2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Vermont Green]

Gotta imagine Sixers bounce back tonight.

That was one of the games I did not get to watch. I have seen a lot of people say Embiid is laboring and moving quite poorly, is that true?

That is my question also, and obviously the key to any chance PHI may have.  He scored 18 points in the first half before heading to the locker room early, after appearing land awkwardly on his knee.  He came back and scored 11 in the second half, as NYK took command of the game.

[tazzmaniac]

Gotta imagine Sixers bounce back tonight.

That was one of the games I did not get to watch. I have seen a lot of people say Embiid is laboring and moving quite poorly, is that true?

That is my question also, and obviously the key to any chance PHI may have.  He scored 18 points in the first half before heading to the locker room early, after appearing land awkwardly on his knee.  He came back and scored 11 in the second half, as NYK took command of the game.

He looked much better in the 1st half than he looked in the Heat game.  Only caught a little of the 2nd half but he still seemed better than the Heat game. 

[Moranis]

I think NY blows them out. Philly comes back in game 3 wins that, but loses games 4 and 5 and is done in 5.  The Knicks are the worst possible matchup for the Sixers when Embiid is healthy and he is clearly not healthy.

[Phantom255x]

The Sixers are not coming back if they fall behind 2-0.

I picked NY in 7, I still think this will go the distance and PHI wins tonight.

[celticinorlando]

Maxey might not even be playing tonight due to illness. Sixers are in trouble.

[Who]

Gotta imagine Sixers bounce back tonight.

That was one of the games I did not get to watch. I have seen a lot of people say Embid is laboring and moving quite poorly, is that true?

I would think that Embiid's defensive rebounding is something to watch. He rebounded very poorly in that play-in game. Regularly failing to track the ball, to box out, or to retrieve the ball unless it bounced right to him. The Knicks killed Philly on the offensive glass in game one. Without Embiid dominating the defensive boards, they are a really weak defensive rebounding team and they are pitted against one of the best offensive rebounding squads in the league.

So I'd be looking out for Embiid's movement and jumping on the boards. He just doesn't seem to be able to make quick movements. He is not comfortable out on the perimeter defensively. He hangs back. But not deep enough for prime rebounding position. He gets caught in these middle-lands / nowhere lands. Out of rebounding position. Not mobile enough.

He was better against NY than in the play-in game mobility wise but definitely something to watch.

Offensively, Embiid was moving very well. He attacked with ease. Several off the dribble drives. Quick moves. He didn't jump so well. The one time he did he hurt himself. He can't make multiple efforts in terms of jumping on defense or rebounds either.

Defensively, he gave up a ton of shots on the perimeter but Brunson was bricking his shots all night. K Oubre also played great defense on Brunson. Batum defended Brunson as well. So they have Embiid hanging back and then a big 6-7/6-8 wing trying to deny Brunson's pull ups. Clever strategy. It is protecting Embiid. It also protecting Maxey who is too small to cover Brunson. Brunson cannot bully Philly's small guards. Their D played a big part in his struggles.

So Embiid is somewhat useful defensively and somewhat of a liability. Very good offensively. A potentially a liability on the boards.

[GreenEnvy]

I like Minnesota as a dark horse. Wouldn’t be shocked if they upset Denver in the next round.

Embiid is laboring too much. He always wears down during a series, but the Knicks have a lot of bodies to throw at him and make him work. As good as Maxey has been, I don’t trust Harris and Oubre to pick up the slack.

I don’t like overreacting to one game, but Indy may have lost the series by blowing that opportunity to steal HCA without Giannis. Similarly, Dallas can’t lose that game with Kawhi sitting.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I like Minnesota as a dark horse. Wouldn’t be shocked if they upset Denver in the next round.

Embiid is laboring too much. He always wears down during a series, but the Knicks have a lot of bodies to throw at him and make him work. As good as Maxey has been, I don’t trust Harris and Oubre to pick up the slack.

