1986 Finals Knickerbockers vs Trailblazers Preview

[Zyme]

This year's pre-ordained matchup of the Cavs and the Blazers, Sampson/Jordan vs Hakeem/DJ, got derailed by Hakeem's gruesome injury earlier in the year. Instead we get to see Kellogg/Sikma take that spotlight. Lets see how they both got there and how they match up.

Road to the finals
Western Conference regular season:
The Blazers started the season with the immortal Dr J starting with Jordan coming into his own. Sampson and his 4th season finally started showing why he was drafted 1st out of Virginia. Early in the season the Blazers made the big move to send off Erving for 3 starter level players in Kevin Porter, Phil Hubbard, and Jim Brogan. Porter later got shipped for more depth in Geiger and Lagarde. Despite this wheeling and dealing, Portland was consistently the class of the Western conference. They sent Sampson to the all star game where he put in a yeoman's effort with 9 points and 7 boards with 3 blocks in the win. Portland able to hold off the Jazz and Mavs and eek out the 1st overall seed by a nose over Houston in the final games of the regular season.

Eastern Conference regular season:
he Knicks started the season with high hopes of grabbing the top seed in the division. They started strong and it was a boat race for the first quarter between them, the 76ers and Miami. The Heat faded into the middle of the playoff hunt and New York started getting inconsistent play that dropped them into the bottom half of the playoff hunt. Kellogg was the bright spot all season long as he shot near a 50% clip to make the all star game behind Bird but shined going 7/9 with 5 boards in 19 minutes in the losing effort. The Knicks made a big move when they traded their defensive standout post, the sophomore Wennington, and a raft of picks for a top rebounding center in Sikma from the Hornets. After that trade the Knicks went on a run that carried them into the 4th seed just behind the Pistons. Something must have been in the water for center injuries as the Knickerbockers joined the club in the waning days of the regular season when the ever quarrelsome Walton got into an on court fight that put him out for a couple of weeks in the last month of the season. He joined Moses and Hakeem in this club. He has just gotten cleared to play in the last couple of games when his right knee started acting up and he was diagnosed with Patella Tendonitis and got the devastating news that he would be missing out of the whole of the playoffs.

Playoffs:
WC 1st Round:
The first round was easy for the Blazers as they overwhelmed Oscar and the Kings. They won by an average of 21.5 points. The Kings were held to an average of 39% (148/376) during the series as Jordan shut the King's star down by only letting Schmidt hit 20 points once in the series.

EC 1st Round:
In the first round the Knicks went up against the Bulls in what proved to be the tightest series of their run to the finals. Games 1-3 were decided by an average of 3 points with 2 comebacks by the Knicks in the 4th quarter to pull out a 2-1 series lead. The Knicks came on strong in the 2nd game on the road and finished things off with a dominating defensive effort in game 5 (15 point game by halftime) to cruise to a 13 point win.

2nd Round
WCSF:
The second round didn't go quite as smooth as the first. The Mavs were one of the best teams throughout the season and only missed a much higher seed by a one game. The series started out disastrously as they got blown out at home 116-100with Lever putting in a near triple double 35 points, 12 assists and 9 rebounds. The Blazers evened the series in game 2 showing what their defense showed in the previous series holding the Mavs to 38% shooting and getting Fats' into foul trouble early. Game three Por didn't shoot the best but dominated the boards and cruised in the second half to win by 8. Games four and five Blazers were pushed to the brink as they dropped both games by double digits. Game 6 it looked like was going to be tight but had a heroic 2nd half to blow the doors off of the Mavs at home. The Mavericks looked spent going into game 7 as the Blazers easily closed out in the 2nd half at the Memorial Colosseum to close out this epic series.

ECSF:
The second round brought Cleveland who was the best team all season. Olajuwon was cleared to practice after beating the Celtics in 7 games and the Cavs tried to hold on until the he came back. Unfortunately for them that dream died when the Knicks swept both games with halftime comebacks at Richfield Coliseum. First game they erased a 5 point deficit to win by 5 and in the 2nd game a 7 point spread to win by 4. The strong second half performances continued with completing the sweep at MSG just before the Cav's savior was cleared to play. The Knicks outscored the Cavs a combined 191-163 during the 2nd half of each game.

