Post Playoff Predictions Here

[perks-a-beast]

PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

CHI def. MIA
ATL def. ORL
ORL def. CHI

FIRST ROUND
OKC def. MEM 4-1
GSW def. HOU 4-2
LAL def. MIN 4-2
DEN def. LAC 4-3

CLE def. ORL 4-2
BOS def. ATL 4-1
NYK def. DET 4-3
IND def. MIL 4-3

2ND ROUND

OKC def. DEN 4-1
GSW def. LAL 4-3

CLE def. IND 4-1
BOS def. NYK 4-1

3RD ROUND

OKC def. GSW 4-2
BOS def. CLE 4-3

FINALS
BOS def. OKC 4-3

[Surferdad]

quote author=perks-a-beast link=topic=109342.msg3298756#msg3298756 date=1744585018]
PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

CHI def. MIA
ATL def. ORL
ORL ATL def. CHI

[/quote]

[Phantom255x]

I'll make formal ones for the first round after play-in matchups are determined and add to this, but for now my picks for the matchups that are already set in stone:

Lakers > Wolves in 5
Clippers > Nuggets in 7 (box office series)

Knicks > Pistons in 7
Pacers > Bucks in 6 (assuming Lillard remains out - he could come back later in the playoffs)

[Who]

I'd love to see an update on Lillard's situation

This is from BrewHoop, the SBnation Bucks blog

Shams: Bucks optimistic Damian Lillard (blood clot) will be cleared to return at some point during playoffs.

Lillard has an upcoming exam to determine clearance for postseason play.

This is the best I could find. Shams said it during a game between the Pistons and Bucks 2 days ago.

This comes after this past Monday, when head coach Doc Rivers was speaking with Gale Klappa on his Courtside podcast with Bucks+. Rivers reported that Dame is making good progress in returning to action, that Lillard?s clot had gotten smaller, all while still getting in some light cardio and getting up shots in the gym.

It was initially reported that Lillard had suffered deep vein thrombosis back on March 25, which will be three weeks this Tuesday. According to a certified athletic trainer I spoke to, who has 25+ years of experience, that is the typical timetable to treat a DVT, but it is dependent on the patient.

On the Pacers series

The Bucks won the regular-season series against the Pacers 3-1, with Indiana?s lone win coming with a Tyrese Haliburton and-one corner three over Giannis in Indianapolis.

With how well the Bucks? bench seems to be playing with Giannis, inserting Dame into a closing lineup with either Kevin Porter Jr. or Gary Trent Jr. as the other guard next to him alongside AJ Green, Bobby Portis, and Giannis could give the Pacers a lot of issues.

I see some reporters speaking about this lineup. Giannis, Portis and 3 guards. They have found good success with it in recent games. They think it will be the Bucks best closing lineup in the playoffs. Portis gives them a more mobile defensive player than B Lopez. And the 3 guards give offensive firepower alongside Giannis. Kevin Porter Jr has been in the Lillard role in recent games as the 2nd option on the floor.  Interesting there is no Kuzma. No T Prince. 3 guards.

[jpotter33]

I'm hoping Golden State drops that first play-in game and wins the second. I want OKC to have the most difficult route to win the West as possible. A GSW, Den/LAC, and then LAL/Hou/Min route would be really difficult for them, and even if they do get through that likely wear them down a bit by the time they get to us in the Finals.

[slamtheking]

West PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

East Play in
CHI def. MIA
Orl  def. Atl
Chi def. Atl

West FIRST ROUND
OKC def. MEM 4-0
GSW def. HOU 4-3
LAL def. MIN 4-1
DEN def. LAC 4-3

East FIRST ROUND
CLE def. CHI 4-0
BOS def. ORL 4-2
NYK def. DET 4-3
IND def. MIL 4-3. (assumption is Lillard is out)

2ND ROUND
West
OKC def. DEN 4-2
LAL def. GSW 4-3

East
CLE def. IND 4-1
BOS def. NYK 4-1

3RD ROUND
West
OKC def. LAL 4-3

East
BOS def. CLE 4-2

FINALS
BOS def. OKC 4-2. (assumption is Brown is at least at 85% for this series and no one else misses time)

[Who]

East

MIL vs IND = unsure
NYK over DET in 6 games

MIL wins if Lillard can play. Indiana should win if Lillard does not play. If he only plays half a series? Who knows. I want to wait closer to the start of the series and hope for a better update on Lillard's health. He is too big of a swing factor.

NYK should win in 4 or 5 but they have been off the boil recently so DET should be able to push them more.

