2015 NBA Playoff Preview

By: Aryan Javan

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. It is that time in school when the work is piling up and you forget that you created a blog. But I am back, and just in time for the NBA Playoffs!

As of last night the playoff field has been set and it should be a dandy! The Western Conference is going to be a bloodbath and who knows who will represent them in the NBA Finals. The East is honestly a crap-shoot, but headlined by favorites Atlanta and Cleveland. Lets look at some of the first round match-ups.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets (ATL won season series 4-0)

ATL

Paul Millsap (16.7 PPG)

Paul Millsap (7.8 RPG)

Jeff Teague (7.0 APG)                    

BKN

Brook Lopez (17.2 PPG)

Brook Lopez (7.4 RPG)

Deron Williams (6.6 APG)

This should be a quick series for the Hawks in my opinion. The Hawks are trying to prove themselves worthy of a number one seed and the playoffs is the place to do it. Brooklyn is a mess of a team that slid in the playoffs despite a 38-44 record. Atlanta should proceed with caution cause they have given number one seed's a run for their money, twice, as an eighth seed (Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers both 7-game-series). But I think ATL is focused this year and will end this in 4 maybe 5 games.

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #7 Boston Celtics (Regular season series tied 2-2)

CLE

LeBron James (25.3 PPG)

Kevin Love (9.7 RPG)

LeBron James (7.4 APG)

BOS

Isaiah Thomas (19.0 PPG)

Jared Sullinger (7.6 RPG)

Evan Turner (5.5 APG)

Obviously, LeBron James and the Cavaliers are the overwhelming favorite to win this series. It's LeBron vs. the C's yet again, but a little different this time around. No Paul Pierce, KG, Ray Allen or Rondo. Let's give credit to the Brad Stevens and the Celtics though. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them but this team fought hard all year and claimed a playoff berth. Well congratulations Boston, you got LBJ and the favorites to come out of the East. I expect this one to be done in 4.

#3 Chicago Bulls vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (CHI won season series 3-1)

CHI

Jimmy Butler (20.0 PPG)

Pau Gasol (11.8 RPG)

Derrick Rose (4.9 APG)

MIL

Michael Carter-Williams (14.1 PPG)

Zaza Pachulia (6.8 RPG)

Michael Carter-Williams (5.6 APG)

This is an interesting series. Jason Kidd leads the surprising-young Bucks (no pun intended) to their first playoff appearance since the 2012-2013 season. They will meet their Central Division rival, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have a lot of questions coming into the playoffs, headlined by the health status of Derrick Rose. If Rose is a 100 percent or anywhere close to that this series could be over quickly. The Bulls are seen as the toughest test for Cleveland in the playoffs if they advance that far. In my opinion, I think this series may be closer than people think, I think the Bucks will be able to win 2 games but eventually fall in 6 to the more experienced Bulls side.

#4 Toronto Raptors vs. #5 Washington Wizards (TOR won season series 3-0)

TOR

DeMar DeRozan (20.1 PPG)

Jonas Valanciunas (8.7 RPG)

Kyle Lowry (6.8 APG)

WAS

John Wall (17.6 PPG)

Marcin Gortat (8.7 RPG)

John Wall (10.0 APG)

From the Eastern side, this is about the only series you could say there is no definitive favorite. Both teams had great years for their respective franchises, and both teams will want to keep their seasons going. The Raptors sort of limped into the playoffs due to some unfortunate injuries to key players, but all the Raptors should be 100 percent ready for the playoffs. The Wizards will be led by their dynamic point guard, John Wall, and his backcourt mate Bradley Beal. I give the edge by a little to the Wizards because I like how Nene and Gortat handle the paint and post. I think that gives them a bit of an edge over Toronto. I expect this one to go 7 and it can go either way but for the sake of making a selection I'll take the Wiz in 7.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Golden State Warriors vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans (GSW won season series 3-1)

GSW

Stephen Curry (23.8 PPG)

Draymond Green (8.2 RPG)

Stephen Curry (7.7 APG)

NOLA

Anthony Davis (24.4 PPG)

Anthony Davis (10.2 RPG)

