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Post by hayesboy on Apr 25, 2022 11:46:10 GMT
So what are your predictions then? I've got the Clippers and Hawks making the 8th seeds, then I'm going for: Suns v Clippers: 4-1 Grizzlies v Wolves: 4-1 Warriors v Nuggets: 4-3 (this series could be a belter!) Mavs v Jazz: 2-4 (might depend on Doncic's health but its not looking good for him) Heat v Hawks: 4-2 (4-0 if its the Cavs, they don't look good right now and I dont think Allen will be 100% if he plays) Celtics v Nets: 4-3 (this is the toughest one to predict) Bucks v Bulls: 4-0 Sixers v Raptors: 2-4 SamH - not sure about the size of the Series wins but, apart from your ludicrously-optimistic prediction for Raptors to upend the Sixers I am in agreement with your picks. BTW - I love the play of Embiid but this love is overidden by my detestation of Rivers, so, as Kevin Keegan would put it, I'd luv it if (Rivers) got his come-uppance. I'm disappointed I missed the chance to get in with some predictions.......whereas Sam you must be wishing you hadn't bothered? :-) I'm useless at guessing them usually anyhow although I would not have differed much from your predictions in terms of the overall result. I would have plumped for 76ers and Nets winning. In what must be the least surprising turn of events in the playoffs I see Simmons has bottled it again!! I love that Reggie Miller has called him out on Twitter too. I am not sure how much help he could provide them anyway. When he was fit and full of confidence he was a superior defender, rebounder and distributor. He was also a decent finisher in the open court. However he has not even scrimmaged with their starters and has not played any competitive ball for a year. His impact would be minimal at best. Amazingly the most likely turn of events if that this will be a sweep. Never saw that happening at all! |
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Post by SamH on Apr 25, 2022 11:59:18 GMT
Yeah very surprised at the Nets being down 0-3 but Boston have really turned into a good team since about Christmas time. The Nets are all over the place and I can see it being a sweep now. Agree that Simmons wouldn't help much and might do more harm than good as he'll still be learning how to play with his new team-mates, and in the playoffs is not the time to do that. I an amazed they didn't just shut him down at the end of the regular season to stop all the rumours and whisperings about it.
Yeah my predictions have been way off as they usually are! I do think the Pels have benefitted from Booker's injury and perhaps without that it wouldn't be 2-2. I hope the Suns can pull through as the playoffs will definitely lose something if the best regular season team isn't taking part past round 1. But this is encouraging stuff for the Pels, if they can get Zion back next season and playing at least say, 55-60 games, then they could be a very good team.
With Middleton out injured can anyone else see the Celtics beating the Bucks in the next round? I can!
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Post by hayesboy on Apr 25, 2022 15:15:38 GMT
I think the Bucks are really good even without him.
The issue will be close games where his outside shot making will be missed. They have tended to use him as a closer......so far they don't need a closer as the games are not that close!
YOu are spot on though. Boston are very good. I rate Durant highly but their defence has been sensational.
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Post by SamH on Apr 25, 2022 18:01:32 GMT
So far Boston looks like the team that will be representing the East in the finals - but who knows. Not sure who wins out of Miami-Philly in round 2, but neither seems to be quite as sparkling as the C's for whatever reason.
In the West it's been a bit underwhelming, hasn't it? Golden State have probably looked the best team so far but they just dropped one in Denver. It's not the usual 2 or 3 powerhouses the West has to offer though this year. There's a lot of parity, which should make it interesting and exciting as there is no obvious team on either side that you can see marching to the finals (now Booker is hurt anyway) but I wonder if this will be one of those years where we look back and wonder how the team that wins it actually did so, as they probably aren't going to look stunning in doing it.
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Post by hayesboy on Apr 26, 2022 8:25:31 GMT
Good riddance to Kyrie, Simmons and all their drama.
It is a shame to see a player as good as KD out so early but its a team game and Boston are a very good team.
