14-15 Playoffs & Off Season roundup - BlindSideNZ's Dynasty

BlindSideNZ's Dynasty Blog

14-15 Playoffs & Off Season roundup

Posted on February 5, 2014 at 10:00 PM.

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Our playoff run looked to be on an extremely strong one right off the bat we took the first to from the Knicks @ MSG. And then had the series at 3-0 on our return home to Toronto. Through these 3 games the Knicks showed everything they have showed in this real season right now, no defense and a lack of offense from anyone without the name Carmelo Anthony. Then i'm not quite sure what happened. Our offense fell apart in the next two games to make the series 3-2 and we started to worry a little. But come game 6 Amir Johnson had had enough. And went on a tear scoring 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Basically making Andrea Bargnani look like a fool on both ends of the court.

Onto the second round we matched up with the Washington Wizards again. And walked into a slaughter. From the first game we were outmatched. DeMar was solid all series scoring 25+ in each game while filling in the stat sheet in all other areas. Our ultimate demise in this 4-2 loss was Kyle Lowry, who got hounded by John Wall game in, game out.

The silver lining to this loss was that the Wizards did go on to the Finals after taking the Pacers 4-1 but then went on to lose to the Spurs in 6. Making the Spurs on a run for a 3peat this year.

The round of the playoffs had to go the gruelling 7 game series between Indiana & Miami. Anybody who knows basketball knows that both these teams will give it all on the court, and they did just that. In a back and forth affair which ended with the Pacers taking game 7 by 1 point in a double OT matchup. (It was thrilling to watch, even for a video game.)

Shockingly the Thunder went down in 6 versus the Utah Jazz, in the first round even. A massive upset for OKC once again making a playoff run without Russell Westbrook.

Notable retirements from the league.

Dirk Nowitzki (76ers) who went on to the Hall Of Fame
Vince Carter (TOR)
Elton Brand (TOR)
Manu Ginobli (SA)

During the off season, we accepted our team option on Terrence Ross who was solid throughout the playoffs and has been looking for an extension since the All Star break last season. Tyler Hansbrough went on to test FA, which was no big deal as we weren't looking to extend his contract, simply because Kurtis Holden out played him all year long and we knew we'd be heading to the draft in search of young big men. Amir Johnson after an absolutey massive playoff run (avering 18ppg and 10reb) announced his desire to return to Toronto with a 4yr/14.84mil deal.

To which the organization said. "Amir is a vital piece to this Toronto team, both on the floor and in the locker room. Our guys look up to him as a team leader and he gives 110% every game. Ultimately everybody knows Amir bleeds Toronto and it was an easy decision to bring him back."

Which brings us to the 2014 Draft.

We entered with the 18th pick in the first round and the 27th in the second due to the trade with the Wizards this time last year.

On the night the usual draft antics ensued, the Cavs offered us their 1st (What a suprise) for DeMar & Kyle Lowry, to which we declined.

