2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Celtics2021]

So I noticed the lakers were 2 to 1 to make the playoffs (just get out of the playin). As much as I dislike them I do think they will get out of the playin if Lebron and AD can both play and getting 2:1 seems pretty good. Do people think they will make it?

I think it depends if they can hold onto the 9 seed.  I don’t like them winning at Golden State if they’re the 10-seed.  And if Golden State wins out, they get 9 because of tiebreakers.

[celticinorlando]

What will it take for the sixers to get to the 6 seed?

[CelticSooner]

What will it take for the sixers to get to the 6 seed?

https://www.audacy.com/94wip/sports/phillies/philadelphia-76ers-playoff-scenarios-seeding-nba-playoffs

[Phantom255x]

So I noticed the lakers were 2 to 1 to make the playoffs (just get out of the playin). As much as I dislike them I do think they will get out of the playin if Lebron and AD can both play and getting 2:1 seems pretty good. Do people think they will make it?

I expect the Lakers to make it out of the play-in, but it's very likely they will have to win two road games and then play Denver first round. Good luck with that. Nuggets in 5

Now if they manage to get into the 7-8 bracket somehow or DEN chokes and drops to the 2 seed, they might have a decent chance if they draw MIN first round. If they draw OKC then Lakers in 5 or 6 sadly. But right now it's likely Denver. I think as long as Golden State wins out they are guaranteed to be above LAL due to tiebreakers. Then it depends on how Sacramento finishes.

[Phantom255x]

Wow! KAT is already back, likely to return tomorrow. Big for the Wolves

[jpotter33]

And the tank to avoid Philly/Miami is already starting for Milwaukee! For Friday’s game against OKC:

Out - Giannis, Green, Beauchamp

Doubtful - Lillard

Questionable - Lopez, Middleton

They have a game cushion where as long as they win one of the two remaining games they can stay in 2nd, so it seems like they may tank the OKC game and then decide who to play on Sunday based on how the seedlings are looking - e.g. if Philly beats Orlando tonight they’ll likely be out of the play-in and it makes sense to try and win Sunday.

This strategy worked out so well for them last time, hope it backfires on them again!

[celticsclay]

And the tank to avoid Philly/Miami is already starting for Milwaukee! For Friday’s game against OKC:

Out - Giannis, Green, Beauchamp

Doubtful - Lillard

Questionable - Lopez, Middleton

They have a game cushion where as long as they win one of the two remaining games they can stay in 2nd, so it seems like they may tank the OKC game and then decide who to play on Sunday based on how the seedlings are looking - e.g. if Philly beats Orlando tonight they’ll likely be out of the play-in and it makes sense to try and win Sunday.

This strategy worked out so well for them last time, hope it backfires on them again!

I don’t think anyone is tanking to avoid anyone given that nobody is locked into their seeding. Philly could very well end up in 6 still right? I think teams are just trying to get healthy for most part and whole league plays Sunday

[jpotter33]

And the tank to avoid Philly/Miami is already starting for Milwaukee! For Friday’s game against OKC:

Out - Giannis, Green, Beauchamp

Doubtful - Lillard

Questionable - Lopez, Middleton

They have a game cushion where as long as they win one of the two remaining games they can stay in 2nd, so it seems like they may tank the OKC game and then decide who to play on Sunday based on how the seedlings are looking - e.g. if Philly beats Orlando tonight they’ll likely be out of the play-in and it makes sense to try and win Sunday.

This strategy worked out so well for them last time, hope it backfires on them again!

I don’t think anyone is tanking to avoid anyone given that nobody is locked into their seeding. Philly could very well end up in 6 still right? I think teams are just trying to get healthy for most part and whole league plays Sunday

I mean, Milwaukee has a clear history of doing this, and they’re highly incentivized to get as easy of a first round opponent as possible given their recent struggles and the Giannis injury, let alone the looming threat of Philly or Miami in the first round.

And as I said above, they can control their own destiny even by just winning one of the last two games, and they’ll have a much better understanding of who will be in the play-in by Sunday. So I do think there’s absolutely some strategic testing going on here.