Jrue Holiday (6.9 APG)

The Pelicans beat out the Thunder to claim the ultra-competitive Western Conference's final playoff berth. Their prize a date with the number one team in the NBA the Golden State Warriors. According to ESPN, the Warriors are the first team since the legendary '95-'96 Bulls to not lose more than 4 games in any month during the regular season...that's really good. Led by first year head coach, Steve Kerr, and presumed-to-be-MVP, Steph Curry, the Warriors in my opinion will handle the Pelicans with ease. Again, who knows the West is full of good teams, but I feel this is the only series where a definitive favorite exists. Expect this series to be a sweep or maybe 5, if NOLA is able to eek one out at home.

#2 Houston Rockets vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (HOU won season series 3-1)

HOU

James Harden (27.4 PPG)

Dwight Howard (10.5 RPG)

James Harden (7.0 APG)

DAL

Monta Ellis (18.9 PPG)

Tyson Chandler (11.5 RPG)

Rajon Rondo (6.5 APG)

A Texas showdown here in round one and ooh it will be a great one! Dallas struggled toward the second half of the season and has struggled with implementing point guard Rajon Rondo into their system. But they are a dangerous playoff team. Houston is led by MVP candidate, James Harden, and for them this looks like the year the Rockets could possibly make a run at the Finals. Houston was dealt a blow when the lost point guard Patrick Beverly for the season, and Dwight Howard's health is always an issue so we will see how that affects them come playoff time. But if all the components are healthy for both sides, I give a slight edge to the Rockets. This will be an awesome series and has the potential to develop into a heated rivalry because these two sides do not like each other. I say Rockets in 6 or 7.

#3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs (Regular season series tied 2-2)

LAC

Blake Griffin (21.9 PPG)

DeAndre Jordan (15.0 RPG)

Chris Paul (10.2 APG)

SAS

Kawhi Leonard (16.5 PPG)

Tim Duncan (9.1 RPG)

Tony Parker (4.9 APG)

This to me is the most intriguing match-up out of all the first round match-up's, in either conference. You got the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, primed and ready for another deep playoff run. Then you have the Clippers who have actually flown a little bit under the radar this year, but nevertheless a team that has played great basketball all year under Doc Rivers. You have to wonder, if this Clippers team can not get to the Conference Finals again, does the Clipper management think the trio of Griffin, Paul and Jordan can get it done? And they are taking on a red-hot Spurs team who could have easily been a two seed. In my honest opinion, I just can not see anyone beating the Spurs, they are my pick to come from the West. I actually think this may be a relatively short series. I pick the Spurs in 5 or 6.

#4 Portland Trailblazers vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies (MEM won season series 4-0)

POR

LaMarcus Aldridge (23.4 PPG)

LaMarcus Aldridge 10.2 RPG)

Damian Lillard (6.2 APG)

MEM

Marc Gasol (17.4 PPG)

Zach Randolph (10.5 RPG)

Mike Conley (5.4 APG)

The Trailblazers have been marred by the injuries all year and again right before the playoffs. They are going to face a grind-it-out Grizzlies team that has all the tools to make it to the NBA finals (the Grizzlies and Spurs are my picks to make it to the West Finals F
YI). Even Lillard and Aldridge have been playing through injuries all season, so it does not bode well against a team that they were swept by in the regular season. I would pick the Grizzlies in 5, but I think Portland will put up a fight but eventually lose in 6.

GET READY THE PLAYOFFS ARE GONNA BE LIVE!!!!!

PICTURES PROVIDED BY FLICKR.COM 

Bad Road Losses of ATL

By: Aryan Javan

After knocking off the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers last Friday night, the Hawks have dropped two of three against to teams with an under .500 record.

They lost to the lowly-Philadelphia 76ers Saturday, 84-92. Granted the Hawks rested starters Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver and DeMare Carroll. Still there is no excuse to lose to one of the worst teams in the league. The Hawks depth is what has carried us all season so they should have stepped up and played better. Al Horford stated how it was just one of those off-nights in basketball.

"I couldn't get a basket. A lot of our guys had good looks as well. Is just happens."

