Since I haven't see any threads about the NBA, I figured I would start one. The NBA has overcome the challenges caused by COVID and managed to create a bubble that has had zero cases, so hats of to the commissioner and the players union. Love you Adam Silver and CP3!
As some of you may have known, the playoffs begin August 17, but before that, a few teams must jockey for playoff position. At the moment, the Eastern Conference matchups are set in stone, but the Western Conference... well it's called the Wild West for a reason. Because the season was shortened and the race for eighth is so tight, the NBA changed the rules to allow the 8th and 9th seeds to advance past the regular season. There will be a play-in, where the 8th seed must beat the 9th seed once to advance to the playoffs, or the 9th seed must beat the 8th seed twice to advance. The winner of the play-in will face the Lakers in the first round. At the moment, the race for eighth is quite tight, with the Trail Blazers currently holding the spot. However, the Spurs, Suns, and Grizzlies trail them by only half a game. Seeing as each of these four team play their last game today, the play-in matchup will be known by the end of today.
Will the Suns end their playoff drought? Will the Spurs be able to keep up their playoff streak, or will it end at 22? Will the now healthy Blazers keep their spot? Will the Grizzlies, who had the eighth seed until the bubble, be pushed out right at the very end?
Besides the play-in, what other predictions or hopes do you guys have regarding the playoffs?
I personally hope that the Suns and Grizzles make the play-in, and that the Phoenix Suns then make the playoffs. However, that is highly improbable since so much has to go exactly right for it to be that way.
I would like the Bucks to play the Sixers in the conference finals, but Ben Simmons's injury and the general dysfunction of the Sixers makes that unlikely. The Bucks are my pick to make it out of the East regardless. I predict the two LA teams will face each other in the conference finals, with the Clippers besting the Lakers. The Board Man clearly has old man LeBron's number. I ultimately think the Clippers will win it all, but there's a lot of uncertainty.
Dame
Yeah as crazy as it would be for the suns to continue this run and make the playoffs, I’m loving all this action from Portland, especially these massive games from Dame. Also, definitely loving Carmelo’s performance. A year ago he was on tv saying he hoped to make a roster and now he’s a huge component of that team. If I’m the Lakers, I def don’t want to see the blazers in the first round
Loving the bubble so far. Definitely think it'll be Blazers vs Suns in the play-in, and that'll be exciting af
I'll be routing for chaos in the playoffs, which I think has a chance to happen, because things have seemed chalky for a while now. That being said, its hard to pick against the top teams to get to the finals and the conference finals.
WC 8 Seed - Blazers ECF - Bucks over Raptors WCF - Clips over Rockets Finals - Bucks over Clips
Giannis gets a ring, but with an asterisk? Dude is crazy to watch in person.
Although some will probably want an asterisk, I don't think one is warranted. At the end of the day, every playoff team played 70+ games in the regular season, and each series is still best of 7. It's a different setup for sure, but I think the game itself is the same.
For sure, agree here.
Very much agree if everyone in the bubble stays healthy. Charles Barkley made the good point though that if players started testing positive, ultimately leading to super stars and their teams being eliminated (and we end up with like a Nets / Grizzlies finals) then the proverbial asterisk is probably warranted
Good topic. I am not sure why I feel this way, but I am much less interested basketball while it is in the bubble. It does not feel the same to me. I do not know why, though. I do not even care that baseball games have no fans. I still enjoy watching them.
I agree that the NBA leadership has been terrific. I am just going to root for the Sixers and the Lakers. I do not think either one of them are doing all that well in the bubble.
Feel the same way. Have been following closely, just not watching much. Not sure what it is, maybe the day games and the summer league feel. The no fans is weird and the players seem to not care even during crunch time. I'm sure (hope) it will get better during the playoffs.
Agree on baseball too, with the added fake fans and the crowd noise it almost seems normal. Some teams/broadcasts and their home parks are a lot better with the effects than others. The first week watching was a little too quiet but has gotten better.
Yeah , I think with basketball, sometimes they are limiting minutes for players or not even playing their best players. For me, it has a preseason feel to it.
Clippers win it all, K. Leonard 3 titles, 3 different teams.
+1; after seeing Lebron completely whiff a layup and a lob pass in the span of 15 sec convinces me that old man nba syndrome has hit him at 35; Clippers are so deep down their bench
This certainly aged well.
My C's rolling behind Tatum & Kemba, Luka in demigod mode (the man is absolutely unreal), Blazers finally with their squad together are fun to watch and a real threat to the Lakers, and the Clippers thinking about the amount of picks they traded for PG13%. This has been fun.
I can't give you an SB because I am rooting for the Sixers and Lakers but I agree. They are terrific at the line and shoot about 80% from it.
I think the problem with the Clippers is that they can't defend; sure they have great wing defenders, but they have absolutely 0 rim protection, and the Mavs are abusing that
Mavs are looking like a real problem for the Clippers. Portland is disturbing my dreams for Lakers to win it all for Kobe as well.
could've been Mavs 3-1 if not for that completely pointless ejection in game 1...but they're looking real promising, one big man away from being a true contender
Can't help but think that Boogie could bring some HEAT to the mavs line-up and truly make them a solid contender. Their guard-heavy bench seems to be doing enough, now it's just topping off the team with a monster like Boogie
I have a feeling that the champion is going to come from the East. Raptors, Bucks, and Celtics are all extremely well-coached and play very well together. Many of the top players have been playing with each other for multiple past playoffs. Jimmy and the Heat haven't but the culture in Miami is so strong and Spoelstra is a top 3 coach in the league. The LA teams were just thrown together last summer. They have big names but don't mesh super well. Plus they've already had trouble in this first round.
Lebron meshes extremely well with AD.
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