In honor of the NBA Playoffs kicking off this weekend, I'm creatively trying to spice it up by seeing what would happen if the fantasy players from each team played each other..... this may be my own way of recovering from a devastating loss in the USC Law Basketball Finals, where I lost 5-4, by 3 turnovers. Yes, 3 turnovers. ouch.
1.) Chicago over Indiana: Not exactly a fantasy powerhouse matchup, Chicago would be a prime candidate to get upset in the first round with lower-tier guys at SF (Luol Deng) and SG (non-existent), but Indiana's revolving door of guys precluded anyone except Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert from having any fantasy value, and Granger had a below-average year, at that ( I would know, I expected big things from him). Rose and Noah provide enough push.
2.) Miami over Philadelphia: Just like their real team, the Heat have enough star power with LeBron and Wade to edge past the Sixers (Brand, Iguodala, Holiday).
3.) Boston over Knicks: the way the C's struggled, the Knicks' Carmelo and Amare almost enough to spring pset, but Rondo, Garnett, Allen, and crew still have just enough.
4.) Atlanta over Orlando: no one on the Magic besides Howard; Hawks have a slew of young guys including the best fantasy player in the series, Josh Smith (actually may be Al Horford, but either one is good)
West
5.) Grizzlies def. Spurs: Close, but Memphis springs the upset because Popovich rested all his starters at the end of the regular season......Memphis's rotation very underrated with Conley, Allen, Gasol, and Randolph.
6.) Lakers def. Hornets: Nothing on Hornets besides CP3 and Okafor. Great star season by Pau Gasol and late fantasy MVP run by Andrew Bynum.
7.) Dallas def. Portland: as close as the actual series will be; Dallas barely squeaks by cuz Dirk is still top-5 fantasy player; LaMarcus Aldridge is getting into that range.
8.) Thunder def. Nuggets: Thunder favorite in the fantasy playoffs due to 2 top-15 fantasy players (Durant and Westbrook); Nuggs lost their best 2 fantasy players
Atlanta def. Chicago: hate to say it, but Rose, as good as he is in fantasy, not as valuable as Horford or Smith; Noah and Noah injured most of the year; and remember that Joe Johnson's also on this team.
Heat def. Celtics: Star power over balance. Quality (Wade, LeBron) over Quantity here.
Thunder def. Grizzlies: Durantula = #1 overall fantasy player this year, IMO. And don't forget Serge Ibaka with all those blocks.
Lakers def. Dallas: Lakers' top 4 is the best in the league. Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Lamar. Ouch. Mavs have no answer.
Semis:
Heat def. Atlanta Tough, tough, right here, but after Hawks' big 3 of Horford, Smith, and Johnson, can you name another fantasy relevant player? (Kirk Hinrich? Zaza Pachulia? Marvin Williams?)
Lakers def. Thunder: Big 4 better than Thunders' big 3.
Finals: Lakers def. Heat: A dream matchup in real life, it'd be quite a star fest in fantasy too. Kobe v. LeBron, and the big frontcourt of the Lakers vs. the quick + fiesty guard play of Dwyane Wade. Still, Lakers ' M.O. is to get stars, and they also happen to be fantasy stars. Lakers all the way.
(Note: NOT my prediction for the actual NBA playoffs).
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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