NBA Playoffs 2019-2020

[RockinRyA]

The Celtics might have had the easiest path to the NBA Finals all said and done lol.

Sweep Joel Embiid's 76ers, potentially sweep Kyle Lowry's Raptors, and perhaps bounce Jimmy Butler's Heat out of the playoffs

Its easy because we dont have to play ourselves 

[gouki88]

The Celtics might have had the easiest path to the NBA Finals all said and done lol.

Sweep Joel Embiid's 76ers, potentially sweep Kyle Lowry's Raptors, and perhaps bounce Jimmy Butler's Heat out of the playoffs

Its easy because we dont have to play ourselves 

Tbh would have loved this year's team to come up against last year's!

[Birdman]

I’m a Houston fan now lol..beat those Lakers please but just don’t see it happening.. Let’s go Celtics!!

[Phantom255x]

So these are my 2nd round predictions that I had predicted in my mind BEFORE any 2nd round games had started:

Raptors > Celtics in 6
Bucks > Heat in 6

Clippers > Nuggets in 5
Lakers > Rockets in 6

Now that the other series in the West are over, I'll post it. I had predicted all these teams would advance from the 1st round btw, just didn't want to jump the gun in case the Jazz or Thunder actually pulled off the upset lol. But the Rockets and Nuggets prevailed.

[ManUp]

My predictions before any games had taken place

Celtics in 7
Heat in 6
Clippers in 6
Lakers in 6

What I'm thinking as of today with games taking place

Celtics in 5
Heat in 5

lol

[cman88]

Giannis whole game is predicated on his athleticism and throwing elbows in the paint. Also the refs letting him travel so basically no one can guard him. Other than that, hes not a closer.

[johnnygreen]

I heard Marcus Smart was fined $5,000 for flopping in game 2. I assume this relates to the end of the game breakaway, when he ran into Siakam. The fact that Marcus hustled like crazy to get back into the play, and thought to do that because he couldn’t get to the ball, just shows how in tune he is at all times to the game and his basketball IQ. BTW, Siakam did put out his elbow, which made it seem in real time, like it was a foul on him. For some reason, I had thought Toronto had already used their challenge before that, so I was confused when the refs went to replay.

I’m not questioning the call, but rather, bringing to light the little things Marcus (almost instinctively) does to help win games. I'm so happy he's on the Celtics!

[liam]

Giannis whole game is predicated on his athleticism and throwing elbows in the paint. Also the refs letting him travel so basically no one can guard him. Other than that, hes not a closer.

I don't think I'd trade him for Tatum at this point. I used to think he was the better player but Tatum is just more complete. The defense also used to be that Giannis was so much better on that end that it made up for some of the offensive warts but Tatum has closed the gap.Giannis is still a great defender but Tatum is excellent on that end as well. The more I see Tatum in the playoffs this year the more I think he's a top 5 or at least top 10 NBA player now. Giannis is a real liability at the end of games without a good shot and as a bad free-throw shooter. the regular season is one thing but the playoffs are another. 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Giannis whole game is predicated on his athleticism and throwing elbows in the paint. Also the refs letting him travel so basically no one can guard him. Other than that, hes not a closer.

I don't think I'd trade him for Tatum at this point. I used to think he was the better player but Tatum is just more complete. The defense also used to be that Giannis was so much better on that end that it made up for some of the offensive warts but Tatum has closed the gap.Giannis is still a great defender but Tatum is excellent on that end as well. The more I see Tatum in the playoffs this year the more I think he's a top 5 or at least top 10 NBA player now. Giannis is a real liability at the end of games without a good shot and as a bad free-throw shooter. the regular season is one thing but the playoffs are another.

I appreciate the positivity and I love Jayson Tatum. I think he's a legit top 10 player in the NBA right now. If he keeps reading the court and making one-handed hook swing passes like he did last game, he would add the last dimension of his game (distribution) that would launch him into a top 5 player and a true MVP candidate.

As good as Tatum has played so far this playoffs, there are still some concerning parts to his game that he needs to figure out. He is not a great finisher yet, and although he drew a lot of fouls last game, he still struggles to get easy points at the free throw line consistently. He needs those things.

Giannis is still the MVP. It's not his fault that Bud's system is built for the regular season. It's not his fault that he doesn't have other reliable shot-creators on his team.

[Phantom255x]

The bubble is definitely having an effect. A team like Milwaukee thrives on homecourt and without it, they seem like a deer in headlights for stretches (no pun intended). It's also leading to some near upsets that you normally wouldn't expect. Anyways, 8 teams left in the bubble now, and of those I think Milwaukee and Toronto not having home court is having the most effect. And they both happen to be down 2-0.

