The NBA and Winning the Championship in the Off Season

[GreenCoffeeBean]

First, I'm going to state that I don't see a way that a healthy Clippers team can be beaten this year. That team has 8-9 players that are probably starters on other very competitive teams. I can't think of another professional sport where you can win the championship before the season even starts.

The Clippers will do it. The Warriors did it. The Celtics did it (2008). The only times I can think of it not resulting in a championship the same year are the Heat in 2010.

All that said, I'm still excited to watch this season. I'm especially excited to watch this Clippers team because they're going to be monsters defensively. That will be a nice change of pace.

[Somebody]

I think the top West teams (Denver and Houston come to mind) have a shot, the playoffs is a high variance event where teams can meme to titles by getting unreasonably hot (eg. 1995 Rockets). But yes the Clippers are a cut above everything else (like I said during the offseason), despite people claiming that fringe playoff teams like the Lakers can compete against them aside from playing with them in the same court.

[Who]

Yeah it sucks when one team is so far out in front of everyone else.

That is why I am in the Anybody but the Clippers camp. I'll be happy to see anyone else win the Championship. Philly, Lakers, Rockets. Whoever. Anyone other than the Clippers.

[PhoSita]

Well, the Clips are going to be awesome if Ivica Zubac continues to produce at an All-Star rate and Patrick Patterson is a starting caliber stretch 4 again.

I dunno if you can expect that sort of thing to last, but we'll see.


The Clips have the best bench in the league based around Lou and Harrell, and they have a bunch of scrappy, solid role players around that.  Add Kawhi's individual scoring brilliance and elite defense to that and you have the recipe for a title.

They've got Paul George, too, obviously.


I think they're the favorites but I don't think they're a shoe-in by any means.  I still think that Denver or Utah will have the 1 seed thanks to their home court advantage and Kawhi's "load management."

I also think the Rockets are a team that can get hot at anytime and could go on a run in the post-season.  This could finally be their year.


Any team with Giannis on it has a chance against anyone.


This is exciting!  First time in a while that the league really feels wide open.  I haven't changed my mind on that despite the Clips looking awesome in the first 2 games.

[celts10]

I can't think of another professional sport where you can win the championship before the season even starts.

The Clippers will do it. The Warriors did it. The Celtics did it (2008). The only times I can think of it not resulting in a championship the same year are the Heat in 2010.

What about the 2003-04 Lakers?

[Moranis]

I predicted a Milwaukee over Houston Finals and I'm sticking to that.  They basically are the same team that has been the 2nd best team in the World the last few seasons except for swapping Westbrook for Paul (which I feel is an upgrade).  They need Nene and Green back, but I just think this might be their year.

The Clippers are very good, no doubt, but I'm not really sure how George is going to integrate and I do think their bench skill has reached crazy town levels of hype.  I mean people are acting like they have a playoff caliber starting unit on their bench and they don't.  It is a good bench, but I'm not even sure the bench is the best in the conference (Denver's bench is very deep, especially when Porter comes back) let alone the league on the whole (Milwaukee, Brooklyn, and Toronto all have excellent benches).  Leonard and George are fantastic all around players, but the other 3 starters are very one dimensional players.  They are excellent at their dimension i.e. Beverly defense, Shamet shooting, and Zubac toughness.  If a team has great wing defenders and can limit Leonard and George even slightly, then I think the Clippers are very beatable.  I strangely like Houston's chances in that regard, especially since I think Harden and Westbrook are terrible defensive match-ups for the Clippers. 

[fairweatherfan]

I can't think of another professional sport where you can win the championship before the season even starts.

The Clippers will do it. The Warriors did it. The Celtics did it (2008). The only times I can think of it not resulting in a championship the same year are the Heat in 2010.

What about the 2003-04 Lakers?

60% of the time it works, every time.

[Moranis]

I can't think of another professional sport where you can win the championship before the season even starts.

The Clippers will do it. The Warriors did it. The Celtics did it (2008). The only times I can think of it not resulting in a championship the same year are the Heat in 2010.

What about the 2003-04 Lakers?

Clearly Kobe threw that one so he could have Shaq traded. 

[bdm860]

I predicted a Milwaukee over Houston Finals and I'm sticking to that.  They basically are the same team that has been the 2nd best team in the World the last few seasons except for swapping Westbrook for Paul (which I feel is an upgrade).  They need Nene and Green back, but I just think this might be their year.

How do you view a MIL/PHI matchup in the ECF?

Philly has some question marks (shooting/health/fit), but I think think they'll be able to defend Giannis as well as anybody throwing up a wall with Horford/Embiid/whoever as the 3rd man.

MIL might be the better team, but I think Philly will win that matchup.

Edit - of course if Giannis has developed a good jumper (2/5 from 3 last night) then God help us all.

