NBA Playoffs Thread

[76ciology]

Just basing it on the last 5 mins of the game. Aaron Gordon was glued to Anthony Edwards who was just shooting 25% for the game. They had Jamal Murray on Naz Reid. While Wolves just feasts on second chance opportunities and drive and dish down the stretch with only Jokic left to anchor the paint and grab the boards. Reminds me a lot of our series with the Knicks where the guy Lowry is defending (most time Hart) was just crashing for rebs which is one of the major reason why we got out rebounded.

Feels like in order to counter this you need a PF who can grab rebounds and protect the rim, while a wing who can be a defensive stopper.

[Stanford]

Oh god the Celtics are going to win aren't they

[Mik317]

Just basing it on the last 5 mins of the game. Aaron Gordon was glued to Anthony Edwards who was just shooting 25% for the game. They had Jamal Murray on Naz Reid. While Wolves just feasts on second chance opportunities and drive and dish down the stretch with only Jokic left to anchor the paint and grab the boards. Reminds me a lot of our series with the Knicks where the guy Lowry is defending (most time Hart) was just crashing for rebs which is one of the major reason why we got out rebounded.

Feels like in order to counter this you need a PF who can grab rebounds and protect the rim, while a wing who can be a defensive stopper.

That was Bruce Brown and Jeff Green last year IIRC
They bet on their young guys taking a leap and it didn't happen

MPJ pulling a Tobias also hurt

[Jailblazers7]

Celtics without a healthy KP is not good enough imo. I think they’ll be hurt too by the lack of competition in the East. The winner of the west (prob Minnesota) will be battle hardened & have a month of elite level basketball behind them. I’m not sure Boston is ready for the level of intensity & execution that they’ll see in the Finals.

Minnesota’s length closing out on the Boston shooters is gonna be disruptive too. I think that series will turn into a rock fight which favors the Wolves.

[mjkvol]

Celtics without a healthy KP is not good enough imo. I think they’ll be hurt too by the lack of competition in the East. The winner of the west (prob Minnesota) will be battle hardened & have a month of elite level basketball behind them. I’m not sure Boston is ready for the level of intensity & execution that they’ll see in the Finals.

Minnesota’s length closing out on the Boston shooters is gonna be disruptive too. I think that series will turn into a rock fight which favors the Wolves.

I have little faith in the Pacers, but I never thought they had it in them to win in NY. They're playing with house money and know it, maybe they can take Boston 6-7 games. They're a tough team to deal with when they're shooting well.

[Jailblazers7]

Celtics without a healthy KP is not good enough imo. I think they’ll be hurt too by the lack of competition in the East. The winner of the west (prob Minnesota) will be battle hardened & have a month of elite level basketball behind them. I’m not sure Boston is ready for the level of intensity & execution that they’ll see in the Finals.

Minnesota’s length closing out on the Boston shooters is gonna be disruptive too. I think that series will turn into a rock fight which favors the Wolves.

I have little faith in the Pacers, but I never thought they had it in them to win in NY. They're playing with house money and know it, maybe they can take Boston 6-7 games. They're a tough team to deal with when they're shooting well.

I’m not a believer. Jrue/White are gonna have Haliburton in hell & the Celtics have a lot of bodies to throw at Siakim. Their defense is awful and they’re playing against an offense that gets even good defenses stuck in scramble drills. It’ll probably be Celts in 5 but I could easily see a sweep happening.

[Da Doctor]

Knicks fans are delusional

[mjkvol]

Celtics without a healthy KP is not good enough imo. I think they’ll be hurt too by the lack of competition in the East. The winner of the west (prob Minnesota) will be battle hardened & have a month of elite level basketball behind them. I’m not sure Boston is ready for the level of intensity & execution that they’ll see in the Finals.

Minnesota’s length closing out on the Boston shooters is gonna be disruptive too. I think that series will turn into a rock fight which favors the Wolves.

I have little faith in the Pacers, but I never thought they had it in them to win in NY. They're playing with house money and know it, maybe they can take Boston 6-7 games. They're a tough team to deal with when they're shooting well.

I’m not a believer. Jrue/White are gonna have Haliburton in hell & the Celtics have a lot of bodies to throw at Siakim. Their defense is awful and they’re playing against an offense that gets even good defenses stuck in scramble drills. It’ll probably be Celts in 5 but I could easily see a sweep happening.

Agree. This matchup is as bad as the crippled Knicks were a good matchup for them.

[Phila Tough]

still smoking on that Knicks & Nuggets pack. pun intended

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Wow, the playoffs are going to be great this final round. I've got Boston/Dallas finals.