[kraidstar]

The bubble is definitely having an effect. A team like Milwaukee thrives on homecourt and without it, they seem like a deer in headlights for stretches (no pun intended). It's also leading to some near upsets that you normally wouldn't expect. Anyways, 8 teams left in the bubble now, and of those I think Milwaukee and Toronto not having home court is having the most effect. And they both happen to be down 2-0.

Milwaukee and Toronto need home court because they have little star talent. Teams with high-end talent (and proper support) win in the postseason. Teams without it get exposed pretty quickly.

They are a lot like those Cavs teams during the Steroid King's first tenure there. Lots of overrated one-way players and a washed-up former star or two.

Back then it was Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Andersen Varajao, Shaq etc.

Now it is Marc Gasol, Ibaka, Van Vleet, Lowry, Lopez, Bledsoe, Wes Matthews. In Milwaukee's case at least Giannis has Middleton. But Middleton would be a historically poor #2 star if the Bucks somehow win the championship.

[johnnygreen]

The bubble is definitely having an effect. A team like Milwaukee thrives on homecourt and without it, they seem like a deer in headlights for stretches (no pun intended). It's also leading to some near upsets that you normally wouldn't expect. Anyways, 8 teams left in the bubble now, and of those I think Milwaukee and Toronto not having home court is having the most effect. And they both happen to be down 2-0.

I have heard, any team that wins the title this season, may have an asterisk on it. For me, this year may finally give us the team that is most deserving of being a champion. Teams shouldn't necessarily win just because they have home court advantage. Yes the regular season matters, but the referees shouldn't be influenced by the home court, which they always do. Even though it was a bad (make-up) call, there is no way Giannis gets called for fouling Butler with zero time left, if the game was in Milwaukee.

[liam]

Giannis whole game is predicated on his athleticism and throwing elbows in the paint. Also the refs letting him travel so basically no one can guard him. Other than that, hes not a closer.

I don't think I'd trade him for Tatum at this point. I used to think he was the better player but Tatum is just more complete. The defense also used to be that Giannis was so much better on that end that it made up for some of the offensive warts but Tatum has closed the gap.Giannis is still a great defender but Tatum is excellent on that end as well. The more I see Tatum in the playoffs this year the more I think he's a top 5 or at least top 10 NBA player now. Giannis is a real liability at the end of games without a good shot and as a bad free-throw shooter. the regular season is one thing but the playoffs are another.

I appreciate the positivity and I love Jayson Tatum. I think he's a legit top 10 player in the NBA right now. If he keeps reading the court and making one-handed hook swing passes like he did last game, he would add the last dimension of his game (distribution) that would launch him into a top 5 player and a true MVP candidate.

As good as Tatum has played so far this playoffs, there are still some concerning parts to his game that he needs to figure out. He is not a great finisher yet, and although he drew a lot of fouls last game, he still struggles to get easy points at the free throw line consistently. He needs those things.

Giannis is still the MVP. It's not his fault that Bud's system is built for the regular season. It's not his fault that he doesn't have other reliable shot-creators on his team.

It's always your fault if you're the MVP.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Giannis whole game is predicated on his athleticism and throwing elbows in the paint. Also the refs letting him travel so basically no one can guard him. Other than that, hes not a closer.

I don't think I'd trade him for Tatum at this point. I used to think he was the better player but Tatum is just more complete. The defense also used to be that Giannis was so much better on that end that it made up for some of the offensive warts but Tatum has closed the gap.Giannis is still a great defender but Tatum is excellent on that end as well. The more I see Tatum in the playoffs this year the more I think he's a top 5 or at least top 10 NBA player now. Giannis is a real liability at the end of games without a good shot and as a bad free-throw shooter. the regular season is one thing but the playoffs are another.

I appreciate the positivity and I love Jayson Tatum. I think he's a legit top 10 player in the NBA right now. If he keeps reading the court and making one-handed hook swing passes like he did last game, he would add the last dimension of his game (distribution) that would launch him into a top 5 player and a true MVP candidate.

As good as Tatum has played so far this playoffs, there are still some concerning parts to his game that he needs to figure out. He is not a great finisher yet, and although he drew a lot of fouls last game, he still struggles to get easy points at the free throw line consistently. He needs those things.

Giannis is still the MVP. It's not his fault that Bud's system is built for the regular season. It's not his fault that he doesn't have other reliable shot-creators on his team.

It's always your fault if you're the MVP.

Fair enough. He deserves blame for his team's struggles.

[bopna]

Jamal Murray back to earth in the second round with his scoring...

id be surprised tbh if he even scores 35 points in any of the seven games...if it gets that far which I highly doubt. Clippers will dispatch these Nuggets in 5 or 6 at the most.