I am Sixers fan and as a result, I am a little biased but I think they have a good chance to win it all. With that said, 3 teams from the East have a good chance of winning the chip - the Sixers - Bucks (If Giannis is healthy) and Celtics. The West seems to be kind of interesting. I guess Denver is the favorite but I can't stand them. The Warriors are always a contender and surprisingly, the Lakers have emerged as a possible contender. The Suns look great on paper but I am not sure about them.
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Dude, Denver is going to steamroll this year. They are the healthiest they have been in a long time, have a PRIME two time MVP (who has been unstoppable), and have been resting hard going into this playoffs. I just don't see how they don't win the whole thing this year.
He was stopped by Embiid, who dropped 47 points and grabbed 18 boards the last time he faced the Joker.
He is coming off a season in which he led Denver to the top seed in the Western Conference. Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists, finishing just shy of becoming the first center to ever average a triple-double for the season.
Link: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36190086/nikola-jokic-joel-embiid-g…
There are multiple 'PRIME' MVP's or MVP level players in the way of Denver. Kawhi has been a top 5 player the last 2 months of the season. KD averaged 30 on 55/40/90 and is healthy. Curry averaged 30/6/6 on 66% TS as a guard on high volume 3pt shooting (insane). Lebron is at peak form. These guys are in Jokic's way with a better 2nd option with then than anyone Jokic has, maybe except for GSW (PG if healthy, Book, AD). And that's just in the WEST.
Giannis, Tatum and Embiid are lurking in the East- a fellow 2 time MVP in Giannis (+ he's a top 5 defensive player), Embiid who will likely win MVP and is an elite interior defender and Tatum who is a 30ppg 2 way player. The big 3 teams in the east are just as balanced as Denver and have stars who can legit play both ways.
Now, with that being said, I am a huge Jokic fan and would have voted for him the 2 years he won MVP. But to say Denver will 'steamroll' is far from likely. They'll steamroll Minnesota, and sure they'll be well rested. But assuming Phoenix gets their act together, or if PG comes back healthy for LA, that's at the minimum a 6 game serious, potentially 7. I would personally argue that they might be an underdog against both of those teams, assuming everyone is healthy. And of course you have the reigning champs GS/Kings or Lebron waiting in the conference finals.
Phoenix, Milwaukee (albeit Giannis is now injured), Boston, Philly are all as rested as Denver, and frankly, the Lakers will have plenty of time after either sweeping of gentlemen sweeping a Ja-Morant-Less Memphis team while waiting for the GSW/SAC outcome (which will be min 6 but likely 7 games).
Denver has a long road ahead. Aaron Gordon hasn't proved anything in the playoffs. Same for MPJ, and he's had a history of malfunctioning defensively when it counts (he's still a bucket though). I'm a big Jamal Murray fan so I hope he can replicate the magic he had from the bubble, and their supporting cast is filled with reliable vets + promising young players (KCP, Green, Bruce Brown, Braun etc). But they're not close to being a favourite for a reason.
Nuggets not winning the West after having their healthiest team yet would be prime NuggLyfe.
Looks like the Nuggets have steamrolled the league, Denver dynasty incoming
Well, never mind.
prescience
Suns. Too much firepower between CP3 Booker and KD
if PG comes back the clippers are my pick
I'd have my money behind the Sixers, but not to humour your bias. Notwithstanding a few recent games (and I take that point), you got a highly motivated Embiid (and Harden), with good playoff experience. I wouldn't be shocked to see another of the Eastern Conference take it, but less convinced on the Western Conference (maybe with the except of the Nuggets...maybe)
My HOT take below!
Eastern Conference:
First Round
Heat def. Bucks (4-2)
Knicks def. Cavs (4-1)
Sixers def. Nets (4-1)
Boston def. Hawks (4-0)
Semi-Finals
Heat def. Knicks (4-2)
Sixers def. Boston (4-3)
Conference Finals
Sixers def. Heat (4-0)
Western Conference:
First Round
Nuggets def. Wolves (4-0)
Suns def. Clippers (4-2)
Kings def. Warriors (4-3)
Lakers def. Grizzlies (4-2)
Semi-Finals
Suns def. Nuggets (4-3)
Lakers def. Kings (4-2)
Conference Finals
Suns def. Lakers (4-1)
NBA Finals
Sixers def. Suns (4-2)
Interesting. Bucks will only go as far as Giannis takes them, so it'll be interesting to see when he returns.
I hope you are right.
I was fairly wrong. Sixers let me down horribly. Praying Heat win it all 🙏
Having the Heat winning a series immediately invalidates your entire opinion
Is my opinion still invalid?
This didn't age well.
Who do you think has it now?
I'd really like the Heat to win, Jimmy Butler is really fun to root for. But honestly its going to be a tough series for them. Duo of Murray and Joker is kinda crazy. Regardless, I got my faith in Jimmy, Coach Spo, and the rest of the roster. If Denver wins I wouldn't be mad either, both teams clearly very underrated and deserving!
.
Easy, it’s the Knicks. I’m waiting for the MS btw
Curious what percentage of the finance population are basketball fans
Celtics fan here - good luck next round.
Really think whatever team comes out of the East will win the Finals this year just being more battle-tested than any of the West. Don't think anyone is worried about Bucks being down 1-0 as Heat are a joke this year. Knicks Cavs could go either way but neither will have a chance against Bucks IMO.
Suns look iffy (Ayton is horrific in playoffs) but maybe can turn it around. They have KD for gods sake, the goated "walking bucket". On other hand Clippers are not a team you can fall behind to an expect to come back - Kawhi too consistent when healthy. Always forget how good of a defender he is.
Really hope Kings can finish off the Warriors first round. Draymond annoys the hell out of me. Lakers look like a real contender all of a sudden.
Should be a great way to kick off the summer.
GO TICS
I think the Nuggets would have something to say about coming back against the Clippers…
The Celtics have been impressive against the Hawks. While the Sixers have beat the Nets 2 straight games, they did not play very well in the last one. In order for the Sixers to win, Harden need to be more of a play maker and less of a shooter. The Sixers have not played well versus the Celtics this year. In the only game they won, the Celtics were short handed. With that said, the Sixer bench is different now compared to earlier this year and fortunately, Maxey is back to being a starter.
Celtics Lakers final
Not feeling it but who knows.
The correct answer is. Who cares.
Came here to say the same thing, but you beat me to it. It's baseball season (playoff hockey is also an acceptable answer.)
Lol "it's baseball season". Only 140+ more games left. Replying to a thread titled "NBA playoffs" to say no one cares is a huge loser move in the first place but the fact you double down by saying "it's baseball season" tells me you probably go to games by yourself and keep score with Steve Bartman headphones on.
No, the correct answer is who cares about any of those things.
I really thought the warriors still had a shot this year. we'll see...
Light the BEAM!
This is bold but have always been a Kawhi fan so hope the clippers make a good run. Would also love to see lebron win just for the constant goat debate and I am sure curry and the boys will make a solid run as well
Sixers fans have become Ice Trae fans. Go Hawks!!!
Sixers all the way baby
Orange and blue skies, that's it.
Warriors fan here but gotta say Deaaron Fox is a stud. Kings have a solid setup and can’t wait for the next game
I am not a warriors fan but I like watching them play. The kings are a good team but the warriors have Curry who not only is great shooter but has to be an underrated dribbler. It did not realize how good he is with the ball. It must be exhausting trying to defend him
Stephen Curry. That is it.
I have to ask, Who do you think is going to win it now?
What do you think of Denver up to this point? Its not over yet, but to say the least Denver has been pretty dominate over the heat up to this point.
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