2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[MattyIce]

Wyc let it slip today that he thinks the Celtics start their playoffs next Sunday.

it’s not a slip, it’s known and definite

[celticsclay]

Honestly, this may end up working out well for the Sixers.

If New York wins, I would think that Philly is favored in that series, even without HCA. Then, they're also likely favored against either Milwaukee or Indy in the second round.

They may actually have their best path to the ECF than they've ever had.

They will definitely be underdogs against bucks if Giannis plays with bucks having hca. (You could convince me they could be the better team but that is what the odds will be). They will also be decided underdogs if they play us without homecourt advantage. Love your enthusiasm potter but this definitely not their easiest path. May actually be one of their toughest if they play bucks and us without home court.

[Phantom255x]

Honestly, this may end up working out well for the Sixers.

If New York wins, I would think that Philly is favored in that series, even without HCA. Then, they're also likely favored against either Milwaukee or Indy in the second round.

They may actually have their best path to the ECF than they've ever had.

They will definitely be underdogs against bucks if Giannis plays with bucks having hca. (You could convince me they could be the better team but that is what the odds will be). They will also be decided underdogs if they play us without homecourt advantage. Love your enthusiasm potter but this definitely not their easiest path. May actually be one of their toughest if they play bucks and us without home court.

Side note but I can't help but think of Severus Snape when you said that 

[Phantom255x]

Well, Wolves down big already and Thunder + Nuggets up, so OKC would be the 1 seed.

In that case, might not be a bad thing if LAL stays the 7-8 bracket and wins their game to be the 7 seed to face MIN or DEN. No chance OKC beats LAL in a series though

[RMO]

Are the Pelicans playing for anything today? 

[Phantom255x]

Are the Pelicans playing for anything today?

Yeah they need to win to keep the 6 seed, otherwise a loss + Phoenix win (they are up 22 btw) means they drop to the play-in since Suns hold H2H tiebreaker

[RJ87]

Are the Pelicans playing for anything today?

If they win, they avoid the play-in.

[jpotter33]

Honestly, this may end up working out well for the Sixers.

If New York wins, I would think that Philly is favored in that series, even without HCA. Then, they're also likely favored against either Milwaukee or Indy in the second round.

They may actually have their best path to the ECF than they've ever had.

They will definitely be underdogs against bucks if Giannis plays with bucks having hca. (You could convince me they could be the better team but that is what the odds will be). They will also be decided underdogs if they play us without homecourt advantage. Love your enthusiasm potter but this definitely not their easiest path. May actually be one of their toughest if they play bucks and us without home court.

What other year do you think that they've had an easier path to the ECF than this one?

They certainly didn't in 2023 having to face us in the second round, and the same can be said about 2022 with having to face Miami in the second round, both of which I think are quite a bit better than NYK or Milwaukee/Indy this year.

2020 was the bubble and they didn't have Simmons and played us in the first round. 2019 they lost to the champion Raptors in the second round, so again not an easy path. 2018 they lost to us in the second round.

I guess in 2021 they had the easier playoff path with the Wizards and Hawks that they choked, and you could even say the play-in adds some complexity this year.

But I definitely think Philly is more primed to go to the ECF this year than they've been in the last six to seven years of being a borderline contender outside of 2021.

[celticsclay]

Honestly, this may end up working out well for the Sixers.

If New York wins, I would think that Philly is favored in that series, even without HCA. Then, they're also likely favored against either Milwaukee or Indy in the second round.

They may actually have their best path to the ECF than they've ever had.

They will definitely be underdogs against bucks if Giannis plays with bucks having hca. (You could convince me they could be the better team but that is what the odds will be). They will also be decided underdogs if they play us without homecourt advantage. Love your enthusiasm potter but this definitely not their easiest path. May actually be one of their toughest if they play bucks and us without home court.

What other year do you think that they've had an easier path to the ECF than this one?

They certainly didn't in 2023 having to face us in the second round, and the same can be said about 2022 with having to face Miami in the second round, both of which I think are quite a bit better than NYK or Milwaukee/Indy this year.

2020 was the bubble and they didn't have Simmons and played us in the first round. 2019 they lost to the champion Raptors in the second round, so again not an easy path. 2018 they lost to us in the second round.

I guess in 2021 they had the easier playoff path with the Wizards and Hawks that they choked, and you could even say the play-in adds some complexity this year.

But I definitely think Philly is more primed to go to the ECF this year than they've been in the last six to seven years of being a borderline contender outside of 2021.

You are really glossing over the key part here. They are not even in the playoffs yet and you are saying it is their easiest path. You don’t realize why that is a bit ridiculous?


Also you are just completely dismissing home court advantage being worth anything (which odds makers consider worth about 2.5 points per game in playoffs). Last year the 76ers played a mikal bridges led nets in the first round. If they had somehow beaten the Celtics they would have played the heat. Saying that is a tougher road than having to win a game to make playoffs and then having three series without homecourt advantage is frankly preposterous

Being in the playin is awful and is why you see all these teams going crazy in the East and west to avoid it. You add in that Embid literally left their last game briefly with injury  was not effective when he returned and I feel like I am reading one of of tazz’ posts about the teams.

[CelticSooner]

I’m pretty happy with the results today. Tougher first round but get to avoid the tougher 2nd rounder had Cleveland won.

[RMO]

Are the Pelicans playing for anything today?

If they win, they avoid the play-in.

Do they know that?

[Phantom255x]

Looking like Kings-Warriors, Pelicans-Lakers play-in games. Denver is likely the 2 seed while OKC is 1 unless the Wolves comeback. So the Pelicans-Lakers might strategize if they want to avoid DEN first round 

Kings-Warriors should be electric even if for one game. A Suns-Wolves series would be fun too.

[celticsclay]

Looking like Kings-Warriors, Pelicans-Lakers play-in games. Denver is likely the 2 seed while OKC is 1 unless the Wolves comeback. So the Pelicans-Lakers might strategize if they want to avoid DEN first round 

Kings-Warriors should be electric even if for one game. A Suns-Wolves series would be fun too.

You guys are killing me today. lol

[Phantom255x]

Looking like Kings-Warriors, Pelicans-Lakers play-in games. Denver is likely the 2 seed while OKC is 1 unless the Wolves comeback. So the Pelicans-Lakers might strategize if they want to avoid DEN first round 

Kings-Warriors should be electric even if for one game. A Suns-Wolves series would be fun too.

You guys are killing me today. lol

That's our specialty 

[Phantom255x]

Are the Pelicans playing for anything today?

If they win, they avoid the play-in.

Do they know that?

Good question