NBA Season 2022-23

[Vermont Green]

First playoff clinch since 2006, exciting times for the Kings. They're actually the most likeable team in the West. Excited for them, hope to see them bounce the Lakers off for revenge of 2002, otherwise, win some playoff series.

Yes please.

the Lakers are just about the worst matchup for the Kings

wouldn't it be Golden State? I can see how the Warriors in their 6th seed turn the switch come playoff time. I would hate for them 2 to meet in the 1st round. I'd much rather see GS move up to #5, play away vs Phoenix in the 1st round and then the winner have to face off vs Denver.

The Lakers are going to be a bad match up for anyone.  Davis and LeBron are back on the court.  That is the primary factor.  When healthy, these are still two of the best players in the game.  And secondarily, the Lakers improved the supporting cast.  I think the current Lakers are simply a better team than SAC, MEM, LAC.  I don't know about GSW and PHO, they are hard teams to gauge, but to me, at worst, the Lakers are right there with them.  DEN appears to be the favorite in the West but I don't think this current version of the Lakers is all that far behind them.

We'll see if LeBron and LeBrow can hold up.  There is a lot of reason to think they won't but they might.

I agree. Hate to say it, but Rob P did an excellent job at the trade deadline. Feel like the 4 best teams in the playoffs(if healthy) are the Suns, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers.

Not the Nuggets?  Your top teams all have questions, they are all hard teams to gauge.  But the Nuggets have been solid all season.  My sense is that all of the Suns, Warriors, Clipps, and Lakers could be very dangerous teams.  Any one (or more) of them could click and get hot and take it, but I see Denver as the favorite.

Playoffs are a different animal. I don’t think Denver will be good enough defensively.

I guess that is the conventional wisdom and Denver has not done well in the playoffs in the past but their DefRTG (113.6) is about the same as GSW (113.8), LAC (113.5), and LAL (113.3).  PHO is a little better than this group at 112.3.

Denver didn't have Porter or Murray last post season (or for much of the regular season).  Most of the odds makers have PHO now as the favorite in the West (the Durant factor I guess) but Denver a close second.  I think Denver is going to do fine the the playoffs, but pretty much nothing would really surprise me.

[Moranis]

First playoff clinch since 2006, exciting times for the Kings. They're actually the most likeable team in the West. Excited for them, hope to see them bounce the Lakers off for revenge of 2002, otherwise, win some playoff series.

Yes please.

the Lakers are just about the worst matchup for the Kings

wouldn't it be Golden State? I can see how the Warriors in their 6th seed turn the switch come playoff time. I would hate for them 2 to meet in the 1st round. I'd much rather see GS move up to #5, play away vs Phoenix in the 1st round and then the winner have to face off vs Denver.

I think the Kings match up ok against the Warriors.  Warriors may beat them, but I don't mind the matchup.  Fox will make Curry work and the Warriors can't really guard Sabonis.  The Kings have no answer for Davis or James.

[gouki88]

He’s too much…

Mavs' Kyrie Irving says fighting for play-in not what he expected

"I think that now, again, just where we are in the season, and where other teams are positioned already, it kind of looks like a bit of a clusterf---, to be honest with you," Irving said. "Because we're 37-40, and we're trying to fight to get into the play-in game. It's not the expectations I don't think any of us had in that locker room."

"I didn't expect to ask for a trade at that point in the season," he said. "So I wanted to finish out with Brooklyn, finish out with the season that we had going, and I didn't get a chance to do that. So some of the goals I had previously this season had to be shifted, and I had to be more than willing, which I am, to be flexible and adaptable and live with the results, whether we make the playoffs or not.

"I just have to be at peace with where I am and which I am, and trust of the guys that I'm going to be in that war room with every single day. So, I'm appreciative of them giving me the opportunity. It's been nothing but great here. And I've been at peace."

Literally cannot help himself. Beautiful

[SparzWizard]

First playoff clinch since 2006, exciting times for the Kings. They're actually the most likeable team in the West. Excited for them, hope to see them bounce the Lakers off for revenge of 2002, otherwise, win some playoff series.

Yes please.

the Lakers are just about the worst matchup for the Kings

wouldn't it be Golden State? I can see how the Warriors in their 6th seed turn the switch come playoff time. I would hate for them 2 to meet in the 1st round. I'd much rather see GS move up to #5, play away vs Phoenix in the 1st round and then the winner have to face off vs Denver.

The Lakers are going to be a bad match up for anyone.  Davis and LeBron are back on the court.  That is the primary factor.  When healthy, these are still two of the best players in the game.  And secondarily, the Lakers improved the supporting cast.  I think the current Lakers are simply a better team than SAC, MEM, LAC.  I don't know about GSW and PHO, they are hard teams to gauge, but to me, at worst, the Lakers are right there with them.  DEN appears to be the favorite in the West but I don't think this current version of the Lakers is all that far behind them.

