2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Moranis]

I hadn't looked at the standings recently. Didn't realize the Lakers were only 1.5 games behind  Sacto for 8th.  That is huge given Denver is now in the 1 line.  Getting into that 7/8 game is a must for all those teams to have a shot at advancing as none are beating the Nuggets, but they could all beat the Thunder or Wolves (not saying they will, just they have a real chance).

[Celtics2021]

I hadn't looked at the standings recently. Didn't realize the Lakers were only 1.5 games behind  Sacto for 8th.  That is huge given Denver is now in the 1 line.  Getting into that 7/8 game is a must for all those teams to have a shot at advancing as none are beating the Nuggets, but they could all beat the Thunder or Wolves (not saying they will, just they have a real chance).

Notably the Kings also have the tiebreaker, so the Lakers effectively are 2.5 games down with 9 to play, which will be tough time make up in that time.

[SparzWizard]

I hadn't looked at the standings recently. Didn't realize the Lakers were only 1.5 games behind  Sacto for 8th.  That is huge given Denver is now in the 1 line.  Getting into that 7/8 game is a must for all those teams to have a shot at advancing as none are beating the Nuggets, but they could all beat the Thunder or Wolves (not saying they will, just they have a real chance).

Only teams I see beating the Lakers in the playoffs are the Nuggets, Kings, and healthy Wolves. Don't think I trust the Clippers in a 7 game series and didn't they get swept by LAL this season?

It'll be important they lose the play-in games or match up with the Nuggets in round one.

[Phantom255x]

The only concerning thing with these 2 losses is Boston might very well play the Hawks in the 1st round and now I'm not as sure it will be a 4 or 5 game series like it needs to be.

Honestly I'm not sure there is a matchup that exists which would be 4-5 games. Feel like all of them including CHI/ATL could go at least 6 games IMO

You would think Chicago or Atlanta should be dispatched easily in 5 but idk. Also, is Trae Young returning at all this season? Funny enough I kind of think ATL plays better without him

[celticinorlando]

West has so many teams with major question marks.

OKC youth
Minnesota health
Clippers underachievement and health
Kings are up and down
Suns can they figure things out esp in the 4th quarter?
Dallas doesn’t play much defense
Pelicans how will they perform on the big stage

Denver really is the only steady ship in that sea

[celticsclay]

I hadn't looked at the standings recently. Didn't realize the Lakers were only 1.5 games behind  Sacto for 8th.  That is huge given Denver is now in the 1 line.  Getting into that 7/8 game is a must for all those teams to have a shot at advancing as none are beating the Nuggets, but they could all beat the Thunder or Wolves (not saying they will, just they have a real chance).

Only teams I see beating the Lakers in the playoffs are the Nuggets, Kings, and healthy Wolves. Don't think I trust the Clippers in a 7 game series and didn't they get swept by LAL this season?

It'll be important they lose the play-in games or match up with the Nuggets in round one.

You are thinking of kings lakers. Kings swept the lakers 4-0. Crazy fact they were saying on last game is Anthony Davis has never beaten sabonis in his career. Clippers lakers was 3-1 but as usual these regular season records are completely irrelevant (don’t think kings would dominate lakers in playoffs either)  as they rarely include teams at full strength. I know one of the clippers lakers game the clippers were down 2-3 starters and another was before harden trade. A few months ago I would have said clippers would crush lakers, but now I can’t say that very confidently because clippers seem broken.

[Phantom255x]

If the Lakers draw OKC first round, then LAC/NOP the 2nd round, they unfortunately have a real shot to make the WCF again. I'm not as sold on those three teams. Clips should be better but they seem to be a mess.

Hope Minnesota or especially Denver are the 1 seed. I think the Wolves can beat them this year, even without KAT.

Then again, this could be a lot easier if Golden State or Houston just beats the Lakers in the first play-in game.

[celticinorlando]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

[Donoghus]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

But you told us last night that this team was finished.  Now they're maybe making the Finals?

[celticinorlando]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

But you told us last night that this team was finished.  Now they're maybe making the Finals?

Stranger things have happened.
The Celtics make me say a lot of irrational things.

[CelticSooner]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

But you told us last night that this team was finished.  Now they're maybe making the Finals?

Stranger things have happened.
The Celtics make me say a lot of irrational things.

Since Joe pretty much admitted that they aren’t serious right now a losing streak is doable lol

With NOLA and OKC playing for seeding I can see the C’s getting smoked in both games. The magic number is still 4 games, best not mess around too much.

[Roy H.]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

But you told us last night that this team was finished.  Now they're maybe making the Finals?

Stranger things have happened.
The Celtics make me say a lot of irrational things.

Since Joe pretty much admitted that they aren’t serious right now a losing streak is doable lol

With NOLA and OKC playing for seeding I can see the C’s getting smoked in both games. The magic number is still 4 games, best not mess around too much.

If they aren't serious, why are they playing Tatum 45 minutes?

[celticsclay]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

But you told us last night that this team was finished.  Now they're maybe making the Finals?

Stranger things have happened.
The Celtics make me say a lot of irrational things.

Since Joe pretty much admitted that they aren’t serious right now a losing streak is doable lol

With NOLA and OKC playing for seeding I can see the C’s getting smoked in both games. The magic number is still 4 games, best not mess around too much.

If they aren't serious, why are they playing Tatum 45 minutes?

To be honest they really shouldn’t have done that. That was unnecessary

[CelticSooner]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

But you told us last night that this team was finished.  Now they're maybe making the Finals?

Stranger things have happened.
The Celtics make me say a lot of irrational things.

Since Joe pretty much admitted that they aren’t serious right now a losing streak is doable lol

With NOLA and OKC playing for seeding I can see the C’s getting smoked in both games. The magic number is still 4 games, best not mess around too much.

If they aren't serious, why are they playing Tatum 45 minutes?

No idea, the team was actually performing better when one of the J’s sat because the bench gets to play all game. The energy and flow was nice. Made the games much more enjoyable personally. As soon as they lost a game, they wanted your cake and to eat it too.

[celticinorlando]

I think the question is what team in the west could possibly beat Denver in a series.

Denver is the one team I worry about the most if Boston gets there.

But you told us last night that this team was finished.  Now they're maybe making the Finals?

Stranger things have happened.
The Celtics make me say a lot of irrational things.

Since Joe pretty much admitted that they aren’t serious right now a losing streak is doable lol

With NOLA and OKC playing for seeding I can see the C’s getting smoked in both games. The magic number is still 4 games, best not mess around too much.

If they aren't serious, why are they playing Tatum 45 minutes?

I will be interested to see the line up for tomorrow. Does Joe play everyone vs a good team to get some continuity back or do they rest certain players.

I know Charlotte will be a lot of guys resting.

It was frustrating to see them play their starters good minutes last night and look like they were committed to winning only to hear that they were practicing certain defensive looks in crunch time, which allowed Atlanta to win the game.