I don’t like overreacting to one game, but Indy may have lost the series by blowing that opportunity to steal HCA without Giannis. Similarly, Dallas can’t lose that game with Kawhi sitting.

Why do you think Minnesota is a dark horse? To me is one of the most dangerous teams in the league and one I wouldn't wish to face in the finals. They were 1 game back from having the best record in their conference.

Not a dark horse at all.

[Phantom255x]

I like Minnesota as a dark horse. Wouldn’t be shocked if they upset Denver in the next round.

Embiid is laboring too much. He always wears down during a series, but the Knicks have a lot of bodies to throw at him and make him work. As good as Maxey has been, I don’t trust Harris and Oubre to pick up the slack.

I don’t like overreacting to one game, but Indy may have lost the series by blowing that opportunity to steal HCA without Giannis. Similarly, Dallas can’t lose that game with Kawhi sitting.

Why do you think Minnesota is a dark horse? To me is one of the most dangerous teams in the league and one I wouldn't wish to face in the finals. They were 1 game back from having the best record in their conference.

Not a dark horse at all.

They are not a dark horse.

They are a wolf 

[Donoghus]

I like Minnesota as a dark horse. Wouldn’t be shocked if they upset Denver in the next round.

Embiid is laboring too much. He always wears down during a series, but the Knicks have a lot of bodies to throw at him and make him work. As good as Maxey has been, I don’t trust Harris and Oubre to pick up the slack.

I don’t like overreacting to one game, but Indy may have lost the series by blowing that opportunity to steal HCA without Giannis. Similarly, Dallas can’t lose that game with Kawhi sitting.

Why do you think Minnesota is a dark horse? To me is one of the most dangerous teams in the league and one I wouldn't wish to face in the finals. They were 1 game back from having the best record in their conference.

Not a dark horse at all.

They are not a dark horse.

They are a wolf 

I think "dark horse" is the wrong word.  Everyone & their mom seems to think that a BOS-DEN finals seems to be pre-ordained.  TWolves are very much a contender.  They're just not talked about nearly as much as DEN.  Flying under the radar a bit.

[Phantom255x]

I like Minnesota as a dark horse. Wouldn’t be shocked if they upset Denver in the next round.

Embiid is laboring too much. He always wears down during a series, but the Knicks have a lot of bodies to throw at him and make him work. As good as Maxey has been, I don’t trust Harris and Oubre to pick up the slack.

I don’t like overreacting to one game, but Indy may have lost the series by blowing that opportunity to steal HCA without Giannis. Similarly, Dallas can’t lose that game with Kawhi sitting.

Why do you think Minnesota is a dark horse? To me is one of the most dangerous teams in the league and one I wouldn't wish to face in the finals. They were 1 game back from having the best record in their conference.

Not a dark horse at all.

They are not a dark horse.

They are a wolf 

I think "dark horse" is the wrong word.  Everyone & their mom seems to think that a BOS-DEN finals seems to be pre-ordained.  TWolves are very much a contender.  They're just not talked about nearly as much as DEN.  Flying under the radar a bit.

I agree, the Wolves are a legit team. Also, I think most of us expected KAT to not be back until the middle of the playoffs and he actually came back a lot earlier which felt miraculous. When fully healthy, they are definitely capable of beating DEN in a series. I wouldn't rule it out.

I think a Wolves-Celtics Finals would be very fun and exciting. Ant, Gobert and KAT vs. Tatum, Jaylen and Porzingis. They had some exciting regular season games as well especially the one at Boston.

[blink]

I like Minnesota as a dark horse. Wouldn’t be shocked if they upset Denver in the next round.

Embiid is laboring too much. He always wears down during a series, but the Knicks have a lot of bodies to throw at him and make him work. As good as Maxey has been, I don’t trust Harris and Oubre to pick up the slack.

I don’t like overreacting to one game, but Indy may have lost the series by blowing that opportunity to steal HCA without Giannis. Similarly, Dallas can’t lose that game with Kawhi sitting.