Conference Finals:
WCF:
Compared to the previous round this one was smooth. The Jazz only were close in game 3 at home and blew out game 4. Back in the friendly confines of Portland the Blazers put up a 17 point lead and cruised along to a 111-90 final. As their next round opponent had already clinched, they knew going in they had 3 games to get to the finals

ECF:
The Eastern Conference Finals brought in the surprising Hornets. The dancing partner for the Sikma trade earlier in the year was the cinderella team from the top half of the bracket. While most fans were were pulling for the underdogs, the Knicks dominated the series with the closest game being 11 points. The Knicks defense overwhelmed Charlotte as they were limited to 39% shooting during the series going 128/326.

Finals:
The Blazers will tip off the series at home today in Portland having posted a 56-26 record compared to New York's 51-31 mark. It will be a near mirror match as both teams regular season statistics are remarkably similar. Both Jordan and Kellogg have deadly post up fade aways with Brogan and Young just waiting for an overcommit to open up an open three pointer. As the Knicks are missing a key starter I am not counting the regular season and only looking at the playoffs in this side by side analysis.

PG:
Danny Young (NYK) Both players are good defenders from the point. Young has dropped his scoring with the coming of more offensive players around him he still has the green light to take a shot anytime he chooses
29.6 min, 13.8 points and 4 assists on 45% shooting (42% on 4.5 shots from 3pt), 2 steals and 2.6 turnovers

Jim Brogan (POR). Brogan is not going to win you any games but his metered careful pace and pass first attitude will never lose you one.
34.7 min, 14.8 points on 47% (43% on 3 shots from 3 pt), 7.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.9 turnovers

Advantage: Young in a photo finish. Very even matchup but Young has the higher potential to explode on any given night if he starts finding opening from deep.

SG:
Michael Ray Richardson (NYK). He is turnover happy at times and his scoring goes more up and down than a jackrabbit with a pogostick up its ass. You may get 33/8/9 with 4 steals but you get 5 turnovers for that price. Always a question if the Knicks are better off if he doesn't shoot that night. He is scrappy defensively and makes his opponent uncomfortable on nearly every shot.
35.5 min, 16.2 points on 44% (27% on 2.3 shots from 3), 6.2 assists, 8.2 rebounds, 0.2 blocks, 2.2 steals, 3.2 turnovers

Michael Jordan (POR) seems poised on the edge of greatness as he as really come into his own with the trading of Dr J. The budding superstar has a deadly turn around fade away and can devastate his opponents with a jab step and drive or pullup.
34.9 min, 22.4 points on 46% (35% on 4.6 shots from 3), 4.4 assists, 5.5 reb, 0.1 blocks, 1.8 steals, 2.9 turnovers

Advantage: Closer than I expected but Jordan. What's your flavour? O or D. This may very be the deciding matchup in the series. Jordan is going to get his shots, no questions about that. If Richardson lives up to his defensive prowess by sneaking in with weak side rebounding, turns Jordan over, make him inefficient, or gets easy offensive put backs this could turn this series in the Knicks favor quickly. At the same time the sloppy turnover happy Richardson could have his pocked picked blind by Jordan, decisively wining this one.

SF:
Clark Kellogg (KYK) is the heart bead of his club. He is lethal with his post fade and can wreck weaker opponents with his post game and offensive rebounding potential. Underrated defender he can be a sneak thief to the unwary.
34.2 min, 20.6 points on 49% (no 3s taken), 2.2 assists, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.6 steals, 2.0 turnovers

Landon Mihalik (POR) Often the forgotten starter on the team as Williams comes off the bench early and often (usually finishing the game on the court). He plays good defense and doesn't often turn over the ball. He does have a deadly outside shot if you leave him open.
25.4 min, 6.7 points on 52% (67% on 0.2 shots from 3s), 1.1 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, 1.2 turnovers

Advantage: Kellogg. While Mihalik can play good defense and stretch the floor with his sneaky 3, he really will be at the disadvantage in the rebounding and is vulnerable to Kellogg's quick hands. Important consideration here is limited minutes at only 25 Landon plays.

PF:
Kevin Duckworth (NYK) a lot of weight was foisted on the rookie's shoulders with Walton going down at the end of the regular season. He has answered the bell admirably with lock down defense and great rebounding.
35.8 min, 10.2 points on 38% (no 3s taken), 3 assists, 10.4 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 1.9 steals, 1.7 turnovers

Bill Cartwright (POR) is a volume scorer from the post for Portland. He is a solid rebounder in addition but logs few stats from the defensive post (he plays very straight up).
34.9 min, 15.8 points on 41% (no 3s taken), 1.8 assists, 11.3 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 1.2 steals, 1.6 turnovers

Advantage: Cartwright but close. Bill has the experience on the block and rebounding footwork over the rookie but Duck. Kevin does have the better instincts for the block and quicker hands for the steal