[76ciology]

Playoffs ISO

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) - Oklahoma City Thunder
• ISO Possessions: 102
• Points Per Possession: 1.14
2. Jalen Brunson - New York Knicks
• ISO Possessions: 94
• Points Per Possession: 0.99
3. Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics
• ISO Possessions: 69
• Points Per Possession: 0.80
4. Luka Dončić - Dallas Mavericks
• ISO Possessions: 62
• Points Per Possession: 0.89
5. Kyrie Irving - Dallas Mavericks
• ISO Possessions: 58
• Points Per Possession: 0.90
6. Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves
• ISO Possessions: 56
• Points Per Possession: 1.25
7. James Harden - Los Angeles Clippers
• ISO Possessions: 42
• Points Per Possession: 1.14
8. Donovan Mitchell - Cleveland Cavaliers
• ISO Possessions: 40
• Points Per Possession: 1.02
9. Paolo Banchero - Orlando Magic
• ISO Possessions: 37
• Points Per Possession: 0.76
10. Paul George - Los Angeles Clippers
• ISO Possessions: 33
• Points Per Possession: 1.03

[76ciology]

Michael Porter Jr. in the last 4 games vs. Timberwolves:

4 PTS, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT
6 PTS, 2-10 FG, 2-7 3PT
8 PTS, 3-9 FG, 1-6 3PT
7 PTS, 3-12 FG, 1-6 3PT

SERIES AVERAGES: 10.7 PPG, 37.1% FG, 32.5% 3PT

[76ciology]

Wolves vs. Mavs

I favor the Mavs in this matchup. Although the Wolves are well-built to compete against the Nuggets, the Mavs have a strong clutch performance and a solid defense. If the game stays close, I would trust Luka and Kyrie over Ant and KAT in crunch time.

Celtics vs. Pacers

Siakam has to step up big in this series for the Pacers to beat the Celtics. If the Pacers can match the Celtics' offense and keep the game close, and if Siakam can be a more reliable go-to option for the Pacers than Tatum is for the Celtics, the Pacers have a chance to win.

[mjkvol]

Wolves vs. Mavs

I favor the Mavs in this matchup. Although the Wolves are well-built to compete against the Nuggets, the Mavs have a strong clutch performance and a solid defense. If the game stays close, I would trust Luka and Kyrie over Ant and KAT in crunch time.

Celtics vs. Pacers

Siakam has to step up big in this series for the Pacers to beat the Celtics. If the Pacers can match the Celtics' offense and keep the game close, and if Siakam can be a more reliable go-to option for the Pacers than Tatum is for the Celtics, the Pacers have a chance to win.

MIN - DAL
Should be a really good series. The Wolves have a wave of long defenders to throw at Dallas, but do they have anyone who can shut down Luka and Kyrie? The Mavs have the size to deal with MIN that Denver didn't have. I give the slight edge to the Mavs in what should be a long series.

BOS - IND
Porzingas being out helps the Pacers greatly, and the Pacers are good at taking away Boston's greatest strength, the 3-pointer. Indy needs to create turnovers to run, as a breakneck pace and continuing the hot shooting from the game 7 win at NY is their only shot at making this a long series. I have trouble imagining this going past 5 games, but the Celtics have shown that they can be beaten in the biggest spots, so we'll see.

[Kobblehead]

Michael Porter Jr. in the last 4 games vs. Timberwolves:

4 PTS, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT
6 PTS, 2-10 FG, 2-7 3PT
8 PTS, 3-9 FG, 1-6 3PT
7 PTS, 3-12 FG, 1-6 3PT

SERIES AVERAGES: 10.7 PPG, 37.1% FG, 32.5% 3PT

Yeah, that's rough. I wonder if he was affected by the distraction of his idiot brother.

[Negrodamus]

Michael Porter Jr. in the last 4 games vs. Timberwolves:

4 PTS, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT
6 PTS, 2-10 FG, 2-7 3PT
8 PTS, 3-9 FG, 1-6 3PT
7 PTS, 3-12 FG, 1-6 3PT

SERIES AVERAGES: 10.7 PPG, 37.1% FG, 32.5% 3PT

Yeah, that's rough. I wonder if he was affected by the distraction of his idiot brother.

Which one?

[Jailblazers7]

I think Minnesota wins because the Mavs role players will struggle to hit shots against length & aggressive close outs. Luka probably goes off but Kyrie struggled in the OKC series & the Wolves have an amazing group of defenders to throw at him.

I think the Celtics flat out smoke the Pacers unless we see some big shooting variances.

[Negrodamus]

If it’s TWolves vs Pacers in the Finals, I’ll cede any arguments I’ve had with 76ciology over the two big lineups.

[Negrodamus]

“Playoff Tatum is definitely a thing!” (where he sucks for the entire game and then gets hot in the 4th quarter).

[Negrodamus]

Nembhard becoming a contributor is one of the least surprising things. Guys like him are why Carrington interest me: great size for position, has some juice in his dribble, clean shot. Nembhard was just smart and waited till his stats suggested he was ready.