NBA Season 2024-25

[Donoghus]

West seeding from 3-8 right now is utterly insane.  2 games of separation btw 6 teams.

[Phantom255x]

Yikes that was a bad loss by OKC yesterday, doesn't help them much in the "they will choke anyways" narrative.

[SparzWizard]

Is 4 the magic number? Do we want to win the next four games while the Cavs lose the next four so we clinch the 1 seed?

Personally I'd just rest the starters and lock up the 2-seed. Doesn't matter who has home court in the ECF or NBA Finals, I prefer this team start off on the road and get them motivated.

[Celtics2021]

Is 4 the magic number? Do we want to win the next four games while the Cavs lose the next four so we clinch the 1 seed?

Personally I'd just rest the starters and lock up the 2-seed. Doesn't matter who has home court in the ECF or NBA Finals, I prefer this team start off on the road and get them motivated.

The Celtics will not rest everyone for the entire final week with another week off to follow during the play-in games.  Look for something like the following:

Tuesday vs. NY:  Playoff rotation.
Wednesday vs. Orlando: Horford, KP, and Jrue all rest. Starters might not play the fourth.
Friday vs. Charlotte:  Playoff rotation for first half.  Maybe starters come back out for third quarter, but they do not finish the third.
Sunday vs. Charlotte: Everyone sits.

Cleveland is going to win on Tuesday anyway, so there is no reason to think of seeding.  It is all about finding that balance between rest and rhythm heading to the playoffs.

[slamtheking]

Is 4 the magic number? Do we want to win the next four games while the Cavs lose the next four so we clinch the 1 seed?

Personally I'd just rest the starters and lock up the 2-seed. Doesn't matter who has home court in the ECF or NBA Finals, I prefer this team start off on the road and get them motivated.

The Celtics will not rest everyone for the entire final week with another week off to follow during the play-in games.  Look for something like the following:

Tuesday vs. NY:  Playoff rotation.
Wednesday vs. Orlando: Horford, KP, and Jrue all rest. Starters might not play the fourth.
Friday vs. Charlotte:  Playoff rotation for first half.  Maybe starters come back out for third quarter, but they do not finish the third.
Sunday vs. Charlotte: Everyone sits.

Cleveland is going to win on Tuesday anyway, so there is no reason to think of seeding.  It is all about finding that balance between rest and rhythm heading to the playoffs.

I think that's probably a likely scenario though I if they are going to do an "everyone sits" game, I'd rather it be the Friday game and have the playoff rotation start out on Sunday to make sure their last game going into the playoffs is the freshest one for them.

[Donoghus]

Is 4 the magic number? Do we want to win the next four games while the Cavs lose the next four so we clinch the 1 seed?

Personally I'd just rest the starters and lock up the 2-seed. Doesn't matter who has home court in the ECF or NBA Finals, I prefer this team start off on the road and get them motivated.

The Celtics will not rest everyone for the entire final week with another week off to follow during the play-in games.  Look for something like the following:

Tuesday vs. NY:  Playoff rotation.
Wednesday vs. Orlando: Horford, KP, and Jrue all rest. Starters might not play the fourth.
Friday vs. Charlotte:  Playoff rotation for first half.  Maybe starters come back out for third quarter, but they do not finish the third.
Sunday vs. Charlotte: Everyone sits.

Cleveland is going to win on Tuesday anyway, so there is no reason to think of seeding.  It is all about finding that balance between rest and rhythm heading to the playoffs.

I think that's probably a likely scenario though I if they are going to do an "everyone sits" game, I'd rather it be the Friday game and have the playoff rotation start out on Sunday to make sure their last game going into the playoffs is the freshest one for them.

That Sunday game is usually a joke.  Last year's season finale featured a starting lineup of Hauser/Kornet/Pritchard/Svi/Walsh.

[slamtheking]

Is 4 the magic number? Do we want to win the next four games while the Cavs lose the next four so we clinch the 1 seed?

Personally I'd just rest the starters and lock up the 2-seed. Doesn't matter who has home court in the ECF or NBA Finals, I prefer this team start off on the road and get them motivated.

The Celtics will not rest everyone for the entire final week with another week off to follow during the play-in games.  Look for something like the following:

Tuesday vs. NY:  Playoff rotation.
Wednesday vs. Orlando: Horford, KP, and Jrue all rest. Starters might not play the fourth.
Friday vs. Charlotte:  Playoff rotation for first half.  Maybe starters come back out for third quarter, but they do not finish the third.
Sunday vs. Charlotte: Everyone sits.

Cleveland is going to win on Tuesday anyway, so there is no reason to think of seeding.  It is all about finding that balance between rest and rhythm heading to the playoffs.

