2023-24 NBA Playoffs Predictions

[Braswell10]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

The 2nd best player on an 8th seed should not make the 2nd team.

Get off his pole.

Empty stats aren't enough

Lebron was certainly better than Kawhi. Hate to break it to you.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Kyrie's favorite player was/is actually CP3.

Which sets the perfect table for Wolves in 7.

I mean there is who you admire as a four year old (probably Kidd) and who you admire as an aspiring professional.

My favorite player on this roster is Hardaway Jr. Old Warriors fan, go figure.

[Grave252]

Wife works in advertising so she got hooked up with free lower level tix. My first playoff NBA game and the atmosphere was awesome. I'm probably a low IQ basketball fan, don't follow the game too closely, but Ant seemed out of it. Probably didn't see it on TV, but when he was coming up the court or didn't have the ball, it felt lethargic. Looked like Jokic at the end of the Denver series, just out of gas. Makes you wonder if the Wolves spent too much energy getting past Denver.

Regardless, hopeful for a close series. It's been amazing to have a good team in MN on a run, doesn't happen here often. Was also awesome to see Kyrie live - an incredible talent that seems so skillful.

[Torro]

Originally Posted by AwesomeBrian

Regular season with opposing stars routinely taking games off is nearly meaningless now. Ask the Warriors what a regular season title means.

Beat Miami without Butler
Beat Cleveland without Mitchell for 2 games, Allen entire series and were played evenly by the backups
Needed a miracle last night playing 8 on 5.

They aren't scary. The media wants them to be scary because they need that narrative.

Tatum throwing passes wildly, missing WIDE OPEN 3 late to tie. He ain't it. He gets points but he ain't it. Brown bailed him out along with the FT difference.

But still who is the scary team if not Celtics? In terms of TEAM (not 1-2 star players).

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by Grave252

Wife works in advertising so she got hooked up with free lower level tix. My first playoff NBA game and the atmosphere was awesome. I'm probably a low IQ basketball fan, don't follow the game too closely, but Ant seemed out of it. Probably didn't see it on TV, but when he was coming up the court or didn't have the ball, it felt lethargic. Looked like Jokic at the end of the Denver series, just out of gas. Makes you wonder if the Wolves spent too much energy getting past Denver.

Regardless, hopeful for a close series. It's been amazing to have a good team in MN on a run, doesn't happen here often. Was also awesome to see Kyrie live - an incredible talent that seems so skillful.

there was definitely an issue. you could see it in his face, no energy. a young professional athlete doesnt just get this tired. i get the defending kyrie argument but someone guards him every game and isnt that tired. he was sick or wasnt properly prepared. it was a good game to watch though and hope for a competitive series. i dont know the wolves averages but it seemed like they shot to many 3's and had some ridiculous turnovers down the stretch. credit to luka and kyrie for bringing the offense. +- is pretty wild and gets blown out of proportion. luka played 40:44 and was -9 and kyrie played 40:08 and was +5. watching the game i wouldnt say luka hurt the team being out there.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by Braswell10

Lebron was certainly better than Kawhi. Hate to break it to you.

Certainly is not the same as arguably

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

there was definitely an issue. you could see it in his face, no energy. a young professional athlete doesnt just get this tired. i get the defending kyrie argument but someone guards him every game and isnt that tired. he was sick or wasnt properly prepared. it was a good game to watch though and hope for a competitive series. i dont know the wolves averages but it seemed like they shot to many 3's and had some ridiculous turnovers down the stretch. credit to luka and kyrie for bringing the offense. +- is pretty wild and gets blown out of proportion. luka played 40:44 and was -9 and kyrie played 40:08 and was +5. watching the game i wouldnt say luka hurt the team being out there.

I understand that it's a stat that people will use, but I've always thought it's a dumb stat to go by.

[SandStoneSports]

I went to bed right after the 3rd quarter. I fully expected to wake up and see that the Mavericks lost. This game felt a hell of a lot like Mavs vs Clippers Game 4 where both George and Harden shot over 70% from 3 point. Just chalking up a loss to a couple players shooting out of their minds. That said, Minnesota is going to have to figure something out because there is no way McDaniels, Reid, and Ant all continue to shoot above their career 3pt percentage for the rest of the series.

Part of me wonders what the games look like when Dallas starts to hit a few more open 3pt opportunities like they did against OKC? There is also no way Luka, Washington, Jones Jr., and Kyrie all continue to shoot below 30% from 3 for the remainder of the series.

