2022 NBA Playoffs Thread
 

So in the East it looks like 1st round matchups are likely to be:
(1) MIA vs. (8) CLE - MIA wins
(2) MIL vs. (7) BKN - Gonna be a heck of a series if all the personnel are there, I think this favors MIL slightly but Giannis and KD are the most effective players in the East at winning championships if healthy, and whoever wins this series wins the East (assuming good health). Health risks favor MIL over BKN, and MIL gets home court advantage.
(3) BOS vs. (6) TOR - should be an easy win for BOS
(4) PHI vs. (5) CHI - favors PHI


2nd round then looks like:
(1) MIA vs. (4) PHI, pretty evenly matched, health risks favor MIA this playoffs, MIA will have home court, this slightly favors MIA
(2) MIL vs. (3) BOS - Giannis and Jrue come out ahead of Jayson and Jaylen, MIL has more playoff experience and home court advantage

ECF then is (1) MIA vs. (2) MIL, MIL has a couple points or so per game edge based on regular season but will also have more experience come playoffs. If BKN wins round 1 and stays healthy, then this goes to BKN.

So the most likely team from the East is MIL.

In the West, in the first round:
PHO wins over LAC
MEM beats MIN
GSW should be healthy enough to outlast Joker + 4 role players without too much fuss
I say Luka carries DAL to a first-round win over UTA, that seems to be the trajectory of the season of late.

PHO gives DAL a second-round exit, so Luka is now into 2nd-round status.
GSW is pretty evenly matched with MEM but with more health issues, but also more playoff experience. GSW is favored.

In the West finals, PHO is favored by health (with CP3 being a main focus) along with home court advantage and about 2 points a game more than even a healthy GSW squad. GSW has more playoff experience. PHO is by just about any test is most poised to take home the title this year. Most likely Finals matchup is a repeat of last year, MIL vs. PHO, but it could also end up BKN vs. GSW or other combinations of these 4 teams. The next closest contenders are MIA and PHI but I don't see them getting past these other 4, they don't have the most effective personnel at getting championships right now.

I'd say the probabilities for winning the title are something like this:
PHO - 33%
GSW - 23%
MIL - 23%
BKN - 20%
Other - 1%

lost me at BOS takes care of TOR easy. No respect for raps who are on a tear and finally healthy.

Are Cleveland and Brooklyn locks to get in?

[QUOTE=Siberian13;18100287]Are Cleveland and Brooklyn locks to get in?[/QUOTE]

Brooklyn is. Cleveland, no.

For the Cavs it all depends on if they can get healthy or not.

Get Allen and Mobley back they have a strong shot at the Playoffs. Get just Mobley back and they have a fair chance. Get neither back and it's not happening.

[QUOTE=tjforce;18100414]Brooklyn is. Cleveland, no.

For the Cavs it all depends on if they can get healthy or not.

Get Allen and Mobley back they have a strong shot at the Playoffs. Get just Mobley back and they have a fair chance. Get neither back and it's not happening.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I knew Cavs were banged up just wasn’t sure on the Nets. I know it’s going to be harder for the Hawks and Hornets

[QUOTE=tjforce;18100414]Brooklyn is. Cleveland, no.

For the Cavs it all depends on if they can get healthy or not.

Get Allen and Mobley back they have a strong shot at the Playoffs. Get just Mobley back and they have a fair chance. Get neither back and it's not happening.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Siberian13;18100543]Yeah I knew Cavs were banged up just wasn’t sure on the Nets. I know it’s going to be harder for the Hawks and Hornets[/QUOTE]

Cavs and Nets are both locks for the play-in. But since anything can happen in a play-in I wouldn't say either are locks for a playoff series. You wouldn't think the Nets would lose two in a row but they could.

If Toronto wins the Hawks are unable to get the 6th seed and no matter what are in the play-in. Right now they're in the 8th spot one game up on Brooklyn and Charlotte.


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Hawks and nets will be in playoff, hawks @7 nets @8.

Bucks sat everyone in last game lost to Cavs. Ended up getting them the 3 seed which is likely best for them in round 1 as means they won't have chance to play the Nets in round one who really scared me in a 1st round series.

[QUOTE=jbettis32;18101573]Hawks and nets will be in playoff, hawks @7 nets @8.[/QUOTE]

How so?

[QUOTE=ExpFacilitators;18115923]How so?[/QUOTE]

(Was a prediction from last week / not possible now).

