2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[jpotter33]

Theory - is OKC "playing it safe" with both SGA and JW to stay away from LAL (1-3 with no answer for their size) in the first round? To sit out your two best guys for injuries three games in a row against tough East competition is a bit suspicious, especially with SGA's injury appearing to just be a quad contusion injury.

[SparzWizard]

Man, NYK and Orlando have to be kicking themselves in the butt for not winning winnable games tonight against Chicago and Charlotte, respectively. With Milwaukee on a three game skid and a super difficult remaining schedule (vs Knicks, vs. C's, vs Magic, @ Thunder, and @ Magic), both Orlando and New York (and even Cleveland) are in prime position to move up in the standings.

It's just crazy how big of a gap there is between the C's and the rest of the East right now. Honestly, the 14 game difference doesn't do it justice.

C's can take anyone in the East on with their A-game, but I think the toughest team in the east bracket they could face against is gonna be Philly.

The West is a complete bloodbath from 1-8 seeds. A low seed like the Lakers can somehow sneak into the Finals (meaning somebody may have dumped the Nuggets). I don't think I'll be surprised if we see Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals this year.

[jpotter33]

Man, NYK and Orlando have to be kicking themselves in the butt for not winning winnable games tonight against Chicago and Charlotte, respectively. With Milwaukee on a three game skid and a super difficult remaining schedule (vs Knicks, vs. C's, vs Magic, @ Thunder, and @ Magic), both Orlando and New York (and even Cleveland) are in prime position to move up in the standings.

It's just crazy how big of a gap there is between the C's and the rest of the East right now. Honestly, the 14 game difference doesn't do it justice.

C's can take anyone in the East on with their A-game, but I think the toughest team in the east bracket they could face against is gonna be Philly.

The West is a complete bloodbath from 1-8 seeds. A low seed like the Lakers can somehow sneak into the Finals (meaning somebody may have dumped the Nuggets). I don't think I'll be surprised if we see Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals this year.

You pump up the Lakers so much it's like you want them to win haha

[SparzWizard]

Man, NYK and Orlando have to be kicking themselves in the butt for not winning winnable games tonight against Chicago and Charlotte, respectively. With Milwaukee on a three game skid and a super difficult remaining schedule (vs Knicks, vs. C's, vs Magic, @ Thunder, and @ Magic), both Orlando and New York (and even Cleveland) are in prime position to move up in the standings.

It's just crazy how big of a gap there is between the C's and the rest of the East right now. Honestly, the 14 game difference doesn't do it justice.

C's can take anyone in the East on with their A-game, but I think the toughest team in the east bracket they could face against is gonna be Philly.

The West is a complete bloodbath from 1-8 seeds. A low seed like the Lakers can somehow sneak into the Finals (meaning somebody may have dumped the Nuggets). I don't think I'll be surprised if we see Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals this year.

You pump up the Lakers so much it's like you want them to win haha

Only to watch the Celtics crush them to achieve banner #18 

[hpantazo]

Are the Bucks tanking for a more preferable 1st round opponent? That didn’t work out well for them last time they tried that.

[cman88]

milwaukee in free fall.

I honestly can see them being a 1st round upset. sub .500 record with doc rivers.

[cman88]

Man, NYK and Orlando have to be kicking themselves in the butt for not winning winnable games tonight against Chicago and Charlotte, respectively. With Milwaukee on a three game skid and a super difficult remaining schedule (vs Knicks, vs. C's, vs Magic, @ Thunder, and @ Magic), both Orlando and New York (and even Cleveland) are in prime position to move up in the standings.

It's just crazy how big of a gap there is between the C's and the rest of the East right now. Honestly, the 14 game difference doesn't do it justice.

C's can take anyone in the East on with their A-game, but I think the toughest team in the east bracket they could face against is gonna be Philly.

The West is a complete bloodbath from 1-8 seeds. A low seed like the Lakers can somehow sneak into the Finals (meaning somebody may have dumped the Nuggets). I don't think I'll be surprised if we see Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals this year.

1st round against Philly may be our toughest round IMO. although we generally spank philly

Al horford is waiting to defend an out of shape embiid...

[Who]

Wait, the NBA fined Philly $100k for Embiid playing?

For violating their injury report by playing Embiid when they said he was injured and wouldn't play that night.

Bizarro world. Don't we want the stars to play more and not sit out games??

