NBA Season 2022-23

[Moranis]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

[slamtheking]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

[Goldstar88]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

Disagree. Celtics (if healthy) are the best team in the NBA. Tatum has closed the gap on Giannis and Boston has done a pretty good job slowing him down by creating the “defensive wall” when he drives. JB is quite a bit better than Middleton at this point. Holiday is better offensively, but Smart is a better defender. Those two are about a wash. White is better than Allen, Rob is better than Brook Lopez. Then you can do Horford, Brogdon, Grant off the bench, which is better than Connaughton, Portis, Ingles. Celtics have the best 8 man rotation in the league.

[Who]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

Disagree. Celtics (if healthy) are the best team in the NBA. Tatum has closed the gap on Giannis and Boston has done a pretty good job slowing him down by creating the “defensive wall” when he drives. JB is quite a bit better than Middleton at this point. Holiday is better offensively, but Smart is a better defender. Those two are about a wash. White is better than Allen, Rob is better than Brook Lopez. Then you can do Horford, Brogdon, Grant off the bench, which is better than Connaughton, Portis, Ingles. Celtics have the best 8 man rotation in the league.

+1


None of these teams are as good as Boston. Philly doesn't have the depth. Brooklyn still lineup balance issues with Ben Simmons & Nic Claxton neither of whom can shoot. Milwaukee is very good but not great and that is with Khris Middleton. Cleveland are awkward both to play against and for them to play alonside one another.

Cleveland may be shaping up as the most difficult of those teams for Boston to face in a playoff series. I am just not sold on the big name teams. They are not good enough. Not sure Cleveland is either but they are difficult to play against. Those two big guys. K-Love. Two explosive guards. Awkward.

[jpotter33]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

Agree that you can’t put Milwaukee there until they’ve demonstrated they can be fully healthy, as both Giannis and Middleton now have ongoing knee issues that are worrisome. It’s unclear what to even expect of Middleton this year given how much time he’s missed. And besides all that, I still put us slightly ahead of Milwaukee when both teams are healthy.

But I’ll disagree with you on the Cavs. I’m not sure how much to take away from those two early games, as we didn’t have Rob for either one and didn’t have GWill for the first. Hard to win those games without your best and third best big. I think when fully healthy we’re a clear step ahead of them, as they just don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with us once we have our rim protector present. If I remember right they killed us with penetration and getting to the rim, which is much harder to with Timelord there. Further, they have a lot less to dish out to from penetration.

It’s the same reason our offense was so much better against Milwaukee when Lopez wasn’t playing, as he’s just a huge presence at the rim.

[Neurotic Guy]

Boston has the best healthy roster top to bottom. We’ll see what trade deadline moves are made and whether needles are moved as a result.

If the Celtics can ratchet up to the defense that was so dominant the 2nd half of last year, they’ll be even tougher.

[celticsclay]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

I’m with everyone else here too. Until Middleton actually shows he is an all star caliber player there is no way to say they are the best team, and it seems pretty unlikely he is going to show that right now. It seems like he is dealing with a chronic issue which certainly happens to players in their 30’s. I doubt he gets the kind of contract he wants this off-season.

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/jeritsainets/status/1618812510634901505?s=46&t=ICfRqXLgFIGGO6VbS3Py3g

https://uproxx.com/dimemag/jacque-vaughn-ben-simmons-knee-soreness-back-to-back-prepared-play-frustration-video/

Already more trouble in paradise in Nets world. You have the coach even now calling out Ben and rolling his eyes at “knee soreness” that took him out of yesterday’s game.

Crazy stuff. Not sure if this dude is mentally cut out for this life, and I question whether he’ll even be able to finish the season and playoffs.

[Phantom255x]

I think it's in our best interests if PHI is the 2 seed. MIL with Giannis still scares me way more, and that way in a 2 vs. 3 playoff matchup, PHI having homecourt there could be vital against MIL.

I'm still not as sold on BKN. They've certainly looked better lately, but like always I'm sure some drama will befall them involving Simmons/Cryrie, but also their defense is still hot garbage

C's do need to start racking up wins again. PHI + MIL are now both less than 4 games back of us, so we can't let up. I'm willing to excuse the last few losses to a combination of resting guys and just a bad little Florida trip, but we're mostly healthy tonight and have a favorable stretch coming up over the next few weeks (with just a few marquee games here and there)

Reading @Jpotter's post right above me, go figure! It's already beginning lol, "knee soreness", after he scored a whopping 0 points in the first half with 1 huge rebound 

[slamtheking]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

Agree that you can’t put Milwaukee there until they’ve demonstrated they can be fully healthy, as both Giannis and Middleton now have ongoing knee issues that are worrisome. It’s unclear what to even expect of Middleton this year given how much time he’s missed. And besides all that, I still put us slightly ahead of Milwaukee when both teams are healthy.

