Only 4 Contenders Remain... (Final Prediction)

[GiannisAnte34]

Always trust the gut, my friend

Really? If you always trust your guts and experience methodology, how much money did you lose with this prediction?

GSW are like Rocky in the beginning of Rocky 3. Celtics are Mr T. GSW has been coddled and distracted. BOS in 5.

Solid prediction at the time... Boston had a fair chance of winning the title if Tatum and co. didn't crumble under the pressure. Nearly half or more of the analysts picked Boston as well...

Boston nearly choked to Rivers, Embiid, and Harden last year. Why are they not choking this year?

[sol537]

Really? If you always trust your guts and experience methodology, how much money did you lose with this prediction?

Solid prediction at the time... Boston had a fair chance of winning the title if Tatum and co. didn't crumble under the pressure. Nearly half or more of the analysts picked Boston as well...

Boston nearly choked to Rivers, Embiid, and Harden last year. Why are they not choking this year?

Boston's a clearly better team this year than they were last year... by a decent margin. Don't you think?

[SFour]

So there's only 4 contenders and 2 of them are the 9th & 10th ranked team in the standings....not sure how that works.

Clippers and Bucks are contenders if the Mavs and Knicks are.

[GiannisAnte34]

Solid prediction at the time... Boston had a fair chance of winning the title if Tatum and co. didn't crumble under the pressure. Nearly half or more of the analysts picked Boston as well...

Boston nearly choked to Rivers, Embiid, and Harden last year. Why are they not choking this year?

Boston's a clearly better team this year than they were last year... by a decent margin. Don't you think?

While I agree, I think the Jays view themselves as a Jordan/Pippen duo and therefore try to do too much to live up to the hype that surrounds them. If the Jays played more within their actual ability, which I think is more in line with Billups and Hamilton, then I think they could win.

I think how Boston could end up losing is by forcing Tatum to win 1 on 1 and shoots them out of the series (similarly to how Golden State was able to beat them even though on paper Boston was more talented)

[sol537]

Boston nearly choked to Rivers, Embiid, and Harden last year. Why are they not choking this year?

Boston's a clearly better team this year than they were last year... by a decent margin. Don't you think?

While I agree, I think the Jays view themselves as a Jordan/Pippen duo and therefore try to do too much to live up to the hype that surrounds them. If the Jays played more within their actual ability, which I think is more in line with Billups and Hamilton, then I think they could win.

I think how Boston could end up losing is by forcing Tatum to win 1 on 1 and shoots them out of the series (similarly to how Golden State was able to beat them even though on paper Boston was more talented)

Yes, but they have a greater margin for error this season than the last few. Their starting line-up is really, really good. Tatum may choke again in the ECF or Finals... who knows.

[jpengland]

I still think the Bucks come out of the east.

[dygaction]

lol, if DAL vs NYK becomes the finals, I will bankrupt myself and be ready to fly up to 7 times.

[mademan]

Solid prediction at the time... Boston had a fair chance of winning the title if Tatum and co. didn't crumble under the pressure. Nearly half or more of the analysts picked Boston as well...

Boston nearly choked to Rivers, Embiid, and Harden last year. Why are they not choking this year?

Boston's a clearly better team this year than they were last year... by a decent margin. Don't you think?

They had a pretty big gap against an injured Philly team last year, and they needed to be outchoked to get to the finals. Who knows. They may have finally amassed enough talent to be choke proof

[GiannisAnte34]

Boston's a clearly better team this year than they were last year... by a decent margin. Don't you think?

While I agree, I think the Jays view themselves as a Jordan/Pippen duo and therefore try to do too much to live up to the hype that surrounds them. If the Jays played more within their actual ability, which I think is more in line with Billups and Hamilton, then I think they could win.

I think how Boston could end up losing is by forcing Tatum to win 1 on 1 and shoots them out of the series (similarly to how Golden State was able to beat them even though on paper Boston was more talented)

Yes, but they have a greater margin for error this season than the last few. Their starting line-up is really, really good. Tatum may choke again in the ECF or Finals... who knows.

I guarantee Tatum chokes again because he tries to do too much to prove himself

[sol537]

lol, if DAL vs NYK becomes the finals, I will bankrupt myself and be ready to fly up to 7 times.

me too

[UglyBugBall]

Dallas isn't winning anything so long as their best player doesn't play defense.

I guess it's good that doncic has been playing great defense then. Someone doesn't watch the team they're talking about...

