Post by Brooklyn on Oct 18, 2015 14:23:36 GMT
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.
(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.