The Hawks are now the dark horses in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers, who have the best record in the league, only lost 4 games at the beginning of the season, two of which were at the hands of the Hawks. The Hawks’ 4 wins and 7 losses in the first 11 games of the season are also embarrassing, but in the last 10 games, the Cavaliers have won two games and they have won the Bucks, Lakers, and Knicks. The Hawks are getting out of the slump.
I’m optimistic about the Bucks qualifying for this matchup. The key lies in Antetokounmpo’s dominance and influence. Lillard is now the Bucks’ best second-choice player and key shooter. Small forward Khris Middleton has returned from injury. After 3 games, the Bucks’ rotation, ball-holding points, and lineup depth have all been significantly improved.
The Western Conference teams that have reached the semifinals of the NBA Cup are the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Rockets, who are currently ranked first in the Western Conference.
Rockets vs. Thunder pre-game analysis
The two heroes of the Western Conference are representatives of defense. The Thunder are first in the league in defensive efficiency and the Rockets are second in the league in defensive efficiency. Both teams rely on steel defense and iron-blooded confrontation to achieve the best record in the Western Conference. The two teams are good at defense and mainly rely on defense to control the rhythm of the game and establish advantages. Stars, three-pointers, and offensive routines have become the decisive details.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous- Alexander is the best perimeter offensive player in the NBA this year, and center Isaiah Hartenstein is the most efficient long man in the league, averaging 11.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, and can grab 3.3 offenses per game. Rebounds, field goal percentage of 55%, Halterstein’s second wave of attacks under the basket and active playing style are every opponent’s nightmare in the penalty area.
The Rockets have a record of 17 wins and 8 losses and are second in the Western Conference. They have a very good record. However, the Rockets’ field goal percentage is 439% and their three-point shooting percentage is only 33%, which are both below the league level. Their offensive efficiency and scoring are very low. The team has seven players. He scores double figures, focuses on defense and team basketball, and wins games by keeping the score low and controlling the rhythm.
It is a bit difficult for the Rockets’ defense and team offense to gain an advantage in the Thunder game. Alexander is a point that the Rockets cannot solve, and Hartstein will also cause great trouble for the Rockets’ rebounding and defense in the penalty area. I am optimistic about the Thunder qualifying for this matchup. With the combination of Alexander and Hartstein + pick-and-roll, the Thunder will have more advantages and confidence on the offensive end.
Championship Prediction
The NBA Cup championship game will be “Bucks vs. Thunder”. The Bucks will be the ultimate winner. The MVP of the NBA Cup is Antetokounmpo. He is the unsolvable point of the Thunder’s defensive matchup.