NBA Draft - Round 1 Recap
Pick	Team	Player	Pos	Ht	Wt
1	Cleveland Cavaliers	Damon Richardson	SF	6'7"	224
2	Los Angeles Lakers	Donovan Robinson	PG/SG	6'1"	172
3	Orlando Magic	Ramon Rivers	PG/SG	6'1"	196
4	Dallas Mavericks	Tevin Harrison	PG/SG	6'6"	219
5	Charlotte Bobcats	Thierry Silvestre	PG	6'0"	191
6	Brooklyn Nets	Ray Ray Francis	C/PF	7'0"	241
7	Phoenix Suns	Hector Garrison	SG/SF	6'6"	228
8	Miami Heat (via POR)	Kareem Bishop	PF/C	6'10"	245
9	Minnesota Timberwolves	Eduardo Gibson	SG	6'5"	199
10	Milwaukee Bucks	Vergil Anderson	PF	6'11"	217
11	Denver Nuggets	Javier Stevens	SG/SF	6'5"	193
12	Philadelphia 76ers	Gregory Livingston	PF/C	6'10"	246
13	Sacramento Kings	Raheem Thompson	PF/C	6'8	259
14	Boston Celtics	Jaron Richmond	SF	6'8"	217
15	Milwaukee Bucks	Dwight Clayton	SF	6'8"	228
16	Los Angeles Clippers	Allan Jeffries	SF/PG	6'7"	223
17	Utah Jazz	Kenneth Carter	PF/SF	6'7"	254
18	Toronto Raptors	Tremaine Alexander	C	7'0"	231
19	Chicago Bulls	Anthony Drew	SF/SG	6'6"	234
20	Philadelphia 76ers	Sergio Munoz	SG/SF	6'6"	195
21	New Orleans Pelicans	Tyronn Anthony	SG/SF	6'8"	206
22	Miami Heat	Nick Houston	PG/SG	6'5"	178
23	Memphis Grizzles	Joseph Givens	SF/PG	6'7"	229
24	New York Knicks	Alonzo Scott	PF	6'9"	231
25	Golden State Warriors	Elliot McKnight	SG/SF	6'7"	208
26	Orlando Magic	Armando Boyd	C	7'1"	254
27	Indiania Pacers	Antwan Harper	PG/SG	6'3"	201
28	Oklahoma City Thunder	Christian Chambers	C/PF	6'10"	243
29	Houston Rockets	Reggie Russell	PF/C	6'10"	229
30	San Antonio Spurs	Mike Johnson	SG/SF	6'8	220

Free Agency

With a huge pool of talent, here's the higlights. Only the guys that have moved teams.

Tony Parker - DAL 1yr/9.78
Rajon Rondo - NYK 4yr/74.48
Rudy Gay - CHI 3yr/21.41
Carmelo Anthony - SAC 3yr/62.37
Kevin Garnett - DEN 1yr/2.49

Toronto's pick ups
Just small role guys for now. Got plenty of cap but we are also facing some expiring deals in the next 2 years. Guys like DeMar & Terrence Ross.

Draymond Green SF 3yr/7.52
I really like this guys hustle, especially after watching him in the 2013 playoffs. So much energy, he's just everywhere.

Mychel Thompson SG 1yr/1.72 (Team option on 2nd)
Yes he's Klay's brother. Half the reason i picked him up. If shooting runs in the Thompson family the way it does in the Curry family then this is an absolute steal. We lacked a real shooting threat in our bench all throughout last season especially come play off time. So Mychel has been brought in specifically as a shooter. If things don't work out then we decline our option on him next year and go about our business.

Mike Muscala PF 4yr/8.20
Another scoring option essentially. I was tossing up between him and Grant Jerret i wanted a young big, that i could turn to as a 3rd or 4th option on the bench, Mike won as he had more on the defensive end also, and for the same price it was an easy choice.

Traning Camps
(Using a house rule, Camps are only for 1st and 2nd year players)

Ashley Walker - Athleticism
After a poor showing from Kyle Lowry during the post season and a solid one from Walker based on his minutes, we're starting to look at whether Ashley can take over the point. While he has great fundamentals, he lacks the foot speed to get out on the break with guys like DeRozan and Ross.

Tremaine Alexander - Big Man Offense
The playoff series with Washington showed a serious lack of brute offense down low for us. So this was a predetermined move in strengthening the post offense when guys like Valanciunas & Holden are on the bench.

Team - Free Throw Shooting
We ranked Top 5 in this category last year. And that %age proved vital in some close games. But now with our roster all capable of shooting at least 70% from the stripe i see no reason why we can't take this category out.

I am now going to go watch the Raptors game so sit tight for a pre season update sometime later today.

Comments

# 1 darkwolf80 @ Feb 5

Tough luck on that playoff run. I like that Alexander pick. Provides some serious beef.

# 2 BlindSideNZ @ Feb 5

Thanks man. It was frustrating. The Knicks never really had a chance. But the Wizards have beaten me twice now essentially the same way. But yes! I'm already loving what Alexander brings, and ill openly admit he was a move to counter the Wizards should we meet again in the post season.