We'll see if LeBron and LeBrow can hold up.  There is a lot of reason to think they won't but they might.

I agree. Hate to say it, but Rob P did an excellent job at the trade deadline. Feel like the 4 best teams in the playoffs(if healthy) are the Suns, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers.

Not the Nuggets?  Your top teams all have questions, they are all hard teams to gauge.  But the Nuggets have been solid all season.  My sense is that all of the Suns, Warriors, Clipps, and Lakers could be very dangerous teams.  Any one (or more) of them could click and get hot and take it, but I see Denver as the favorite.

I see Phoenix as the team to beat in the West. Especially once KD is back at 100%.

[celticsclay]

For the people amped up after the lakers split a pair of games with the bulls with Lebron  back, you can get 16-1 odds that they win the west on fan duel. 100 dollars wins 1600. Given they may not even escape play in I think this should be 40-1 but if you really like them it is still a high payout.

[Neurotic Guy]

For the people amped up after the lakers split a pair of games with the bulls with Lebron  back, you can get 16-1 odds that they win the west on fan duel. 100 dollars wins 1600. Given they may not even escape play in I think this should be 40-1 but if you really like them it is still a high payout.

A tangent comment off your post CC - maybe should have its own thread:  I didn’t realize that once sports betting was legalized in Mass what a difference it would make in Boston sports media.

I am a person who has never made a sports bet and have no interest in ever making one. I also don’t have any concern about others betting - with the obvious exception of when gambling becomes a problem.

It seems now that almost every time I turn on NBC Sports Boston  there’s talk or commercials related to betting.  It’s also more incorporated into Celtics broadcasts. I feel pretty naive as I didn’t realize how important betting is, or it seems to be based on the attention it’s getting. I have to admit from a non-bettor’s perspective, it’s a little irritating. 

[Celtics2021]

For the people amped up after the lakers split a pair of games with the bulls with Lebron  back, you can get 16-1 odds that they win the west on fan duel. 100 dollars wins 1600. Given they may not even escape play in I think this should be 40-1 but if you really like them it is still a high payout.

A tangent comment off your post CC - maybe should have its own thread:  I didn’t realize that once sports betting was legalized in Mass what a difference it would make in Boston sports media.

I am a person who has never made a sports bet and have no interest in ever making one. I also don’t have any concern about others betting - with the obvious exception of when gambling becomes a problem.

It seems now that almost every time I turn on NBC Sports Boston  there’s talk or commercials related to betting.  It’s also more incorporated into Celtics broadcasts. I feel pretty naive as I didn’t realize how important betting is, or it seems to be based on the attention it’s getting. I have to admit from a non-bettor’s perspective, it’s a little irritating.

When you hear about the salaries and revenues players and teams are making, a major reason for the sudden spike is the legalization of sports betting.  It has greatly increased interest across all sports.

[celticsclay]

For the people amped up after the lakers split a pair of games with the bulls with Lebron  back, you can get 16-1 odds that they win the west on fan duel. 100 dollars wins 1600. Given they may not even escape play in I think this should be 40-1 but if you really like them it is still a high payout.

A tangent comment off your post CC - maybe should have its own thread:  I didn’t realize that once sports betting was legalized in Mass what a difference it would make in Boston sports media.

I am a person who has never made a sports bet and have no interest in ever making one. I also don’t have any concern about others betting - with the obvious exception of when gambling becomes a problem.

It seems now that almost every time I turn on NBC Sports Boston  there’s talk or commercials related to betting.  It’s also more incorporated into Celtics broadcasts. I feel pretty naive as I didn’t realize how important betting is, or it seems to be based on the attention it’s getting. I have to admit from a non-bettor’s perspective, it’s a little irritating.

Even if you actually bet the amount of ads and mentions for it are annoying. I really wish there were more restrictions on how much they could advertise. I also only bring in odds as a means of perspective cause well it is true the sportsbook set lines to try and get equal money on, they are ultimately extremely based on math at the end of the day. So when I see fans on the forum getting super excited over a team that has been under .500 for two years now I think it’s useful to throw in a little math basis on it.

[SparzWizard]

Great big win by the C's. But the playoffs are a different animal and all teams reset to 0-0. They need to remain disciplined and get ready for their first-round opponent.

[Phantom255x]

Unfortunately it seems like Miami is soon going to be locked into the play-in tournament while BKN locks up the 6 seed.

Now I'm hoping Atlanta can overtake Miami and make it so that they play Miami in the play-in tournament AT Atlanta assuming ATL finishes 7, MIA 8. Or maybe Toronto instead. Both ATL + TOR are just 1.5 behind MIA.

