OT: NBA Playoffs

[Ski11585]

Who ya got?

I got Lakers over Bucks in the finals in 6.

ETA:

Lakers over Warriors
Grizz over Spurs
Warriors over Grizz

Boston over Washington
Charlotte over Indiana
Charlotte over Boston

-----------------------------

Lakers, Denver, Clipper, Utah
Lakers, Utah
Lakers

------------------------------

Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Knicks, Philly
Milwaukee, Philly
Milwaukee

 

[cease10]

I wouldn't be surprised if Lakers are knocked out by PHX in first round.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

I don’t know enough to predict but I have a question if anyone would care to answer.

For the play in, why is 7 playing 8 and 9 playing 10 instead of 7/10 and 8/9. May be a minor thing but seems stupid to me.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Thanks for starting this thread! Almost did it myself yesterday...

 

[CaptainMurphy]

I'd take Philly over Dallas. Just pulling that one out of my ass, I don't follow the NBA that closely. But I do like Philly.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

I went with Lakers over Nets at the beginning of the year. It is so tough to call this year because of all the injuries.

 

[panther11578]

I don’t know enough to predict but I have a question if anyone would care to answer.

For the play in, why is 7 playing 8 and 9 playing 10 instead of 7/10 and 8/9. May be a minor thing but seems stupid to me.

Winner of 7-8 is in. Loser plays winner of 9-10 game for the last seed. Gives the 7-8 two chances to win a game and get into the playoffs.

 

[FireballZ]

Winner of 7-8 is in. Loser plays winner of 9-10 game for the last seed. Gives the 7-8 two chances to win a game and get into the playoffs.

Yep. Love this format.

Generally, anything that would make LeBron and Cuban complain, I'm a fan of.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Generally, anything that would make LeBron and Cuban complain, I'm a fan of.

James had no complaints about it at all, right up until the moment that he realized that there was a really good chance the Lakers were going to have to play in it.

 

[bobfree]

I like the bucks but they have such a tough road.

Jazz over Sixers

 

[bobfree]

Yep. Love this format.

Generally, anything that would make LeBron and Cuban complain, I'm a fan of.

100%.!! Those two are AWFUL people! Ya!

 

[PA_Panther]

Second Round
76ers over Hawks
Nets over Heat

Jazz over Clippers
Lakers over Denver

ECF
Nets over 76ers

WCF
Lakers over Jazz

CHAMP
Nets over Lakers

MVP: KD

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Winner of 7-8 is in. Loser plays winner of 9-10 game for the last seed. Gives the 7-8 two chances to win a game and get into the playoffs.

Aha. Thank you. Also gives them a chance to make a few more dollars.

 

[FireballZ]

James had no complaints about it at all, right up until the moment that he realized that there was a really good chance the Lakers were going to have to play in it.

Ha. Yeah, right. Imagine that. Same with Cuban.

 

[Ski11585]

Second Round
76ers over Hawks
Nets over Heat

Jazz over Clippers
Lakers over Denver

ECF
Nets over 76ers

WCF
Lakers over Jazz

CHAMP
Nets over Lakers

MVP: KD

Man I hope not. The Nets have my three least favorite players all on one team.

 

[DT_PITT]

Who ya got?

I got Lakers over Bucks in the finals in 6.

ETA:

Lakers over Warriors
Grizz over Spurs
Warriors over Grizz

Boston over Washington
Charlotte over Indiana
Charlotte over Boston

-----------------------------

Lakers, Denver, Clipper, Utah
Lakers, Utah
Lakers

------------------------------

Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Knicks, Philly
Milwaukee, Philly
Milwaukee

All I know is that my Son and I are ALL IN on his favorite team -- The Portland Trail Blazers! If they can just play a tiny bit of defense, they can beat the Nuggets in the first round. Denver isn't quite the same without Murray.

I like Philly in the East and the Suns in the West.

 

[panther11578]

Aha. Thank you. Also gives them a chance to make a few more dollars.

Haha, true. The whole play-in tournament is an opportunity for that.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

Who ya got?

I got Lakers over Bucks in the finals in 6.

ETA:

Lakers over Warriors
Grizz over Spurs
Warriors over Grizz

Boston over Washington
Charlotte over Indiana
Charlotte over Boston

-----------------------------

Lakers, Denver, Clipper, Utah
Lakers, Utah
Lakers

------------------------------

Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Knicks, Philly
Milwaukee, Philly
Milwaukee

Philly vs Utah.

 

[bayardstreet]

JAZZ en aht

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Surprise playoff MVP Cam Johnson leads the Suns to a championship win over the 76ers.

Pittsburgh proves better than Philadelphia again.

 

[DT_PITT]

Philly vs Utah.

I'm thinking Philly vs the Suns, but I think the Suns/Jazz series will go 7. Could go either way.

 

[Ski11585]

Heck of a game last night.

 

[Wanstash21]

I wouldn't be surprised if Lakers are knocked out by PHX in first round.

I'd be surprised..

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20

19 - hurt

since 2011, LBJ has been in the finals every year besides 2019 when he was hurt to end the season. I'd be totally shocked if he got bounced by PHX in the first round.

Phx and Utah are good stories, they played well this year. They don't come close to stacking up against the Lakers.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

I'd be surprised..

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20

19 - hurt

since 2011, LBJ has been in the finals every year besides 2019 when he was hurt to end the season. I'd be totally shocked if he got bounced by PHX in the first round.

Phx and Utah are good stories, they played well this year. They don't come close to stacking up against the Lakers.

Agreed - If the Lakers are healthy, then they are coming out of the West.

