Eastern Conference Playoff Matchups:
5 Atlanta Hawks vs 4 Boston Celtics
Positional matchups:
PG Jason Teague vs PG Rajon Rondo
Advantage: Rondo, Rondo might be the best point guard in the league but this is no disrespect to Teague who is also a young and energetic point guard that could do some damage.
SG Kirk Hinrich vs SG Avery Bradley
Advantage: Hinrich, barely though since he's a veteran and Bradley is a pretty darn good perimeter defender.
SF Joe Johnson vs SF Paul Pierce:
Advantage: Tie, both are great offensive players but perhaps a slight advantage going to Pierce since he's a better defender.
PF Josh Smith vs PF Brandon Bass
Advantage: Smith, he has had himself a breakout season this year averaging 18.8 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game, also averages 1.7 blocks per game. Bass has been a solid addition to the Cs though averaging 12.5 points per game, not to mention him moving to starting power forward was able to move KG to Center.
C Marvin Williams vs C Kevin Garnett
Advantage: Garnett, clear mismatch, the Cs have been on fire since the break since moving KG to Center where he has been playing more comfortably averaging 15.8 points per game and 8.2 assists per game. While Marvin Williams has been kind of a bust and is more of small forward than a center, there's a possibility he could get dominated.
Bench:
Advantage: Celtics, the Cs might have Ray Allen coming off the bench, clear advantage for them as he can still be very dangerous in games especially down the stretch and Pietrus isn't bad coming off the bench either who can knock down 3s, Cs could end up missing Jeff Green later in the playoffs however. Even though the Hawks have T-Mac, Willie Green coming off the bench.
Coaching:
Advantage: Celtics, Doc Rivers has done it before winning the Celtics a NBA championship in 2008 and back to the NBA Finals in 2010, hard to deny his coaching resume vs 2nd year coach Larry Drew.
Intangibles:
Advantage: Celtics, experience, T-Mac still hasn't gotten past the first round, small lineup (loss of Horford) though home court advantage might make this series longer than it should be for Atlanta's.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
Friday, April 27, 2012
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