Few fast thoughts before going to bed.
Cleveland - Atlanta
Atlanta last year was first of all great offensive team, with system that reminded a lot of the Spurs that won the title, the year before that. But, they faded away in the second half of the season, barely made it past the weak Nets and the very injured Wizards and with Blatt's great defensive scheme + injuries of Love and Kyrie, that put Thompson and Deli on the floor, Hawks offense had zero chance and their defense just wasn't good.
This season, it's the other way around. Hawks improved in the second half of the season and were the best defense after ASG break in the entire league. They easily won over Boston, a team that is better than Nets and Wizards teams they faced a year ago.
Love and Kyrie healthy are great news to Lue on offense, but what about defense. Can't see Love doing anything good against Milsap or Horford and he hates to guard player with shooting range. I believe that Lue will be forced to lower Love's minutes in this series, if coach Bud plays his hand right.
Also, if there was ever made a player that is just perfect to break Hawks defense, it's LeBron. Great basketball IQ, one of the best in the game, against defense that gambles a lot - always a bad sign for the defense.
I doubt we will see a sweep and it will be much closer competition than last year, but I would be shocked not to see Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
SA - Oklahoma
LMA admitted that some shots that went in in Game 1, he doubts will go in, in Game 2. Spurs had the perfect storm, with everything good that could happen for them, went their way and Thunder the exact opposite. I believe that Spurs will win the series due to home court advantage and much much much better coaching, but it still should be a close series and statistics usually even out.
Expecting Westbrook to show up and Thunder as well.
