2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Phantom255x]

I'm predicting the Lakers and Warriors win tonight. Then Warriors beat Pelicans Friday.

Can't discount the Warriors immediately when they still have Curry and the Kings/Pelicans have also looked really shaky and inconsistent this season.

[jpotter33]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39954386/sources-bucks-preparing-giannis-antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, but are hopeful treatment on his left calf strain will allow him to return sometime later in the series, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Antetokounmpo has been undergoing around-the-clock treatment on the calf, sources said.

The third-seeded Bucks open the series against the sixth-seeded Pacers on Sunday in Milwaukee. The Pacers won four of five regular-season games against the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo missed the final three regular-season games after crumpling to the floor with a noncontact injury a week ago against the Boston Celtics.

Antetokounmpo ended the regular season averaging 30.4 points on a career-best 61% shooting with 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists. He's the first player in NBA history to average 30 points per game on 60% shooting, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.

The Bucks are in trouble.

It’ll be interesting to see what they do this summer if bounced again. Given their lack of assets and the tumultuous first year, I expect them to run it back again with basically the same team, as there’s not really much they can do to improve.

[Who]

I don't expect the Bucks to get out of the first round with Giannis. Nevermind without him.

It would be better for the Bucks to lose at full strength. At least then they know where they stand as a team. If they lose with a hurt Giannis, they can lie to themselves about the true strength of their team. Delude themselves that they just needed a healthy Giannis and they would have been a contender. That is not who they are. They need a wake up call. A rude wake up call. A playoff humiliation to let them know who exactly they are and to stop living in their delusion.

[celticsclay]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39954386/sources-bucks-preparing-giannis-antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, but are hopeful treatment on his left calf strain will allow him to return sometime later in the series, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Antetokounmpo has been undergoing around-the-clock treatment on the calf, sources said.

The third-seeded Bucks open the series against the sixth-seeded Pacers on Sunday in Milwaukee. The Pacers won four of five regular-season games against the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo missed the final three regular-season games after crumpling to the floor with a noncontact injury a week ago against the Boston Celtics.

Antetokounmpo ended the regular season averaging 30.4 points on a career-best 61% shooting with 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists. He's the first player in NBA history to average 30 points per game on 60% shooting, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.

The Bucks are in trouble.

It’ll be interesting to see what they do this summer if bounced again. Given their lack of assets and the tumultuous first year, I expect them to run it back again with basically the same team, as there’s not really much they can do to improve.

They probably will do that…. But man that is one ancient team. Next season Lilliard 34, Lopez 36, Middleton 33, crowder 34. That’s just a team waiting to fall of a cliff. 

[Who]

Kevin Durant played nearly 2800 minutes over 75 games this season. The minutes were the most Durant has played since he led the NBA in 2013-14.

The most Durant has played in 10 years? Sheesh.

[Who]

Jimmy Butler last two seasons

2021-22 = 21.4ppg 5.9rpg 5.4apg 59.2% TS%
2022-23 = 22.9ppg 5.9rpg 5.3apg 64.7% TS%

Playoff Jimmy last two seasons

2021-22 = 27.4ppg 7.4rpg 4.6apg 60.4% TS%
2022-23 = 26.9ppg 6.5rpg 5.9apg 56.5% TS%

Will we see Playoff Jimmy again this season?

I hope so. I love Playoff Jimmy and these surprising Miami Heat runs. Two trips to the Finals and an ECF in the last 4 years. Jimmy & Bam. One of the least heralded dynamic duos of All-Duo relative to their postseason success.

2023-24 = 20.8ppg 5.3rpg 5.0apg 62.6% TS%

[libermaniac]

Jimmy Butler last two seasons

2021-22 = 21.4ppg 5.9rpg 5.4apg 59.2% TS%
2022-23 = 22.9ppg 5.9rpg 5.3apg 64.7% TS%

Playoff Jimmy last two seasons

2021-22 = 27.4ppg 7.4rpg 4.6apg 60.4% TS%
2022-23 = 26.9ppg 6.5rpg 5.9apg 56.5% TS%

Will we see Playoff Jimmy again this season?

I hope so. I love Playoff Jimmy and these surprising Miami Heat runs. Two trips to the Finals and an ECF in the last 4 years. Jimmy & Bam. One of the least heralded dynamic duos of All-Duo relative to their postseason success.

2023-24 = 20.8ppg 5.3rpg 5.0apg 62.6% TS%

You hope so? You do realize that would likely be at the Cs expense don’t you? I’d like to see high school Jimmy.

[Who]

Jimmy Butler last two seasons

2021-22 = 21.4ppg 5.9rpg 5.4apg 59.2% TS%
2022-23 = 22.9ppg 5.9rpg 5.3apg 64.7% TS%

Playoff Jimmy last two seasons

2021-22 = 27.4ppg 7.4rpg 4.6apg 60.4% TS%
2022-23 = 26.9ppg 6.5rpg 5.9apg 56.5% TS%

Will we see Playoff Jimmy again this season?

I hope so. I love Playoff Jimmy and these surprising Miami Heat runs. Two trips to the Finals and an ECF in the last 4 years. Jimmy & Bam. One of the least heralded dynamic duos of All-Duo relative to their postseason success.

