Panos wrote:Let's talk Cleveland?

Can’t believe I’m rooting for Harden.

On the other end vs Detroit. Blitz Cade to get him to give up the ball, attack Duncan Robinson as often as you can. They lack consistent floor spacing around Cade outside of him.

martin wrote:How about this: Cavs seem easier to me but Detroit would prep Knicks better for an OKC matchup if things turned out well for them

Ideally we would have beaten Philadelphia in the ECF with all the flopping to get us ready for SGA. Although Harden is like SGA light,so I want Cleveland

Nalod wrote:

BlueKnickers wrote:

martin wrote:I think Knicks match up against Cleveland much better but Detroit also kinda playing like trash and neither team has seen Knicks 2.0 for this season.

7 game series is all I wish for so whichever team we get we come in fresh and butter their asses like Marlon Brando

Last Tango! Hell of a reference!!!!

HofstraBBall wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:Don't get too high, don't get too low- enjoy the ride.

What are the matchups?
Hart on Cade
KAT on Duren
Bridges on Robinson
OG on Harris
Brunson in Thompson?

I’d put OG on Cade and Hart on Harris. Harris plays soft.

For me, besides Cade of course, controlling Harris is key.
The Pistons are a much different team when he has it going.

Keys will be keeping their bigger lineup off the boards especially Thompson.
How JB handles blitzes.
How we handle one of the better defenses in the league.
Health of Duncan Robinson and Lavert
The play of both our benches.

I see Detroit as a tougher matchup because of their size and athleticism.
Having home court also helps them against us.
However, if we play the way we have recently, don’t think it matters who we play.

Agreed watching the Magic and now Cavs series. Harris and Robinson have been the difference in success and failure for them as supplement scoring options. You can either choose to let Cade get his in a one on one matchup and focus on locking everyone else down. Or blitz Cade and make these other guys beat you.

Robinson is their main floor spacer. Could also put Brunson on him though. This takes away their ability to work Brunson in the paint with Thompson for offensive rebounds like they have done in the past. But in contrast Brunson would be easier to shoot over for Robinson.

All in all on defense Detroit's length and physicality will cause problems. But on the other side of the coin. We have the capability of defending Detroit better than they will be able to defend us. Prior, hero ball between KAT and JB made us easier for a team like Detroit to defend. We now have way more ball and player movement. Detroit on the other hand only really have Cade as a shot creator and lack strong shooting and floor spacing as well.

Lock in defensively for their limited offense. Grind it out as the better balanced team.

It reminds me of when we were bad and teams like GS & SA were so good, I would watch them and they just look so organized and cohesive compared to the crap product we were putting out there.

newyorknewyork wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:Don't get too high, don't get too low- enjoy the ride.

What are the matchups?
Hart on Cade
KAT on Duren
Bridges on Robinson
OG on Harris
Brunson in Thompson?

I’d put OG on Cade and Hart on Harris. Harris plays soft.

For me, besides Cade of course, controlling Harris is key.
The Pistons are a much different team when he has it going.

Keys will be keeping their bigger lineup off the boards especially Thompson.
How JB handles blitzes.
How we handle one of the better defenses in the league.
Health of Duncan Robinson and Lavert
The play of both our benches.

I see Detroit as a tougher matchup because of their size and athleticism.
Having home court also helps them against us.
However, if we play the way we have recently, don’t think it matters who we play.

Agreed watching the Magic and now Cavs series. Harris and Robinson have been the difference in success and failure for them as supplement scoring options. You can either choose to let Cade get his in a one on one matchup and focus on locking everyone else down. Or blitz Cade and make these other guys beat you.

Robinson is their main floor spacer. Could also put Brunson on him though. This takes away their ability to work Brunson in the paint with Thompson for offensive rebounds like they have done in the past. But in contrast Brunson would be easier to shoot over for Robinson.

All in all on defense Detroit's length and physicality will cause problems. But on the other side of the coin. We have the capability of defending Detroit better than they will be able to defend us. Prior, hero ball between KAT and JB made us easier for a team like Detroit to defend. We now have way more ball and player movement. Detroit on the other hand only really have Cade as a shot creator and lack strong shooting and floor spacing as well.

Lock in defensively for their limited offense. Grind it out as the better balanced team.

Grind it out for sure. Also feel the pressure will get to the younger Pistons.
If we get the Cavs, major worry is their aggressiveness to the basket and number of fouls they draw.
Especially Spida. May take KAT and others out the game early. We would also have to guard the three well which has not been our strong suit.
But yeah, prefer the Cavs.