RealGM

Nets vs. Knicks
76ers vs. Celtics
Bucks vs. Heat
Hawks vs. Hornets

(i know, i know play-in round yada yada).

If that ended up being the first round it would be the best 1st round playoffs in the east in decades.

1) Nets are gonna stomp whomever in round 1. It being the knicks makes the series really fun though. tons of trash talk. thibs will will them to a win in game 1 or 2 that gets knick fans up before we backdoor sweep them. it will get alot of hype for a 1 v. 8 thats typically a yawn fest

2) sixers/celtics. phillys worst nightmare. seeing boston in round 1. a team that has beaten them 8-1 over the past 2 playoff matchups. Boston isnt what they were the last couple times but Tatum/Brown step up in the playoffs while embiid turtles. doc probably makes a big difference and philly is better but this will be a competitive series. even if its philly in 5 it will be 5 close games.

3) Bucks vs. the team that eliminated them last year. Bucks nightmare. Both teams are better on paper then last season. This will be a hard fought series. and great stories. either Giannis is a playoff scrub or giannis gets his revenge.

4) Hornets/hawks. Yawn you say? id agree if it was hawks sixers or hornets nets. but its 2 young teams and one of them has to advance. both should be lower seeds getting stomped but it will be fun to watch one of these young teams advance and build confidence.

If the season ends today Id be happy, it means that we are the top seed while the 76ers and Bucks have to play against each other and wear out before the ECF. We will sweep the Knicks, theres little doubt about that. The Hawks/Hornets are also easy matchups in the 2nd round, and we may as well go 8-0 before ECF.

The Heat can give the Bucks a series and even win against them, will be perfect for us if we are the 2 seed. But with Philly below us, I aint sure if its a good idea. The Heat matches up poorly against 76ers and likely wont win more than 1 game in the 2nd round against them. The Bucks on the other hand, will likely to take the 76ers to game 7 and wear them out before ECF(good chance Embiid or Simmons will even pick up an injury before facing us).

On the west coast, looking at the Lakers schedule, they will likely end up a 7 seed very soon and maybe not even make it past the play-in round.

They are 1 game up in the loss column on the blazers and 2 up on the Mavs and Mavs have played great. here is LAs next few games:

Nets (loss)
Knicks (Loss)
Hornets (Loss)
Celtics (Loss)
Jazz (Loss)
Jazz (Loss)
Mavs(Loss)
Mavs (Loss)

They are looking at potentially 8 straight losses putting them at 32-28 and maybe even all the way down to the 9 seed. they will get Lebron/AD back at that point but then they also finish the year:

Nuggets
Clippers
Blazers
Suns
Knicks
Rockets
Pacers
Suns

They good lose half of those easy. It is not out of the realm of possibility they fall out of the 10 spot if the team has a losing record when lebron returns, AD has a setback because he is made of glass and the whole thing comes crashing down.

It is funny. all the talk of how the nets could implode and are injured but it could be LA instead

I dont think the Lakers will lose all these, they will beat the Knicks, Hornets, Celtics and split with the Mavs. The Lakers are dominant against mediocre teams even with 2 of their 3 stars out, Frank Vogel is an underrated coach.

I think if the way the standings are now would be the best case scenario for the nets. Easy first two series and then let sixers and bucks fight it out. I think avoiding a first round match up with the Celtics is best. They suck now but they have playoff experience that can pick it up. Let the sixers play them. It will be a tough match up. The bucks have problems with the heat. Idk who will come out of that series.

Nets would sweep the Knicks. So far they beat them every game and never had all three players playing. Easy with all three. And the hawks and hornets will be easy as well. Might lose a game but win in the end.

Nets fresh for the ecf in this scenario

Kiddlovesnets wrote:I dont think the Lakers will lose all these, they will beat the Knicks, Hornets, Celtics and split with the Mavs. The Lakers are dominant against mediocre teams even with 2 of their 3 stars out, Frank Vogel is an underrated coach.

that was pre drummond and the first week after lebron went down. they are worse and worn down now. i doubt they do better then 1-7 in their next 8. especially playing super teams and tams fighting for playoff spots

Sharcm1 wrote:I think if the way the standings are now would be the best case scenario for the nets. Easy first two series and then let sixers and bucks fight it out. I think avoiding a first round match up with the Celtics is best. They suck now but they have playoff experience that can pick it up. Let the sixers play them. It will be a tough match up. The bucks have problems with the heat. Idk who will come out of that series.

