Post by Nick Malone 77 on Jun 12, 2014 17:04:47 GMT -6
5 on 5 Questions
With the 1994-95 playoffs officially here, the SLOE Basketball Writers of North America answered these few questions in anticipation of the exciting rounds of playoff basketball that are sure to enthrall the entire league. There will be another round of 5 questions per each round. Enjoy reading below.
With the 1994-95 playoffs officially here, the SLOE Basketball Writers of North America answered these few questions in anticipation of the exciting rounds of playoff basketball that are sure to enthrall the entire league. There will be another round of 5 questions per each round. Enjoy reading below.
1) Now that the playoff matchups are officially set, which is more likely to happen in the first round, more sweeps or more Game 7’s?
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: I'll have to say more Game 7's. Looking at the playoffs, there really aren't many matchups that I look at and go, "This team has no shot, they're done." Now while I don't think we'll see a ton of Game 7's, the chances of sweeps outnumbering competitive series is very low.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: More sweeps - there are some very good home teams in this first round and I kind of expect to see more game 6's than sweeps but just can't pinpoint 2 or 3 series that I think really have a chance of going 7 games.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: I think more game 7's it seems to me that the teams are more evenly matched this year with the Warriors injuries it has evened the playing field in the West a little bit. In the East, those guys in Toronto are trying to convince themselves they are capable of sweeping, but I doubt it happens.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: I have a feeling there will be more sweeps in the first round this season. The 7 & 8 seeds still have a ways to go to catch up with the 1 & 2 seeds. Even the 6 seeds are going to have their hands full. Now the 4 v 5 seed match ups look like incredible match ups, but those are really the only 2 I see possibly going to 7 games.
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Definitely more Game 7's. There are a lot of good teams in the playoffs that should be able to take at least 1 game off of the top seeds. I expect 2 sweeps tops and potentially 5 Game 7's.
2) Which team of the lower seeds (5-8) could become the surprise team of the post season and make a deep run through the playoffs?
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: The easy money is on the guy that continues to pull this trick every year - BallSoHard and the Lakers. His fellow 5 seed Raptors have a pretty strong argument too, but the Lakers were a seven seed last year and went to the championship. There is a lot of inexperience in the top half of each bracket so I wouldn't be surprised if a few teams played spoiler, but if I had to pick, it would be the West's 5 seed on this question.
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: In the West, keep your eyes on the Clippers. They match up really well against the Rockets, as they have the depth and outside shooting touch needed to compete with them. In the East, it'd be the Hornets who are best-equipped for a surprise run, purely based on the talent they have on their roster. The 5th-seeded Lakers & Raptors qualify as "lower" seeds, but if you'd be "surprised" to see them make a run, then you know nothing about this league.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: Both 5 seeds have a chance (Even though Toronto has a strong case against the league to be the 4th seed). Not a great chance but a chance. Both have excellent coaching staffs and can get the most from the talent that is there. I don't think there is a team in the playoffs that would welcome a series against Los Angeles or Toronto. Also the Hornets can be a tough out, but their playoff inexperience ma be taken advantage of. And if the Clippers get rolling, watch out.
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Going with the Los Angeles Clippers here, they have a system and they run it perfectly if they can tighten up their defense and continue to light it up from the 3 point line they will be a very tough out in a 7 game series for the Western Conference.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: The Lakers fit this category, but I don't think they'd surprise anyone. I'm going to go with the Pacers it's the Knicks first time in the playoffs, and Stacey Augmon is one of my favorite players in the league. But I could see quite a few from this group making some noise whether it's the Kings with their revamped roster, or the Clippers catch fire from beyond the arc.
3) Between Dallas and Detroit which team is more primed for an upset?
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: Dallas, no doubt. The Hornets are talented, but they're new to the dance, and they couldn't handle the Pistons during the regular season. The Kings are still underdogs, but they're experienced and very strong defensively, which gives them a shot against anyone. Ewing & Horace will also have their hands full against the younger Mutombo & Campbell.
