Bulletin Board Material (ESPN "Experts")

[Roy H.]

Eastern Conference Finals:

Jerry Bembry: Bucks over Nets in 6

Tim Bontemps: Bucks over Celtics in 6

Jamal Collier: Bucks over 76ers in 6

Nick DePaula: Bucks over 76ers in 6

Nick Friedell: Bucks over Celtics in 7

Kirk Goldsberry: Bucks over Heat in 6

Israel Gutierrez: Heat over 76ers in 6

Tim Legler: Bucks over 76ers in 7

Andrew Lopez: Bucks over 76ers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over 76ers in 7

Bobby Marks: 76ers over Bucks in 7

Dave McMenamin: Bucks over 76ers in 6

Kevin Pelton: Bucks over Celtics in 6

Jorge Sedano: Bucks over Heat in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Bucks over 76ers in 7

André Snellings: Bucks over 76ers in 7

Marc J. Spears: Nets over 76ers in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks over 76ers in 6

NBA Finals:

Jerry Bembry: Bucks over Clippers in 6

Tim Bontemps: Bucks over Clippers in 6

Jamal Collier: Bucks over Clippers in 7

Nick DePaula: Bucks over Warriors in 6

Nick Friedell: Bucks over Warriors in 7

Kirk Goldsberry: Bucks over Warriors in 7

Israel Gutierrez: Heat over Nuggets in 7

Tim Legler: Warriors over Bucks in 6

Andrew Lopez: Bucks over Clippers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over Warriors in 6

Bobby Marks: Clippers over 76ers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Clippers over Milwaukee in 6

Kevin Pelton: Bucks over Clippers in 6

Jorge Sedano: Bucks over Warriors in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Bucks over Grizzlies in 6

André Snellings: Bucks over Warriors in 7

Marc J. Spears: Warriors over Nets in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Clippers over Bucks in 7

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34817879/nba-predictions-experts-picks-east-finals-west-finals-nba-finals-lebron-pursuit-history

"Experts".  Lol. 

[G-Bones]

Sixers? Nets?  Uh, no.  Fools

[Birdman]

Clippers? Haha

[Sophomore]

Marc Spears: Nets over Sixers for the East title.

Wut?

[Sophomore]

I give Gutierrez a pass for picking the Heat because it’s his hometown team but lol, no.

[JohnBoy65]

Marc Spears: Nets over Sixers for the East title.

Wut?

I don't think that's a ridiculous claim. The nets have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. Whether they gel and figure it out is the debate. Not the level of talent. The 76ers are in the same boat. One of the more talented rosters in the NBA. The questions: Can Harden and Embiid stay healthy all season, can Doc coach successfully?

If all those things happen a Philly/Brooklyn ECF is certainly possible.

[Moranis]

Well if nothing else it confirms that the 18 NBA "journalists" at ESPN and I are clearly on the same page regarding the Bucks i.e. they are clearly the favorites this year.  I mean 15 of them have the Bucks advancing to the Finals and another has them losing in the ECF.  Of the 15, 12 have them winning the championship.  So just 2 didn't have the Bucks finishing the year as a top 2 team in the East and 2/3 think the Bucks are winning the championship. 

Clippers and Warriors each had 8 Finals appearances with the Nuggets and Grizzlies getting the other 2. 

[Roy H.]

Well if nothing else it confirms that the 18 NBA "journalists" at ESPN and I are clearly on the same page regarding the Bucks i.e. they are clearly the favorites this year.  I mean 15 of them have the Bucks advancing to the Finals and another has them losing in the ECF.  Of the 15, 12 have them winning the championship.  So just 2 didn't have the Bucks finishing the year as a top 2 team in the East and 2/3 think the Bucks are winning the championship. 

Clippers and Warriors each had 8 Finals appearances with the Nuggets and Grizzlies getting the other 2.

Yeah, I have no problem with those picking the Bucks to advance to the Finals.

I think that it's ridiculous that only three "experts" see the Celtics as an ECF team, though, as opposed to 12 picking the Sixers.

[Vermont Green]

I suspect that before the injuries, more would have gone with the Celtics.  Clearly everyone likes the Bucks.  Figure they would have won if they had Middleton last season for the playoffs.  Can't argue with that.  And the Sixers may be tough.  Harden and Embiid is a formidable pair.

This is OK.  It is OK to be the underdog.

[Moranis]

Well if nothing else it confirms that the 18 NBA "journalists" at ESPN and I are clearly on the same page regarding the Bucks i.e. they are clearly the favorites this year.  I mean 15 of them have the Bucks advancing to the Finals and another has them losing in the ECF.  Of the 15, 12 have them winning the championship.  So just 2 didn't have the Bucks finishing the year as a top 2 team in the East and 2/3 think the Bucks are winning the championship. 

Clippers and Warriors each had 8 Finals appearances with the Nuggets and Grizzlies getting the other 2.

Yeah, I have no problem with those picking the Bucks to advance to the Finals.

I think that it's ridiculous that only three "experts" see the Celtics as an ECF team, though, as opposed to 12 picking the Sixers.

I mean maybe.  If you think the lack of Rob, anticipated injuries to Al, and the whole Ime thing is going to affect the C's win total to the point they end up playing the Bucks in the ECS, then I don't think it is crazy.

I would absolutely favor a healthy Boston over a healthy Philadelphia in a playoff series, but they actually have to line up to play in an actual playoff series. 

[Roy H.]

This is OK.  It is OK to be the underdog.

Absolutely.  I hope this gets passed along to the team, and they think about it every day.

[jpotter33]

Ridiculous. As others have said I’m fine with picking Milwaukee, though I think the loss of Middleton last year is exaggerated for them when considering our own injuries we were dealing with. I still take a healthy Boston team against a healthy Milwaukee in a series, especially with the addition of Brogdon.

But I’m flabbergasted at all this talk around Philly significantly improving this summer and being an ECF favorite. Wasn’t their only major addition PJ Tucker, who looked close to toast the other night?

[Roy H.]

Ridiculous. As others have said I’m fine with picking Milwaukee, though I think the loss of Middleton last year is exaggerated for them when considering our own injuries we were dealing with. I still take a healthy Boston team against a healthy Milwaukee in a series, especially with the addition of Brogdon.

But I’m flabbergasted at all this talk around Philly significantly improving this summer and being an ECF favorite. Wasn’t their only major addition PJ Tucker, who looked close to toast the other night?

Tucker + Melton + House + Harrell.  I wouldn't trade Brogdon for all four of them.

[Moranis]

Ridiculous. As others have said I’m fine with picking Milwaukee, though I think the loss of Middleton last year is exaggerated for them when considering our own injuries we were dealing with. I still take a healthy Boston team against a healthy Milwaukee in a series, especially with the addition of Brogdon.

But I’m flabbergasted at all this talk around Philly significantly improving this summer and being an ECF favorite. Wasn’t their only major addition PJ Tucker, who looked close to toast the other night?

Tucker + Melton + House + Harrell.  I wouldn't trade Brogdon for all four of them.

I think a lot of the Philly love is based on an anticipated major jump from Maxey and improved "health" from Harden allowing him to revert back much closer to his prime form.  I don't know that either of those things happen, but I'd guess that is where a lot of it stems from.

[Who]

I have the C's as the team to beat in the East but I have no problem with MIL, PHI or BKN being talked about as conference winners. They are all legit. Quality opposition.

And the West is the same way. They got 3-4 legit contenders as well. Rare to see so much competition at the top of both conferences at the same time. Good times.