[GS/UTA] Western Semifinals
- Thread starter nebs
- Start date
I think it will be a very interesting contrast in styles and incredible coaching match-up between old pros Nellie and Sloan. I like Utah with their deep bench and the fact that AK-47 has started to emerge from his funk of late. Home court advantage gives them a slight edge to probably prevail - but likely a hard fought 7. The key for the Warriors is if Al Harrington can emerge from his funk which might be enough to swing the series in their favor.
Last edited:
The key for G.S. should be Harrington because Boozer should be able to overwhelm anybody else the Warriors throw at him. This isn't passive Dirk -- you can't play him with a guard. So you cross the matchups up, put Jackson on Okur to try to recereate the Dirk situation, put Harrington on Boozer, and cross your fingers.
On Utah's side, if Ak47 and to a lesser extent Harpring come to play, G.S. is in real trouble. Those guys can outphysical the Warriors in a smallball game even if Okur is taken out of the equation, and Kirlienko's ability to block shots inside from a smaller player's position doesn't allow Nellie to force the Jazz into choosing between their shotblocker and more mobility.
On Utah's side, if Ak47 and to a lesser extent Harpring come to play, G.S. is in real trouble. Those guys can outphysical the Warriors in a smallball game even if Okur is taken out of the equation, and Kirlienko's ability to block shots inside from a smaller player's position doesn't allow Nellie to force the Jazz into choosing between their shotblocker and more mobility.
I can't decide between Utah in 5 or 7 games...since I was burned in the first round by GSW's fierce protection of their own home court, I'm not going to pencil them in for a series ending loss at home in game 6.
I just don't see GSW being able to get the same advantages since Utah runs a very disciplined, post-oriented offense that will look to take advantage of any post opportunities available for any offensive player on the floor (other than Derek Fisher).
I will be interested to see whether Nellie sticks Biedrins on Boozer to start, or whether he tries to let Harrington work out of his awful funk.
I just don't see GSW being able to get the same advantages since Utah runs a very disciplined, post-oriented offense that will look to take advantage of any post opportunities available for any offensive player on the floor (other than Derek Fisher).
I will be interested to see whether Nellie sticks Biedrins on Boozer to start, or whether he tries to let Harrington work out of his awful funk.
Strangely enough, ,this should be the second matchup in a row favorable to Boozer. Houston didn't have a traditional PF big enough to stop him in the low post, and Yao was too slow to keep up with him outside of 8 feet from the basket. Now he gets to challenge GSW and its one interior defender in Biedrins. If Harrington doesn't step up his level of play in this series, I think it's a 5 game series in the Jazz's favor.
If the Jazz were facing Dallas, Boozer wouldn't have a favorable matchup --- he'd have to bang with Diop, Dampier and even Kevin Willis to earn his points.
If the Jazz were facing Dallas, Boozer wouldn't have a favorable matchup --- he'd have to bang with Diop, Dampier and even Kevin Willis to earn his points.
It's going to be an interesting series. I'm guessing Golden State is going to pack it in and swarm Boozer like they did Dirk, and Utah will struggle to score unless they're hitting their outside shots. Okur, Harpring and Giricek will be key. At the same time, Boozer is probably going to destroy GS on the offensive glass unless they can find a way to get some rebounds.
GS will probably be scrappy, but if Baron's not 100% I don't even know if they'll win a game. I don't think they'll be able to fast break quite as much because the Jazz are so effective on the offensive boards. I think the key for GS will be Richardson, because the Jazz don't really have a good matchup for him.
Ultimately, I feel like the Jazz are going to execute much better than Dallas did, and GS is going to be hard pressed to reproduce the magic of that first round series.
Jazz in 4 or 5.
GS will probably be scrappy, but if Baron's not 100% I don't even know if they'll win a game. I don't think they'll be able to fast break quite as much because the Jazz are so effective on the offensive boards. I think the key for GS will be Richardson, because the Jazz don't really have a good matchup for him.
Ultimately, I feel like the Jazz are going to execute much better than Dallas did, and GS is going to be hard pressed to reproduce the magic of that first round series.
Jazz in 4 or 5.
Game 1
GSW giving up tons of looks at the basket, and Mehmet Okur has started on fire from deep, but GSW just keeps running back at Utah, and Al Harrington has finally realized that the playoffs have started --- he's hit three threes, and just abused Boozer on the perimeter to get a layup and one. Jazz have scored 26 points just to be up 2 with 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter. Definitely a GSW pace.
One other note is that Matt Barnes is getting no respect from the officials on offense, and to this point seems pretty frustrated about it.
GSW giving up tons of looks at the basket, and Mehmet Okur has started on fire from deep, but GSW just keeps running back at Utah, and Al Harrington has finally realized that the playoffs have started --- he's hit three threes, and just abused Boozer on the perimeter to get a layup and one. Jazz have scored 26 points just to be up 2 with 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter. Definitely a GSW pace.
One other note is that Matt Barnes is getting no respect from the officials on offense, and to this point seems pretty frustrated about it.
We played THIS game too many times- and a couple of Warrior budies are already doing it- "we lost by 4 on the road and we didn't bring our A game. If we rebounded better we would have taken it- we get a few more boards next game and we even it up."
Fact is- the Warriros let a VERY winnable game slip through their fingers tonight. I don't care if they had foul trouble, Baron was subpar, blah blah blah. They had a chance to steal a game and they didn't. Don't know when and if you will get this same sort of opportunity again.
We used to sit here after lost chances and do the same thing (saying that a close loss when we didn't play ou best game meant we were the better team) and it got us nowhere. Warrior fans might feel good about their chances after toight- but they can't win the series without winning in Utah, and they BLEW a great chance tonight...
Fact is- the Warriros let a VERY winnable game slip through their fingers tonight. I don't care if they had foul trouble, Baron was subpar, blah blah blah. They had a chance to steal a game and they didn't. Don't know when and if you will get this same sort of opportunity again.
We used to sit here after lost chances and do the same thing (saying that a close loss when we didn't play ou best game meant we were the better team) and it got us nowhere. Warrior fans might feel good about their chances after toight- but they can't win the series without winning in Utah, and they BLEW a great chance tonight...