Playoff Prediction Thread

[Moranis]

The 7 seeds are now decided so that just leaves 2 of the 8 series unknown, feel free to wait until that is determined to make predictions if changes things for you, but since it won't for me here are mine (leaving games off the 1/8 matchups since that may change based on who is the 8th seed, though I believe the 1 seed beats all 3 potential opponents).

East 1st Round
1. Miami v. 8 Seed - Miami
4. Philly v. 5. Toronto - Philly in 5
3. Milwaukee v. 6. Chicago - Milwaukee in 4
2. Boston v. 7. Brooklyn - Boston in 7

EC Semis
1. Miami v. 4. Philly - Philly in 7
2. Boston v. 3. Milwaukee - Milwaukee in 6

EC Finals
3. Milwaukee v. 4. Philly - Milwaukee in 5


West 1st Round
1. Phoenix v. 8 seed - Phoenix
4. Dallas v. 5. Utah - Dallas in 5 (if Luka is healthy at start, or in 7 if banged up some)
3. Golden St. v. 6. Denver - Denver in 6
2. Memphis v. 7 Minnesota - Memphis in 5

WC Semis
1. Phoenix v. 4. Dallas - Dallas in 6 (if Luka is healthy otherwise Phoenix wins)
2. Memphis v. 6. Denver - Memphis in 7

WC Finals
2. Memphis v. 4. Dallas - Dallas in 6


Finals
3. Milwaukee v. 4 Dallas - Milwaukee in 6 - Giannis Finals MVP


Predictions change a lot if Luka's calf is really injured, so I leave it open to change as we get closer.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

I know Luka has been a beast against the Celtics (and the rest of the league), but I don't think Dallas is a top 5 team.

My take:

ECF: MIL at MIA

WCF: GS at PHX

Finals rematch, and PHX still doesn't have a solution for Giannis. Giannis is the most dominant force in the NBA since Shaq.

[dannyboy35]

 
  East 1st Round
  1. Miami v 8. Cavs in 6

  4. 76ers over 5. seed Raptors in 6

  3. Bucks over 6.seed Bulls in 6 games.

 

2. Celtics over 7. seed Nets (7 games)
   
     I can’t objectively look at this one. It sounds possible to get both a Simmons and maybe even a Timelord appearance. I think we’ll need Rob if they gain Simmons back . I think Ime is gonna really have Celts locked in and ready. I hope the refs can not get too involved. This is going to be tense.

EC Semis
1. Miami v. 4. Philly - Miami in 7
2. Boston v. 3. Milwaukee - Celts  in 7

EC Finals
1. Miami v. 2. Celts - Celts in 6

  West 1st Round
1. Phoenix v. 8 seed - Suns in 5 games .
4. Dallas v. 5. Utah - Dallas in 5 (if Luka is healthy at start/ 7 if compromised.
3. Golden St. v. 6. Denver - Denver in 6
2. Memphis v. 7 Minnesota - Memphis in 7

WC Semis
1. Phoenix v. 4. Dallas - Phoenix in 7
2. Memphis v. 6. Denver - Memphis in 7

WC Finals
1. Suns vs 2. Memphis in 6

Finals
3. Celts v. 1. Suns - Celts in 6 - Tatum MVP





   
 

[Who]

East

Heat vs Hawks - Heat in 6 or 7
Bucks vs Bulls - Bucks in 4 or 5
Celtics vs Nets - Celtics in 5 or 6
Sixers vs Raptors - Sixers in 6

Heat vs Sixers - Sixers in 7
Bucks vs Celtics - Bucks in 6

Bucks vs Sixers - Bucks in 6

West

Suns vs Clippers - Suns in 4
Memphis vs TWolves - Memphis in 5
Warriors vs Nuggets - Warriors in 6
Dallas vs Utah - 7 game series, unsure

Suns vs Dallas or Utah - Suns in 6 or 7 against either
Grizzlies vs Warriors - Warriors in 6

Suns vs Warriors - Warriors in 6

Finals

Bucks vs Warriors - 7 game series, unsure

I hope GSW beats MIL if they face off.

[hwangjini_1]

The 7 seeds are now decided so that just leaves 2 of the 8 series unknown, feel free to wait until that is determined to make predictions if changes things for you, but since it won't for me here are mine (leaving games off the 1/8 matchups since that may change based on who is the 8th seed, though I believe the 1 seed beats all 3 potential opponents).