2023-24 = 20.8ppg 5.3rpg 5.0apg 62.6% TS%

You hope so? You do realize that would likely be at the Cs expense don’t you? I’d like to see high school Jimmy.

We'll see who they end up playing. We don't know yet.

Even with Playoff Jimmy, I don't think Miami can beat us. Their team hasn't come together since the trade for Rozier. And the Celtics are much stronger this year around.

I love the way Jimmy plays. I wish good things for him.

[bdm860]

Kevin Durant played nearly 2800 minutes over 75 games this season. The minutes were the most Durant has played since he led the NBA in 2013-14.

The most Durant has played in 10 years? Sheesh.

Is it a coincidence that so many stars (especially older stars) are playing their most games in several years?

Durant - most games since 2014
Kawhi - most games since 2017
Curry - most games since 2017
Ingram - most games since 2017
AD - most games since 2018
LeBron - most games since 2018
VanVleet - most games since 2018
Giannis - most games since 2018
DeRozan - most games since 2018
Dejounte Murray - most games since 2018
Harden - most games since 2019
Lillard - most games since 2019
Jokic - most games since 2019 (to be fair, didn't miss a game in '20 or '21).
Paul George - most games since 2019
Jaylen Brown - most games since 2019
Sabonis - most games ever (first time playing all 82, but played 81, 79, 74 x2 in the past).
Luka - most games since 2019
Siakam - most games since 2019
Gobert - most games since 2019
SGA - most games since 2019
Zion - most games ever

Other stars went from under the 65 game threshold last year, to over this year:
Booker
Maxey
Jaren Jackson Jr
Halliburton

To be fair, 2020 (64-75 games depending on team) and 2021 (72 games) were shortened seasons.

High level it seems like the 65 game award threshold is working, but it could also just be a coincidence amplified by a couple of Covid seasons tanking previous results.

Doing another high level search, number of players playing 65 or more games by season:

2024   184
2023   180
2022   175
2021   short season
2020   short season
2019   200
2018   219
2017   230
2016   226
2015   211
2014   216

Only a small tick up from last year, but still well below pre-2020 results.  So maybe it is  just a coincidence.  Or maybe at least the stars are now motivated to take fewer rest days?

[Birdman]

Blake Griffin retires…would like see him win a championship with us this season (🙏🏻) but happy retirement to him

[CelticSooner]

Jimmy Butler last two seasons

2021-22 = 21.4ppg 5.9rpg 5.4apg 59.2% TS%
2022-23 = 22.9ppg 5.9rpg 5.3apg 64.7% TS%

Playoff Jimmy last two seasons

2021-22 = 27.4ppg 7.4rpg 4.6apg 60.4% TS%
2022-23 = 26.9ppg 6.5rpg 5.9apg 56.5% TS%

Will we see Playoff Jimmy again this season?

I hope so. I love Playoff Jimmy and these surprising Miami Heat runs. Two trips to the Finals and an ECF in the last 4 years. Jimmy & Bam. One of the least heralded dynamic duos of All-Duo relative to their postseason success.

2023-24 = 20.8ppg 5.3rpg 5.0apg 62.6% TS%

You hope so? You do realize that would likely be at the Cs expense don’t you? I’d like to see high school Jimmy.

We'll see who they end up playing. We don't know yet.

Even with Playoff Jimmy, I don't think Miami can beat us. Their team hasn't come together since the trade for Rozier. And the Celtics are much stronger this year around.

I love the way Jimmy plays. I wish good things for him.

The way Butler and the Heat treat the regular season has changed my perception on them. Butler in particular takes coasting to a whole new level. It makes a mockery of the game while everyone else are trying are for the most part.

[Who]

I did not realize Kawhi Leonard missed the last 8 games of the regular season. He has right knee inflammation.

The Clippers are trying to get the inflammation down in time for him to play in the First Round. So Kawhi is still undergoing treatment.

The Clippers are expecting him to play. Gm 1 in 5 days.

[blink]

I'm predicting the Lakers and Warriors win tonight. Then Warriors beat Pelicans Friday.

Can't discount the Warriors immediately when they still have Curry and the Kings/Pelicans have also looked really shaky and inconsistent this season.

So your prediction is exactly the opposite of what I am hoping for.  Hopefully Sac wins over GS and Pels over the lakers.  Then Sac can beats the lakers to get the 8th seed.  Am I crazy?  Wishful thinking I know.

[Phantom255x]

I'm predicting the Lakers and Warriors win tonight. Then Warriors beat Pelicans Friday.

Can't discount the Warriors immediately when they still have Curry and the Kings/Pelicans have also looked really shaky and inconsistent this season.

So your prediction is exactly the opposite of what I am hoping for.  Hopefully Sac wins over GS and Pels over the lakers.  Then Sac can beats the lakers to get the 8th seed.  Am I crazy?  Wishful thinking I know.

That’s the ideal scenario

I just don’t want LAL making it as an 8 seed and suddenly having an easier path with OKC, LAC/DAL in the first two rounds. Rather they get eliminated in the play-in or just get put out of their misery against the Nuggets

[jpotter33]

We wanting Lakers or Pelicans to win this?

On one hand, I always want the Lakers to lose.

On the other hand, I feel like the Lakers have more of a chance to give the Nuggets a difficult series, though neither has more than a puncher's chance of actually winning.