West

LAC over DEN in 6 games
LAL over MIN in 5 or 6 games

LAC look much better than DEN. It is only my respect for Jokic that I believe they can get 2 games off of the Clippers. I expect the Clippers to make life very uncomfortable for J Murray & MPJ.

MIN should be able to defend the Lakers well. I am just not sure they can score well enough to beat them in the series. LAL rely on outside shooting so they'll probably be off 1-2 games that allows Minny to get on the board. Minny will need someone to step up and help Ant offensively to have a chance in this series.

[Birdman]

Funny in last couple of weeks a lot of starters for teams that were battling last spots was playing?during the season they was sitting out due to load management lol?every game counts

[Goldstar88]

PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

CHI def. MIA
ORL def. ATL
Chi def. ATL

FIRST ROUND
OKC def. MEM 4-2
GSW def. HOU 4-2
LAL def. MIN 4-2
LAC def. DEN 4-3

CLE def. CHI 4-2
BOS def. ORL 4-2
NYK def. DET 4-3
MIL def. IND 4-3

2ND ROUND

LAC def. OKC 4-3
LAL def. GS 4-3

MIL def. CLE 4-3
BOS def. NYK 4-1

3RD ROUND

LAL def. LAC 4-3
BOS def. MIL 4-2

FINALS
BOS def. LAL 4-2

[perks-a-beast]

PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

CHI def. MIA
ORL def. ATL
Chi def. ATL

FIRST ROUND
OKC def. MEM 4-2
GSW def. HOU 4-2
LAL def. MIN 4-2
LAC def. DEN 4-3

CLE def. CHI 4-2
BOS def. ORL 4-2
NYK def. DET 4-3
MIL def. IND 4-3

2ND ROUND

LAC def. OKC 4-3
LAL def. GS 4-3

MIL def. CLE 4-3
BOS def. NYK 4-1

3RD ROUND

LAL def. LAC 4-3
BOS def. MIL 4-2

FINALS
BOS def. LAL 4-2

LAC over OKC?interesting. I think if Kawhi holds up there?s a chance but that?s a BIG if.

Harden-Leonard-Zubac have been playing like a legit big 3 as of late, but the Clips depth just pales in comparison to OKC?s.

The Clippers 4-8 are all guys I?d be bummed to have to rely upon to have an impact in a playoff series.

Powell
Bogdanovic
Dunn
Simmons
Jones Jr.

I was hoping Simmons could give them more of a lift. He?s still so good in theory, but just doesn?t want to seem to want the ball in his hands any more. His role is pretty much rebounding, defending, and screening. Once Upon A a time, I thought this guys was the next Magic Johnson, LOL. Funny how things turn out.

[blink]

PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

CHI def. MIA
ORL def. ATL
Chi def. ATL

FIRST ROUND
OKC def. MEM 4-2
GSW def. HOU 4-2
LAL def. MIN 4-2
LAC def. DEN 4-3

CLE def. CHI 4-2
BOS def. ORL 4-2
NYK def. DET 4-3
MIL def. IND 4-3

2ND ROUND

LAC def. OKC 4-3
LAL def. GS 4-3

MIL def. CLE 4-3
BOS def. NYK 4-1

3RD ROUND

LAL def. LAC 4-3
BOS def. MIL 4-2

FINALS
BOS def. LAL 4-2

LAC over OKC?interesting. I think if Kawhi holds up there?s a chance but that?s a BIG if.

Harden-Leonard-Zubac have been playing like a legit big 3 as of late, but the Clips depth just pales in comparison to OKC?s.

The Clippers 4-8 are all guys I?d be bummed to have to rely upon to have an impact in a playoff series.

Powell
Bogdanovic
Dunn
Simmons
Jones Jr.

I was hoping Simmons could give them more of a lift. He?s still so good in theory, but just doesn?t want to seem to want the ball in his hands any more. His role is pretty much rebounding, defending, and screening. Once Upon A a time, I thought this guys was the next Magic Johnson, LOL. Funny how things turn out.

Tatum, Brown, and Al would all get their jerseys retired if they gave us a back to back title while defeating the nemesis Lebron and the Lakers.