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Tough call on this one since I dont see either team losing in the First Round. I will say Detroit because of their reliance on Smith and Miller, if those guys dont show up then there is a good chance they will lose whereas Dallas has Ewing, Peeler, Hardaway, and Pippen to carry more of the load should someone (Ewing) choke. Plus I and the rest of Westeros hate the Pistons. They are the Lannisters of the league.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: Sadly, Detroit. There are a lot of teams in the East draw that have beaten the Pistons consistently where they would be considered week, the front court. It'll take a Herculean effort by LJ and Benoit to keep this train bound for the ECF for a third straight year. I could see a second round exit while I believe Dallas is strong enough to be considered a favorite in their conference. There may be 4 teams you like better than the Pistons in the East.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: This is kind of a tough question, no offense to anybody but I don't think either team is primed for an upset. Both teams have quality opponents in the Kings and Hornets, but I think they both win. If I had to choose I'll go with the Mavericks just to try and piss Darth off.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: I guess I don't full understand the question. If you are asking who is more likely to be upset or swept then I would have to say the Pistons. Their shooting can get streaky as well as their defense. If you are asking which of the two is more likely to upset the 1 seed then I would easily say Dallas. Their D is truly unbelievable. You would almost think they knew what the opponents were doing ahead of time. That is one thing they will always be able to fall back on.
4) Out of all the playoff teams, which one would you be more shocked to see make it to the finals even though it’s highly unlikely either would get their, New Jersey or Minnesota?
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: New Jersey by FAR. Not even close. Their second best player is hurt, they finished below .500 and they have to play Boston in the First Round. It will take an absolute herculean feat by Isiah Rider to carry his team deep into the playoffs.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: I'm gonna pick New Jersey. Not a knock on Minesotta at all, I think they have the better team, I just think the East is a little less talented overall and definitely less experienced.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: I'd say the Nets simply because of the injuries that the Warriors have. Their best player is the same position as the T-Wolves best player, so if they are thing at Guard, I can see Webber and the T-Wolves overcoming that easier opponent. Like you said though, neither of these teams will put up much of a fight against the 1-seeds.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: I'll take New Jersey here, they have to beat my Celtics without Reggie Lewis for much of the series, while playing the entire playoffs without home court advantage. I'm not saying it can't happen but it would certainly shock me. When you have Webber like Minnesota does anything is possible.
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: New Jersey. Whereas Minnesota has a solid team against a slightly weakened Warriors squad, New Jersey has a very weakened squad against a strong Celtics team. It'd be the story of the decade if the Nets made it to the Finals.
5) If you had to choose two teammates for a buddy-buddy movie, who would it be and what movie would they be in (be creative)?
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: For the buddy-buddy movie I'm taking Bimbo and Derrick Coleman in a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas type film. Both players distraught from seeing their ratings take dives in TC and a fluke broken leg due to injury, decide they need a break and head out to Las Vegas with a trunk full of drugs. Their paranoia is already at an all-time high and the drugs fuel it, can't you just see DC using his 6th Man of the Year trophy as a spear yelling at Bimbo "Don't fuck with me now man, I am Ahab."
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Jon Barry and Charles Barkley (Toronto Raptors) Polar opposite personalities, Jon is more serious while Chuck is more goofy and funny. Their contrast would lead to some funny moments on the big screen. What movie? Prolly something like the Little Giants but a basketball version.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: Barkley and Oakley have always seemed like one of the most combustible pairings in the league to me. Could you imagine them working together in real life? I can't. I think "Bad Boys" would be too easy a fit, plus there are sequels so I would cast them in "Natural Born Killers 2: Maple Leaf Mayhem.
But there are others:
Robert Pack and Ervin Johnson - Hot Fuzz
Malone, McHale, Skiles - Grumpy old Men
Miller, Smith, and LJ - Three Stooges (Benoit can make a cameo as Shemp)
Detroit Pistons - Moneyball 2 : The Reckoning
Ewing, Pippen, Grant, Hardaway - Three Men and a Penny
Coleman & Hurley - Trading Places
Dikembe & Kenny Anderson - Twins
Dallas Mavericks - A Fool and His Money (kinda resembles real lit huh)
Any Milwaukee Buck - The Invisible Man
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: Duane Causwell & Mark Macon. Not just because they're college buddies, but because they could be voice actors. I've had them on my radio show, and their voices are great. Don't laugh at this, but I've had a movie script in my head for a while. The basis for the story would be the tale "The Emperor's New Clothes," and it would be the typical "arrogant, cocky monarch is stripped of his riches and is forced to live with a commoner to get them back" kind of story. Duane & Macon would be perfect as the commoner & the emperor. I love Disney's works as of late, I think them doing something like that would be worth the watch.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: Steve Smith and Reggie Miller in a cop thriller where clues are revealed only after they each score 25 a game. I'd call it "All-NBAPD"If you choose to accept, please answer as if you were a reporter from the team paper like an off season presser. I'd like to post this between now and sometime before Friday's sim. Earlier the better. If you can't do this, I appreciate the response back.