 

[Upg bobcat]

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I expect the Lakers to beat Utah. I could never believe that the NBA would allow a Memphis-Milwaukee or Utah-Indiana or another small market match-up for the championship.

 

[Ski11585]

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I expect the Lakers to beat Utah. I could never believe that the NBA would allow a Memphis-Milwaukee or Utah-Indiana or another small market match-up for the championship.

Milwaukee is a draw with Giannis but yeah nobody wants a mountain time zone team in the finals.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Sixers over Suns finals. Embiid Finals MVP as Ayton struggles to contain him. Didn't do a full bracket, just looking forward to more games.

Love the 72 game schedule + mini play in tournament for 7/8. Bill Simmons suggested something similar years ago.

 

[DT_PITT]

Heck of a game last night.

LeBron is still LeBron hitting that shot. But I still don't think the Lakers get out of the first round. Something seems to be just a little but "off" with that team.

But as my Son reminded me, it's a mistake to bet against LeBron.

 

[DT_PITT]

I'd be surprised..

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20

19 - hurt

since 2011, LBJ has been in the finals every year besides 2019 when he was hurt to end the season. I'd be totally shocked if he got bounced by PHX in the first round.

Phx and Utah are good stories, they played well this year. They don't come close to stacking up against the Lakers.

Couple things ...

Your point about LBJ is totally well taken (despite my feeling something is just "off" with the Lakers).

But to your last line, I kept thinking Phoenix and Utah were good stories too, and that they would slide back a little bit as the year went on. But then I watched them in the last few weeks and finally became convinced they were indeed really good. Especially Utah.

 

[Wanstash21]

Couple things ...

Your point about LBJ is totally well taken (despite my feeling something is just "off" with the Lakers).

But to your last line, I kept thinking Phoenix and Utah were good stories too, and that they would slide back a little bit as the year went on. But then I watched them in the last few weeks and finally became convinced they were indeed really good. Especially Utah.

Utah was awesome this year. I'm not crazy about Mitchell - I think he's a chucker, but every NBA team needs one. He's obviously good, but it comes down to who I trust more.

Am I really gonna take Utah in 7 games vs. Lebron and Davis? No chance. Utah relies heavily on the 3 and that carried them all season. Not that it can't be done in the playoffs, but scores drop off. Shooting drops off. Things get tight. Possessions get longer. I'll take Lebron controlling the game over anyone.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Hoping for... Bucks Suns. But expecting Lakers Nets.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Hoping for... Bucks Suns. But expecting Lakers Nets.

Thanks, this hurts.

 

[DT_PITT]

Utah was awesome this year. I'm not crazy about Mitchell - I think he's a chucker, but every NBA team needs one. He's obviously good, but it comes down to who I trust more.

Am I really gonna take Utah in 7 games vs. Lebron and Davis? No chance. Utah relies heavily on the 3 and that carried them all season. Not that it can't be done in the playoffs, but scores drop off. Shooting drops off. Things get tight. Possessions get longer. I'll take Lebron controlling the game over anyone.

Understood (and I don't even disagree). And just about every expert agrees about LeBron and the Lakers in these player. Just to me, something doesn't feel right about the team. And I thought they were awesome last year, and they added even more firepower. So I'm feeling like Utah wins, but if you asked me for a $20 bet to put my money where my mouth is, I wouldn't do it!!

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Understood (and I don't even disagree). And just about every expert agrees about LeBron and the Lakers in these player. Just to me, something doesn't feel right about the team. And I thought they were awesome last year, and they added even more firepower. So I'm feeling like Utah wins, but if you asked me for a $20 bet to put my money where my mouth is, I wouldn't do it!!

No clue on the chemistry or whatever is happening with the Lakers, but they can't hit threes or free throws, and are 3rd in the league in committing the most turnovers...so that seems like a problem these days. Of course you always assume "playoff LeBron" has another gear these days.

 

[cease10]

I'd be surprised..

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20

19 - hurt

since 2011, LBJ has been in the finals every year besides 2019 when he was hurt to end the season. I'd be totally shocked if he got bounced by PHX in the first round.

Phx and Utah are good stories, they played well this year. They don't come close to stacking up against the Lakers.

I'm considering this year to be Lebron's first "real" playoff experience in the West, since last year was all in the bubble. I think that traveling and home crowds do make a difference.

I just don't see this Laker team as being able to make it out of the West, yet alone win it all. Plus, he's already got the built in excuse for this year that he's hurt.

 

[Ski11585]

Lakers have the best defense in the NBA. I think that matters. They couldn't hit threes last year either. Until they could. Then they coasted to an NBA title.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Lakers have the best defense in the NBA. I think that matters. They couldn't hit threes last year either. Until they could. Then they coasted to an NBA title.

Their defensive rating is 8th, and it doesn't improve when LeBron plays. Its good but no longer as good as Philly or Utah.

 

[Franb]

I'm considering this year to be Lebron's first "real" playoff experience in the West, since last year was all in the bubble. I think that traveling and home crowds do make a difference.

I just don't see this Laker team as being able to make it out of the West, yet alone win it all. Plus, he's already got the built in excuse for this year that he's hurt.

What makes you think that the player who is on the short list of 2 for greatest basketball player of all time, needs an excuse if his team loses?

 

[cease10]

What makes you think that the player who is on the short list of 2 for greatest basketball player of all time, needs an excuse if his team loses?

@Wanstash21 .....first mentioned hurt, in regards to missing the 2019 finals

 

[Ski11585]

Their defensive rating is 8th, and it doesn't improve when LeBron plays. Its good but no longer as good as Philly or Utah.

Lakers had the #1 defensive rating ahead of Philly.