Here is my random spattering of playoff thoughts for now:
- I'd rather face the Mavericks because, even though I think we'd beat both, the Clippers have a much higher ceiling on beating us if they peak at the right time or figure out how to exploit us.
- Beating the Clippers, however, would be much more satisfying.
- I didn't want to play Phoenix, but with Paul looking the way he does, it doesn't scare me nearly as much. However, if they get past Denver, it means that Paul is healthy enough to cause problems, so it's quite the conundrum.
- The first time we played Phoenix was very early in the season. The second time was a let down and I think the third time we didn't have either Mitchell or Conley (could be wrong on that, but we were missing at least one of them). They definitely kill us in the mid-range and also off the lob to Ayton. If CP3 is hobbled some with health and it takes away him looking for his own shot, that solves a huge part of the problem we'd face and it could allow Gobert to stay home more on Ayton. I'm not afraid of Booker by himself.
- We didn't have Bojan last series and Denver wouldn't have Murray, so I'd feel more confident there. However, I'd be a bit concerned on Porter Jr. lighting us up from three and hitting 50% for the series. What was Denver's defensive rating this year? Obviously they let Donovan go nuclear, but they wouldn't have a way to stop us on offense. Unless Porter steps up into a two-man game with Jokic, Rudy hopefully can better contain him if there's less focus elsewhere. We could even just abandon the rim-protection strategy and have Rudy play Jokic the same way we had Rudy guard KAT last year on the perimeter.
- Go Bucks.
- They're already trying to asterisk this title. Unless it's Brooklyn, of course.