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Post by SamH on Apr 26, 2022 10:21:43 GMT
In the end I wonder if the Nets made a mistake in trading Harden for Simmons? Ok he wanted out, but had he been kept there I'm sure he'd have tried and played to a certain standard for the playoffs. Instead, they got Simmons who hasn't helped at all. It just feels like that trade weakened the team and until Simmons plays and shows he can still be an all star level player, the trade is looking like a terrible one for the Nets.
Much talk that Nash will be fired too, which is a shame as this isn't his fault but as usual the coach will carry the can for playoff failure.
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Post by hayesboy on Apr 26, 2022 11:20:12 GMT
I think once Harden wanted out they probably did right be finding a deal but its worked out shockingly for possibly both teams.
76ers are missing Curry's shooting and they had a better chemistry without Simmons and Harden.
Nets may still benefit next season. If Kyrie and Simmons can be bothered, with Joe Harris fit again and Drummond carrying on his good work.....?? Lots of ifs and buts.
Nash doesn't deserve to be fired but might prove good for him. This is not how he wants basketball to be played? He would be better suited to younger less star orientated team
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Post by hayesboy on Apr 28, 2022 17:37:51 GMT
Game 5 Nugs at Warriors was a superb watch.
Curry and Jokic are probably my two favourite players to watch in the NBA and they both played superbly.
Denver have really missed a window with the injury to Murray and Porter.
I’m a little concerned about Murray too. Could he have come back this season? Is he another Kawhi Leonard? Hope not as with him
Back and Porter they should be formidable in the west.
Jokic was giving Draymond Green the business at times!
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Post by SamH on Apr 28, 2022 19:47:32 GMT
A lot of chatter about the Raptors being the first team to come back from an 0-3 hole. I'm not convinced because of VanVleet being out, and because it's never been done ever! But would love to see it go to 7!
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Post by hayesboy on Apr 30, 2022 6:24:19 GMT
The 76ers finally put those gutsy raptors to bed.
Amazing shooting by CP3 to steer Suns out of 1st round.
Jazz dumped again….can see a break up happening there. Gobert and Mitchell not been friends for a while.
Atlanta must be one of the seasons biggest disappointments.
It looks to me this playoffs could be survival
Of the fittest though as now Embiid out with orbital fracture!
Not an injury caused by too much playing but I would say they need to address the length of regular season to protect the quality of the NBA.
For now I’m thinking the West feels like anyones and the East is going to be a dog fight between Heat and whoever survives the Bucks v Celts battle.
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Post by SamH on Apr 30, 2022 10:36:27 GMT
Tough break for the sixers and Embiid. I consider it part of their on going bad karma for all the years of tanking they did to try and get top draft picks, the only one of which that amounted to anything was Embiid.
Still, the good news is - what an opportunity for Harden to step up and show the world why he's worth a $200m contract! 😉 I look forward to Harden taking advantage of this opportunity.
Grizz v warriors should be very interesting.
My 2nd round predictions:
Suns 4 Mavs 2
Warriors 4 Grizz 1
Heat 4 Sixers 1
Celtics 4 Bucks 2
No doubt I'll be way off again!
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Post by hayesboy on Apr 30, 2022 14:27:18 GMT
I agree Griz Warriors interesting but surprised you think that and then predict 4-1?
I think it’s gonna be much closer than that obviously.
The Grizzlies are deep. I’d say the Warriors experience will help them edge it but Wiggins needs to step up. He’s the quietest most passive Allstar ever.
I really cannot see Bucks only winning 2. Giannis is the most dominant force in basketball. Boston’s defence is superb but the type of physical wearing D that worked on KD won’t wash with the Freak. The Bucks can play some defence too…..unlike the Nets. Also unlike the Nets they are well coached and not a dysfunctional group of twats.