[Phantom255x]

I predicted a Milwaukee over Houston Finals and I'm sticking to that.  They basically are the same team that has been the 2nd best team in the World the last few seasons except for swapping Westbrook for Paul (which I feel is an upgrade).  They need Nene and Green back, but I just think this might be their year.

The Clippers are very good, no doubt, but I'm not really sure how George is going to integrate and I do think their bench skill has reached crazy town levels of hype.  I mean people are acting like they have a playoff caliber starting unit on their bench and they don't.  It is a good bench, but I'm not even sure the bench is the best in the conference (Denver's bench is very deep, especially when Porter comes back) let alone the league on the whole (Milwaukee, Brooklyn, and Toronto all have excellent benches).  Leonard and George are fantastic all around players, but the other 3 starters are very one dimensional players.  They are excellent at their dimension i.e. Beverly defense, Shamet shooting, and Zubac toughness.  If a team has great wing defenders and can limit Leonard and George even slightly, then I think the Clippers are very beatable.  I strangely like Houston's chances in that regard, especially since I think Harden and Westbrook are terrible defensive match-ups for the Clippers.

So I have it as Clippers vs. Bucks in the Finals, with the Clippers winning.

With that said, I actually agree with you about Houston. I'm another guy who thinks people are sleeping a bit on Houston. Yeah, it can be fair to question if Harden-Westbrook can coexist together in a whole season. But remember, the only reason HOU didn't make the Finals for a lot of those years, was because of one thing, Golden State. Now they're basically gone as a legit threat, and I think Houston upgraded by going from an old and injured CP3 to Westbrook. Morey is also usually a wizard in making deals and/or buyout signings (remember Faried last season).

I think it'll be Clippers - Rockets in the WCF, in a series that goes 6 or 7 games.

I'm predicting LAL-HOU meet in the 2nd round, and Houston beats them. I think some of Houston's bigs can hold their own against the Lakers frontcourt, but my question is, what answer does LAL have against Harden and Westbrook? Are Kuzma, Rondo and KCP going to stop them? (Lol)

[Moranis]

I predicted a Milwaukee over Houston Finals and I'm sticking to that.  They basically are the same team that has been the 2nd best team in the World the last few seasons except for swapping Westbrook for Paul (which I feel is an upgrade).  They need Nene and Green back, but I just think this might be their year.

How do you view a MIL/PHI matchup in the ECF?

Philly has some question marks (shooting/health/fit), but I think think they'll be able to defend Giannis as well as anybody throwing up a wall with Horford/Embiid/whoever as the 3rd man.

MIL might be the better team, but I think Philly will win that matchup.

Edit - of course if Giannis has developed a good jumper (2/5 from 3 last night) then God help us all.

I think Milwaukee is better than Philadelphia and matches up well with them.  Lopez will give Embiid fits and make him work a lot defensively by dragging him all over the court.  That in turn will wear him down and make him less effective on the other end.  I don't think anyone on the Sixers can come even close to guarding Giannis.  Horford/Embiid don't have the foot speed and Harris well is Harris.  Only Kawhi-like players have any real shot of slowing Giannis down and the Sixers just don't have that player.  At the rest of the positions, I like Milwaukee's players in a Sixers matchup.  I think they have players that can deal with Simmons' size but not hamstring the rest of the defense.  Milwaukee is also very deep so they can throw lots of bodies out there.  As long as Giannis is healthy, I don't think anyone in the East is capable of containing him and thus think the Bucks will come out of the East.  I think the Bucks would struggle with the Clippers or Lakers, but would beat any other western team for the same reason I think the Bucks beat the Sixers i.e. they just aren't capable of effectively slowing Giannis down.

[tazzmaniac]

I predicted a Milwaukee over Houston Finals and I'm sticking to that.  They basically are the same team that has been the 2nd best team in the World the last few seasons except for swapping Westbrook for Paul (which I feel is an upgrade).  They need Nene and Green back, but I just think this might be their year.

How do you view a MIL/PHI matchup in the ECF?

Philly has some question marks (shooting/health/fit), but I think think they'll be able to defend Giannis as well as anybody throwing up a wall with Horford/Embiid/whoever as the 3rd man.

MIL might be the better team, but I think Philly will win that matchup.

Edit - of course if Giannis has developed a good jumper (2/5 from 3 last night) then God help us all.

