Phx-Suns.Net

The matchups are set. We've got Boston vs Cleveland in the East, and Houston vs Golden State in the West. Thoughts? Who's coming out of these series to play in the NBA Finals? Any matchups you'll be watching for?

My quick takes:

- I think the Warriors/Rockets series is going to be very competitive and chippy. Warriors are probably the better team when at full strength, but they feel not quite 100% to me. Houston is absolutely humming this year and is in great position to challenge GSW and maybe even knock them out. I think this one goes 6-7 games for sure. I predicted Houston to win it in my playoff prediction post a few weeks back, so I'll say Houston in 7 here. Of course I'm rooting for the GSW here; hoping for a classic D'Antoni/Harden/Paul playoff collapse. That gives me hope.

- I think this is where the Cinderella run for the Celtics ends. Lebron has been a beast and Boston doesn't really have anybody who can stop him. Jaylen Brown is a good person to guard him, but Brown is nursing an injury, and I don't think he can stop beast Lebron even when healthy. I think the Cavs figured out a few things in the last few rounds, such as they remembered that Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson are on the roster. And they've cut back the minutes of dead weight like Rodney Hood. If they just play their top 7-8 guys and bench the guys who don't fit, Cleveland is a good team after all. I would love to see Boston win this, but I don't think they have anybody who can stop Lebron if the game is close. Cavs in 6.

I still don't buy Cleveland as a good team. They got lucky against Indy and I think their sweep of Toronto had more to do with Toronto completely falling apart. Boston will shut down LeBron's teammates and they'll be able to slow LeBron enough to pull out the win in 7.

Golden State's talent will shine through and they'll win in 6.

Doesn’t start until Sunday? Three days with no action? Boo!

Cap wrote:Doesn’t start until Sunday? Three days with no action? Boo!

All second round matchups were over so quickly.

Cap wrote:Doesn’t start until Sunday? Three days with no action? Boo!

Not only that but the East who finished last, start first on Sunday and then it isn't until Monday that the Houston/GSW series starts.

Superbone wrote:

Cap wrote:Doesn’t start until Sunday? Three days with no action? Boo!

Not only that but the East who finished last, start first on Sunday and then it isn't until Monday that the Houston/GSW series starts.

So five days with no Western Conference action.

Cap wrote:

Superbone wrote:

Cap wrote:Doesn’t start until Sunday? Three days with no action? Boo!

Not only that but the East who finished last, start first on Sunday and then it isn't until Monday that the Houston/GSW series starts.

So five days with no Western Conference action.

Well, at least there’s a new season of BattleBots to tide us over. That was a nice surprise to discover, I didn’t think there was going to be one. 8:00 tonight on Discovery.

Celtics/Cavs Game 1 today at 12:30 PT. Excited for the conf. finals to get started. Very curious to see if the Celtics can hold their home court. Lebron will be rested.

Horford is awesome.

Team basketball and coaching VS. Uber stardom will.

How long can Lebron stay in beast mode?
How long Boston’s kids will remain unfazed by the stage they are playing in?
Can Cleveland supporting cast suddenly start producing consistently?
Is Brad Stevens capable to close the gap on talent (mostly an engaged Lebron) like he did with Philly? (rendered Simmons useless)

Maarcus Morriis is a lot better than I thought he was...completely outplaying LeBron.

Tombstone vs. Minotaur was a much better matchup.

UglyTruth wrote:Maarcus Morriis is a lot better than I thought he was...completely outplaying LeBron.

The power of Brad Stevens.


Also, getting him away from his shit head brother was probably the best thing that ever happened for his career.

UglyTruth wrote:Maarcus Morriis is a lot better than I thought he was...completely outplaying LeBron.

Morris has his moments. The problem is that he will exult in it too much and LeBron will come back. Morris has matured a lot since he was on the Suns team. The brothers had to be separated.

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:Celtics/Cavs Game 1 today at 12:30 PT. Excited for the conf. finals to get started. Very curious to see if the Celtics can hold their home court. Lebron will be rested.

Whelp. So far so good.

Hermen wrote:Horford is awesome.

2 years in a row he has clearly been the Celtics best player.

O_Gardino wrote:

Hermen wrote:Horford is awesome.

2 years in a row he has clearly been the Celtics best player.

I hope Wendell Carter can be that for us.

JCSunsfan wrote:

UglyTruth wrote:Maarcus Morriis is a lot better than I thought he was...completely outplaying LeBron.

Morris has his moments. The problem is that he will exult in it too much and LeBron will come back. Morris has matured a lot since he was on the Suns team. The brothers had to be separated.

Morris has been balling all year for the Celtics. One of the better +/- numbers of his whole team.

TheOriginalOriginal wrote:

UglyTruth wrote:Maarcus Morriis is a lot better than I thought he was...completely outplaying LeBron.

The power of Brad Stevens.


Also, getting him away from his s*** head brother was probably the best thing that ever happened for his career.

Crazy that his brother was once seen as the better player of the two.