NBA Playoffs 2023

[celticinorlando]

I don't want to face the Lakers in the Finals.  Losing to Lebron again would be too much, and I'm just not sure we'd be able to overcome Lebron, AD, the officials, and Joe's incompetence.

I fully expect the NBA to put their thumb on the scale in the Suns / Nuggets series to ensure that it's the Suns.  Durant vs. Lebron in the WCF is the matchup they want.

Got a feeling we get bounced by Miami so it won't matter.

Assuming we don't choke away two of the next three.  There's no need for us to be in this position.

So true. Don't mind losing to a better team in a series...but the Celtics are just making this more difficult than it really needs to be with the same tired mistakes they have made for two straight seasons.

[Phantom255x]

If Golden State shot like this during the Finals, then not only do the C's win the Finals but they win in just 5 games. Even Curry is missing point blank layups this series because of course... 

As for Poole, he's another one-hit wonder. Had a good year, cashed in, and is just garbage. He killed every ounce of momentum GSW would have each time he came in. Can't believe he got 140M though from the Warriors.

Klay has mostly no-showed this series, which is a big problem. Wonder if he's a closet LAL fan lol

[Celtics2021]

I don't want to face the Lakers in the Finals.  Losing to Lebron again would be too much, and I'm just not sure we'd be able to overcome Lebron, AD, the officials, and Joe's incompetence.

I fully expect the NBA to put their thumb on the scale in the Suns / Nuggets series to ensure that it's the Suns.  Durant vs. Lebron in the WCF is the matchup they want.

Got a feeling we get bounced by Miami so it won't matter.

I put down money on the Heat to win the East after watching Butler dominate the game on Saturday with an ankle that was obviously not 100%, as a bit of an emotional hedge.  It made me much more sanguine after our loss on Sunday.

[celticinorlando]

Would not be surprised if it is the BS Bubble rematch of the Lakers and Heat. I will not watch one minute of that.

Save us Boston.

[Phantom255x]

What are thoughts on the Nuggets-Suns series? Idk, it just feels evenly matched. 2-2, both teams protecting homecourt. Jokic, KD, Booker all delivering in the series consistently. Kind of feels like this will go 7 and a slight advantage to Denver because homecourt. The CP3 injury certainly makes things tough but then again, PHO have won the last two without him.

[Celtics2021]

What are thoughts on the Nuggets-Suns series? Idk, it just feels evenly matched. 2-2, both teams protecting homecourt. Jokic, KD, Booker all delivering in the series consistently. Kind of feels like this will go 7 and a slight advantage to Denver because homecourt. The CP3 injury certainly makes things tough but then again, PHO have won the last two without him.

I think Denver wins, but Phoenix has exceeded my expectations.

[celticsclay]

Not at all convinced LAL can beat DEN or PHO in the next round. I am surprised so many are.

AD3 > Jokic
Lakers depth > Denver depth
Refs > Denver

AD3 > Ayton
LeBron > KD35 for some magical reason
Lakers depth > Suns depth
Refs > Phoenix

That's how it's set up

This kind of loses all credibility when you say Davis is better than jokic. Jokic who just had 51 and probably should be riding a third straight mvp.

[SparzWizard]

Not at all convinced LAL can beat DEN or PHO in the next round. I am surprised so many are.

AD3 > Jokic
Lakers depth > Denver depth
Refs > Denver

AD3 > Ayton
LeBron > KD35 for some magical reason
Lakers depth > Suns depth
Refs > Phoenix

That's how it's set up

This kind of loses all credibility when you say Davis is better than jokic. Jokic who just had 51 and probably should be riding a third straight mvp.

It was an overexaggeration last night and might've had too much. 

[Who]

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐨
@FlyByKnite
Lonnie Walker IV joins LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol as the only Lakers since 1997 to have a 15+ point fourth quarter in the postseason.

[Kernewek]

What are thoughts on the Nuggets-Suns series? Idk, it just feels evenly matched. 2-2, both teams protecting homecourt. Jokic, KD, Booker all delivering in the series consistently. Kind of feels like this will go 7 and a slight advantage to Denver because homecourt. The CP3 injury certainly makes things tough but then again, PHO have won the last two without him.

Chris Paul getting injured in the playoffs has to be a thing you plan for if he's on your roster, right?

[Vermont Green]

I think I had rated the Lakers higher than most but I am still surprised that they have a 3-1 lead.  It is not over by any stretch, GSW could still win this, but they don't seem to be able to win on the road.  They beat SAC on the road a couple of games, but I think the Lakers are a tougher out.

And the MIA NYK series is tough to peg.  By that I mean how good is NYK really and what does it really prove that MIA is beating them.  For example, I think PHI is much better than NYK, especially when Harden plays like he did in games 1 and 4.  You have Embiid+Harden vs. Randle+Brunson as the top 2 guys.  MIA I guess is Butler+Adebayo.

I am still much more worried about PHI than I am MIA.

[gouki88]

I do not know how well Brunson's dribble heavy offensive game works next to other stars. He really dominates the ball. And he is not efficient to justify it. Not on a top team with other legit offensive options around him.

Dallas Mavs agree with you

[gouki88]

The Heat actually have a killer instinct that I wish we did…

Look at their coach vs ours

[Celtics2021]

The Heat actually have a killer instinct that I wish we did…

Look at their coach vs ours

Remember when their coach was a young head coach in his 30s with prime LeBron, Wade, and Bosh and everyone thought he should have been fired that first year, and then again even in the second year as the Heat went down 3-2 heading back to Boston in the conference finals?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

The Heat actually have a killer instinct that I wish we did…

Look at their coach vs ours

Remember when their coach was a young head coach in his 30s with prime LeBron, Wade, and Bosh and everyone thought he should have been fired that first year, and then again even in the second year as the Heat went down 3-2 heading back to Boston in the conference finals?

Yeah. And I remember they had LeBron. Boston has nothing like that, unfortunately.