NBA SIMS LEAGUE
NSL Insider - R2 Preview: Washington V New Yorkby JustinG, updated on Tuesday, May 23 2023, 12:41 am EST Round 1 is in the books, and both the Knicks and the Wizards have advanced after stellar regular season, and round 1 play. In normal 1 vs 4 seed matchups, we rarely see the 4 seed come out on the victorious end, but these two teams match up well on paper, and as a result I could see this series shaping up to be a great one. Both teams weren�t hugely tested in their first-round matchups. The Knicks defeated the Celtics in 4 games, and the Wizards beat the Hornets in 5. I expect this series to be a much tighter affair for both sides. The Wizards Record: (62 - 20) The Wizards have been a hot pick all season, to come in and win their first NSL Championship. They began the year with a star trio of Booker, Embiid, and Desmond Bane, and surrounded those players with high-level roles players that allowed them to thrive. Somehow, GM Joshua deemed this not enough, and bolstered the roster by bringing in PG, and further rounding out the surrounding cast. I can�t say I blame Joshua, the time is now to go all in on winning a title. You�ve got the MVP, arguably a top 3 guard in the game, and PG to go at teams now, and go they did! When the Wizards weren�t decimated by the injury bug(and this did happen at times during the season) they consistently showed the sort of prowess you�d expect from a championship team. This team should never lose for lack of firepower, unless they were to come up against a defensive juggernaut� The Knicks (57 - 25) I could write a novel about the Knicks off-season, and in-season transformation. Sadly, this can�t be a Knicks centric article, so my apologies go out to Smokey if you feel anything has been left out. Here�s the Knicks opening day roster vs current roster: PG- McConnell PG-Marcus Smart SG- Josh Hart SG- Derozan SF- Jimmy Butler SF- Kawhi PF- Cam Johnson PF- Juluis Randle C- Clint Capela C- Mason Plumlee Only 1 Knicks player from that starting 5 is still playing meaningful minutes for the Knicks, Josh Hart, who�s 16.5 minutes per game in the first round. The only other players who were on the opening day roster, that are still on the Knicks roster, are Dean Wade and Walker Kessler, who�s been a very pleasant surprise for the Knicks. How�s that for a roster overall? GM Smokey did it all without expending too much in the way of future assets as well. In the process he made a team with incredible defense, that can still score at a solid clip. After the moves were made, the Knicks were one of, if not the hottest team in the league. They jumped from a play-in positioned team, all the way to the 5 seed, and have not looked back since. The Matchups Center: Capela vs Plumlee These two players are quite similar to their teams, in terms of style and play and output. Neither team is relying on their center to put up big numbers in terms of points or run the offense and rack up assists. These are two, large, long-armed big men who gobble up rebounds, and allow their teams to rack up extra possessions, or take away extra possessions when dominating the defensive glass. The edge has to go to Capela, as he is younger, a bit quicker, and averaged more rebounds and points than Plumlee all season. It�s not a huge one, but the edge goes to Capela. Power Forward: Embiid vs Randle I love this battle, of two players who broke through in major ways this season for their respective teams. Embiid won the MVP, and has staked his claim as a top big man in the game. Randle, took his game to new heights, scoring over 15 points per game, while even shooting 42% from deep for the Knicks. The difference here, is this is the top dog of the Wizards, vs the #2 or #3 of the Knicks. Edge has to go to Embiid, but if you�re the Knicks, you�ve got to feel pretty good about the small game separating these two players. Small Forward: Kawhi vs Joe This to me, is the most lopsided matchup of the series. Particularly because Joe likely won�t be able to guard Kawhi much if at all, and Kawhi should neutralize the scoring Joe brings to the table for the Wizards. Kawhi has battled injuries all year, but when healthy he has proven he is still one of the premiere players in the league. A true 2-way superstar, Kawhi could very well be the difference maker in the series. Joe on the other hand, isn�t a difference maker in the conventional sense, but he�s filled in well for the Wizards since coming over. The Wizards have done well to unlock some of his potential, and surprisingly boosted his minutes from just 6 MPG with the Pelicans, to 28 MPG with the Wizards. He averaged 12 PPG with the Wizards and would be a huge boost to their winning chances if he can put up a big offensive