Nets would sweep the Knicks. So far they beat them every game and never had all three players playing. Easy with all three. And the hawks and hornets will be easy as well. Might lose a game but win in the end.

Nets fresh for the ecf in this scenario

If it stayed like it is i dont think philly or the bucks would get out of the first round

Kiddlovesnets wrote:I dont think the Lakers will lose all these, they will beat the Knicks, Hornets, Celtics and split with the Mavs. The Lakers are dominant against mediocre teams even with 2 of their 3 stars out, Frank Vogel is an underrated coach.

Who's their 3rd star????

MGrand15 wrote:

Kiddlovesnets wrote:I dont think the Lakers will lose all these, they will beat the Knicks, Hornets, Celtics and split with the Mavs. The Lakers are dominant against mediocre teams even with 2 of their 3 stars out, Frank Vogel is an underrated coach.

Who's their 3rd star????

3 stars: Caruso, Kuzma, THT

The only teams I'm worried about in the east are the 76ers and Bucks.

If healthy I think we'll make short order of every other team and beat the 76ers and/or Bucks too, but the last two won't be easy, that's why I'm really hoping for the #1 seed. I want Philly playing the Bucks in the eastern conference semi-finals. Let them kill each other for 7 Games, then we'll play the winner in the EC finals.

Then we don't have to beat both of them either. We'll just need to beat one of them in the EC finals.

That's why I'm still bummed out over losing Harden and hoping/praying it's no more than two weeks. Of course we don't need him to get a TOP 3 seed. That's in the bag. But IMO we need him to get that all important #1 seed. Anyone who minimizes the #1 seed is making a big mistake.

Lastly and just as an aside, I keep getting a vibe that Dinwiddie will make it back for the playoffs.

If that happens it completely changes the Guard rotation. Shamet and TJ have been good for us and I'll feel bad for them, just like I feel bad for DAJ, but if Spencer is healthy and ready to ball, both are going to the bench.

Whiskey Slick wrote:The only teams I'm worried about in the east are the 76ers and Bucks.

If healthy I think we'll make short order of every other team and beat the 76ers and/or Bucks too, but the last two won't be easy, that's why I'm really hoping for the #1 seed. I want Philly playing the Bucks in the eastern conference semi-finals. Let them kill each other for 7 Games, then we'll play the winner in the EC finals.

Then we don't have to beat both of them either. We'll just need to beat one of them in the EC finals.

That why I'm still bummed out over losing Harden and hoping/praying it's no more than two weeks. Of course we don't need him to get a TOP 3 seed. That's in the bag. But IMO we need him to get that all important #1 seed. Anyone who minimizes the #1 seed is making a big mistake.

Lastly and just as an aside, I keep getting a vibe that Dinwiddie will make it back for the playoffs.

If that happens it completely changed the Guard rotation. Shamet and TJ have been good for us and I'll feel bad for them, just like I feel bad for DAJ, but if Spencer is healthy and ready to ball, both are going to the bench.

There is no team i fear less then philly. like id rather play them then atlanta or charlotte. they are the mentally weakest team in the NBA and Embiid turtles in the playoffs. We are a nightmare for them. they feast on getting stops but they cant get stops vs. us.

Milwaukee with Jrue i think can actually put up some resistance on D, but half-court giannis is very blah.

I'd prefer to avoid miami and boston if possible.

I would love to sweep the Knicks in the 1st round. The agony their fanbase would feel as the ants meet the boot would be cathartic for me.

MGrand15 wrote:

Kiddlovesnets wrote:I dont think the Lakers will lose all these, they will beat the Knicks, Hornets, Celtics and split with the Mavs. The Lakers are dominant against mediocre teams even with 2 of their 3 stars out, Frank Vogel is an underrated coach.

