Eastern Conference Semi-Finals: What To Watch For In Game 6
Jun 14, 2017 16:24:50 GMT -5
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Post by Zach Lowe on Jun 14, 2017 16:24:50 GMT -5
Every once in a while, I find myself thinking back on what the league used to be like, and it is surprisingly difficult to put myself back in a time before LeBron James. In the NBA, it's impossible to ignore his 7 straight finals appearances making him the single most prominent road block in the way of any other team that wants to win a championship; however, in D720 he's been overlooked significantly more often. Drafted 8th overall and unable to make it out of the first round of the playoffs, he didn't seem like he would have the same kind of impact on D720 that he did in real life. A lot can change in two years. Since that point, he's been just as impossible to ignore as in real life, making a championship run, recruiting the cream of the 2016 free agent crop to join his super team, and grabbing the top spot in the standings of a stacked western conference twice in a row.
This series against the Pelicans is the first big predicament LeBron has come up against since that playoff loss to the Spurs two seasons ago, and while I stand by my initial thoughts that the Supersonics aren't out until they're out, LeBron played a staggeringly good game (24/8/9) and the Sonics still came up short. I can own up to my failure to acknowledge that the real x-factor in this series might be Anthony Davis, and a quick aside doesn't do him justice. 27 points on 10/12 shooting with 7/7 from the free throw line is what it looks like when someone comes to play, and this is the Anthony Davis we got in the biggest game of his career so far. Can he be even better? He's looking to bring down a juggernaut, and Game 6 might spell the end of an era for the KD-Supersonics if Anthony Davis comes out looking for blood and Kevin Durant decides that he wants an easier path to a championship. Perhaps the most interesting dynamic of the series - and a startling parallel to Durant's past - is that one of his biggest suitors will be the team that has a chance to knock him out in the Semi-Finals. It won't be a great look for Seattle GM John Stockton having ditched many of the team's most talented pieces like Lowry for "youth" right in the middle of Kevin's first real chance at a title, and I'd wager the one extra all-star would have been a huge game changer here. But again, it's not over until it's over. Maybe it is Durant's turn to put in a performance for the ages to prove his Supersonics aren't out of this thing yet. More on that tomorrow.
On the flipped side of the coin, I feel a bit justified about missing the mark on LeBron after Gordon Hayward flipped the narrative by putting up 23/7 and helping shut down Paul George to the tune of 6/4/1 on 3/11 shooting to give his Suns some more room to breathe. But George wasn't the only player missing for the Jazz, with only Eric Gordon and C.J. Miles even registering double-digit points in the midst of an embarrassing 94-72 blowout. That's the kind of defense we've been waiting to see from Phoenix the whole playoffs, and it has the potential to be the difference maker for the rest of the series if they can keep it up. Now on to more pressing issues - here's what I'll be watching for in Game 6 of the ECSF series between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Who steps up to slow down the Cavaliers wings?
One area this Knicks team has always been a bit lacking in is perimeter defense. Having Courtney Lee and Andre Iguodala on the same team would seem to make this untrue, but they gave up the bulk of the points to point guards and wings against the Bucks despite solid overall defensive performances in the sweep. Jrue, Giannis, and Khris present a different type of challenge than the Bucks, who boasted solid depth players but no real premier talent. Khris and Giannis specifically have combined for 184 of the Cavs 523 total points in the series (about 35%). While Jrue, Ibaka and others have contributed big games, it's been the two men on the wings bringing consistent scoring to the table. To make matters worse, Iguodala is only averaging 23 minutes a game, leaving the majority of the defensive efforts to Lee and Manu Ginobili. Simply put, Middleton and Giannis bring too much length to the table to shut them down every game without a top caliber defensive wing to throw at both of them. To make matters worse, Manu has brought a pretty consistent scoring touch to the lineup. It's probably time to give Lee and Iguodala big minutes together to try to force the scoring burden onto Jrue and Ibaka before the series is over, but we all know how important the Knicks offense is to their ability to win and anything to throw them off their rhythm could spell disaster even if the defensive strategy pulls through. It is bit of a quandary, and one that I'll be very interested in watching closely to see how Allan Houston tries to handle it, and whether or not Scottie Pippen can put together the kind of game plan that can get them into the Conference Finals. I truly believe Giannis is one of the best young players in the league, destined for superstardom, but that doesn't mean he's ready to close out a series when it matters most. We'll find out.
