2023-24 NBA Playoffs Predictions

[oldgoldy97]

I just laugh at all these hypers jumping on the Wolves. Look like a bunch of idiots now (not that Perkins wasn’t an idiot prior).

You NEVER underestimate a Minnesota team’s ability to disappoint.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

I just laugh at all these hypers jumping on the Wolves. Look like a bunch of idiots now (not that Perkins wasn’t an idiot prior).

You NEVER underestimate a Minnesota team’s ability to disappoint.

Do you think Perkins gets to keep his job, because he makes everybody else on the panel seem so much smarter and than can laugh at his takes?

I didn't get the people counting Denver out so quickly. They are the better team and one would think they would figure something out. Lakers were pretty easy for them, so I don't think playoff mode was fully engaged yet. Twolves woke them up. Also, clearly the extra day off allowed for some extra film sessions and adjustments.

I thought Boston/Denver in finals and no reason to not stick to it.

[MJGOAT23]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

Do you think Perkins gets to keep his job, because he makes everybody else on the panel seem so much smarter and than can laugh at his takes?

I didn't get the people counting Denver out so quickly. They are the better team and one would think they would figure something out. Lakers were pretty easy for them, so I don't think playoff mode was fully engaged yet. Twolves woke them up. Also, clearly the extra day off allowed for some extra film sessions and adjustments.

I thought Boston/Denver in finals and no reason to not stick to it.

Murray also looked much healthier going into GM 3 vs the 1st 2

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by MJGOAT23

Murray also looked much healthier going into GM 3 vs the 1st 2

That makes a difference for sure.

[spurs50fan]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

- I think it's more than Jazz fans
- Sure, but I also remember Donovan barely passing him the ball at the end
- Even with all of that into account, he never has said anything horrible about the city or the organization and he left them a lot of draft capital.

Like I said, I can see why people don't like the guy but the hate he gets compared to what he's done seems irrational.

It is and although he’s great defensively, I don’t think it’s as runaway as the # of accolades suggest. The players themselves voted him most overrated this year but other stuff mentioned along w punching teammates or being the face of the covid/bubble era doesn’t help

[EBCollectibles]

Originally Posted by Wolves4Life

Dude gets away with SO many offensive fouls. KAT wishes he got that kind of lack of whistle when he doesn't even do half the stuff Jokic does.

That aside dude is easily the best player in the league right now.

Towns and Gobert are pretty close to laughable. Looks at his arms scratched and bruised looks like he needs to go to the FT line 25 times a game.

[Makakilo Cards]

I am choosing to believe Joker took offense to the Shaq dis and is taking it out on the Wolves now

[ballhawkdawk]

I don't know what happened to the Wolves from game 2 to 3, but they have yet to match that same intensity, and Joker is just working them over like nobody's business. He's not just been unstoppable, but making it look easy in the process since he can kill you every which way, whereas Ant has had to work hard for every bucket. As impressive as it is to watch Ant do his best MJ impression, it's even more impressive watching Jokic make it look like he's playing against high schoolers, and given his playstyle, there's no reason he can't do this into his 40s if he wants to. Greatest bball IQ of all time.

Guys like Murray and Aaron Gordon are real nice complementary pieces on a championship team, especially Gordon, but you could plug and play around Jokic and get the same result. Every piece around him is easily replaceable.

[yiguiri2002]

Jokic is just that great. His stretch since the Bubble playoffs has been one of the greatest in modern basketball history.

[daeve]

Kudos to Braun for stepping up last night too. Still tickles me how many here were throwing around "Bruce Brown" missing as being some integral piece that was going to be the downfall of Denver - it's like years of watching this and so many still don't get it. Why didn't Indiana keep him? Are they stupid? Could MJ have won a playoff series with a Campazzo-Rivers-Barton backcourt? [all 3 of these bums are out of the league already]. Nein, Jokic is conducive to winning, and if you stick a few decent pieces around him he will get you there.



And the way he plays the game is infectious, that's why it doesn't matter if it's Brown or Braun. Doesn't matter if he isn't surrounded by All-Stars like how LeBron and KD whine about every offseason. He's a completely unique basketball genius and that's why all the oldheads like Shaq sound so triggered/insecure whenever they have to talk about him or speak to him directly.

[tjforce]

Donovan Mitchell getting an early start on his summer vacation...

I'm considering tonight's Cavs game one of those "Celebration of Life" things you throw when you don't want to be sad after a funeral.

[daeve]

And here's the guy who was complaining about his legacy as Denver's #15. lmao and now Brunson has taken his NY legacy, all he's got left is Syracuse.

[Above the Rim]

What if Minny had Wembanyama instead of Gobert - all other things equal. Do you think Wemby would give Jokic a more difficult time ? Heck, yes, double exclamation point !! I saw it in the regular season when they matched up - Jokic wasn't quite his normal self against Wemby.

Oh, but wait, that can't be true. After all, Gobert won DPOY, not Wemby. Gobert must be better defensively - Jeez, What a joke that DPOY voting was. Whatever happened to the good 'ol eye test - look, see, observe, draw your own conclusions who was better.

