2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Celtics2021]

Teams I do not trust in the playoffs out West:

Clippers
Dallas

I trust the Mavs to lose in the first round.  I suppose there’s a chance they don’t make it through the play-in, but that’s their ceiling — first round loss.

[cman88]

Teams I do not trust in the playoffs out West:

Clippers
Dallas

I trust the Mavs to lose in the first round.  I suppose there’s a chance they don’t make it through the play-in, but that’s their ceiling — first round loss.

mark cuban is a horrible basically GM. i dont understand how he's building that team. and they let Brunson go and had KP.

that team should be full of tough defenders who can cover for luka/Kyrie.

[Vermont Green]

Teams I do not trust in the playoffs out West:

Clippers
Dallas

I trust the Mavs to lose in the first round.  I suppose there’s a chance they don’t make it through the play-in, but that’s their ceiling — first round loss.

Right, DAL is a play in team right now.  I don't think anyone is looking at them as the team to beat in the West or anything like that.  As for the Clippers, the thing you need to put trust in if you think they are the team to beat is health.  They really showed me something in that game they beat the Celtics.  If they have their full team, they will be formidable.  I don't think they will otherwise just collapse or falter under the pressure of the playoffs, as might happen with OKC or MIN.

[Moranis]

The thing is, we've seen Luka put a team on his back and win playoff series before.  And for as much as I dislike and badmouth team killer Kyrie, we've also seen him drop 40 point playoff games with ease.  The Mavs are a scary playoff team to face for those reasons.  Supreme talent like that, that has actually shown it in the playoffs, should always be trusted.  Now the rest of the team just isn't any good, but when you have 2 guys at the top like that, I wouldn't bet against the Mavs.

[Who]

Dallas need to wait for their kids to mature. D Lively II and OM Prosper are the keys to their supporting cast. Both have major defensive talent and can be important cogs next to Kyrie & Doncic. Then you have Gafford and PJ Washington as good young role players. That is a nice mix to work with.

They need to move on from Tim Hardaway. They do not need an offensive orientated role player like him. I'd also trade Josh Green. I like his game but he is not the type of SG you need next to Luka & Kyrie. You need a K Caldwell-Pope. A defensive stopper. Someone with high level quickness & athleticism. Josh Green = good player, bad fit. Same with Jalen Hardy. Those are the guys I'd be looking to move on from and replace with defensive orientated role players.

Dallas are in pretty decent shape. Their draft went well. Lively has been a huge get for them. Good signals from Prosper from the G-League. I think that one will work out for them as well. Those two draft picks have really helped revitalize that supporting cast around Luka & Kyrie.

[#1P4P]

Luka’s built for the playoffs. When the pace slows, settles into a half court game, and stamina/injuries become a factor, Luka’s one of, if not, the most reliable player in the NBA.

Their poor defensive rating gives me some pause because that is where they will have to excel to have playoff success. Luka and Kidd have shown a knack at dragging teams into their style of play and that usually rules out in a potential 7 game series. Would the Thunder or Timberwolves be poised enough to take 4 from the Mavs? Would the Clippers or Suns be healthy enough to take 4?

With 22 or so games left and the standings bunched up, seedings can go any which way, and I will not count out the Mavs.

[Phantom255x]

Seeding will definitely have an impact for the West especially the matchups/bracket.

If Dallas draws OKC or the Clippers first round, I give them a chance. I just don't see it against MIN/DEN. Even against OKC/LAC I predict they'd lose but again, they got a chance.

Of course some of this also depends on if Dallas has to do the play-in or do they finish above the 7 seed. The play-in could be tricky for them if they have to play Sacramento or Golden State, then potentially the Lebron + AD Lakers if they lose.

[liam]

The thing is, we've seen Luka put a team on his back and win playoff series before.  And for as much as I dislike and badmouth team killer Kyrie, we've also seen him drop 40 point playoff games with ease.  The Mavs are a scary playoff team to face for those reasons.  Supreme talent like that, that has actually shown it in the playoffs, should always be trusted.  Now the rest of the team just isn't any good, but when you have 2 guys at the top like that, I wouldn't bet against the Mavs.

Without LeBron by his side, I haven't seen Kyrie excel in the playoffs.

[Moranis]

The thing is, we've seen Luka put a team on his back and win playoff series before.  And for as much as I dislike and badmouth team killer Kyrie, we've also seen him drop 40 point playoff games with ease.  The Mavs are a scary playoff team to face for those reasons.  Supreme talent like that, that has actually shown it in the playoffs, should always be trusted.  Now the rest of the team just isn't any good, but when you have 2 guys at the top like that, I wouldn't bet against the Mavs.

Without LeBron by his side, I haven't seen Kyrie excel in the playoffs.

when Kyrie plays he is fairly similar whether with or without Lebron.  He has always been inconsistent,  but when he is on, he can win you a game or 2.  Luka can win 2 or 3 quite easily as well. That gets you a series win. 

[Phantom255x]

This is a random post I admit, but it's absolutely crazy to me that we're now in March 2 of the season, and there's not one but TWO teams who still are in single-digit win totals. That's insane, and depressing too. For reference, the C's are on a 10-game winning streak right now.

[mobilija]

The thing is, we've seen Luka put a team on his back and win playoff series before.  And for as much as I dislike and badmouth team killer Kyrie, we've also seen him drop 40 point playoff games with ease.  The Mavs are a scary playoff team to face for those reasons.  Supreme talent like that, that has actually shown it in the playoffs, should always be trusted.  Now the rest of the team just isn't any good, but when you have 2 guys at the top like that, I wouldn't bet against the Mavs.

Without LeBron by his side, I haven't seen Kyrie excel in the playoffs.

when Kyrie plays he is fairly similar whether with or without Lebron.  He has always been inconsistent,  but when he is on, he can win you a game or 2.  Luka can win 2 or 3 quite easily as well. That gets you a series win.

Kyrie can win you a game or two does not impress. Kelly Olynk or even Leon Powe can win u a game in the playoffs.

Granted Kyrie is a different level than those two, but he’s not really a guy that wins playoff games on his own. Has he won a playoff game as the best player on a team? He’s clearly a second banana, and arguably a lower tier one at that.

[Phantom255x]

Congrats to Lebron for reaching 40,000 points. That's incredible

[kraidstar]

Congrats to Lebron for reaching 40,000 points. That's incredible

Congrats to LeBonds, the Cream, and the Clear.

Well done boys

[Phantom255x]

Man I have mad respect for this Nuggets team. Jokic MVP. Great coaching. Smart coaches and players. Great, balanced roster and all likable guys. And they sure know how to play well in the clutch and close games out. And it’s not like they need the refs help or anything they just get it done and adjust as needed. Lakers felt like the better team and it didn’t matter, Nuggets stayed in it and then played an excellent 2nd half for a great road win

[Donoghus]

Nuggets showing why they’re the defending champs. Another level in the last 4 minutes or so.