers 62 - 20 vs (8) Perth Wildcats 47 - 35

Season Series: 2-1 Auckland

Prediction: Auckland in 7

This 1 vs 8 matchup could be closer than expected. Harry Gallatin will need to be the difference maker for Auckland. In the end, home court advantage will give Auckland the edge to win it.

(2) Moscow CSKA 57 - 25 vs (7) Mikawa Aisin Seahorses 49 - 33

Season Series: 2-0 Moscow

Prediction: Mikawa in 6

This is one of the best matchups of the first round. Look for Mikawa's Ubiratan Pereira Maciel (6.8 FTA per game) to go at Moscow's Dolph Schayes (3.7 PF per game) early. Moscow is going to live or die by the 3-ball, so Mikawa will need to be aware of that. The injury to Mikawa's PG Joseph McComas could really hurt them, but with 6th man of the year Jack Coleman off the bench and a well rounded team, Mikawa will upset Moscow.

(3) Piraeus Olympiacos BC 56 - 26 vs (6) Cairo Zamalek 49 - 33

Season Series: 2-1 Cairo

Prediction: Cairo in 5

Piraeus has had an excellent season, but if Stockton can control the backcourt this series may be over quickly. Malone will need to be huge for Piareus to have any chance of winning. We don't see it happening.

(4) Zagreb KK Cibona 53 - 29 vs (5) Beijing Aoshen 52 - 30

Season Series: 2-1 Beijing

Prediction: Aoshen in 7

This is a really tight matchup and a difficult one to predict. Beijing, who lost a game to the 6-win Washington Generals, has been a little shaky during stretches of the season. There are some questions around the Beijing GM's game-management, and if Jason Kidd ups his game even further in the playoffs, Zagreb could take this. But look for Beijing's Arnie Ferrin to light up Zagreb's Wesley Matthews in a series that could see several very close games.



AMERICA

(1) Vancouver Grizzlies 64 - 18 vs (8) San Francisco Warriors 39 - 43

Season Series: 3-0 Vancouver

Prediction: Vancouver in 4

San Fransisco's early season front-office issues got the organization off to a bad start. The new management looks to have brought some stability, and the team has a solid talent base, but Vancouver is too big of a juggernaut for them to compete with. Vancouver, who's GM has very few fans among his colleagues due to the way he carries himself, will easily move on to the second round.

(2) Mexico City Titans 63 - 19 vs (7) Harlem Globetrotters 48 - 34

Season Series: 2-1 Harlem

Prediction: Mexico in 7

There are rumours swirling that Harlem put out a weaker lineup in the last sim so they could face Mexico in the first round, as it appears they will be without Gasol for the first round. Mexico went just 4-5 with Gasol out of the lineup. In the end, Mexico will have enough talent to overcome the Gasol injury and move on to the 2nd round, but it won't be easy.

(3) Chicago Bulls 60 - 22 vs (6) Rio de Janeiro Flamengo 48 - 34

Season Series: 3-0 Rio de Janeiro

Prediction: Chicago in 7

Both teams have some great pieces off the bench (Nichols for Chicago and Walker for Rio). Rio has had great success against Chicago this season, but this is our first viewing of Barkley in the playoffs. Will he be known as a great regular season player only, or will he dominate the playoffs as well. If Chicago doesn't win this series, questions will be be raised whether Barkley is a real winner or just stat killer. I think this matchup could go either way, but I'm giving Barkley the benefit of the doubt. 

(4) New York Knicks 56 - 26 vs (5) Buenos Aires Boca Juniors 55 - 27

Season Series: 2-1 Buenos Aires

Prediction: New York in 7

If this was a real game I'd buy tickets. I love the matchups of Daniels vs Horford and Haynes vs Dampier. This one will be a battle, but in the end I think New York will be able to shut down a young Durant and move on to the second round.

[New York]

Good stuff Washington, I agree that this first round has a lot of interesting matchups that could be pretty competitive. Interesting to see you predict 3 of the 4 Eurasian series will end with an upset but with how close a lot of those teams were all season it's not impossible.

In America I really don't know what to make of my series. Like you mentioned that Al Horford - Mel Daniels matchup is the most important in the series (although there is no guarantee they matchup since I was testing Mel out at C this past sim) and will likely decide who comes out on top there. BA and I are really close as teams and I feel like there is going to be an upset somewhere in America, just have to hope it isn't me.

[Taipei]

Nice. Some good first round match ups.

[Minnesota]

You pick a lot of 7 game series and you may be right with how the home/road split shave been working.

Good article.

(Don't forget to claim your 100 posts)

[shawncro]

Cool, love being the underdog

[Vancouver]

Appreciate the jab. Whatever makes you feel better about yourself.

[New Orleans]

Interesting.. I'm not only one that thinks I lose round 1 I see.

[Chicago]

Great work Washington.

I agree with you in regards to our series that it will be very close. I would be surprised if it did not go at least 6 games. I think MC and Harlem will be a close series because of the absence of Gasol as you mentioned probably going 6 or 7 and the same goes for New York and BA. The only series that looks to be going one way is the Grizzlies/Warriors and even then we never know.

Same thing out in Eurasia. This is the first time in a long time I believe that as early as the first round we just do not know what is going to happen. I think the lotto teams will be paying more attention this time around in comparison to seasons past.

Chicago

[Sarawak]

I think if my series is done in 5 I am in big trouble since three of those games will be on the road lol

I think we will give Pira a really tough series and have a few wrinkles we haven't shown all year that could help us a lot

good stuff 150 pp

[Minnesota]

All 3 of our games were won easily by the home team during the regular season, so I have my work cut out for me

[Sarawak]

pp credited

[Piraeus]

Nice article, you were right about the 5 games.

[Minnesota]

Oct 19, 2015 20:13:21 GMT Piraeus said:

Nice article, you were right about the 5 games.

Not bad for year 1.

A lot of even teams proven out by the number of 6-7 game series we had.