[Donoghus]

Wait, the NBA fined Philly $100k for Embiid playing?

For violating their injury report by playing Embiid when they said he was injured and wouldn't play that night.

Bizarro world. Don't we want the stars to play more and not sit out games??

Of course the league wants them to play.  They just don't want teams to repeatedly screw around with injury reports.

[celticsclay]

Wait, the NBA fined Philly $100k for Embiid playing?

For violating their injury report by playing Embiid when they said he was injured and wouldn't play that night.

Bizarro world. Don't we want the stars to play more and not sit out games??

Of course the league wants them to play.  They just don't want teams to repeatedly screw around with injury reports.

They care more than ever because of gambling also

[blink]

Man, NYK and Orlando have to be kicking themselves in the butt for not winning winnable games tonight against Chicago and Charlotte, respectively. With Milwaukee on a three game skid and a super difficult remaining schedule (vs Knicks, vs. C's, vs Magic, @ Thunder, and @ Magic), both Orlando and New York (and even Cleveland) are in prime position to move up in the standings.

It's just crazy how big of a gap there is between the C's and the rest of the East right now. Honestly, the 14 game difference doesn't do it justice.

C's can take anyone in the East on with their A-game, but I think the toughest team in the east bracket they could face against is gonna be Philly.

The West is a complete bloodbath from 1-8 seeds. A low seed like the Lakers can somehow sneak into the Finals (meaning somebody may have dumped the Nuggets). I don't think I'll be surprised if we see Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals this year.

You pump up the Lakers so much it's like you want them to win haha

Only to watch the Celtics crush them to achieve banner #18 

As much as I would love it for JT/JB to win their first title by taking out Lebron and AD, I don't think the Lakers are making it to the finals...

[celticsclay]

Man, NYK and Orlando have to be kicking themselves in the butt for not winning winnable games tonight against Chicago and Charlotte, respectively. With Milwaukee on a three game skid and a super difficult remaining schedule (vs Knicks, vs. C's, vs Magic, @ Thunder, and @ Magic), both Orlando and New York (and even Cleveland) are in prime position to move up in the standings.

It's just crazy how big of a gap there is between the C's and the rest of the East right now. Honestly, the 14 game difference doesn't do it justice.

C's can take anyone in the East on with their A-game, but I think the toughest team in the east bracket they could face against is gonna be Philly.

The West is a complete bloodbath from 1-8 seeds. A low seed like the Lakers can somehow sneak into the Finals (meaning somebody may have dumped the Nuggets). I don't think I'll be surprised if we see Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals this year.

lol give it a rest with the lakers at least until they are out of playin

[celticsclay]

The lakers are plus +2100 to make the finals meaning if you put a hundred dollars on them doing it you would make $2100. Sparz should put some money down if he really thinks this isn’t silly

[Phantom255x]

Idk if the Bucks are tanking to avoid the 7 seed (likely PHI) but the Cavs and Magic aren't doing much to help them. Cleveland in particular has looked meh since the Break. 10-14 since and on their way to 10-15 with a loss today to the Lakers barring some comeback. I used to think they'd be a threat but not anymore. Even the 22-point blown lead by the C's, while that was horrible I doubt the C's will do that against them often in a series if they match up. That's an outlier.

[Phantom255x]

Theory - is OKC "playing it safe" with both SGA and JW to stay away from LAL (1-3 with no answer for their size) in the first round? To sit out your two best guys for injuries three games in a row against tough East competition is a bit suspicious, especially with SGA's injury appearing to just be a quad contusion injury.

People like to downplay this stuff but it happens. Organizations aren't stupid, they see the standings and while some might "tough it out" and act all macho, others will have no problem "tanking" or playing seedings. Look at MIL lately. Feels like one of Lillard/Giannis is always missing in a game and they've lost 3 straight to horrendous teams. And frankly, I think OKC is playing it smart too. They are not beating the Lakers in a series. They have a much better shot against any of the others. Also I think OKC is playing so that they avoid DEN entirely until the WCF in case they make it. They probably want a non-Lakers opponent in the first round, and then a non-Nuggets opponent 2nd round.

It might sound crazy but I think the Lakers will be plotting too. If they get the 7 seed, but Denver is 2, their season is done. They are probably also monitoring where Denver finishes. Lakers are guaranteed in the play-in anyways, it's about seeding and matchups.