2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Vermont Green]

This Lakers game by DEN, on the road, Murray being just so-so (11-23 FG) and they pull away for an easy win.  Porter went 10-10, 5-5 from 3 illustrating that they have lots of ways they can beat you.  The Celtics have been more consistent this season but DEN is a very good team.

The Lakers have issues, they are nothing more than a play-in team at the moment.  You expect DEN to win, even on the road, but they are a really good team and that was a really nice win.  It wouldn't hurt my feelings if someone in the West beats them in the playoffs on the way to the finals, or at least beats them up and wears them down.

I am expecting that DEN will make the finals, and get there without much drama.

[celticsclay]

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.

That is fair, but he is also on a team with a clearly better player, so that fits him at his best.  There will be a couple of games in any series when Kyrie has a monster game which unless the other team has a similar output will win them the game.  There will be 3 or 4 games in a playoff series where Luka goes mega (he will always be good, but the mega games).  If Kyrie's monster games aren't Luka's mega games, they will be very difficult to beat in a series.  Top end talent like that, is how you win consistently in the playoffs.  If they are both healthy, I might just favor the Mavs over every team in the west that doesn't have Jokic.

I would be quite surprised if they beat a healthy clippers squad. Harden, george and Leonard really have good chemistry and have had playoff moments in the past. Also it feels like Dallas has particularly poor wing defenders.

[Silas]

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

Unless someone on our team plays like an absolute god or we play perfect basketball constantly I just don’t see how we would beat them in the finals

maybe you need some new glasses....lol

Maybe you missed the game when they gave us our first loss at home? They’re the defending champs with the best player in the world, maybe you’re the one needing glasses 

Fair enough...I do wear glasses.  However, I'm not overly concerned about a 2pt loss from 6+ weeks ago.  Right now the Cs are playing better ball than when the Denver loss happened.  Anyways, if we play them in the finals it will be a fun series.

[hpantazo]

The Clippers destroyed us on our home floor. More people should be worried about them than teams like the Mavs or Lakers. Denver, Minny, and the Clippers would all be tough Finals matchups for the Celtics.

[liam]

The Clippers destroyed us on our home floor. More people should be worried about them than teams like the Mavs or Lakers. Denver, Minny, and the Clippers would all be tough Finals matchups for the Celtics.

I think whoever makes it to the finals from the West will be a tough finals match up.

[Phantom255x]

The Clippers destroyed us on our home floor. More people should be worried about them than teams like the Mavs or Lakers. Denver, Minny, and the Clippers would all be tough Finals matchups for the Celtics.

Yeah any of MIN/DEN/LAC will be tough. But we can worry about that later, the first focus is ourselves and the East

[Phantom255x]

For a while I felt Philly was the 2nd best in the East and our biggest threat since they have a much better coach now + a deep bench. Then Embiid got hurt. But combine the deadline additions + Embiid likely returning in late March and they could be that team again. They have looked like they are figuring it out lately without Embiid.

[celticinorlando]

I need to see Boston smack the warriors today so Bob Myers will shut up about the Celtics

[celticsclay]

For a while I felt Philly was the 2nd best in the East and our biggest threat since they have a much better coach now + a deep bench. Then Embiid got hurt. But combine the deadline additions + Embiid likely returning in late March and they could be that team again. They have looked like they are figuring it out lately without Embiid.

I’m a little confused by this. Before the hard fought win against the hornets they have lost 4 of 5 including 3 by double digits. What are they figuring out?

Or are you just referencing today’s game? Cause they are playing well today.

[Phantom255x]

For a while I felt Philly was the 2nd best in the East and our biggest threat since they have a much better coach now + a deep bench. Then Embiid got hurt. But combine the deadline additions + Embiid likely returning in late March and they could be that team again. They have looked like they are figuring it out lately without Embiid.

I’m a little confused by this. Before the hard fought win against the hornets they have lost 4 of 5 including 3 by double digits. What are they figuring out?

Or are you just referencing today’s game? Cause they are playing well today.

You're not wrong. But they have had a few impressive wins over Cleveland recently and played Miami close in a loss. Looking great today and only 0.5 back of NY for the 4 seed. This is all without Embiid. I'm just saying if/when Embiid returns, Sixers might be the true #2 in the East.

[Phantom255x]

Starting to feel like Dallas could slip into the 9-10 range in the West and play the Lakers in the play-in.

[celticsclay]

For a while I felt Philly was the 2nd best in the East and our biggest threat since they have a much better coach now + a deep bench. Then Embiid got hurt. But combine the deadline additions + Embiid likely returning in late March and they could be that team again. They have looked like they are figuring it out lately without Embiid.

I’m a little confused by this. Before the hard fought win against the hornets they have lost 4 of 5 including 3 by double digits. What are they figuring out?

Or are you just referencing today’s game? Cause they are playing well today.

You're not wrong. But they have had a few impressive wins over Cleveland recently and played Miami close in a loss. Looking great today and only 0.5 back of NY for the 4 seed. This is all without Embiid. I'm just saying if/when Embiid returns, Sixers might be the true #2 in the East.

This is a real stretch. Playing the heat for a close loss without butler and rozier at home is pretty weird to view as a positive imo.  Today would be a good win and the win against Cleveland was also nice, but they have been pretty bad aside from that.

[Phantom255x]

For a while I felt Philly was the 2nd best in the East and our biggest threat since they have a much better coach now + a deep bench. Then Embiid got hurt. But combine the deadline additions + Embiid likely returning in late March and they could be that team again. They have looked like they are figuring it out lately without Embiid.

I’m a little confused by this. Before the hard fought win against the hornets they have lost 4 of 5 including 3 by double digits. What are they figuring out?

Or are you just referencing today’s game? Cause they are playing well today.

You're not wrong. But they have had a few impressive wins over Cleveland recently and played Miami close in a loss. Looking great today and only 0.5 back of NY for the 4 seed. This is all without Embiid. I'm just saying if/when Embiid returns, Sixers might be the true #2 in the East.

This is a real stretch. Playing the heat for a close loss without butler and rozier at home is pretty weird to view as a positive imo.  Today would be a good win and the win against Cleveland was also nice, but they have been pretty bad aside from that.

Clay, I'm not saying Philly is the "team to beat", I'm just saying that some of the pieces are starting to get better and figure out their roles better (even in the losses) and if Embiid comes back, they could still be the 2nd best team in the East with a better coach (Doc to Nurse) and deeper bench. Of course if Embiid isn't able to come back or decides not to, it's a completely moot point. Boston is still without a doubt the team to beat but I am looking at potential paths to the Finals based on seedings/matchups. Philly won't be an easy opponent IF Embiid returns.

The Cavs are the current 2 seed but they've looked shaky since the Break. So have the Knicks. Bucks have a tough schedule coming up, we'll see how they do in it.

[celticsclay]

Starting to feel like Dallas could slip into the 9-10 range in the West and play the Lakers in the play-in.

Not trying to give you a hard time on the thread here buddy but you are having very strong reactions to this single game lol. Dallas went 8-3 in February.

[Phantom255x]

Starting to feel like Dallas could slip into the 9-10 range in the West and play the Lakers in the play-in.

Not trying to give you a hard time on the thread here buddy but you are having very strong reactions to this single game lol. Dallas went 8-3 in February.

Lol it's all good. The West is just loaded and it's a tight race all over. Warriors are 8-2 in their last 10 and Lakers were also 7-3 before last night. It's a bit of a cruel race for some teams.