[daeve]

[Wojnarowski] ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers dismissed coach JB Bickerstaff on Thursday. Bickerstaff led Cavs to conference semifinals and won 99 regular-season games in past two years, but change comes with hope of advancing deeper.

Y'all think Lebron already told the FO to get 'his guy' in there or else?

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by daeve

Y'all think Lebron already told the FO to get 'his guy' in there or else?

Whatever it took to dump him is good with me.

JB was a bad coach that was taking an otherwise pretty talented roster, nowhere.

Now maybe the Cavs can actually do something

[GOATcards]

hard to imagine serious complaints about NBA product quality if the product were like the conference finals games so far

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

I thought the basket interference call was rough.

They need to fix that rule. Nobody boxes out KAT, he should be alllowed to put it back in.

Wouldn't that mean as soon as the ball hits the rim, all the defenders would just swat at it? So scoring becomes only swishes? Might be a good way to get scoring down!

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by SandStoneSports

I went to bed right after the 3rd quarter. I fully expected to wake up and see that the Mavericks lost. This game felt a hell of a lot like Mavs vs Clippers Game 4 where both George and Harden shot over 70% from 3 point. Just chalking up a loss to a couple players shooting out of their minds. That said, Minnesota is going to have to figure something out because there is no way McDaniels, Reid, and Ant all continue to shoot above their career 3pt percentage for the rest of the series.

Part of me wonders what the games look like when Dallas starts to hit a few more open 3pt opportunities like they did against OKC? There is also no way Luka, Washington, Jones Jr., and Kyrie all continue to shoot below 30% from 3 for the remainder of the series.

I'm not trying to get too excited as a Luka/Mavs fan, but it did seem like things went generally in favor of the Wolves and yet the Mavs won on the road.

[TSonn]

Ant's post game comments on being tired and not being ready for the Mavs were pretty weak. Appreciate the transparency but it came off as not taking much responsibility for the loss when in the past he was quick to take the blame.

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by TSonn

Ant's post game comments on being tired and not being ready for the Mavs was pretty weak. Appreciate the transparency but it came off as not taking much responsibility for the loss when in the past he was quick to take the blame.

Maybe it’s honesty?

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Maybe it’s honesty?

Could be! But the "not being ready" comment comes off as a huge dig against the coaching staff and his own ability to prep for a match up. Surprised not much more is being made of that comment but it was an odd one.

How are they not prepared to play the team in the WCF?

He also didn't say anything about being winded the entire second half, again not taking much accountability there.

I've really enjoyed his pressers in the past but this one felt very different.

[HeyRelaxGuy]

Originally Posted by Kingofkings1281

Kyrie is going to be the X factor in this series. And probably the dude that puts them over the top.

Stop kidding yourselves, my homies!
Kyrie hasn't done a damn thing since leaving Cleveland.
Dallas has played in the WCF before without him ... it's not like he is taking them to places they've never been before ...
Kyrie is not gonna' do squat
Wolves are winning this

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

By the script!

Let's hope! Make it happen refs!

Indiana vs. wolves would be a terrible finals.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by Braswell10

Lebron was certainly better than Kawhi. Hate to break it to you.

Hahahaha. Sure.
That's why he had a better player on his team and won fewer games.

Math checks out.

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

I understand that it's a stat that people will use, but I've always thought it's a dumb stat to go by.

You shouldn't use it as a go to for everything because sometimes it's just luck. Sometimes it's the starters are losing but your bench is winning.

Last season I was always baffled with AD's was often bad and Bron's was good. Then I realised they played AD with the bench to keep them competitive and Bron always played with the best group.

Originally Posted by TSonn

Wouldn't that mean as soon as the ball hits the rim, all the defenders would just swat at it? So scoring becomes only swishes? Might be a good way to get scoring down!

What? No.
Although that does happen at the FIBA Olympics.
But common sense needs to prevail. KAT should be able to throw it down.

I think if it's uncontested he should be able to put it back in. The amount of interference that gets called when there's not a defender in sight is laughable.

[ninjacookies]

Keep running it back til it's no longer run-backable.



No hesi.

[Onepocketj]

Dude is really taking after Lebron. Faking an injury at least once a game now

[ninjacookies]

First 1h sweat of the series. We gone see.

[Onepocketj]

Looks like no one cares about this game

[ninjacookies]

Turner n' Hooch needs to promptly remove his head from his angus.

More scoring; less fouls.

[ninjacookies]

The indy offensive streak ends tonight.