But I’ll disagree with you on the Cavs. I’m not sure how much to take away from those two early games, as we didn’t have Rob for either one and didn’t have GWill for the first. Hard to win those games without your best and third best big. I think when fully healthy we’re a clear step ahead of them, as they just don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with us once we have our rim protector present. If I remember right they killed us with penetration and getting to the rim, which is much harder to with Timelord there. Further, they have a lot less to dish out to from penetration.

It’s the same reason our offense was so much better against Milwaukee when Lopez wasn’t playing, as he’s just a huge presence at the rim.

we may not have been at full health but we've shown consistently this season that we have trouble with tall, athletic teams and Cleveland has been the best team with that type of roster.  I agree in that I think we're the better team but we still have a type of team that causes us real problems.  I would think we'd beat Cleveland in a series but I think we'd have more trouble with them than any of the other top teams in the conference or in the West for that matter (except GSW which also seems to have our number)

[Moranis]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

My thinking is Milwaukee is 31-17 right now with Middleton playing in just 9 games, Ingles just 16 games, and both Giannis and Jrue missing 11 games each while Connaughton has missed 16 games.  They've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup all year and yet are still 31-17 just 3 games behind the C's.  Now I get the C's didn't have Rob to start the year and Al isn't playing back-to-backs, but the C's have been pretty healthy aside from that with a pretty consistent roster.  The Bucks needs Middleton to be healthy to be the best team, but even without him I'm not so sure the Bucks wouldn't beat the C's in a series, I mean it did go 7 last year and the Bucks were up 3-2 in the series.  And of course Giannis is still the best player in the world.  I'd favor Boston if Middleton isn't healthy, I just don't think it is a gimme, as Giannis is just a monster.  He will single handily win games in the playoffs (probably not enough to win a series against the C's, but enough to make it a close series).

[slamtheking]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

My thinking is Milwaukee is 31-17 right now with Middleton playing in just 9 games, Ingles just 16 games, and both Giannis and Jrue missing 11 games each while Connaughton has missed 16 games.  They've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup all year and yet are still 31-17 just 3 games behind the C's.  Now I get the C's didn't have Rob to start the year and Al isn't playing back-to-backs, but the C's have been pretty healthy aside from that with a pretty consistent roster.  The Bucks needs Middleton to be healthy to be the best team, but even without him I'm not so sure the Bucks wouldn't beat the C's in a series, I mean it did go 7 last year and the Bucks were up 3-2 in the series.  And of course Giannis is still the best player in the world.  I'd favor Boston if Middleton isn't healthy, I just don't think it is a gimme, as Giannis is just a monster.  He will single handily win games in the playoffs (probably not enough to win a series against the C's, but enough to make it a close series).

missing Rob, Al sitting out b2b's isn't all that's happened with the C's --> they've been dealing with their own issues of players missing games for various reasons.  You just glazed right over that. 

As I said, Bucks need to get healthy before crowning them the best.  C's have their issues as a team that can raise doubts --> their stunning inability to put in a good effort against lesser teams is a prime example -- but so far this season, they've shown themselves to be the best team when they show up and put in the effort to win

[Moranis]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

My thinking is Milwaukee is 31-17 right now with Middleton playing in just 9 games, Ingles just 16 games, and both Giannis and Jrue missing 11 games each while Connaughton has missed 16 games.  They've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup all year and yet are still 31-17 just 3 games behind the C's.  Now I get the C's didn't have Rob to start the year and Al isn't playing back-to-backs, but the C's have been pretty healthy aside from that with a pretty consistent roster.  The Bucks needs Middleton to be healthy to be the best team, but even without him I'm not so sure the Bucks wouldn't beat the C's in a series, I mean it did go 7 last year and the Bucks were up 3-2 in the series.  And of course Giannis is still the best player in the world.  I'd favor Boston if Middleton isn't healthy, I just don't think it is a gimme, as Giannis is just a monster.  He will single handily win games in the playoffs (probably not enough to win a series against the C's, but enough to make it a close series).

missing Rob, Al sitting out b2b's isn't all that's happened with the C's --> they've been dealing with their own issues of players missing games for various reasons.  You just glazed right over that. 

As I said, Bucks need to get healthy before crowning them the best.  C's have their issues as a team that can raise doubts --> their stunning inability to put in a good effort against lesser teams is a prime example -- but so far this season, they've shown themselves to be the best team when they show up and put in the effort to win

I didn't glaze over it, but no one on the Celtics aside from Rob or Al has missed more than 9 games (Smart) and Tatum has missed just 3.  The C's have been pretty healthy outside of Rob while the Bucks have not been particularly healthy

[jpotter33]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

My thinking is Milwaukee is 31-17 right now with Middleton playing in just 9 games, Ingles just 16 games, and both Giannis and Jrue missing 11 games each while Connaughton has missed 16 games.  They've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup all year and yet are still 31-17 just 3 games behind the C's.  Now I get the C's didn't have Rob to start the year and Al isn't playing back-to-backs, but the C's have been pretty healthy aside from that with a pretty consistent roster.  The Bucks needs Middleton to be healthy to be the best team, but even without him I'm not so sure the Bucks wouldn't beat the C's in a series, I mean it did go 7 last year and the Bucks were up 3-2 in the series.  And of course Giannis is still the best player in the world.  I'd favor Boston if Middleton isn't healthy, I just don't think it is a gimme, as Giannis is just a monster.  He will single handily win games in the playoffs (probably not enough to win a series against the C's, but enough to make it a close series).

missing Rob, Al sitting out b2b's isn't all that's happened with the C's --> they've been dealing with their own issues of players missing games for various reasons.  You just glazed right over that. 

