Playoff Seeding Thread: The race for 2nd

KnicksGadfly · Post #1 » by **KnicksGadfly** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 3:21 pm

We've been discussing this in other places, but let's start tracking how each team is doing as of 4/8/2024, and their schedules

#2: Milwaukee Bucks (49-32)
Remaining opponents:
@Orlando (4/14)

#3: New York Knicks (49-32)
Chicago (4/14)

#4: Cleveland Cavaliers (48-33)
Charlotte (4/14)

#5: Orlando Magic (46-35)
Milwaukee (4/14)

#6: Indiana Pacers (46-35)
Atlanta (4/14)

#7: Philadelphia 76ers (46-35)
Brooklyn (4/14)

#8: Miami Heat (45-36)
Toronto (4/14)

Man, based on this schedule, I feel the Knicks have a shot at the second or third seed. Bucks are struggling and have to deal with Boston, OKC and Orlando twice. Orlando has to deal with Milwaukee twice and Philly is gonna be gunning for them too. Cleveland's and Indiana's schedule seems pretty cupcake to me, but who knows with them right now.

Take care of business and we'll be in a good spot.

Context · Post #2 » by **Context** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 3:24 pm

I dont have an issue with tracking(its fun) but IMO- as long as OG and MItch continue to get stronger, and everyone stays healthy-
It doesnt matter- we will find ourselves in the ECF...

sol537 · Post #3 » by **sol537** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 3:28 pm

Would rather face CLE, ORL, Indy, or MIL in the 1st round over Miami or Philly. I think Miami and Philly would be tougher outs due to their experience, coaching, etc. So... yeah... I wouldn't mind "tanking" a game at the end if it puts us out of reach of those teams.

Richard4444 · Post #4 » by **Richard4444** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 3:36 pm

The Sixers are scary with a healthy Embiid...

Context · Post #5 » by **Context** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 3:42 pm

sol537 wrote:Would rather face CLE, ORL, Indy, or MIL in the 1st round over Miami or Philly. I think Miami and Philly would be tougher outs due to their experience, coaching, etc. So... yeah... I wouldn't mind "tanking" a game at the end if it puts us out of reach of those teams.

This Knick team doesnt care and thats what I love about them sol...
We actually play defense

DaGawd · Post #6 » by **DaGawd** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 3:49 pm

Richard4444 wrote:The Sixers are scary with a healthy Embiid...

playoff embiid is kinda mid…

Wildcat · Post #7 » by **Wildcat** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 3:56 pm

It'll be an interesting couple of days. Indiana, Philly, and Miami all have winnable games tomorrow. Orlando has Houston, but who knows which Houston team shows up. Knicks need to avenge the Bulls game.

aggo · Post #8 » by **aggo** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 6:19 pm

best matchup:

orlando
cle

neutral:

76ers

worst matchups:

Boston
miami
indiana

Miami/indiana/Boston are worst matchups because they have 5s that draw out ihart/mitch from he paint and leave the basket vulnerable to dribble drive

in particular we would be really bad matchup vs Indiana because not only do they have a 5 that jacks up threes, they jack up a ton of threes in general and our defensive philosophy of showing help, getting into lanes, and recovering out to the 3pt line is quite vulnerable.

76ers are neutral because I liked thib's gameplan vs Embiid earlier in the season which was to give him space eveyrtime to shoot jumpers vs letting him dribble for layups, fouls, and dunks

RHODEY · Post #9 » by **RHODEY** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 9:46 pm

Watch on YouTube

Post #10 » by **Capn'O** » Mon Apr 8, 2024 9:54 pm

Milwaukie really could lose out.

aggo wrote:best matchup:

orlando
cle

neutral:

76ers

worst matchups:

Boston
miami
indiana

Miami/indiana/Boston are worst matchups because they have 5s that draw out ihart/mitch from he paint and leave the basket vulnerable to dribble drive

in particular we would be really bad matchup vs Indiana because not only do they have a 5 that jacks up threes, they jack up a ton of threes in general and our defensive philosophy of showing help, getting into lanes, and recovering out to the 3pt line is quite vulnerable.

76ers are neutral because I liked thib's gameplan vs Embiid earlier in the season which was to give him space eveyrtime to shoot jumpers vs letting him dribble for layups, fouls, and dunks

IMO, Indiana is a paper tiger in the playoffs. We dominate them on the boards and send in Precious if we need to. I have them as a preferable matchup.

