East Play-in Discussion & Game Thread: Hawks vs Heat for #8 (Fri 4/18)

[California Gold]

Magic and Heat.

Hawks and Heat would be an interesting one, I'd guess a coin flip game with that one. Maybe MIami.

[MrGoat]

I actually have a feeling the Hawks will pull the upset, Trae is low key a postseason overperformer at times when the expectations are low. The Hawks actually upset the eventually Finals bound Heat in the first play in game and pushed Boston to 6 the year Jimmy Butler stormed to the Finals with the 8 seed. The Bulls are 17-8 in their last 25, the Heat don't have Jimmy Butler anymore, I have the Bulls

[Ball4life32]

This is the third time in a row that we see Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami in the play-in. And it's the fourth consecutive time that Atlanta is heading to.

Yeah Atlanta keep ending up a mid team at least Trae is hawks oldest starter at 26 and Jalen Johnson back healthy next year will be huge.

[RookieStar]

I want the Celts.

I want our FO to feel how it is to get buried by 3pointers.

I want our "future" defense guards to learn from Holiday and White.

Plus aside.. i want Suggs to know its alright to let it go like White if he wont go to Turkey lol

[Froob]

Magic over Atlanta, Atlanta over Chicago

[Mavrelous]

Hawks and Heat will make it.

[Jadoogar]

Atlanta and Bulls.
Magic are probably the better all round team but in one game, i trust Trae more than the Magic guys.
Heat have looked awful for most of the year and it think Chicago may have the offensive edge.

[Jcool0]

I actually have a feeling the Hawks will pull the upset, Trae is low key a postseason overperformer at times when the expectations are low. The Hawks actually upset the eventually Finals bound Heat in the first play in game and pushed Boston to 6 the year Jimmy Butler stormed to the Finals with the 8 seed. The Bulls are 17-8 in their last 25, the Heat don't have Jimmy Butler anymore, I have the Bulls

Last play in game for Atlanta they lost 131-116 to Chicago in 2024. Young had 22 points on 4-12 shooting with 6 turnovers and was a -27 for the game.

[Rainwater]

This is the one and only time i will root for the Magic.

Magic, go ahead and take that 7 seed, your fans love that potential 2/7 matchup, for whatever reason.

I’d rather face the Cavs even though we don’t have much of a shot against either team. But you’re right, I’ve seen most Magic fans want Boston for some reason. Maybe now that JB is hobbled it makes sense but many have been wanting Boston for a while.

Doesn’t matter though, there’s no jockeying for position in the play-ins. Gotta just try to win the game you’re playing and hope for the best.

Yeah, Orlando would not beat neither but would rather play Cleveland. That would be risky to accomplish though. Don’t get the Boston obsession either.

[Rainwater]

I actually have a feeling the Hawks will pull the upset, Trae is low key a postseason overperformer at times when the expectations are low. The Hawks actually upset the eventually Finals bound Heat in the first play in game and pushed Boston to 6 the year Jimmy Butler stormed to the Finals with the 8 seed. The Bulls are 17-8 in their last 25, the Heat don't have Jimmy Butler anymore, I have the Bulls

Trae is living off one good playoff run. If you look at his numbers in the playoffs he is the same guy he has aways been. He is a high volume guy on pretty poor efficiency and defense. These things killed the Hawks in their last two playoff runs and will likely kill them again.

[pepe1991]

I would rather play Celtics, but if we lose game 7, going vs Bulls, as team that can shoot and score, would be dangerous.
Our offense is basketball tragedy, but we match up well vs Hawks. Mostly because they have nobody who can guard Franz.

[SA37]

I like Orlando over Atlanta and I think Miami, unfortunately, puts together a good game against a strong Bulls team. Then Miami beats Atlanta.

[The Real Dalic]

This is the one and only time i will root for the Magic.

Magic, go ahead and take that 7 seed, your fans love that potential 2/7 matchup, for whatever reason.

I’d rather face the Cavs even though we don’t have much of a shot against either team. But you’re right, I’ve seen most Magic fans want Boston for some reason. Maybe now that JB is hobbled it makes sense but many have been wanting Boston for a while.

Doesn’t matter though, there’s no jockeying for position in the play-ins. Gotta just try to win the game you’re playing and hope for the best.

Yeah, Orlando would not beat neither but would rather play Cleveland. That would be risky to accomplish though. Don’t get the Boston obsession either.

It's more of the Cavs are a matchup nightmare for Orlando and Orlando has the size and physicality to bother Boston a bit more.

Evan Mobley is the single greatest defender on Franz and it's not even close. Franz has torched everyone, including Wemby, but has always struggled mightily against Mobley. The team he struggles against the most is the Cavs for a reason.

The Magic are going to need both stars to be great in order to have a shot at winning anything. Going against Boston means no Mobley, which means Paolo should have some help in terms of offense. Magic vs. Cavs means that Paolo will have to do it all alone again. This time with no Suggs or Mo.

That's my reasoning for wanting the Celtics at least. All of the injuries this season has limited our options from flaming hot garbage, to just hot garbage. I'll take the latter if it meant our two stars contribute positively in the playoffs. No matter the end result.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Heat for the double win + pick 15 to OKC

[meekrab]

If you’re Orlando who would you rather play Boston or Cleveland?

The end result is likely the same, but maybe they feel like the match up better with a certain team which will effect how they approach this play in game…maybe?

Any new updates on Jaylen Brown and his injury?

I don't think you take matchup into consideration at all, just take care of business against the Hawks and don't risk your season ending from one bad game.

[eyriq]

The Hawks at Magic game on the 8th was surprisingly an offensive game.

According to ESPN net points the top offensive players for Orlando were Paolo, Caleb, and KCP. For Atlanta it was Onyeka, Trae, and Risacher.

I don't think Orlando wants to get into another game dictated by the offense, but good to see we can win that style of game.

Both benches were bad, but Atlanta's was terribad. I don't really expect that dynamic to play out that way again, Niang, Mann, and LaVert seem too good to put up another stinker.

It's going to be really interesting. I think Orlando wins a defensive focused game with Franz having a much better game than last time.

[TravisScott55]

Cleveland and Boston will probably sweep whatever teams come out the play-in

[JujitsuFlip]

Cleveland and Boston will probably sweep whatever teams come out the play-in

Meh, probably not the Cavs. Despite winning 64 games this season, they have dropped some winnable games along the way.

[eyriq]

Cleveland and Boston will probably sweep whatever teams come out the play-in

Franz and Paolo are finally healthy and have the #2 defense in the NBA behind them. Nobody is sweeping that duo with that defense.

[TravisScott55]

Cleveland and Boston will probably sweep whatever teams come out the play-in

Franz and Paolo are finally healthy and have the #2 defense in the NBA behind them. Nobody is sweeping that duo with that defense.

Not much offense outside of those 2 as well