It’s not the easiest way to have a look at a matchup in basketball nowadays. There’s a lot switching and mismatch looking within the NBA that head-to-heads are not often sustained. But the Tale of the Tape, as documented under, supplies a window into the expertise stage.
And as we all know, a playoff collection can simply be gained or misplaced on expertise.
So listed here are judgments on seven particular person matchups regarding No. 4 Cavs vs. No. 5 Knicks, which suggestions off Saturday evening in Cleveland. Plus, you’ll get a bonus prediction on the finish.
POINT GUARD
Jalen Brunson (24 ppg, 6.2 apg, 49% taking pictures, 41.6% on 3s) vs. Darius Garland (21.6 ppg, 7.8 apg, 46.2% taking pictures, 41% on 3s).
Great offense from the place on each side, though Brunson provides intangibles equivalent to management, clutch reliability and an eagerness to take a cost. He is New York’s glue. Clearly, he was additionally Dallas’s glue. Garland was an All-Star final 12 months and is able to dropping 50-plus factors, which he did close to the start of this season. But this can characterize the 23-year-old’s first playoff look. Brunson additionally wins the expertise battle.
EDGE: Knicks
SHOOTING GUARD
Quentin Grimes (11.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 46.8% taking pictures, 38.6% on 3s) vs. Donovan Mitchell (28.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, 48.4% taking pictures, 38.6% on 3s)
Grimes is a 3-and-D specialist whose principal job is to cease Mitchell. That gained’t be straightforward. No. 45 on Cleveland is the showstopper of the collection, able to dropping 3-pointers from close to the circle and leaping over energy forwards for a spectacular rim end. Grimes will get assist defending Mitchell (ahem, Josh Hart), however he’s additionally an vital piece on offense. With a lot stress on Brunson and Julius Randle, Grimes will undoubtedly get open appears. Lately, he’s been knocking these down (44-for-91 on treys the final 10 video games).
EDGE: Cavaliers
SMALL FORWARD
RJ Barrett (19.6 ppg, 5 rpg, 43.4% taking pictures, 31% on 3s) vs. Isaac Okoro (6.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 49.4% taking pictures, 36.3% on 3s).
Okoro is reportedly ‘likely’ to return Saturday after lacking the ultimate six video games of the common season with knee soreness. That could be large for the Cavs, who want their prime perimeter defender to shadow Brunson (with out Okoro taking part in, Brunson lately dropped 48 factors on Cleveland). Barrett is the Knicks’ X-factor. He’s gifted sufficient to take over — particularly if Cleveland is paying extra consideration to Brunson and Randle — however his shot is so streaky that it might bury New York’s offense.
EDGE: Knicks
POWER FORWARD
Julius Randle (25.1 ppg, 10 rpg, 45.9% taking pictures, 34.3% on 3s) vs. Evan Mobley (16.2, 9 rpg, 55.4% taking pictures, 21.6% on 3s)
The well being of Randle is the new matter heading into the collection, and the Knicks have accomplished their greatest to hide his standing. But assuming he’s wholesome, Randle will clearly play an enormous function within the end result of the collection. He was horrible two years in the past in his playoff debut, and this is a chance for redemption. Mobley is a handful and an All-Defense candidate who causes issues contained in the paint. He has the scale benefit at a rangy 6-11 however Randle is stronger and might stretch the ground.
EDGE: Knicks
CENTER
Mitchell Robinson (7.4 factors, 9.4 rebounds, 67.1% taking pictures) vs. Jarrett Allen (14.3 factors, 9.8 rebounds, 64.4% taking pictures)
Robinson’s present, as Tom Thibodeau usually says, is offensive rebounding. Add in some shot blocking and Robinson is filling his restricted function simply superb. Allen, a 2022 All-Star, is a bit shorter however extra versatile, will get concerned steadily within the offense and anchored one of many NBA’s greatest defenses. These two have been in contrast for some time since Allen performed a lot of his profession in Brooklyn. Should be a enjoyable matchup.
EDGE: Cavs
BENCH
The Knicks are, surely, the deeper crew. It wouldn’t be a shock if three of their reserves — Immanuel Quickley, Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein— are closing video games. Quickley took an enormous leap this season, particularly defensively, and emerged as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. The Cavs have Caris LeVert, the previous Net, who might get sizzling and alter a sport. But in any other case, they’re skinny — albeit efficient after they’re within the sport. Luckily for Cleveland, rotations are inclined to tighten within the playoffs and starters play extra.
EDGE: Knicks
COACHES
Tom Thibodeau (47-35) vs. J.B. Bickerstaff (51-31)
Hands down, Thibodeau will get the sting in expertise. He was an assistant on a Knicks crew that went to the Finals, an assistant on a Celtics crew that gained a title, and the pinnacle coach on a Bulls squad that superior to the convention finals. It comes with age. Thibodeau is 65. Bickerstaff, who owns only one playoff win as a head coach, is 44. But Thibodeau additionally hasn’t gained a postseason collection in eight years. His profession playoff file as a head coach is simply 25-36. So each sidelines have one thing to show. Thibodeau simply has rather more expertise to attract upon right here.
EDGE: Knicks.
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SERIES PREDICTION: Knicks in 7
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Source: www.bostonherald.com