[Who]

Cool in game graphic on Brunson's scoring prowess

Knicks with most 30+pts games

1 - Guerin 36 gms - 1961-62
2 - Ewing 36 gms - 1989-90
3 - Brunson 34 gms
4 - B King 33 gms - 1984-85 (only played 55gms injury)
5 - McAdoo 32 gms - 1978-79
6 - Melo 31 gms - 2012-13

Knicks wiht most 40+pts games

1 - B King 13 gms = 1984-85
2 - Ewing 11 gms = 1989-90
3 - Brunson 10 gms
4 - B King 8 gms = 1983-84
5 - Melo 8 gms = 2012-13

B King getting on the most 40pts games in a season twice.

Knicks have 2 games left. I will be rooting for Brunson to match Guerin and Ewing for most 30pt performancs in a single season. Come on Brunson!

[celticsclay]

And the tank to avoid Philly/Miami is already starting for Milwaukee! For Friday’s game against OKC:

Out - Giannis, Green, Beauchamp

Doubtful - Lillard

Questionable - Lopez, Middleton

They have a game cushion where as long as they win one of the two remaining games they can stay in 2nd, so it seems like they may tank the OKC game and then decide who to play on Sunday based on how the seedlings are looking - e.g. if Philly beats Orlando tonight they’ll likely be out of the play-in and it makes sense to try and win Sunday.

This strategy worked out so well for them last time, hope it backfires on them again!

I don’t think anyone is tanking to avoid anyone given that nobody is locked into their seeding. Philly could very well end up in 6 still right? I think teams are just trying to get healthy for most part and whole league plays Sunday

I mean, Milwaukee has a clear history of doing this, and they’re highly incentivized to get as easy of a first round opponent as possible given their recent struggles and the Giannis injury, let alone the looming threat of Philly or Miami in the first round.

And as I said above, they can control their own destiny even by just winning one of the last two games, and they’ll have a much better understanding of who will be in the play-in by Sunday. So I do think there’s absolutely some strategic testing going on here.

I think you can do it with the 4-5 seed or 6-3 if they are locked up. But how will they know if Philly is 7 or 8 before Sunday? The teams have to close together records this year to really manipulate the standings

[Phantom255x]

Best case overall is PHI goes up to 6, ORL drops to 7, Miami beats Orlando in the play-in, and then MIL faces MIA, BOS faces ORL/CHI/ATL, and PHI remains on the other bracket and could still play MIL in the 2nd round while knocking off NYK first round.

[jpotter33]

And the tank to avoid Philly/Miami is already starting for Milwaukee! For Friday’s game against OKC:

Out - Giannis, Green, Beauchamp

Doubtful - Lillard

Questionable - Lopez, Middleton

They have a game cushion where as long as they win one of the two remaining games they can stay in 2nd, so it seems like they may tank the OKC game and then decide who to play on Sunday based on how the seedlings are looking - e.g. if Philly beats Orlando tonight they’ll likely be out of the play-in and it makes sense to try and win Sunday.

This strategy worked out so well for them last time, hope it backfires on them again!

I don’t think anyone is tanking to avoid anyone given that nobody is locked into their seeding. Philly could very well end up in 6 still right? I think teams are just trying to get healthy for most part and whole league plays Sunday

I mean, Milwaukee has a clear history of doing this, and they’re highly incentivized to get as easy of a first round opponent as possible given their recent struggles and the Giannis injury, let alone the looming threat of Philly or Miami in the first round.

And as I said above, they can control their own destiny even by just winning one of the last two games, and they’ll have a much better understanding of who will be in the play-in by Sunday. So I do think there’s absolutely some strategic testing going on here.

I think you can do it with the 4-5 seed or 6-3 if they are locked up. But how will they know if Philly is 7 or 8 before Sunday? The teams have to close together records this year to really manipulate the standings

If Philly beats Orlando tonight, then Milwaukee can control their own destiny with avoiding Philly in the first round by beating Orlando Sunday, which would push them in the play-in instead of Philly (or if Philly also beats Nets on Sunday, which is likely). If Philly loses to Orlando, then they’re almost certainly in the play-in alongside Miami, which would allow Milwaukee to lose on Sunday and avoid both of them in the first round and get a better matchup of likely Orlando, Cleveland, or Philly.

