RealGM

Thunder in 6. Shock the world, go get that chip!

Thunder in 7! Hoping this is competitive series, but not sure after watching the Mavs flail around that it will be all that close.

This series is such a toss up, but I'm leaning Mavs in 6.

eyeatoma wrote:Thunder in 6. Shock the world, go get that chip!

How would that be shocking the world when they will be the betting favorite?

EDIT: Read it wrong NVM.

This series is going MINIMUM 6 games.

I have it going 7 games. With the edge going to Dallas for having the best player of the series.

LUKA.

I have the Thunder in six. Would love to see the Mavs push it to 7. OKC fanbase will be bonkers. I also think Shai will have a much easier time now that he won't be seeing Herb Jones.

After the trades Dallas mauled the Thunder with Luka and lost to them without Luka.

I'd favor Dallas but not with Luka dinged and shooting so badly from three. It's wrecking Dallas' offense IMO.

Legler went over this yesterday. Go to like 7:30 minutes in. He said Luka's shot is not right.

https://www.youtube.com/live/CxVSP7fRusg?si=JjxvXkzA7XRgVL1R

Luka's not at his normal level. I'm taking OKC in like 6-7.

If Luka regains his shot, I think Dallas wins.

Mavs have to shoot better to make this a series. They bricked so many wide open 3s against the Clippers all series.

I don't do predictions because I was wrong once so I figured out I can't tell the future.

I took my Thunder in 7. I would go 6 but I know Dallas won't be an easy out. OKC gets it done at home in 7 with the best playoff atmosphere in the NBA.

West


East (aka Boston)

Also if Kleber is out that hurts Dallas badly

HotRocks34 wrote:Also if Kleber is out that hurts Dallas badly

I don't think OKC is a good matchup for him. Not worried about it. Just hurts our depth.

ChipotleWest wrote:

HotRocks34 wrote:Also if Kleber is out that hurts Dallas badly

I don't think OKC is a good matchup for him. Not worried about it. Just hurts our depth.

Maybe true but it removes a different look.

Also Hardaway out (which I'm ok with)? The injuries add up.

IMO though it comes down to the shooting and primarily Luka.

If Mavericks depth is hurt and Luka is hobbled, OKC needs to play fast and force turnovers. Make Dallas play harder and faster than they want to. Mavericks are going to obliterate OKC on the offensive boards, and Kyrie and Luka are the kings of demoralizing hero shots. OKC will have to figure something out with the rebounds.

I don't really know what to predict, but I'll be betting large sums of money each game on Dallas. If Dallas is going to win these games and this series, you're going to have to pay me. Either OKC makes the conference finals or I come out of this series with a lot of money.

Definitely got Dallas

Mavs in 6

Mavs might have to consider giving some burn to Jaden Hardy, Markieff Morris and/or Olivier-Maxence Prosper (although he has an ankle rn)

Thunder in 5

HotRocks34 wrote:

ChipotleWest wrote:

HotRocks34 wrote:Also if Kleber is out that hurts Dallas badly

I don't think OKC is a good matchup for him. Not worried about it. Just hurts our depth.

Maybe true but it removes a different look.

Also Hardaway out (which I'm ok with)? The injuries add up.

IMO though it comes down to the shooting and primarily Luka.

A good Tim Hardaway Jr. would be big for this series tho given how bad the Mavs shot it last series.