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Excluding the main candidates (Phoenix, Bucks) who do you feel has a chance to win it all?

I believe that this could be Philadelphia's year. With shortened rotations a Harden + Embiid combo might be dangerous in the playoffs if the role players are hitting their shots.

Voted for Denver in the off chance that Murray and MPJ return. If not then Boston.

Slim Charlez wrote:Voted for Denver in the off chance that Murray and MPJ return. If not then Boston.

Hard to believe they'll achieve a great level of play if returning. Why Boston? Any particular reason?

The Clippers are a good darkhorse

Joao Saraiva wrote:

Slim Charlez wrote:Voted for Denver in the off chance that Murray and MPJ return. If not then Boston.

Hard to believe they'll achieve a great level of play if returning. Why Boston? Any particular reason?

I love how their pieces fit together and Tatum has taken a leap, every other team mentioned has some red flags relating to coaching, chemistry, injury and lack of top tier talent in the case of Dallas. Not that Boston isn't infallible and they're dealing with their own injury issues as well but overall they seem better put together than the other rosters.

Seems like it could be one of those GSW runs, if they can get healthy.

Mavs

33-12 record in 2022 and beating every single top team except the Suns (but all the games against the Suns were within a few points.

Its all about how the roleplayer are hitting their open shots. If the roleplayer show up they can beat any team any day

The "other" is Memphis.

Excluding the team I am a fan of, Raptors in the East and Memphis in the West.

Mavs, if they can find a way to avoid the Suns the first 2 rounds.

Clippers otherwise

Is the OP asking which team is most likely to lose in the conference finals?

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If Memphis can play well in round one, they’re really dangerous. Need to get past the inexperience, but that many quality bodies bodes well as teams inevitably face injuries and fatigue.

Joao Saraiva wrote:I believe that this could be Philadelphia's year.

I like the Celtics in the east although I don't know if they are a dark horse. If Williams was healthy they might be a quiet favorite. In the west it's the Clippers. Wild card due to health. But I like their coaching and depth.

Of course my Raptors I feel like can beat anyone in a 7 game series if healthy. But that's maybe a little biased.

The east is wide open that I feel the top 4 have almost equal chances of getting to the finals so I am taking the Nets as a darkhorse. My logic is telling me no but my instinct is saying otherwise. I feel their offensive firepower in KD, Kyrie and Seth can overcome their ineptness on defense and pretty sure they will ramp up their defense by a few notches during the playoffs.

For the West, i got the Mavs because I don't think they are a favorite to win the West but it seems they have figured it out and Luka is a very dangerous player

Celtics. They are a more developed and experienced Raptors team right now. The style they play will be successful in the playoffs and they play the style the best in the league right now.

You got at least 1 elite defender on all 3 levels (guard/forward/Center), 2-3 guys who can create their own shot and 1 legit top 10 player in Tatum.

I like their chances. (I like it less if they have to play the Raptors undermanned in the playoffs even though I probably still pick Boston by a hair).

Beyond that nobody really.

I might be wrong but I think the 4 true contenders this year are Phoenix, Memphis, Milwaukee and Boston.

Clippers in the west, Celtics in the east, even though a 3rd seed with players who have extensive PO experience isn't really a dark horse.

Asian Celtic wrote:Excluding the team I am a fan of, Raptors in the East and Memphis in the West.

For sure.

Maybe two of the most obvious choices are excluded.

KamikazeK wrote:

Joao Saraiva wrote:I believe that this could be Philadelphia's year.

Philly's year? ... to get bounced in the first round

I think Boston, they are just playing like a machine right now. Maybe Philly if Embiid just goes off every night and cover Doc's sorry playoff coaching.