I look forward to digging into this game, especially with no other ECSF games to focus on, and it could be the end of a very brilliant run for the Knicks. Don't forget to check in tomorrow for another look at this game plus my take on what to watch for in the WCSF series. Until then, let me know in the comments below who you think will win and why.
This series against the Pelicans is the first big predicament LeBron has come up against since that playoff loss to the Spurs two seasons ago, and while I stand by my initial thoughts that the Supersonics aren't out until they're out, LeBron played a staggeringly good game (24/8/9) and the Sonics still came up short. I can own up to my failure to acknowledge that the real x-factor in this series might be Anthony Davis, and a quick aside doesn't do him justice. 27 points on 10/12 shooting with 7/7 from the free throw line is what it looks like when someone comes to play, and this is the Anthony Davis we got in the biggest game of his career so far. Can he be even better? He's looking to bring down a juggernaut, and Game 6 might spell the end of an era for the KD-Supersonics if Anthony Davis comes out looking for blood and Kevin Durant decides that he wants an easier path to a championship. Perhaps the most interesting dynamic of the series - and a startling parallel to Durant's past - is that one of his biggest suitors will be the team that has a chance to knock him out in the Semi-Finals. It won't be a great look for Seattle GM John Stockton having ditched many of the team's most talented pieces like Lowry for "youth" right in the middle of Kevin's first real chance at a title, and I'd wager the one extra all-star would have been a huge game changer here. But again, it's not over until it's over. Maybe it is Durant's turn to put in a performance for the ages to prove his Supersonics aren't out of this thing yet. More on that tomorrow.
On the flipped side of the coin, I feel a bit justified about missing the mark on LeBron after Gordon Hayward flipped the narrative by putting up 23/7 and helping shut down Paul George to the tune of 6/4/1 on 3/11 shooting to give his Suns some more room to breathe. But George wasn't the only player missing for the Jazz, with only Eric Gordon and C.J. Miles even registering double-digit points in the midst of an embarrassing 94-72 blowout. That's the kind of defense we've been waiting to see from Phoenix the whole playoffs, and it has the potential to be the difference maker for the rest of the series if they can keep it up. Now on to more pressing issues - here's what I'll be watching for in Game 6 of the ECSF series between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Who steps up to slow down the Cavaliers wings?
One area this Knicks team has always been a bit lacking in is perimeter defense. Having Courtney Lee and Andre Iguodala on the same team would seem to make this untrue, but they gave up the bulk of the points to point guards and wings against the Bucks despite solid overall defensive performances in the sweep. Jrue, Giannis, and Khris present a different type of challenge than the Bucks, who boasted solid depth players but no real premier talent. Khris and Giannis specifically have combined for 184 of the Cavs 523 total points in the series (about 35%). While Jrue, Ibaka and others have contributed big games, it's been the two men on the wings bringing consistent scoring to the table. To make matters worse, Iguodala is only averaging 23 minutes a game, leaving the majority of the defensive efforts to Lee and Manu Ginobili. Simply put, Middleton and Giannis bring too much length to the table to shut them down every game without a top caliber defensive wing to throw at both of them. To make matters worse, Manu has brought a pretty consistent scoring touch to the lineup. It's probably time to give Lee and Iguodala big minutes together to try to force the scoring burden onto Jrue and Ibaka before the series is over, but we all know how important the Knicks offense is to their ability to win and anything to throw them off their rhythm could spell disaster even if the defensive strategy pulls through. It is bit of a quandary, and one that I'll be very interested in watching closely to see how Allan Houston tries to handle it, and whether or not Scottie Pippen can put together the kind of game plan that can get them into the Conference Finals. I truly believe Giannis is one of the best young players in the league, destined for superstardom, but that doesn't mean he's ready to close out a series when it matters most. We'll find out.
I look forward to digging into this game, especially with no other ECSF games to focus on, and it could be the end of a very brilliant run for the Knicks. Don't forget to check in tomorrow for another look at this game plus my take on what to watch for in the WCSF series. Until then, let me know in the comments below who you think will win and why.
Miami Heat