Postseason « Mike Fratello

Postseason

Czar’s Playoff Preview: Mavericks vs. Thunder Game 2

Monday, April 30th, 2012

The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder will square off tonight in the capital of the Sooner State in Game 2 of their first-round, best of seven series. The Thunder won the opening game 99-98 on a last-second, Kevin Durant foul line jumper reminiscent of his game winner in the first regular season match between these teams.

The reigning 3X NBA scoring champ and 2012 MVP candidate had 25 points, 6 boards, 4 dimes and 4 blocks in a game-high 44 minutes of court time. The West’s second seeded OKC squad is hoping to avenge last year’s WCF defeat, when the eventual NBA champs Dallas took out the up-and-coming Thunder team 4 games to 1.

14^th-year, 11X All-Star and 2007 NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavs with 25 points in the loss. The uber-clutch Dirk had 11 of those points in the final five minutes of the game, nearly enough to push Dallas over the top and help them steal a road victory.

However, OKC coach Scott Brooks had enough of Dirk’s late game dominance and decided to run a double-team at him every time he touched the rock. This strategy proved successful, resulting in two key Dallas turnovers late in the game.

Copyright 2012 NBAE - Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images These two sides met four times during the shortened regular season. OKC won the season series 3 games to 1 with their only defeat coming in ‘Big D’, 100-87, on January 2^nd. The Mavs have endured a rollercoaster of a season with multiple losing streaks, a redone roster and an aging core. But as they demonstrated last season, to count out coach Rick Carlisle’s guys in the playoffs is a huge mistake.

The oldest player on the court, 18^th-year, 39-year-old PG Jason Kidd, had 7 steals, 8 points, 6 boards and 5 dimes in Game 1. Dallas also has a solid bench anchored by Jason ‘JET’ Terry, who had 20 points and 5 dimes in the opener. However, the Thunder protect their home court vigilantly. They went 26-7 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena this season, while the Mavericks were a sub-par 13-20 on the road in 2011-12.

Dallas desperately wants to avoid going into an 0-2 hole in this series. Look for the 2011 NBA champions to come out swinging tonight, knowing that they didn’t play their best ball on Saturday and nearly won. Join Matt Devlin and me for TNT’s live coverage of DAL @ OKC Game 2 at 9:30 PM ET to see if the veteran Mavs can even the score or if the super-charged young guns of the Thunder are on a take-no-prisoners trajectory to their first NBA Finals.

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks
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Czar’s 2012 Playoff Preview

Saturday, April 28th, 2012

The 2012 NBA Playoffs start today, less than 48 hours after the conference standings were cemented during Thursday’s regular season finale. This lockout-shortened regular season schedule of 66 games in 124 days has taken a toll mentally or physically on all of the 16 postseason contenders vying for the championship this spring. How the fallout will impact postseason play is one of the various storylines that will color the playoff season, as will many memorable 94’ by 50’ hoops battles fought in years past. Like Shakespeare once wrote, “What’s past is prologue.” Here are some of the questions that will get answered as the plot unravels when the quest for the Larry O’Brien trophy gets underway.

THE EAST

Virtually all the pro-ball prognosticators have pegged either the Chicago Bulls or the Miami Heat to come out on top of the Eastern Conference. Do any of the squads seeded 3-8 have the talent, drive and stamina to make it to the Finals?
Will the pressure on 9^th-year, ringless LeBron James elevate his game (if that’s even possible) or be so great that he proves his naysayers right?
Does the depth and unselfishness of the 3^rd seed Indiana Pacers make them spoilers even without a legitimate star on the roster?
Can Boston’s aged core of Pierce, Garnett and Allen stay healthy enough to grind out enough W’s to give the C’s their 18^th title banner?
Will the banged-up Hawks get enough offensive output from the gifted Joe Johnson and their defensive menace Josh Smith to overcome Al Horford’s absence?
Can the Dwight Howard-less Magic rally together after a season-long soap opera surrounding the Association’s top 5-man?
Do the Knicks have enough firepower with the super-combo of Carmelo and Amar’e to take down their playoff rival of years past the Heat?
And will Linsanity be making a return to the floor and global media these playoffs?
Is this the year that the storied Philly franchise can return to prominence and shock the pundits?

THE WEST

Will last year’s champs Dallas be able to come close to replicating their 2011 title run from the 7-spot after having suffered through a roster redo, multiple prolonged losing streaks and aging superstars?
Will Gregg Popovich’s superb coaching job (maybe his best ever) of resting his trio of stars and developing a group of young ballers while still finishing with the 1-seed get the Spurs back to the Finals and a chance at a 5^th ring?
Are the OKC Thunder poised to take the next step with the 3-time NBA scoring leader Durant, super-athlete Westbrook at the 1 and a strong supporting cast?
Will 5X champ Kobe Bryant’s MVP-like production in his 16^th season be augmented enough by Gasol and Bynum to get to the ring round in Mike Brown’s first year as Lakers head coach?
Can the Grizzlies pseudo-shock the league as they did in last year’s first-round upset of SA now that they are a 4-seed, playoff-tested and expected to do well?
Will the Clippers be just the ‘CP3 & Blake Show’ or will the rest of the cast step it up now that they’re in the playoffs for the first time since ’06?
Can the post-Melo Nuggets make the mile-high fandom smile with their up-and-down attack, which ranked first in points per game and dimes per game?
Will the Jazz’s points-leader and boards-leader, power-power forward Al Jefferson be able to lead the 8^th seed to an upset stunner now that he’s back in the playoffs for the first time since ’05, his rookie season in Boston?