game or 2 in the series. Shooting Guard: Booker vs Derozan Another great matchup in what should be another great series. Booker has been stellar all season for the Wizards. He averaged 23 points and 4 assists, a fantastic output for the #2 option on your team. He averaged similar numbers in the first round, and will look to continue with similar output, be it against a much tougher defensive matchup. Derozan has had great output for the Knicks as well since coming over. He has played 33 minutes per game and increased his shooting percentages across the board. He�s even shot 46% from deep while playing in New York, a lethal percentage for a player with his slashing ilk. Derozan could steal this matchup, even though the overall rating wouldn�t suggest it be the case. His long frame, and 2-way prowess could prove to be tough to deal with for Devin Booker. Point Guard: Caruso vs Smart 2 stylistically similar players match up for the final matchup of the starting 5. 2 players who have earned their money by the way of defense, and a ton of energy plays. Both guys appear to be glue guys, who gave their team huge boosts upon coming over. Both players were traded for right around the deadline. Smart gets the edge, as he�s really improved his shooting in recent years, but both players fill their roles so well. Neither team will utilize either guard as a go-to scorer, or really even a primary ball handler(though Smart will fill the role more than Caruso), but both teams will utilize their players to defend star guards of the other team. Smart with the edge, but Caruso�s energy could be a major disrupting factor to the Knicks title hopes. Bench Projections: Damian Jones, Naji Marshall, and Javonte Green Vs Bobby Portis, Josh Hart, Walker Kessler, Cole Anthony, and Yuta Watanabe The Wizards only go three deep, so the question here truly is, can these Knicks player make an impact, especially against a tired opponent. I believe each of the Knicks bench players can make a real impact in this series, in short spurts, and with high levels of energy. Jones, Marshall, and Green are solid players in their own right, but they don�t stack up with the level of players the Knicks will roll out for the 2nd unit. This may be the series largest edge, and it goes to the New York bench. Keys to Victory: Wizards: Book-Em The Wizards have to get the most out of Devin Booker in this series, whether he is guarded by Smart or Derozan, he just can�t have a down game in the series. The Knicks have stifling defenders across the court, including 2 big men who can play a part in keeping Embiid in check. If the Wizards don�t get 3+ good games from Booker in the series, it will be tough to win. Em-board�s Similar to Booker, Embiid needs to play well in this series if the Wizards are to have a chance without PG available. This starts and end on the boards, where Embiid needs to come up big for the Wizards. I am not sure how Plumlee will fare vs the ultra-rebounding Capela, so the Wizards will have to ensure Embiid is up to the task of dominating the boards for their side. Knicks: Klaw-ryptonite Can Kawhi carry this Knicks team to the ECF? Well, perhaps carry is a strong word, as there are plenty of able bodied scorers on this Knicks team. None though, will have the favorable matchup Leonard does. Isaiah Joe is not a defender, and certainly not a defender that will trouble Leonard from getting to his favorite spots. Leonard is taller, weighs more, and is the more-skilled player of the two. He must exploit this matchup in the series, and the Knicks must get all they can from George�s absence. Bench-Mob The Knicks have a couple of really impactful players on their bench. First and foremost, Bobby Portis should be a difference maker in this series. If he can spell the Knicks big men, and feast on the Wizards reserves, he will have an opportunity to be one of the heroes for the Knicks in the series. Walker Kessler should similarly provide a boost vs tired Wizards, or those from the bench, and Hart defense, and Anthony�s offense should similarly be able to provide boosts from the bench that the Wizards just can�t match. Head to Head Prediction: On paper, this is quite an even series, I just wish the Wizards had every tool at their disposal, and PG was taking part. If so, I believe this series would go to 7. Without PG, and with the massive bench advantage the Knicks bring to the table, I believe they will take this series in 5 or 6 games. If the Knicks can bring some of the suffocating defense they routinely showed throughout the 2nd half of the season, I like them in 5. And I think they will bring that defense, and playoff Kawhi will shine again. Knicks in 5. |
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