I think Milwaukee is better than Philadelphia and matches up well with them.  Lopez will give Embiid fits and make him work a lot defensively by dragging him all over the court.  That in turn will wear him down and make him less effective on the other end.  I don't think anyone on the Sixers can come even close to guarding Giannis.  Horford/Embiid don't have the foot speed and Harris well is Harris.  Only Kawhi-like players have any real shot of slowing Giannis down and the Sixers just don't have that player.  At the rest of the positions, I like Milwaukee's players in a Sixers matchup.  I think they have players that can deal with Simmons' size but not hamstring the rest of the defense.  Milwaukee is also very deep so they can throw lots of bodies out there.  As long as Giannis is healthy, I don't think anyone in the East is capable of containing him and thus think the Bucks will come out of the East.  I think the Bucks would struggle with the Clippers or Lakers, but would beat any other western team for the same reason I think the Bucks beat the Sixers i.e. they just aren't capable of effectively slowing Giannis down.

You haven't been paying attention.  Teams have started defending with bigs.  Giannis size, strength and length are what make him difficult to defend.  You've got to make it hard for him to get to the paint and that isn't a foot speed issue.  He was overpowering Simmons last season one game so the Sixers switched Embiid on him to slow him down.  Giannis still got his points but he talked about the challenge going up against Embiid.  Now they have Horford to use on Giannis too. 

Embiid is going to be guarding the paint.  Horford or Harris will take Lopez if he's out at the 3.  The Bucks are starting Wes Matthews a significant downgrade from Brogdon.  Bledsoe performs poorly in the playoffs.  As for their bench it isn't that good.  Hill's really the only one of import.  Ilyasova under performed in the playoffs with the Bucks just like he did with the Sixers.  Robin Lopez isn't a concern especially since the Sixers have Horford.  Korver will be a defensive sieve whenever he's on the court.   

[Somebody]

I think Simmons can be that type of Kawhi defender on Giannis tbh. His physical profile isn't much different from Kawhi aside from not possessing those enormous mitts and disproportionately long wingspan-6'9.5 forward who's strong and athletic enough to make Giannis work on offense.

[Moranis]

I predicted a Milwaukee over Houston Finals and I'm sticking to that.  They basically are the same team that has been the 2nd best team in the World the last few seasons except for swapping Westbrook for Paul (which I feel is an upgrade).  They need Nene and Green back, but I just think this might be their year.

How do you view a MIL/PHI matchup in the ECF?

Philly has some question marks (shooting/health/fit), but I think think they'll be able to defend Giannis as well as anybody throwing up a wall with Horford/Embiid/whoever as the 3rd man.

MIL might be the better team, but I think Philly will win that matchup.

Edit - of course if Giannis has developed a good jumper (2/5 from 3 last night) then God help us all.

I think Milwaukee is better than Philadelphia and matches up well with them.  Lopez will give Embiid fits and make him work a lot defensively by dragging him all over the court.  That in turn will wear him down and make him less effective on the other end.  I don't think anyone on the Sixers can come even close to guarding Giannis.  Horford/Embiid don't have the foot speed and Harris well is Harris.  Only Kawhi-like players have any real shot of slowing Giannis down and the Sixers just don't have that player.  At the rest of the positions, I like Milwaukee's players in a Sixers matchup.  I think they have players that can deal with Simmons' size but not hamstring the rest of the defense.  Milwaukee is also very deep so they can throw lots of bodies out there.  As long as Giannis is healthy, I don't think anyone in the East is capable of containing him and thus think the Bucks will come out of the East.  I think the Bucks would struggle with the Clippers or Lakers, but would beat any other western team for the same reason I think the Bucks beat the Sixers i.e. they just aren't capable of effectively slowing Giannis down.

You haven't been paying attention.  Teams have started defending with bigs.  Giannis size, strength and length are what make him difficult to defend.  You've got to make it hard for him to get to the paint and that isn't a foot speed issue.  He was overpowering Simmons last season one game so the Sixers switched Embiid on him to slow him down.  Giannis still got his points but he talked about the challenge going up against Embiid.  Now they have Horford to use on Giannis too. 

Embiid is going to be guarding the paint.  Horford or Harris will take Lopez if he's out at the 3.  The Bucks are starting Wes Matthews a significant downgrade from Brogdon.  Bledsoe performs poorly in the playoffs.  As for their bench it isn't that good.  Hill's really the only one of import.  Ilyasova under performed in the playoffs with the Bucks just like he did with the Sixers.  Robin Lopez isn't a concern especially since the Sixers have Horford.  Korver will be a defensive sieve whenever he's on the court.

Horford can't guard Giannis.  We saw that first hand last year.  And as you said Giannis still got his against Embiid (and if Embiid is guarding Giannis he is really going to wear down).  The Sixers can't guard Giannis.  Simmons is their best shot at it, but that makes for huge mismatches elsewhere on the floor. 

[Celtics4ever]

I think Simmons can be that type of Kawhi defender on Giannis tbh. His physical profile isn't much different from Kawhi aside from not possessing those enormous mitts and disproportionately long wingspan-6'9.5 forward who's strong and athletic enough to make Giannis work on offense.

The problem with this theory was always been Simmons apathy and lack of heart.   I am not sold he has it yet.