C:
Sikma (NYK) the big man was a huge addition to push the Knicks over the top. He top rebounding skills filled a huge hole left by Lambier a season ago. Defensively he is no slouch like Duck with quick hands to either strip or block shots. He puts up points from the block in bunches and can really hurt you from the stripe if you give him the chance.
33.9 min, 17.3 points on 44% (0% on 0.15 shots from 3), 2.4 assists, 12.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.6 steals, 1.5 turnovers

Sampson (POR) the tall gangly post is always a threat to hit from the block. He is 4th year that is really coming into his own as a top center in this league. Like jordan he gets his shots, 18.1 to Jordan's 19.1. He can be sloppy at times (2.1 is a shade high for post men)
32.2 min, 22.3 points on 48% (No 3s taken), 2.1 assists, 11.9 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 steals, 2.1 turnovers

Advantage: Tie. Sampson is the better slightly better offensive threat in terms of pure points and production but turns it over more. Sikma is the slightly better rebounder. The actual, not on paper, winner of this matchup is key in determining the winner of this series.

Bench (NYK) is very outside focused across all players. They bomb it from midrange and deep headed by Reeves at the point. They can play "4 out 1 in" as their 4 primary bench players can hit the outside shot.
Raw: 77.9 minutes, 20.2 points on 42% (36% on 2.4 shots from 3), 6.8 assists, 14.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.5 steals, 3.9 turnovers
Per 36: 9.3 points, 3.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 1.2 steals, 1.8 turnovers
Bench (POR)
Raw: 78.0 minutes, 29.3 points on 49% (47% on 3.3 shots from 3), 8.4 assists, 13.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 4 steals, 5.2 turnovers
Per 36: 13.5 points, 3.9 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 1.8 steals, 2.4 turnovers
Advantage: Portland by a nose. They lose a little on rebounds and nearly 1.5 tunovers but make up for it in more points, steals and assists. Portland also leans more heavily on their bench overall to carry the load. The shooting is a lean in portland's flavor but for their min played (per 36) and I suspect this is due to freeman's higher min off the bench.
Conclusions:
Overall on paper these teams are very similar. They like to play inside with streaky shooters spacing the floor. Jordan and Kellogg will get their shots, but how efficiently? The wild cards are the up and down Young and Cartwright (the 14/8 and 8/1 versions of Cartwright and Young respectively will not cut while the 25/19 and 21/5+3 steals versions respectively will). The regular season matchup went to the Knicks 2-0 with Walton starting so that does weight in here. I would say on a neutral court, given the regular season and the very close matchups I would say Knicks in 7. However my call here, considering home court, will be Portland in 7.

[lukeyrid13]

Great article and well thought out with a good amount of research.....

Can we wait to give him his +5 until after the finals though

[lukeyrid13]

I am fairly confident in my squad, but I think the Knicks actually do pose some matchup problems.

Usually, Cartwright can go off on PF since that is probably the weakest position league wide but Duckworth holds his own defensively.

Young and Brogan are fairly identical players.

In the regular season, Richardson had 33 points and shot like 65%. If we can get sloppy Richardson though, I think we win the series. If we see clutch Richardson, I think the Knicks win.

Sikma and Sampson will both get theirs and Kellogg will definitely win the SF battle. I think the SG matchup is where the series will be won.

Will MJ be undefeated in the finals in DASL just like real life?

[Boom]

Could have broken this down into 3 articles

[lukeyrid13]

Is Mihalik really averaging 14ppg in 21 minutes...but zero blocks and only 2 rebounds? All those are vastly different than his regular season numbers

Edit:
I think those have to be Freeman Williams' stats, yeah?

Mihalik from my very quick perusing would be about 7 points, 6 boards and 2 blocks

[Zyme]

Is Mihalik really averaging 14ppg in 21 minutes...but zero blocks and only 2 rebounds? All those are vastly different than his regular season numbers

Edit:
I think those have to be Freeman Williams' stats, yeah?

Mihalik from my very quick perusing would be about 7 points, 6 boards and 2 blocks

I went back and should have been tipped off by the difference in the bench minutes. You were right that was Freeman. Mihalik is doing 25.38 min. 25.4min, 6.69 pts, 52%, 5.38 reb, 1.06 A, 1.19 st, 1.19 to, 1.63 blocks. TBF I had to go back and look up your depth chart as I couldn't tell who was starting as Mihalik is 25.38, Samake 28.13 and Freeman at 21.5 minutes per game.

[Zyme]

+5 Young
inside shot
3pt
Midrange

[Oregon Ownage]

+5 Young
inside shot

Done