I think that's probably a likely scenario though I if they are going to do an "everyone sits" game, I'd rather it be the Friday game and have the playoff rotation start out on Sunday to make sure their last game going into the playoffs is the freshest one for them.

That Sunday game is usually a joke.  Last year's season finale featured a starting lineup of Hauser/Kornet/Pritchard/Svi/Walsh.

we're playing Charlotte.  it'll be a joke no matter what

[Who]

Injury update for Lillard

They caught the blood clot early. It will not be the same type of issue as Bosh went through or Wemby is going through now. They are saying Lillard is due for full contact practices within 7-10 days. So he will be back for the playoffs.

Playoffs start Apr 19. That was reported by Shams a couple of days ago so the time frame is maybe half of that 7-10 days by now. Good to hear.

Bobby Portis will return soon from suspension fixing their big man rotation. Milwaukee has struggled all season long when forced to play small ball lineups. Big upgrade for MIL.

Jericho Sims is their 3rd string center / big man. He had surgery recently on torn ligaments in his thumb. They say he will be back in time for the playoffs. He shouldn't be in their main rotation but gives them some break-in-case-of-emergency depth up front.

[SparzWizard]

Injury update for Lillard

They caught the blood clot early. It will not be the same type of issue as Bosh went through or Wemby is going through now. They are saying Lillard is due for full contact practices within 7-10 days. So he will be back for the playoffs.

Playoffs start Apr 19. That was reported by Shams a couple of days ago so the time frame is maybe half of that 7-10 days by now. Good to hear.

Bobby Portis will return soon from suspension fixing their big man rotation. Milwaukee has struggled all season long when forced to play small ball lineups. Big upgrade for MIL.

Jericho Sims is their 3rd string center / big man. He had surgery recently on torn ligaments in his thumb. They say he will be back in time for the playoffs. He shouldn't be in their main rotation but gives them some break-in-case-of-emergency depth up front.

I think Knicks are done for if this were the 3/6 matchup. But, keep them on the other side of the bracket. Healthy Portis and Lillard would be tough customers for the East beasts.

[Phantom255x]

Injury update for Lillard

They caught the blood clot early. It will not be the same type of issue as Bosh went through or Wemby is going through now. They are saying Lillard is due for full contact practices within 7-10 days. So he will be back for the playoffs.

Playoffs start Apr 19. That was reported by Shams a couple of days ago so the time frame is maybe half of that 7-10 days by now. Good to hear.

Bobby Portis will return soon from suspension fixing their big man rotation. Milwaukee has struggled all season long when forced to play small ball lineups. Big upgrade for MIL.

Jericho Sims is their 3rd string center / big man. He had surgery recently on torn ligaments in his thumb. They say he will be back in time for the playoffs. He shouldn't be in their main rotation but gives them some break-in-case-of-emergency depth up front.

Good news for Lillard and the Bucks. Bucks are currently the 5 seed, I think that's good for us that MIL and IND are on the opposite bracket. One of those two can also give Cleveland some fits. I don't think MIL is beating Boston in a series but I do think they are a bit underrated going in. They still have Giannis, and Kuzma was a solid addition, and their bench is better than last season's.

It would be a massive win for us if we can avoid CLE/MIL/IND all until the ECF. If we face NY 2nd round, it could be smooth sailing until the ECF for us.

[Phantom255x]

SGA has attempted a total of two FTs combined the last two games. OKC has lost both. Interesting

[slamtheking]

SGA has attempted a total of two FTs combined the last two games. OKC has lost both. Interesting

not surprising that OKC loses when they don't get the heavy FT advantage that they rely on for point differential

[Goldstar88]

Lonnie Walker has 29pts tonight on 10-18 shooting. 6-13 from 3pt.

[Vermont Green]

The race out west is interesting.  3 through 8 separated by only a couple of games, as others have pointed out.  4 teams tied at 18 back, Lakers leading the way of this group at 16 back (so 2 ahead for the 3 seed).  It is hard to say what seed it best though.  I guess you don't want to have to play a play in game, but who do you want for a first round match up? 

The 3 seed might get GSW, the 4 seed LAC, for example.

[slamtheking]

The race out west is interesting.  3 through 8 separated by only a couple of games, as others have pointed out.  4 teams tied at 18 back, Lakers leading the way of this group at 16 back (so 2 ahead for the 3 seed).  It is hard to say what seed it best though.  I guess you don't want to have to play a play in game, but who do you want for a first round match up? 

The 3 seed might get GSW, the 4 seed LAC, for example.

I'm hoping for a Laker 4 game losing streak to end the season with the other teams winning out (as much as possible) so that the Lakers are stuck as the 8 seed having to fight their way in (and losing both the 7-8 and 8 - 9/10 games for good measure).