[GOATcards]

huh, so like Jokic is good again now

that or his haters/doubters are absolutely horrible people who will never learn and refuse to learn

[ballhawkdawk]

Originally Posted by daeve

And here's the guy who was complaining about his legacy as Denver's #15. lmao and now Brunson has taken his NY legacy, all he's got left is Syracuse.

He was a legit star during his run with the Nuggets, but I dunno about all of this legacy talk. We're talking about a guy who led Denver to one trip to the WCF, and in most years was (gentlemen) swept out of the first round. One top 12 MVP finish while with Denver vs. three actual MVP trophies for Jokic. Melo should be honored to have worn the same # as a legit all time great, and flattered any time the two are brought up in the same conversation.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by daeve

Could MJ have won a playoff series with a Campazzo-Rivers-Barton backcourt? [all 3 of these bums are out of the league already].

And the way he plays the game is infectious, that's why it doesn't matter if it's Brown or Braun.

Which one is it: it doesn't matter who's around him or he needs decent players?

There's a reason they've struggled more with the Lakers and Minny this season and it's not just Murray. Outside the Top 4, their supporting core is not very good. Bruce Brown is an above average rotation player, something they don't have after AG this year.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Which one is it: it doesn't matter who's around him or he needs decent players?

There's a reason they've struggled more with the Lakers and Minny this season and it's not just Murray. Outside the Top 4, their supporting core is not very good. Bruce Brown is an above average rotation player, something they don't have after AG this year.

what's Brown's VORB (Value Over Replacement Braun) anyway

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

probably the best pass I've ever seen, the commentators handled the moment well

(also regular brunson had an amazing behind the back assist)

[daeve]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Which one is it: it doesn't matter who's around him or he needs decent players?

There's a reason they've struggled more with the Lakers and Minny this season and it's not just Murray. Outside the Top 4, their supporting core is not very good. Bruce Brown is an above average rotation player, something they don't have after AG this year.

Nobody in the history of the game has done more with less. Yes he needs guys who aren't G-league or back of the bench to win a ring, is that a shocking statement?

MJ is 1-9 without Pippen in the playoffs, I'll keep mentioning that as often as I apparently need to.

Name me someone who did more with less and I'll shutup.

As for the 2nd part of your post, are you making the same argument as I am? Yeah they aren't very good, that's the point. Jokic is the system, he elevates all the other players in Nuggets jerseys.

[ninjabum87]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Donovan Mitchell getting an early start on his summer vacation...

I'm considering tonight's Cavs game one of those "Celebration of Life" things you throw when you don't want to be sad after a funeral.

Chance for your boy to rise to the occasion again at least?

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Donovan Mitchell getting an early start on his summer vacation...

I'm considering tonight's Cavs game one of those "Celebration of Life" things you throw when you don't want to be sad after a funeral.

I literally can't be disappointed by whatever happens.

Cheers!

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by daeve

Nobody in the history of the game has done more with less. Yes he needs guys who aren't G-league or back of the bench to win a ring, is that a shocking statement?

MJ is 1-9 without Pippen in the playoffs, I'll keep mentioning that as often as I apparently need to.

Name me someone who did more with less and I'll shutup.

As for the 2nd part of your post, are you making the same argument as I am? Yeah they aren't very good, that's the point. Jokic is the system, he elevates all the other players in Nuggets jerseys.

the "he did the most with the least" argument, how dare you

[Nomad]

To change the subject. On the Pacers-Knicks side, I like where Indiana is at. Almost no expectations.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by Nomad

To change the subject. On the Pacers-Knicks side, I like where Indiana is at. Almost no expectations.

no one cares, incidentally I was making my "current top players" list, and while Brunson and Mitchell make the top 10, I have no cards of them and it never occurred to me until now to get any cards of them. But I have cards of the other players in the top 12. My top 25, by and large an approximate ordering (and I'm not easy on injury-proneness or playoff disappointment, sorry but not sorry Giannis/Embiid):

Jokic
Doncic
SGA
Tatum
Edwards
Brunson
LeBron
Giannis
Mitchell
Embiid

Durant
Curry
Irving
Butler
Murray
Davis
Leonard
George
Sabonis
Booker

Lillard
Harden
Wemby
Holmgren
Haliburton


like if the all-star game had all but 1 of these players and they played semi-seriously at least with maybe something at stake like with the IST (), I think i'd watch it

it'd be alpaca's first all-star game, wait can that be right, also how about aaron Gordon eh

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by daeve

Nobody in the history of the game has done more with less. Yes he needs guys who aren't G-league or back of the bench to win a ring, is that a shocking statement?

MJ is 1-9 without Pippen in the playoffs, I'll keep mentioning that as often as I apparently need to.

Name me someone who did more with less and I'll shutup.

As for the 2nd part of your post, are you making the same argument as I am? Yeah they aren't very good, that's the point. Jokic is the system, he elevates all the other players in Nuggets jerseys.

Cleveland LeBron. While he never won a title, he had FAR less than Jokic currently