I want no part of Miami. Outside of drawing them, I like our chances in the first round.

prophet_of_rage · Post #11 » by **prophet_of_rage** » Tue Apr 9, 2024 1:36 am

Wildcat wrote:It'll be an interesting couple of days. Indiana, Philly, and Miami all have winnable games tomorrow. Orlando has Houston, but who knows which Houston team shows up. Knicks need to avenge the Bulls game.

Houston is eliminated. They probably do nothing.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

KnicksGadfly · Post #12 » by **KnicksGadfly** » Tue Apr 9, 2024 2:11 am

prophet_of_rage wrote:
Wildcat wrote:It'll be an interesting couple of days. Indiana, Philly, and Miami all have winnable games tomorrow. Orlando has Houston, but who knows which Houston team shows up. Knicks need to avenge the Bulls game.
Houston is eliminated. They probably do nothing.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Who knows? They have a young hungry squad and their coach is still a great motivator.

Davis18 · Post #13 » by **Davis18** » Tue Apr 9, 2024 2:23 am

KnicksGadfly wrote:
prophet_of_rage wrote:
Wildcat wrote:It'll be an interesting couple of days. Indiana, Philly, and Miami all have winnable games tomorrow. Orlando has Houston, but who knows which Houston team shows up. Knicks need to avenge the Bulls game.
Houston is eliminated. They probably do nothing.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Who knows? They have a young hungry squad and their coach is still a great motivator.

Houston has good chance finishing .500.
Let's go Rockets!!

Wildcat · Post #14 » by **Wildcat** » Tue Apr 9, 2024 5:59 pm

prophet_of_rage wrote:
Wildcat wrote:It'll be an interesting couple of days. Indiana, Philly, and Miami all have winnable games tomorrow. Orlando has Houston, but who knows which Houston team shows up. Knicks need to avenge the Bulls game.
Houston is eliminated. They probably do nothing.

Sent from my SM-S9080 using RealGM mobile app

Doing nothing doesn't sound like a Ime Udoka thing to do.

FrozenEnvelope · Post #15 » by **FrozenEnvelope** » Tue Apr 9, 2024 6:00 pm

Got my playoff tix for Game 1 and Game 7! BRING IT!!!

KnicksGadfly · Post #16 » by **KnicksGadfly** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 3:23 pm

Updated the thread.

Biggest game tonight is Bucks vs Magic. Giannis should probably sit. Expecting the Cavs to beat the Grizzlies, but if they lose, it's gonna up the drama for the last few spots.

Knicksfan1992 · Post #17 » by **Knicksfan1992** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 4:49 pm

Conflicted about what I want tonight..

On one hand if the Magic lose, then that makes getting the 3 seed really probable since we have the tie breaker on everyone below us but them and we'd then be up 1.5 on them. A surprise Cleveland loss to Memphis would really help our downside protection also. However, it likely takes the 2 seed out of the equation unless Milwaukee drops their last 2.

If the Magic win, then the race for the 2 seed is officially on but, also opens up us falling further down with another loss out of our last 3.

Fun last week for fans of good Eastern Conference teams

aggo · Post #18 » by **aggo** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 6:32 pm

Knicksfan1992 wrote:Conflicted about what I want tonight..

On one hand if the Magic lose, then that makes getting the 3 seed really probable since we have the tie breaker on everyone below us but them and we'd then be up 1.5 on them. A surprise Cleveland loss to Memphis would really help our downside protection also. However, it likely takes the 2 seed out of the equation unless Milwaukee drops their last 2.

If the Magic win, then the race for the 2 seed is officially on but, also opens up us falling further down with another loss out of our last 3.

Fun last week for fans of good Eastern Conference teams

you're splitting hairs imo

the most important problem is staying away from 4 <--> 8.

RHODEY · Post #19 » by **RHODEY** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 6:43 pm

Richard4444 wrote:The Sixers are scary with a healthy Embiid...

When we are healthy we are even scarier....

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #20 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 8:07 pm

RHODEY wrote:
Richard4444 wrote:The Sixers are scary with a healthy Embiid...

When we are healthy we are even scarier....

Gotta stop using regular season as a basis for playoffs. They have more scoring options than us, and Embiid has come back looking like nothing happened to him.

They should be avoided as a first round matchup, would much rather play Magic, Heat or Pacers over the team with an MVP and all-star guard.