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Post by SamH on Apr 30, 2022 15:30:29 GMT
So what are your predictions then?😜
Yeah, I actually meant warriors 4-2, that's a typo. I'm banking on them winning the key game at home which will be game 6. But I think the first round series has exposed some serious flaws in the Grizzlies and the experienced Warriors will exploit them better than Minnesota could.
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Post by SamH on Apr 30, 2022 15:33:48 GMT
As for the Bucks, maybe they go on to lose in 7 on the road but I think Middleton's injury combined with the C's defence makes it tough for them. I think the defence will slow Giannis down and without Middleton, the Bucks will struggle to find points. Holiday will have to play out of his mind to make up the difference but I just don't think the defence will allow that. I agree on where the Bucks are better than the Nets, that's why I give them 2 games!😅
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Post by hayesboy on Apr 30, 2022 16:01:57 GMT
Miami in 4
Bucks in 7
Suns in 6
Warriors in 7
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Post by SamH on Apr 30, 2022 18:18:59 GMT
That's interesting, you have the Warriors and Bucks winning game 7 on the road. I never fancy the road team for that, of course it does happen but I never predict it. I do think round 2 is going to be great though, much of round 1 was a bit meh, I think it really gets going now.
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Post by milehigh on May 9, 2022 13:47:02 GMT
Very pleased to see the Nicola Jokic has been confirmed as the 13th back to back NBA MVP, and the first back to back MVP in Denver sports history.
It is good to see that the voters have made the right decison and awarded the prize to the most deserving candidate.
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Post by SamH on May 9, 2022 15:02:48 GMT
Hard to argue with it, given he's the first ever to get 2000, 1000 and 500 in a season. But it does seem strange for a guy on a 6th seeded team to win the award, especially he's won it twice in a row and the Nuggets haven't been relevant in that time. You don't often see that - I think there's big pressure on him and the Nuggets to become contenders next season. Obviously guys coming back from injury will help but they have to make huge gains on this season to become a top 4-5 team in the league (and thus a contender). Should Embiid have won it? He's showing his value right now in the playoffs - the snub will only motivate him further you'd think - but it was one of those years where either guy could have won it and it would be hard to really say they didn't deserve it. It's one of those where you almost wish there were two awards - best player, and MVP. Joker would get the best player award while Embiid would be MVP (by definition of what it actually means).
What's really great is seeing the 5 spot back to relevance though. Ok, they don't play it in quite the same way as it has historically been played, but the 5 almost vanished altogether for a few years there, now it's back!
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Post by SamH on May 10, 2022 17:47:17 GMT
Meanwhile these 4 series are hotting up aren't they! Who'd have thunk the Mavs could make it a series? With Embiid back the 76ers are looking competitive again and the Bucks-Celtics has that old school feel to it, two teams really going at each other, separated only by whether or not the refs make the correct call or not it seems. I see that going 7 now.
Warriors and Grizz also has that old school feel to it in how chippy its been. First Green doing what Green does, then Baines' dirty play taking out Payton Junior, then the Grizz getting some karma when the dude Payton is there to defend goes down and can't play either. Meanwhile Steve Kerr is kicking off so much about it all he's caught covid and Mike Brown, head coach of the Kings, has taken over! It's all happening...Grizzlies a bucket away in game 1 from being in this but think they're done now.
Refs fucking with Chris Paul again and I dont think Scott Foster was even one of them - why can't he catch a break?!
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Post by SamH on May 12, 2022 17:01:10 GMT
www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33902416/nba-unveils-new-trophies-awards-honoring-larry-bird-magic-johnson-bob-cousy-oscar-robertson Love the idea of honouring legends, especially Bird and Magic. Not sold on conference final MVPs though, it feels a bit try hard. Like they created the awards just so they can honour Bird and Magic. Is anyone going to care about getting a conference final MVP? Teams don't really care about even winning the conference and that silver trophy they get. I'd have maybe saved these honours for the knockout tournament that's looking like coming in soon, maybe naming the trophies for that after these guys. Plus it's quite remarkable to me that nothing has yet been named after MJ.
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