Tags: NBA Playoffs
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Beyond the Lottery: Bismack Biyombo

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

Bismack Biyombo is an 18-year-old big man from Democratic Republic of the Congo. He stands 6’9” and has a 7’7” wingspan that allows him to contest virtually every shot in his defensive area. The 245 lb. Biyombo already has an NBA body and is sure to grow stronger and thicker as he matures. He runs the floor extremely well for someone his size and girth. Biyombo is constantly hustling and always crashes the offensive glass, which leads to easy put-backs. Having only participated in organized basketball for approximately four years, Biyombo possesses tremendous potential.

Biyombo made his professional debut in the top-tier Spanish ACB League with Fuenlabrada against DKV Joventut on January 9th, 2011 and scored 5 points to go along with 7 rebounds in just 13 minutes of play. Although he’s only competed in the Spanish Pro League for a short time, Biyombo has displayed marked improvement. His team defense and overall positioning have advanced, as has his low post game.

At the 2011 Nike Hoops Summit, Biyombo played for the World Select Team (against the USA Select Team) and recorded a triple double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. He has become something of an internet sensation due to his exciting and uber-athletic highlights. Biyombo’s vast collection of rudimentary spin moves, up fakes and jump hooks will surely become more polished and refined the longer he plays and practices with an NBA roster.

Biyombo will probably not be a lottery selection because his overall game is still very unpolished, and he oftentimes commits basic blunders due to a lack of formal basketball experience. There are also questions about his real age, with some reports putting it as high as 23-years-old. A true evaluation of his ability to compete and contribute in the paint at the NBA level is hard to formulate due to the fact that he hasn’t faced a lot of quality big men in his short basketball career.

However despite being somewhat of a wild card, Biyombo will be picked in the first round because of his giant upside and his solid defensive play. Biyombo is reportedly a good teammate and a very coachable player. He speaks English well too, which will save him from the many hurdles associated with foreign players attempting to assimilate to American culture. One thing is for certain, this Congolese center is on the rise.

Tags: Bismack Biyombo, NBA Draft, Nike Hoops Summit
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Beyond the Lottery: Marshon Brooks

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

Providence College shooting guard Marshon Brooks can score. He finished second overall in Division 1 scoring for the 2010-11 season with a 24.6 ppg average. The 6’5” Associated Press Third Team All-American had games of 43 points against Georgetown and 52 points facing Notre Dame this past season. In fact, Georgia native Brooks increased his scoring average in each of his four seasons playing for the Ocean State’s Big East representative.

The 22-year-old Brooks has tremendous athleticism, and he possesses a key trait that is unteachable – length. This length (his wingspan is over 85 inches) added to his court savvy and separation dribble moves allow Brooks to create his own shot, which is an especially valuable skill at the next level. He has legitimate NBA 3-point range, which widens his offensive arsenal and prevents teams from backing off and playing him exclusively for the drive and mid-range penetration.

For a perimeter player Brooks is excellent on the glass. He pulled down seven boards per game this past year. And just as with his scoring, he raised his rebounding average in each of his four seasons with the Friars. His averages in assists, steals and field goal percentage all improved over his collegiate career as well. A competitor with this four-season statistical upward trajectory is the definition of potential and upside in regard to the possibility of one day blooming into an impactful NBA starter.

Brooks will not be chosen in the lottery because of his dishing deficiencies and a tendency to get a bit sloppy with the rock. He averaged more turnovers than assists both his junior and senior years. Another knock on him is that he needs to show more intensity and desire on the defensive end because at the professional level he’ll often be checking the opposing team’s best scorer, his 2-guard counterpart.

What will make Marshon Brooks an NBA Draft first-rounder next week is his ability to put up points and sometimes do it in spectacular flurries. A playoff team in need of an offensive spark off the bench would be a great fit for the pride of Tucker, Georgia.

Tags: Marshon Brooks, Providence College Friars
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Beyond the Lottery: Tyler Honeycutt

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

UCLA Sophomore Tyler Honeycutt hustles on the basketball court. He stands 6’8” and has played both shooting guard and small forward for the Bruins of Westwood. Honeycutt had season highs of 33 points (against a loaded Kansas Jayhawks squad on the road), 15 rebounds and 8 blocks, showcasing the talent and determination to impact the game in various ways from his perimeter position. His skill set and motor allow him to compete and play on both ends of the court, which is a prerequisite at the NBA level.

Honeycutt has the ability to match up with the opposing point guard, 2-guard and small forward thanks to his long arms and quick feet, which make him formidable defensively. His lateral and vertical timing are also superb, and he averaged 2.1 blocks per game for the perennial PAC-10 power.

Honeycutt always seemed to be involved in the flow and action of the contest, whether it was crashing the glass or shutting down passing lanes and penetration attempts. The 20-year-old Los Angeles native was one of the best rebounding guards in the country this past season. He pulled down 7.2 boards per game with a significant number of offensive rebounds.

On the offensive end, he displayed advanced court vision. And he knows how to position himself properly and precisely when moving without the ball. Honeycutt has a high basketball IQ, which translates into smart on-court decision-making. Even though he averaged 35 minutes per game for Coach Ben Howland and often guarded the other team’s top scorer, Honeycutt averaged only 1.5 personal fouls per game and didn’t foul out of any game.

Honeycutt’s slim frame (he weighs in at approx. 190 lbs.) is something that will become more of a liability at the professional level. He needs to gain weight and strength in order to maximize his superb defensive traits against bigger, stronger NBA competitors.

Tags: NBA Draft, Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA Bruins
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