[TheGeneral99]

I mean there are a few tiers:

1st tier contenders: Denver, Boston, Milwaukee
2nd tier contenders: OKC, Clippers

Dangerous dark horses: Suns, Dallas, Philly and New York

I really think one of Denver, Boston or Milwaukee will win...these are proven teams with a ton of experience that have made the finals before.

I think teams like OKC, Minny and Cleveland don't have the experience yet.

Teams like the Suns, Mavericks and Clippers have an outside shot if they are healthy because they have the core championship pieces with a ton of playoff experience and proven pedigree. Like I wouldn't be surprised if any of those teams beat the Nuggets in a 7 game series if they get hot.

Should be fun.

[Jadoogar]

The KAT injury took them out of it IMO. Still really good, but not enough.

And yet, Towns is scheduled to be back by the playoffs...

does it make sense for him to come back and immediately start playing in the most competitive part of the season? Surely he's going to be rusty after missing so much time.

[sol537]

I mean there are a few tiers:

1st tier contenders: Denver, Boston, Milwaukee
2nd tier contenders: OKC, Clippers

Dangerous dark horses: Suns, Dallas, Philly and New York

I really think one of Denver, Boston or Milwaukee will win...these are proven teams with a ton of experience that have made the finals before.

I think teams like OKC, Minny and Cleveland don't have the experience yet.

Teams like the Suns, Mavericks and Clippers have an outside shot if they are healthy because they have the core championship pieces with a ton of playoff experience and proven pedigree. Like I wouldn't be surprised if any of those teams beat the Nuggets in a 7 game series if they get hot.

Should be fun.

Bucks don’t belong in tier 1. See my reasoning above..

[TheGeneral99]

I mean there are a few tiers:

1st tier contenders: Denver, Boston, Milwaukee
2nd tier contenders: OKC, Clippers

Dangerous dark horses: Suns, Dallas, Philly and New York

I really think one of Denver, Boston or Milwaukee will win...these are proven teams with a ton of experience that have made the finals before.

I think teams like OKC, Minny and Cleveland don't have the experience yet.

Teams like the Suns, Mavericks and Clippers have an outside shot if they are healthy because they have the core championship pieces with a ton of playoff experience and proven pedigree. Like I wouldn't be surprised if any of those teams beat the Nuggets in a 7 game series if they get hot.

Should be fun.

Bucks don’t belong in tier 1. See my reasoning above..

Boston is ahead of Milwaukee but you can't discount a team with prime Giannis and 4th quarter playoff killer in Lillard. Middleton has been playing better off late and Lopez is still effective. A dangerous team regardless.

[Exp0sed]

I really like Minnesota's chances. I think Denver are the favorites, narrowly followed by Boston. I then have the T-Wolves third

The KAT injury took them out of it IMO. Still really good, but not enough.

KAT will be back
Reid is filling in extremely well and they ample depth, they should be able to advance to the 2nd rd. even without KAT or with KAT not at full capacity which will give him some more time to get more ready

I like Minny's chances alot, they have a better shot than the Mavs imo, but i'd put Mavs 3rd in the West in title odds, pretty close to Minny probably about the same

[Statlanta]

The field is so weak, a bunch of inconsistent young teams and veteran teams who have a broken switch.

This is not Cleveland/Golden State 2016-2018 but it’s as close as you can get with the turmoil in both conferences.

[shrink]

The KAT injury took them out of it IMO. Still really good, but not enough.

And yet, Towns is scheduled to be back by the playoffs...

does it make sense for him to come back and immediately start playing in the most competitive part of the season? Surely he's going to be rusty after missing so much time.

He wasn’t last year. His first game back, they went to him for the game-winner.

I don’t dismiss your point though, I guess we’ll see.

[AIfan3]

I still think the Bucks come out of the east.

They'd have to get a very favorable bracket to maximize their odds, avoiding heavy guard dominant teams all the way to the ECF. They're currently slotted to have the Heat or Pacers. The absolute worst matchups for them in the first round. Followed by the Knicks in the 2nd.

It's going to be tough. But you never know..

The teams I see with the best odds:

1. Denver
2. Clips
3. Celtics
4. Heat
5. Bucks
6. Knicks

I don't see any other team having a legit shot. Suns are not a cohesive unit. Mavs don't play enough defense. T-Wolves / Thunder will need an additional year of experience. Sixers are not going to be healthy enough. Kings/Pels/Cavs are paper tigers.

[76ersForLife]

Am I wrong? Is there less than a ~88% chance that one of DEN or BOS wins it all this year?

It's too high because of the possibility of injuries. If Joker or Murray go down Denver won't win it. Same thing if Boston loses Tatum or Brown.