[Goldstar88]

PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

CHI def. MIA
ORL def. ATL
Chi def. ATL

FIRST ROUND
OKC def. MEM 4-2
GSW def. HOU 4-2
LAL def. MIN 4-2
LAC def. DEN 4-3

CLE def. CHI 4-2
BOS def. ORL 4-2
NYK def. DET 4-3
MIL def. IND 4-3

2ND ROUND

LAC def. OKC 4-3
LAL def. GS 4-3

MIL def. CLE 4-3
BOS def. NYK 4-1

3RD ROUND

LAL def. LAC 4-3
BOS def. MIL 4-2

FINALS
BOS def. LAL 4-2

LAC over OKC?interesting. I think if Kawhi holds up there?s a chance but that?s a BIG if.

Harden-Leonard-Zubac have been playing like a legit big 3 as of late, but the Clips depth just pales in comparison to OKC?s.

The Clippers 4-8 are all guys I?d be bummed to have to rely upon to have an impact in a playoff series.

Powell
Bogdanovic
Dunn
Simmons
Jones Jr.

I was hoping Simmons could give them more of a lift. He?s still so good in theory, but just doesn?t want to seem to want the ball in his hands any more. His role is pretty much rebounding, defending, and screening. Once Upon A a time, I thought this guys was the next Magic Johnson, LOL. Funny how things turn out.

Kawhi over the last 10 games, 35mpg: 26.5pts, 6.5rebs, 3.3ast, 2.3stls. Shooting splits of 53/48/88

James Harden over the last 10 games, 36mpg:  24.2pts, 5.4rebs, 9ast, 1.7stls. Shooting splits of 49/37/87.


Those two with 1-2 days rest between games are going to be tough. Zubac is also averaging 19pts/14rebs over the last 10. Powell is still rusty coming off injury, but he?s having a career year averaging 22ppg on 48/42/80 shooting splits.

Ty Lue moving Simmons to center was a brilliant move. Have no idea why coaches didn?t try that with him earlier in his career since he can?t shoot. Does everything else well.

Harden, Nunn, Powell, Leonard, Zubac with Jones Jr, Simmons, Coffey is a solid 8 man rotation. Not sure how much I?d play Bogdanovic since he gets picked on defensively, but If they get into a scoring drought, can throw him out there.

Lue is great coach too. If the Clippers remain healthy, they are going to be a force.

[SparzWizard]

PLAY IN
SAC def. DAL
GSW def. MEM
MEM def. SAC

CHI def. MIA
ORL def. ATL
Chi def. ATL

FIRST ROUND
OKC def. MEM 4-2
GSW def. HOU 4-2
LAL def. MIN 4-2
LAC def. DEN 4-3

CLE def. CHI 4-2
BOS def. ORL 4-2
NYK def. DET 4-3
MIL def. IND 4-3

2ND ROUND

LAC def. OKC 4-3
LAL def. GS 4-3

MIL def. CLE 4-3
BOS def. NYK 4-1

3RD ROUND

LAL def. LAC 4-3
BOS def. MIL 4-2

FINALS
BOS def. LAL 4-2

LAC over OKC?interesting. I think if Kawhi holds up there?s a chance but that?s a BIG if.

Harden-Leonard-Zubac have been playing like a legit big 3 as of late, but the Clips depth just pales in comparison to OKC?s.

The Clippers 4-8 are all guys I?d be bummed to have to rely upon to have an impact in a playoff series.

Powell
Bogdanovic
Dunn
Simmons
Jones Jr.

I was hoping Simmons could give them more of a lift. He?s still so good in theory, but just doesn?t want to seem to want the ball in his hands any more. His role is pretty much rebounding, defending, and screening. Once Upon A a time, I thought this guys was the next Magic Johnson, LOL. Funny how things turn out.

Tatum, Brown, and Al would all get their jerseys retired if they gave us a back to back title while defeating the nemesis Lebron and the Lakers.

That would be revenge for 2010 and LeBron's Heat/Cavs days. But hate that the Lakers will continue to be in the way for the foreseeable future as long as Luka is there and is very well a magnet for other stars

[Who]

Legler said the Clippers were 19 wins 3 losses in last 22 games of the regular season.

Nuggets are in trouble. Jokic will cause the Clippers problems but I believe LAC can slow down DEN's perimeter guys (J Murray, MPJ) enough to defeat the Nuggets.

[perks-a-beast]

Legler said the Clippers were 19 wins 3 losses in last 22 games of the regular season.

Nuggets are in trouble. Jokic will cause the Clippers problems but I believe LAC can slow down DEN's perimeter guys (J Murray, MPJ) enough to defeat the Nuggets.

Yeah but I much rather bet on Jokic being amazing and willing them to victory than bet on Kawhi staying healthy and Harden being consistent through the series - two things which will have to happen for the Clips to win, I think.