I still prefer to avoid Miami at all costs in the 1st round. A series with ATL/TOR/CHI could pose some tricky things but still not as bad as Miami

[Celtics2021]

Unfortunately it seems like Miami is soon going to be locked into the play-in tournament while BKN locks up the 6 seed.

Now I'm hoping Atlanta can overtake Miami and make it so that they play Miami in the play-in tournament AT Atlanta assuming ATL finishes 7, MIA 8. Or maybe Toronto instead. Both ATL + TOR are just 1.5 behind MIA.

I still prefer to avoid Miami at all costs in the 1st round. A series with ATL/TOR/CHI could pose some tricky things but still not as bad as Miami

It doesn’t matter if Miami finishes above or below Atlanta or Toronto.  What matters is who wins the 7/8 game.  If we stay at #2, that’s who we play.  Yes, Miami would have home court, which would help, but it’s not decisive.

[Vermont Green]

Unfortunately it seems like Miami is soon going to be locked into the play-in tournament while BKN locks up the 6 seed.

Now I'm hoping Atlanta can overtake Miami and make it so that they play Miami in the play-in tournament AT Atlanta assuming ATL finishes 7, MIA 8. Or maybe Toronto instead. Both ATL + TOR are just 1.5 behind MIA.
I still prefer to avoid Miami at all costs in the 1st round. A series with ATL/TOR/CHI could pose some tricky things but still not as bad as Miami

It does seem like 1-6 in the east is pretty well stratified.  Both MIA and BKN have fairly easy remaining schedules.  BKN will most likely hold on the the 6 slot.  As for 7-10, the teams seem pretty well set but order may change.  I am not too worried about any of that.  Who knows what 2 teams will come out of that.  And I am not that worried about MIA over any of the others.  TOR, CHI, ATL, all of these are decent teams who have just not had great seasons.  None of these teams are easy outs.

[bdm860]

I know a lot of people don't like the whole idea of the play-in, but to me it continues to be interesting.

Both this year (Miami) and last year (Brooklyn) in the East, there's been teams in the play-in a lot of people didn't want to face in the 1st round, which has been super interesting for me as a Celtics fan.

Similarly in the West this year, where both LAL, GS could end up in the play-in, just like in 2021 when they both were in the play-in, and most teams probably didn't want to face them (LAL even went up 2-1 on PHX in the 1st round till AD got hurt).  This year NOP is also a wild card that teams probably don't want to face if Zion comes back (though time is running out for that).

Historically, there would have been a lot of years when the play-in wouldn't have mattered, but so far the last 3 years have had at least one interesting play-in team that could wreak havoc for a 1/2 seed, and I've liked this unpredictability.

[Phantom255x]

I know a lot of people don't like the whole idea of the play-in, but to me it continues to be interesting.

Both this year (Miami) and last year (Brooklyn) in the East, there's been teams in the play-in a lot of people didn't want to face in the 1st round, which has been super interesting for me as a Celtics fan.

Similarly in the West this year (LAL, GS) could both end up in the play-in, similar to 2021 when both GS and LAL were in the play-in, and most teams probably didn't want to face them, LAL even went up 2-1 on PHX in the 1st round till AD got hurt.  This year NOP is also a wild card that teams probably don't want to face if Zion comes back (though time is running out for that).

Historically, there would have been a lot of years when the play-in wouldn't have mattered, but so far the last 3 years have had at least one interesting play-in team that could wreak havoc for a 1/2 seed, and I've liked this unpredictability.

Yeah the play-in was a great addition. It adds a lot of excitement to the final few weeks of a season

[celticsclay]

I know a lot of people don't like the whole idea of the play-in, but to me it continues to be interesting.

Both this year (Miami) and last year (Brooklyn) in the East, there's been teams in the play-in a lot of people didn't want to face in the 1st round, which has been super interesting for me as a Celtics fan.

Similarly in the West this year (LAL, GS) could both end up in the play-in, similar to 2021 when both GS and LAL were in the play-in, and most teams probably didn't want to face them, LAL even went up 2-1 on PHX in the 1st round till AD got hurt.  This year NOP is also a wild card that teams probably don't want to face if Zion comes back (though time is running out for that).

Historically, there would have been a lot of years when the play-in wouldn't have mattered, but so far the last 3 years have had at least one interesting play-in team that could wreak havoc for a 1/2 seed, and I've liked this unpredictability.

Yeah the play-in was a great addition. It adds a lot of excitement to the final few weeks of a season

I don’t mind it when there are enough good teams but like last year when the spurs got in that was just pathetic. We almost had a team that didn’t want to make it get in in the east this year (pacers) but they started benching half their time. I would like the rule that Moranis came up with where a team has to be within 3 games or something like that to qualify.