Why do you think Minnesota is a dark horse? To me is one of the most dangerous teams in the league and one I wouldn't wish to face in the finals. They were 1 game back from having the best record in their conference.

Not a dark horse at all.

They are not a dark horse.

They are a wolf 

I think "dark horse" is the wrong word.  Everyone & their mom seems to think that a BOS-DEN finals seems to be pre-ordained.  TWolves are very much a contender.  They're just not talked about nearly as much as DEN.  Flying under the radar a bit.

I agree, the Wolves are a legit team. Also, I think most of us expected KAT to not be back until the middle of the playoffs and he actually came back a lot earlier which felt miraculous. When fully healthy, they are definitely capable of beating DEN in a series. I wouldn't rule it out.

I think a Wolves-Celtics Finals would be very fun and exciting. Ant, Gobert and KAT vs. Tatum, Jaylen and Porzingis. They had some exciting regular season games as well especially the one at Boston.

100% agree with this.  A wolves C’s final would be fun.  I think it would be better for us than Denver, but not by a huge margin as Minn seems to be playing well.

[Who]

I like Minnesota as a dark horse. Wouldn’t be shocked if they upset Denver in the next round.

Embiid is laboring too much. He always wears down during a series, but the Knicks have a lot of bodies to throw at him and make him work. As good as Maxey has been, I don’t trust Harris and Oubre to pick up the slack.

I don’t like overreacting to one game, but Indy may have lost the series by blowing that opportunity to steal HCA without Giannis. Similarly, Dallas can’t lose that game with Kawhi sitting.

Why do you think Minnesota is a dark horse? To me is one of the most dangerous teams in the league and one I wouldn't wish to face in the finals. They were 1 game back from having the best record in their conference.

Not a dark horse at all.

They are not a dark horse.

They are a wolf 

I think "dark horse" is the wrong word.  Everyone & their mom seems to think that a BOS-DEN finals seems to be pre-ordained.  TWolves are very much a contender.  They're just not talked about nearly as much as DEN.  Flying under the radar a bit.

I agree, the Wolves are a legit team. Also, I think most of us expected KAT to not be back until the middle of the playoffs and he actually came back a lot earlier which felt miraculous. When fully healthy, they are definitely capable of beating DEN in a series. I wouldn't rule it out.

I think a Wolves-Celtics Finals would be very fun and exciting. Ant, Gobert and KAT vs. Tatum, Jaylen and Porzingis. They had some exciting regular season games as well especially the one at Boston.

100% agree with this.  A wolves C’s final would be fun.  I think it would be better for us than Denver, but not by a huge margin as Minn seems to be playing well.

Yeah, Minny lacks that Championship pedigree and composure under pressure that Jokic & J Murray provide. Minny would be nervous much like Boston would be.

Always think of Jordan's Bulls and how different his team was from 1991 to 1992. How nervous they were in that first Finals victory vs Magic Johnson. How much their inexperience cost them and allowed Magic's Lakers to punch above their weight (with an injured Worthy and later Byron Scott as well). Then comes 1992 and the Blazers. The Blazers were that nervous team (despite being in the Finals in 1990 but losing to DET) and Chicago were the calm composed team. Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt. The knew exactly what they needed to do and took care of business.

That to me is the difference between playing Denver or Minnesota in the Finals.

[SparzWizard]

I think the term "dark horse" is somebody unexpectedly making a big push to the Finals or Conference Finals. Like the 22-23 Heat or Lakers for example.

It's a team that's least expected. I think the Wolves were expected to rep the Finals. A team like the Mavs would be a "dark horse" I would say. That said, I did predict a Nuggets/Mavs WCF in the other thread but they got blown out in Game 1 so we'll see 

[86MaxwellSmart]

Watched the end of that NO/OKC game last night....Man that buffoon Larry Nance Jr. tries hard but he makes the dumbest plays, literally cost NO the game.