The Hawks shot a putrid 39 percent from the field. This also snapped the Hawks 6-game-winning streak.

To their credit, the Hawks rebounded Monday night at home against the Sacramento Kings. They shot an amazing 55.6 percent from three-point land and hit 20 three-pointers! They shot an overall 60.2 percent from the field. Let's just say, they may have been angry from the loss against the 76ers. All the starters played in that game. This would be the last home game for the Hawks until March 22nd when they host the San Antonio Spurs.



The Hawks started their 6-game-road trip last night in Denver. And it was another poor effort against a mediocre team. The Nuggets came out and shot lights out. Denver finished the game shooting a respectable 50 percent from the field. The Hawks have not won in Denver since December of 2006! Danilo Gallinari led all scorers with 23 points in about 24 minutes of action. The Nuggets also put together a great 54-point performance off their bench. the Hawks staged a furious comeback rally in the end but had dug themselves too big of a hole to come out of.

"We had fun. We enjoyed tonight, " stated Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets, "Atlanta is still a top team, one of the top teams in the league. We were able to show, 'Hey maybe the Nuggets can really play and maybe the Nuggets are worth watching."'

DeMare Carroll gave the perspective from the Hawks side, "We're a good team, but no team in the league is good enough to look at another person's jersey, look at another person's record and come out and play like that. We got down big. Thought we could come back, like we normally do. They kept their foot on the pedal."

The Hawks continue their road trip Friday night in Phoenix, who is still very much alive in the Western Conference Playoff race. They then travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers, Sacramento to play the Kings, the huge showdown in Golden State on March 18th, and end their road trip in Oklahoma City against the Thunder.

HAWKS SOAR AGAIN

By: Aryan Javan

In a game where the Hawks were out-rebounded 61-42, the relentless Hawks cruised to there 13th victory in a row! The Hawks hosted the Detroit Pistons for the annual MLK Day game in Phillips Arena. The game was very much back-and-fourth with a Detroit team that had won their last 7 out of 10. Hawks point guard Jeff Teague struggled much of the afternoon, shooting 4 of 15 from the field, respectively. But the Hawks stuck to their roots, and played true team basketball to come away with another victory. Atlanta has not lost since December 26 against Milwaukee. Their next game will be against the Indiana Pacers Wednesday January 21st in Phillips Arena.
For Detroit this is a team that has gone through some what of a metamorphosis since the release of power forward Josh Smith. Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond dominated the glass today with 20 and 18 rebounds, respectively. It was still not enough to overthrow the Hawks. The Pistons also turned the ball over 19 times and shot a dismal 9 of 35 from beyond the arc. The Pistons will host the Orlando Magic Wednesday night in Michigan.

ATLANTA HAWKS STAY SOARING

By: Aryan Javan

The Atlanta Hawks just keep winning and winning. Their latest culprit was against the Boston Celtics in Boston. DeMarre "The Junkyard Dog" Carroll led the way with 22 points on 8/13 shooting. The Hawks put together another great team performance and sailed to a smooth 105-91 victory at the TD Garden.

Hawks point guard, Jeff Teague, put the win in perspective for the team, "It's just the start. It's a long season, so we're not too excited."

Even if the Hawks players are nonchalant the fans should be ecstatic. The Atlanta Hawks are solely in first place of the Eastern Conference for the first time in 17 years. They are currently on a 10 game winning streak, also the longest streak since the 97-98 season; and have won an outstanding 10 straight road games. Everything right now is going the Hawks way as they continue to win-win-win
no matter what!

Paul Millsap, Jeff Teagues and DeMarre Carol all got the nigh off in Philly when the Hawks cruised to another easy victory over the 76ers.

"I don't like it, but it's Coach's call and it paid off for us," said Millsap, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season.

The Hawks next road game is against the third-place Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have won the last two meetings beating Atlanta in Atlanta and once in Toronto. They look to extend their road-game-winning streak to 11 against a very formidable opponent. The Raptors are led by all-purpose guard Kyle Lowry and the return of superstar, Demar Derozan, should make it an interesting challenge for the A.