Who's their 3rd star????

Lakers big three: Lebron, Davis, Drummond

Not sure I'm afraid of any team as long as we're healthy and our whole team shows.

We're playing some really good ball as a collective, and if team play starts to face adversity, there's 3 guys who can pick us up.

Bring it home!!

CalamityX12 wrote:Not sure I'm afraid of any team as long as we're healthy and our whole team shows.

We're playing some really good ball as a collective, and if team play starts to face adversity, there's 3 guys who can pick us up.

Bring it home!!

Health is key, avoiding any major injuries to key personnel. Personally I get a little jittery when I look at MIA.

British Bulldog wrote:
Health is key, avoiding any major injuries to key personnel. Personally I get a little jittery when I look at MIA.

Yeah we can beat any teams if we all stay healthy, especially if Spencer is fit coming playoffs time. The key is to stay healthy, especially KD since hes coming off a very terrible injury and can be injury prone.

Whiskey Slick wrote:Lastly and just as an aside, I keep getting a vibe that Dinwiddie will make it back for the playoffs.

If that happens it completely changed the Guard rotation. Shamet and TJ have been good for us and I'll feel bad for them, just like I feel bad for DAJ, but if Spencer is healthy and ready to ball, both are going to the bench.

Even if he makes it back, I am not sure he's anything more than a situational piece in the playoffs. It would come down to whether we need the extra ball handler (Dinwiddie) versus a better shooter (Shamet) or a blend (Johnson).

Prokorov wrote:On the west coast, looking at the Lakers schedule, they will likely end up a 7 seed very soon and maybe not even make it past the play-in round.

They are 1 game up in the loss column on the blazers and 2 up on the Mavs and Mavs have played great. here is LAs next few games:

Nets (loss)
Knicks (Loss)
Hornets (Loss)
Celtics (Loss)
Jazz (Loss)
Jazz (Loss)
Mavs(Loss)
Mavs (Loss)

They are looking at potentially 8 straight losses putting them at 32-28 and maybe even all the way down to the 9 seed. they will get Lebron/AD back at that point but then they also finish the year:

Nuggets
Clippers
Blazers
Suns
Knicks
Rockets
Pacers
Suns

They good lose half of those easy. It is not out of the realm of possibility they fall out of the 10 spot if the team has a losing record when lebron returns, AD has a setback because he is made of glass and the whole thing comes crashing down.

It is funny. all the talk of how the nets could implode and are injured but it could be LA instead

Yeah, I find it downright hilarious that it’s just a passable thing for the Lakers to potentially fall into the Play In Round. They will definitely be making history as the first defending champion to be in a Play In. That’s something atleast.

Kiddlovesnets wrote:

MGrand15 wrote:

Kiddlovesnets wrote:I dont think the Lakers will lose all these, they will beat the Knicks, Hornets, Celtics and split with the Mavs. The Lakers are dominant against mediocre teams even with 2 of their 3 stars out, Frank Vogel is an underrated coach.

Who's their 3rd star????

Lakers big three: Lebron, Davis, Drummond

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

The only big 3 drummond is a part of would be at the buffet line.

Drummond is nowhere close to a superstar. He hasnt been an all-star in 5 seasons and the only reason he made it then was because the league required you have 2 centers on each all-star roster.

Drummond got traded for a 2nd rounder cause thats all detroit could get and then got bought out cause cleveland couldnt even get that.

Drummond is trash, not part of a big three. he isnt even one of the lakers top 5 players

Prokorov wrote:
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

The only big 3 drummond is a part of would be at the buffet line.

Drummond is nowhere close to a superstar. He hasnt been an all-star in 5 seasons and the only reason he made it then was because the league required you have 2 centers on each all-star roster.

Drummond got traded for a 2nd rounder cause thats all detroit could get and then got bought out cause cleveland couldnt even get that.

Drummond is trash, not part of a big three. he isnt even one of the lakers top 5 players

So what do you think now? Drummond dominated again and we had no answer to him. Fortunately, theres zero chance the Lakers will be able to resign him, so it will be better next year I hope.