[QUOTE=NeedChapmans;18115926](Was a prediction from last week / not possible now).[/QUOTE]

Ahh. I didn’t see the stamp. :doh:

Thybulle not being eligible for up to three games in the series is hilarious.

^yep, that could be a big part of this series. I think it's gonna be a long and gritty series too.

Bucks should make quick work of Bulls.

[QUOTE=daeve;18115970]^yep, that could be a big part of this series. I think it's gonna be a long and gritty series too.

Bucks should make quick work of Bulls.[/QUOTE]

I will say Bucks in 5 they drop one in Chicago.

Bump for the day's action and to put the thread up top for those looking.

Looking like solid games tonight.

Nets and Wolves to advance. Tomorrow; I don't have the slightest idea who wins those games. Too much shooting and no defense. Variance is high for the second set of games

[QUOTE=tennelson55;18119035]Looking like solid games tonight.

Nets and Wolves to advance. Tomorrow; I don't have the slightest idea who wins those games. Too much shooting and no defense. Variance is high for the second set of games[/QUOTE]

No Allen takes the Cavs biggest advantage away.

Hoping to put up a good fight, the be rested up for Friday's game in Cleveland

Lots and lots of $$ coming in on Brooklyn today. I don't think CLE wins, but I like them to keep it inside of the 10 spread.

Second game should be much more interesting. LAC owns MIN of late, and I wonder how Edwards will do if his shot is not falling early. Sort of expect a defensive slowed pace toward the ends, favor LAC.

Ya that LAC, MIN game will be good. MIN is favored but LAC is built for the playoffs and MIN not so much... We will see what MIN is made of, I got LAC here especially with the -3 points.

[QUOTE=tjforce;18119047]No Allen takes the Cavs biggest advantage away.

Hoping to put up a good fight, the be rested up for Friday's game in Cleveland[/QUOTE]

I hope for a close game as the Cavs have wayyyy exceeded expectations this season, but I just don't see a game in which Cavs aren't down by 10 the whole game.

Nets came into this season as favs to win the chip and now they're playing the 7th seed for the play in. They're going to curb stomp this game IMO.

Clippers wolves is a toss up. Either team has shown they can go up by 20-30 or down 20-30 and the game is still a 50/50 game lol.

Overall talent edge has to go to Twolves, but should be a good game regardless.

[QUOTE=bkcardcollector;18119241]Ya that LAC, MIN game will be good. MIN is favored but LAC is built for the playoffs and MIN not so much... We will see what MIN is made of, I got LAC here especially with the -3 points.[/QUOTE]

I've got 25 bucks on my comc and like clips -3.

I like the Wiggins prizm bgs 9.5 rc if you're interested in spicing it up :coffee:

[QUOTE=tennelson55;18119250]I hope for a close game as the Cavs have wayyyy exceeded expectations this season, but I just don't see a game in which Cavs aren't down by 10 the whole game.

Nets came into this season as favs to win the chip and now they're playing the 7th seed for the play in. They're going to curb stomp this game IMO.

Clippers wolves is a toss up. Either team has shown they can go up by 20-30 or down 20-30 and the game is still a 50/50 game lol.

Overall talent edge has to go to Twolves, but should be a good game regardless.[/QUOTE]

They played them last weekend in a game with meaning and were up 4 with 10 mins to go in the forth. Then the Nets turned it on. It wouldn't shock me to see the Nets play with the same confidence and let the Cavs hang around or make a mid game run again. But in the end, KD and Kyrie, with guys like Mills, and Seth Curry in tow is just too much firepower.

[QUOTE=KhalDrogo;18115958]Thybulle not being eligible for up to three games in the series is hilarious.[/QUOTE]
not as a fan :(


wonder how embiid is embracing going back thru toronto for the playoffs.

[QUOTE=tjforce;18119463]They played them last weekend in a game with meaning and were up 4 with 10 mins to go in the forth. Then the Nets turned it on. It wouldn't shock me to see the Nets play with the same confidence and let the Cavs hang around or make a mid game run again. But in the end, KD and Kyrie, with guys like Mills, and Seth Curry in tow is just too much firepower.[/QUOTE]

I’ve been watching Drummond work the past few games and he’s holding it down for them at C. If Drummond has decent prescience in the paint, in terms of boarding, this won’t be close. I see a statement game for Durant here and Kyrie is playing his old team.
If the cavs keep it close in the first Q they have a chance to grind the whole game, but if they’re down 10 I don’t see them making a run to bring it back.

My hopes are for a close game though so we will see!