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: I'll have to say more Game 7's. Looking at the playoffs, there really aren't many matchups that I look at and go, "This team has no shot, they're done." Now while I don't think we'll see a ton of Game 7's, the chances of sweeps outnumbering competitive series is very low.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: More sweeps - there are some very good home teams in this first round and I kind of expect to see more game 6's than sweeps but just can't pinpoint 2 or 3 series that I think really have a chance of going 7 games.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: I think more game 7's it seems to me that the teams are more evenly matched this year with the Warriors injuries it has evened the playing field in the West a little bit. In the East, those guys in Toronto are trying to convince themselves they are capable of sweeping, but I doubt it happens.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: I have a feeling there will be more sweeps in the first round this season. The 7 & 8 seeds still have a ways to go to catch up with the 1 & 2 seeds. Even the 6 seeds are going to have their hands full. Now the 4 v 5 seed match ups look like incredible match ups, but those are really the only 2 I see possibly going to 7 games.
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Definitely more Game 7's. There are a lot of good teams in the playoffs that should be able to take at least 1 game off of the top seeds. I expect 2 sweeps tops and potentially 5 Game 7's.
2) Which team of the lower seeds (5-8) could become the surprise team of the post season and make a deep run through the playoffs?
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: The easy money is on the guy that continues to pull this trick every year - BallSoHard and the Lakers. His fellow 5 seed Raptors have a pretty strong argument too, but the Lakers were a seven seed last year and went to the championship. There is a lot of inexperience in the top half of each bracket so I wouldn't be surprised if a few teams played spoiler, but if I had to pick, it would be the West's 5 seed on this question.
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: In the West, keep your eyes on the Clippers. They match up really well against the Rockets, as they have the depth and outside shooting touch needed to compete with them. In the East, it'd be the Hornets who are best-equipped for a surprise run, purely based on the talent they have on their roster. The 5th-seeded Lakers & Raptors qualify as "lower" seeds, but if you'd be "surprised" to see them make a run, then you know nothing about this league.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: Both 5 seeds have a chance (Even though Toronto has a strong case against the league to be the 4th seed). Not a great chance but a chance. Both have excellent coaching staffs and can get the most from the talent that is there. I don't think there is a team in the playoffs that would welcome a series against Los Angeles or Toronto. Also the Hornets can be a tough out, but their playoff inexperience ma be taken advantage of. And if the Clippers get rolling, watch out.
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Going with the Los Angeles Clippers here, they have a system and they run it perfectly if they can tighten up their defense and continue to light it up from the 3 point line they will be a very tough out in a 7 game series for the Western Conference.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: The Lakers fit this category, but I don't think they'd surprise anyone. I'm going to go with the Pacers it's the Knicks first time in the playoffs, and Stacey Augmon is one of my favorite players in the league. But I could see quite a few from this group making some noise whether it's the Kings with their revamped roster, or the Clippers catch fire from beyond the arc.
3) Between Dallas and Detroit which team is more primed for an upset?
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: Dallas, no doubt. The Hornets are talented, but they're new to the dance, and they couldn't handle the Pistons during the regular season. The Kings are still underdogs, but they're experienced and very strong defensively, which gives them a shot against anyone. Ewing & Horace will also have their hands full against the younger Mutombo & Campbell.
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Tough call on this one since I dont see either team losing in the First Round. I will say Detroit because of their reliance on Smith and Miller, if those guys dont show up then there is a good chance they will lose whereas Dallas has Ewing, Peeler, Hardaway, and Pippen to carry more of the load should someone (Ewing) choke. Plus I and the rest of Westeros hate the Pistons. They are the Lannisters of the league.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: Sadly, Detroit. There are a lot of teams in the East draw that have beaten the Pistons consistently where they would be considered week, the front court. It'll take a Herculean effort by LJ and Benoit to keep this train bound for the ECF for a third straight year. I could see a second round exit while I believe Dallas is strong enough to be considered a favorite in their conference. There may be 4 teams you like better than the Pistons in the East.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: This is kind of a tough question, no offense to anybody but I don't think either team is primed for an upset. Both teams have quality opponents in the Kings and Hornets, but I think they both win. If I had to choose I'll go with the Mavericks just to try and piss Darth off.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: I guess I don't full understand the question. If you are asking who is more likely to be upset or swept then I would have to say the Pistons. Their shooting can get streaky as well as their defense. If you are asking which of the two is more likely to upset the 1 seed then I would easily say Dallas. Their D is truly unbelievable. You would almost think they knew what the opponents were doing ahead of time. That is one thing they will always be able to fall back on.
