2023-24 NBA Playoffs Predictions

[6celtics33]

Minny Denver feels like the finals. Coming soon. Hope it’s a good one.

[the mesiah]

Originally Posted by 6celtics33

Minny Denver feels like the finals. Coming soon. Hope it’s a good one.

With everyone healthy ,, this series has potential to go all 7 and down to last possession ,.haven’t been excited about nba in a while but this one has that special buzz to it ..

[6celtics33]

Originally Posted by the mesiah

With everyone healthy ,, this series has potential to go all 7 and down to last possession ,.haven’t been excited about nba in a while but this one has that special buzz to it ..

Yes I’m happy to see some real and competitive basketball for the first time in awhile. The infection of team stacking and losing on purpose to tank seems to be about done.

[pcptrade]

Originally Posted by dream34

https://x.com/Shane00/status/1784970617495949744

Kids nowadays could never play in the 90's!!

Are you part of the "We done with the 90's" group?

https://sports.yahoo.com/done-90s-tr...145308565.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comment...he_90s_are_we/

[yiguiri2002]

I feel for the Lakers. Everything was going their way.

LeBron and AD healthy, playing 40+? Check
Denver with minor injuries? Check
Getting 5 more FT per game? Check

If they couldn't get it done this year, I can't see them doing next year. Window looks closed.

Since it's a prediction thread, I think the Wolves shock the Nuggets. They looked very vulnerable during this series. They really miss Bruce Brown and I think the Wolves depth will make a difference at the end.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I feel for the Lakers. Everything was going their way.

LeBron and AD healthy, playing 40+? Check
Denver with minor injuries? Check
Getting 5 more FT per game? Check

If they couldn't get it done this year, I can't see them doing next year. Window looks closed.

Since it's a prediction thread, I think the Wolves shock the Nuggets. They looked very vulnerable during this series. They really miss Bruce Brown and I think the Wolves depth will make a difference at the end.

It is crazy that they only managed 1 win in the series considering the leads that they had in every game (I read that they led or were tied for 76% of the series) and Murray not having a good series (except a couple 4th quarters).

And I don't know if I can pick against Denver, but I won't be shocked if the Wolves get past Denver. Denver is so thin and Murray is already having some health concerns.

[daeve]

I think Denver will look better vs Minny. They always play down to competition and get lazy/careless when they don't feel threatened. Last night they had so many bad/weird turnovers. Jokic had some off-target passes, Gordon missed some shots from literally underneath the basket, Murray and KCP had some dumb plays too. Probably MPJ had the best game among the starters compared to his usual. He was active defensively and didn't force shots and took the right ones given to him.

I think Watson, not Braun, will be the key young bench guy vs Minny because they'll need his length/defense against guys like Ant/NAW/JMac and heck he'll probably have to guard KAT for stretches as well.

[sethc1020]

Really looking forward to Minnesota vs Denver- has the potential to be a fantastic series

Also Hoping Dallas overcomes LAC and we get an OKC vs DAL match up.

[tjforce]

Rocket fuel playoff series for Ant Edwards if they can beat the Nuggets.

Guy could be the next face of the league, could end up the next Donovan Mitchell. All I know is the hobby will over react to whatever outcome we get.

[daeve]

Nikola Jokic finishes the first round of the 2024 playoffs averaging 28/16/10 on 67% TS

*yawn* really hope we can find a new face of the league soon!

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by daeve

*yawn* really hope we can find a new face of the league soon!

We’ve already seen that face.

[BlueXtreme]

Originally Posted by daeve

*yawn* really hope we can find a new face of the league soon!

Why is no one knocking Jokic for Jamal hitting the clutch shots?! Jk. Jokic is great. Going to be fun to see Ant vs them. He seems hungry

[daeve]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

We’ve already seen that face.

Just imagine if the next Minions movie is way better than SJ2.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Rocket fuel playoff series for Ant Edwards if they can beat the Nuggets.