East 1st Round
1. Miami v. 8 Seed - Miami
4. Philly v. 5. Toronto - Philly in 5
3. Milwaukee v. 6. Chicago - Milwaukee in 4
2. Boston v. 7. Brooklyn - Boston in 7

EC Semis
1. Miami v. 4. Philly - Philly in 7
2. Boston v. 3. Milwaukee - Milwaukee in 6

EC Finals
3. Milwaukee v. 4. Philly - Milwaukee in 5


West 1st Round
1. Phoenix v. 8 seed - Phoenix
4. Dallas v. 5. Utah - Dallas in 5 (if Luka is healthy at start, or in 7 if banged up some)
3. Golden St. v. 6. Denver - Denver in 6
2. Memphis v. 7 Minnesota - Memphis in 5

WC Semis
1. Phoenix v. 4. Dallas - Dallas in 6 (if Luka is healthy otherwise Phoenix wins)
2. Memphis v. 6. Denver - Memphis in 7

WC Finals
2. Memphis v. 4. Dallas - Dallas in 6


Finals
3. Milwaukee v. 4 Dallas - Milwaukee in 6 - Giannis Finals MVP


Predictions change a lot if Luka's calf is really injured, so I leave it open to change as we get closer.

i hate you.


 

[Silas]

Any news about Rob?  Still on schedule, ahead or behind.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Memphis is only a 3:1 favorite and dropping vs Minnesota.  I am not sure I'd be confident on either of them, Minnesota is on a tear

[Phantom255x]

I'll make my prediction on Friday. I'm still debating who to choose for Boston-Brooklyn too (originally had Nets in 6 but now wavering)

[celticsclay]

I'm surprised so many are high on Philly beating Toronto, think Thybulle is a pretty big loss for them. The Raptors will obviously struggle to contain Embid and he will get a lot of points. But who is guarding all the length on the Raptors? Defensively they are going to throw Danny Greens corpse against them?

[Celtics2021]

Any news about Rob?  Still on schedule, ahead or behind.

No news.  The Celtics are still preparing to not have him vs. Brooklyn.  I think this is important messaging for Rob as much as anything, so he doesn’t overwork himself trying to get on the court too fast and make it worse.

I only don’t expect him to play because the C’s will win too quickly.  If it’s tied at 2-2, he’ll play game 5.

[colincb]

Any news about Rob?  Still on schedule, ahead or behind.

No news.  The Celtics are still preparing to not have him vs. Brooklyn.  I think this is important messaging for Rob as much as anything, so he doesn’t overwork himself trying to get on the court too fast and make it worse.

I only don’t expect him to play because the C’s will win too quickly.  If it’s tied at 2-2, he’ll play game 5.

He's still on schedule and working out twice a day.:

Brian Robb@BrianTRobb

Ime Udoka on how Rob WIlliams is doing with his rehab: "A little bit more everyday...we're happy with his progress."
12:53 PM · Apr 13, 2022·TweetDeck

[makaveli]

I feel like people are sleeping on Toronto vs Phila

[Who]

I'm surprised so many are high on Philly beating Toronto, think Thybulle is a pretty big loss for them. The Raptors will obviously struggle to contain Embid and he will get a lot of points. But who is guarding all the length on the Raptors? Defensively they are going to throw Danny Greens corpse against them?

The only offensive threat that scares me in a playoff series is VanVleet. The rest of them are fine but nothing special. Not anything to panic over. All manageable.

VanVleet is special. The entire offense revolves around his individual excellence. His quickness, his ball-handling, his outside shooting especially off the dribble long distance shooting, his dribble penetration and passing. He creates so much time and space for his teammates. He is the problem for opponents to worry about.

The Raptors length? Length is one thing. You gotta have the skill to go with the length to exploit the physical advantage. The Raps long wings have some skill but none of them are high skill offensive threats.

Philly matchup fine with them. They have Tobias Harris for Siakam. They have Harden for Anunoby and Danny Green for Scottie Barnes. Will the Raptors get some joy here? Sure. It is so much that it will break their team D and force double teams? I don't see it. Will their offense be so much that it wins them the series? I don't see that either.

I see steady solid offensive play like Toronto has gotten from them most of the season.

There is one guy on that team that is capable of more than steady & solid offensive play and that is VanVleet. The little midget. Not the tall long forwards.

[Who]

I feel like people are sleeping on Toronto vs Phila

I would feel very good about Toronto's chances of beating Philly if they had a player similar to what they had in Marc Gasol in 2019 against Embiid. A 25mpg big bodied center. 260lbs of meat. Gasol a legit seven footer. Someone to bang with Embiid. To physically matchup against the physical power of Embiid.

It doesn't need to be a star. It doesn't need to be anything special. Just give me 25mpg of good D on Embiid that (1) stops my team D from falling apart every time he touches the ball because I gotta double team him (2) frees up the rest of my guys to be aggressive (those long tall forwards) shrinking the court, trapping the ball, forcing turnovers.

Just a solid 25mpg role player and I'd favour them over Philly.

Without that though ... nah, I'm not buying what TOR are selling.

I really like Toronto's team. They are very close to being very very good. But they are not quite there yet and this (Philly) is the most troubling matchup for them because of Embiid. I do not like their chances. They'll scrap hard but I don't see them coming out victorious.

[timpiker]

C's all the way!!!