4) Out of all the playoff teams, which one would you be more shocked to see make it to the finals even though it’s highly unlikely either would get their, New Jersey or Minnesota?
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: New Jersey by FAR. Not even close. Their second best player is hurt, they finished below .500 and they have to play Boston in the First Round. It will take an absolute herculean feat by Isiah Rider to carry his team deep into the playoffs.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: I'm gonna pick New Jersey. Not a knock on Minesotta at all, I think they have the better team, I just think the East is a little less talented overall and definitely less experienced.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: I'd say the Nets simply because of the injuries that the Warriors have. Their best player is the same position as the T-Wolves best player, so if they are thing at Guard, I can see Webber and the T-Wolves overcoming that easier opponent. Like you said though, neither of these teams will put up much of a fight against the 1-seeds.
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: I'll take New Jersey here, they have to beat my Celtics without Reggie Lewis for much of the series, while playing the entire playoffs without home court advantage. I'm not saying it can't happen but it would certainly shock me. When you have Webber like Minnesota does anything is possible.
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: New Jersey. Whereas Minnesota has a solid team against a slightly weakened Warriors squad, New Jersey has a very weakened squad against a strong Celtics team. It'd be the story of the decade if the Nets made it to the Finals.
5) If you had to choose two teammates for a buddy-buddy movie, who would it be and what movie would they be in (be creative)?
-- Bill Simmons from page 2 ESPN.com: For the buddy-buddy movie I'm taking Bimbo and Derrick Coleman in a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas type film. Both players distraught from seeing their ratings take dives in TC and a fluke broken leg due to injury, decide they need a break and head out to Las Vegas with a trunk full of drugs. Their paranoia is already at an all-time high and the drugs fuel it, can't you just see DC using his 6th Man of the Year trophy as a spear yelling at Bimbo "Don't fuck with me now man, I am Ahab."
-- Jon Snow: Westeros Sports Network: Jon Barry and Charles Barkley (Toronto Raptors) Polar opposite personalities, Jon is more serious while Chuck is more goofy and funny. Their contrast would lead to some funny moments on the big screen. What movie? Prolly something like the Little Giants but a basketball version.
-- Clark Kent, Daily Planet: Barkley and Oakley have always seemed like one of the most combustible pairings in the league to me. Could you imagine them working together in real life? I can't. I think "Bad Boys" would be too easy a fit, plus there are sequels so I would cast them in "Natural Born Killers 2: Maple Leaf Mayhem.
But there are others:
Robert Pack and Ervin Johnson - Hot Fuzz
Malone, McHale, Skiles - Grumpy old Men
Miller, Smith, and LJ - Three Stooges (Benoit can make a cameo as Shemp)
Detroit Pistons - Moneyball 2 : The Reckoning
Ewing, Pippen, Grant, Hardaway - Three Men and a Penny
Coleman & Hurley - Trading Places
Dikembe & Kenny Anderson - Twins
Dallas Mavericks - A Fool and His Money (kinda resembles real lit huh)
Any Milwaukee Buck - The Invisible Man
-- Johnny Junior, Washington Post: Duane Causwell & Mark Macon. Not just because they're college buddies, but because they could be voice actors. I've had them on my radio show, and their voices are great. Don't laugh at this, but I've had a movie script in my head for a while. The basis for the story would be the tale "The Emperor's New Clothes," and it would be the typical "arrogant, cocky monarch is stripped of his riches and is forced to live with a commoner to get them back" kind of story. Duane & Macon would be perfect as the commoner & the emperor. I love Disney's works as of late, I think them doing something like that would be worth the watch.
-- Dan Feldman, Piston-Powered: Steve Smith and Reggie Miller in a cop thriller where clues are revealed only after they each score 25 a game. I'd call it "All-NBAPD"If you choose to accept, please answer as if you were a reporter from the team paper like an off season presser. I'd like to post this between now and sometime before Friday's sim. Earlier the better. If you can't do this, I appreciate the response back.
(I would like to thank J2, Tray, Pauly, Conroy, and Soundwave for their responses to the questions I sent out and also, I would like to thank everyone that replied back. You all will get your chance to reply as I truly enjoy making these questions. There will be more of course as the playoffs go on. Enjoy reading.)
credit loco for photoshop