Guy could be the next face of the league, could end up the next Donovan Mitchell. All I know is the hobby will over react to whatever outcome we get.

Or he could do the same thing he did in the first round, lose in 6/7 games and not be either of those things (yet).

I don't think this is a make or break moment hobby-wise for Ant.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

It is crazy that they only managed 1 win in the series considering the leads that they had in every game (I read that they led or were tied for 76% of the series) and Murray not having a good series (except a couple 4th quarters).

And I don't know if I can pick against Denver, but I won't be shocked if the Wolves get past Denver. Denver is so thin and Murray is already having some health concerns.

It reminded me of the Heat-Bulls series in 2011. You could tell one team was better than the other but the favorite had flaws and that made it a really close series. One clear win for each team and 3 close games that went one way.

Kinda like this series. The difference was that the Bulls had a huge spot to improve just by becoming average (shooting guard). I don't know what the Lakers can do better, specially since LeBron will be older and AD might not be as healthy.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

It reminded me of the Heat-Bulls series in 2011. You could tell one team was better than the other but the favorite had flaws and that made it a really close series. One clear win for each team and 3 close games that went one way.

Kinda like this series. The difference was that the Bulls had a huge spot to improve just by becoming average (shooting guard). I don't know what the Lakers can do better, specially since LeBron will be older and AD might not be as healthy.

They've been talking about getting another star since they will have 3 1sts to trade this year. Heard they may make a run at Trae. I personally wouldn't, but that's because I'm not high at all on him.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Or he could do the same thing he did in the first round, lose in 6/7 games and not be either of those things (yet).

I don't think this is a make or break moment hobby-wise for Ant.

That's true. Certainly more upside then downside in the series. A win might make them the popular Finals favorite and do wonders for his market.

[ninjabum87]

Lebron's supposedly gonna taste free agency anyway.

I still want him to go to the Hornets and ride it out there lol.

Get a last march of the Ents thing going with CP3, KD, and Lebron.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by ninjabum87

Lebron's supposedly gonna taste free agency anyway.

I still want him to go to the Hornets and ride it out there lol.

Get a last march of the Ents thing going with CP3, KD, and Lebron.

I don't think lebron's going anywhere. He's just putting pressure on the front office to bring in more help.

[ninjabum87]

That's lame and less fun than a blaze of glory Hornets run.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

They've been talking about getting another star since they will have 3 1sts to trade this year. Heard they may make a run at Trae. I personally wouldn't, but that's because I'm not high at all on him.

Their picks are from 2026 and beyond. I don't think they are great trading pieces.

And even if they are, Reaves value have fallen this season. I don't know who they can get with that.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Their picks are from 2026 and beyond. I don't think they are great trading pieces.

And even if they are, Reaves value have fallen this season. I don't know who they can get with that.

They will probably also have this years pick (Pels get their choice between this years or next years). The 2026 and beyond picks will probably be good ones as Lakers will probably be bad by then. I agree though that I'm not sure who they realistically get.

[BlueXtreme]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

They will probably also have this years pick (Pels get their choice between this years or next years). The 2026 and beyond picks will probably be good ones as Lakers will probably be bad by then. I agree though that I'm not sure who they realistically get.

If LeBron restructures his contract, I wonder if they can get a 3 and D guy and a guy who can create his own shot occasionally. I’m oversimplifying it. But I think that’s what they need

[jcmel323]

I think Bruce Brown said last year that the Denver nuggets biggest challenge was the timberwolves

[tennelson55]

Originally Posted by 6celtics33

Yes I’m happy to see some real and competitive basketball for the first time in awhile. The infection of team stacking and losing on purpose to tank seems to be about done.

You mean we’re watching cycles in the league?

Last I checked the thunder had been tanking since Durant left/PG Westbrick.

Teams will **always tank**
If you can’t compete to make the playoffs why wouldn’t you tank (from an org perspective; not players)