As I said, Bucks need to get healthy before crowning them the best.  C's have their issues as a team that can raise doubts --> their stunning inability to put in a good effort against lesser teams is a prime example -- but so far this season, they've shown themselves to be the best team when they show up and put in the effort to win

I didn't glaze over it, but no one on the Celtics aside from Rob or Al has missed more than 9 games (Smart) and Tatum has missed just 3.  The C's have been pretty healthy outside of Rob while the Bucks have not been particularly healthy

Okay, but isn’t that part of the calculation? They’re *alot* older than us, particularly their main players. And older players are more likely to be injured given their age and the extra miles on their legs.

It’s not our fault that we’ve been generally more healthy than them, and that’s part of what makes us (particularly Tatum) so elite - durability.

Until they show that they can get fully healthy, which is far from a given, there’s no argument. And even when healthy, you still need more to claim that they’re objectively better than Boston, particularly given we don’t know what Middleton’s new normal is.

[Moranis]

A healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy all year and frankly as bad as Middleton looked (and him missing more games), I'm not sure they will be healthy at all this year.  Even without Middleton, I'd rather play Philly than Milwaukee.  The best (realistic) seeding would be Boston 1, Philly 2, Milwaukee 3, Cleveland 4, Miami 5, and Brooklyn 6.  That would shake out so well for Boston.  I don't think that is the most likely scenario, that would just be the best.

you're just going to continue to beat that Milwaukee drum all season.  they need to get healthy before they should be crowned the best.

that said, I disagree with your 'best' scenario.  I don't like the idea of taking on Cleveland with their height and athleticism considering how the C's have difficulties with those types of teams.  I'd rather see anyone but Cleveland or Milwaukee in the second round.

My thinking is Milwaukee is 31-17 right now with Middleton playing in just 9 games, Ingles just 16 games, and both Giannis and Jrue missing 11 games each while Connaughton has missed 16 games.  They've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup all year and yet are still 31-17 just 3 games behind the C's.  Now I get the C's didn't have Rob to start the year and Al isn't playing back-to-backs, but the C's have been pretty healthy aside from that with a pretty consistent roster.  The Bucks needs Middleton to be healthy to be the best team, but even without him I'm not so sure the Bucks wouldn't beat the C's in a series, I mean it did go 7 last year and the Bucks were up 3-2 in the series.  And of course Giannis is still the best player in the world.  I'd favor Boston if Middleton isn't healthy, I just don't think it is a gimme, as Giannis is just a monster.  He will single handily win games in the playoffs (probably not enough to win a series against the C's, but enough to make it a close series).

missing Rob, Al sitting out b2b's isn't all that's happened with the C's --> they've been dealing with their own issues of players missing games for various reasons.  You just glazed right over that. 

As I said, Bucks need to get healthy before crowning them the best.  C's have their issues as a team that can raise doubts --> their stunning inability to put in a good effort against lesser teams is a prime example -- but so far this season, they've shown themselves to be the best team when they show up and put in the effort to win

I didn't glaze over it, but no one on the Celtics aside from Rob or Al has missed more than 9 games (Smart) and Tatum has missed just 3.  The C's have been pretty healthy outside of Rob while the Bucks have not been particularly healthy

Okay, but isn’t that part of the calculation? They’re *alot* older than us, particularly their main players. And older players are more likely to be injured given their age and the extra miles on their legs.

It’s not our fault that we’ve been generally more healthy than them, and that’s part of what makes us (particularly Tatum) so elite - durability.

Until they show that they can get fully healthy, which is far from a given, there’s no argument. And even when healthy, you still need more to claim that they’re objectively better than Boston, particularly given we don’t know what Middleton’s new normal is.

Sure, older players are more likely to miss time, but my statement was if healthy Milwaukee is the best team in the sport.  They haven't been healthy and may never get healthy, but that doesn't have much to do with what I said.  The playoffs are a long way off and there is the trade deadline still.  Who knows what either team would look like if they met in the playoffs, but I absolutely believe as currently constructed if both teams are healthy Milwaukee is better.  They have the best player and better depth.  They have a well constructed roster that fits and works well together.  I'd quite simply just believe in them more in a series if both teams were at full strength.