The way the schedule is setu and the competing teams playing each other, they absolutely can manipulate the standings even with no seedings set yet. It might come at a cost of HCA in the second round, but with the Giannis injury + a healthy Embiid, I think that’s a gamble that might make sense to Milwaukee to avoid them in the first round, especially given their history of doing just this.

[celticsclay]

And the tank to avoid Philly/Miami is already starting for Milwaukee! For Friday’s game against OKC:

Out - Giannis, Green, Beauchamp

Doubtful - Lillard

Questionable - Lopez, Middleton

They have a game cushion where as long as they win one of the two remaining games they can stay in 2nd, so it seems like they may tank the OKC game and then decide who to play on Sunday based on how the seedlings are looking - e.g. if Philly beats Orlando tonight they’ll likely be out of the play-in and it makes sense to try and win Sunday.

This strategy worked out so well for them last time, hope it backfires on them again!

I don’t think anyone is tanking to avoid anyone given that nobody is locked into their seeding. Philly could very well end up in 6 still right? I think teams are just trying to get healthy for most part and whole league plays Sunday

I mean, Milwaukee has a clear history of doing this, and they’re highly incentivized to get as easy of a first round opponent as possible given their recent struggles and the Giannis injury, let alone the looming threat of Philly or Miami in the first round.

And as I said above, they can control their own destiny even by just winning one of the last two games, and they’ll have a much better understanding of who will be in the play-in by Sunday. So I do think there’s absolutely some strategic testing going on here.

I think you can do it with the 4-5 seed or 6-3 if they are locked up. But how will they know if Philly is 7 or 8 before Sunday? The teams have to close together records this year to really manipulate the standings

If Philly beats Orlando tonight, then Milwaukee can control their own destiny with avoiding Philly in the first round by beating Orlando Sunday, which would push them in the play-in instead of Philly (or if Philly also beats Nets on Sunday, which is likely). If Philly loses to Orlando, then they’re almost certainly in the play-in alongside Miami, which would allow Milwaukee to lose on Sunday and avoid both of them in the first round and get a better matchup of likely Orlando, Cleveland, or Philly.

The way the schedule is setu and the competing teams playing each other, they absolutely can manipulate the standings even with no seedings set yet. It might come at a cost of HCA in the second round, but with the Giannis injury + a healthy Embiid, I think that’s a gamble that might make sense to Milwaukee to avoid them in the first round, especially given their history of doing just this.

What you are saying still doesn't make any sense in my opinion. The bucks have already announced they are throwing their game (according to your comment) before Orlando plays Philly. If Orlando wins this could increase their chances of playing Philly in first round and could cost them home court in second round. How does that make sense? They are just absolutely positive Orlando can't beat Philly tonight?

[SparzWizard]

So I noticed the lakers were 2 to 1 to make the playoffs (just get out of the playin). As much as I dislike them I do think they will get out of the playin if Lebron and AD can both play and getting 2:1 seems pretty good. Do people think they will make it?

I expect the Lakers to make it out of the play-in, but it's very likely they will have to win two road games and then play Denver first round. Good luck with that. Nuggets in 5

Now if they manage to get into the 7-8 bracket somehow or DEN chokes and drops to the 2 seed, they might have a decent chance if they draw MIN first round. If they draw OKC then Lakers in 5 or 6 sadly. But right now it's likely Denver. I think as long as Golden State wins out they are guaranteed to be above LAL due to tiebreakers. Then it depends on how Sacramento finishes.

Sacramento is banged up right now with Huerta and Monk out. But a positive now that KAT is expected to be back next game with the Wolves. I think healthy LeBron and Davis will win at GSW and beat the Kings (would be AD's first win against Sabonis or something) in any play-ins. But should they draw Denver in first round, Denver will clear them out.

[SparzWizard]

I guess as long as the Bucks, Sixers and Knicks meet each other in the other bracket till the ECF it'll come to Boston's favor.

Boston need to focus on potentially exorcising some demons with Miami, and get back into rhythm if they face teams like the Hawks, Pacers, Cavs, Magic etc.