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A place to discuss the entire playoffs from April through June.

The above chart can still change at this point in the East.

Rockets-Thunder seems like it should be a fun series to watch as the two top MVP candidates face off.

Spurs-Grizzlies seems like a great pairing for old school basketball fundamentalists...but also seems like a real snoozer.

Wiz - Hawks will likely be the most competitive series in the East's first round. Or it could end in a sweep. I honestly don't know.

Celtics are an enigma. The likely #1 seed in the EC could get beat in the first round by a scrappy Heat or veteran Bulls team. But they're also just as likely to make a run to the Conference Finals.

I just hope this year's post season is more entertaining than last year's.

It looks like we meet in PO again. After dissapointing ending in 2015 I hope this time luck will be in our side

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Wouldn't meet Cleveland until the ECF in theory (if things stay like this).

Washington is the only playoff team in the east against whom we don't have a winning record this year (pending Indiana game in the season finale). They're the worst possible matchup outside Cleveland. But if we can get through them, the ECF appearance will be there for the taking.


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Tricky_Kid wrote:It looks like we meet in PO again. After dissapointing ending in 2015 I hope this time luck will be in our side.

Indeed. I just want both teams fully healthy and rested.

The best backcourt in the East vs the best frontcourt in the East. May the best team win.

Can we put the southeast division banner on the line in this playoff series? Our rafters are seriously lacking.


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Hawks in 6.

"These are the playoffs that I’ve looked forward to the most, probably since I’ve been in this league," Horford said, unsolicited, after being asked an otherwise benign question about Kelly Olynyk's rebounding.

...that Horford, who typically is undemonstrative, made it a point to express his excitement for the postseason was telling. When you consider this will be his ninth tenth trip to the postseason and that he was part of 60-win, top-seeded teams during his nine seasons in Atlanta, his words carry even more heft.

"I feel very strong about this group. I think we have a special group," Horford said. "I can’t wait for us to get started [with the playoffs]."

ESPN



Ouch, AL. That one stings a bit.

Tavares is gonna ride the bench these playoffs with the defending champs.

I'm not sure he'll ever be a starter in this league, but he seems likely to be a top backup/situational player moving forward.

I'm actually really happy for him. He's come a long way since stacking groceries for a living.

Thoughts:

I think TOR has a legit chance to beat CLE in the 2nd round.

BOS is a paper tiger. Horford and Isaiah can be contained in a 7-game series.

MIA would have had a legit shot at advancing had they manage to make the playoffs this year.

HOU is the second best team in the NBA this year.

MEMPHIS should be in the East. That would have changed the entire dynamic of the EC Playoff field. Now, they'll likely be defeated in 5 games and remain an afterthought.

The top 3 teams in the East feature the top 3 GMs in that conference. Ainge, Masai and D Griffin have done great work in constructing their teams the last 18 months.

Bold Prediction: The winner of the 4-5 Wiz-Hawks matchup will make a run all the way to the EC Finals

This doesn't seem too far off:

The Celtics are the worst No. 1 seed in NBA history

The Boston Celtics clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2008, Wednesday night, giving them home-court advantage through the first three rounds of the postseason and setting up a first-round matchup with the Bulls.

...don't be shocked if the Bulls win the seven-game series with the Celtics.

Because while Boston might be the No. 1 seed in the East this year, they're the worst top seed in the history of the NBA.

Fox Sports

But I'd still say that the #1 seeded Mavs in 2007 who got upset in the first round was likely worse.

A 67 win team with a SRS over 7 can't possibly be worse than the current Celtics. The Mavericks were unfortunate that they ran into their worst match-up nightmare in the first round but were dominant all season. The Celtics OTOH would be barely favored over any current playoff team, match-ups or not.

Jamaaliver wrote:Rockets-Thunder seems like it should be a fun series to watch as the two top MVP candidates face off.

Spurs-Grizzlies seems like a great pairing for old school basketball fundamentalists...but also seems like a real snoozer.

Wiz - Hawks will likely be the most competitive series in the East's first round. Or it could end in a sweep. I honestly don't know.

Celtics are an enigma. The likely #1 seed in the EC could get beat in the first round by a scrappy Heat or veteran Bulls team. But they're also just as likely to make a run to the Conference Finals.

I just hope this year's post season is more entertaining than last year's.

I doubt OKC has a true chance against Houston.
I've followed both teams and have bet with both all season long. OKC gives up huge leads consistently and has to make the desperate comeback win in the 4th often. It's worked for them but they won't be able to do that against Houston or any playoff team.

Memphis seems to not fully know themselves as a team. I expect the Spurs to sweep them.

HMFFL wrote:I doubt OKC has a true chance against Houston...

Memphis seems to not fully know themselves as a team. I expect the Spurs to sweep them.

Both of these sentiments are reasonable. I'd love to be surprised this post season. Last year was such a snoozer until the WCF.

There was a lot of mediocre basketball up to that point.

The Bucks might be able to surprise Toronto.
For the most part the first round appears to be mediocre basketball. I don't see many surprises taking place.

Memphis takes a huge hit.



Tony Allen (calf) has been diagnosed with a strain of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in his right leg and will be out indefinitely.
According to the team he "will be continually re-evaluated while beginning rehab immediately." Allen suffered the injury in the first half on Wednesday, so that has to sting even more considering that game meant nothing to the Grizzles. With Allen out, Kawhi Leonard should have an easier time and post some big numbers after a subpar season series against them. Expect Vince Carter, Troy Daniels and maybe James Ennis to pick up some extra minutes.
Source: NBA.com

Death, Taxes, Raptors losing game 1


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Kyrie Irving...is good at basketball.





I still think Cavs are vulnerable in the East this year. The question remains if any of the challengers are up to the task of upsetting them.

I could see the Wiz out scoring Cleveland in some big time sh00touts if they each make it to the conference Finals.

Looks like Al Horford did us a favor in rejecting a 5-year deal which was near max.

Seriously, I know he has a history of underwhelming playoff performances against 7-footers but Robin Lopez is now stealing his lunch money. It'll only get worse as he gets older with that steadily growing salary.


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ATL Boy wrote:Looks like Al Horford did us a favor in rejecting a 5-year deal which was near max.

Seriously, I know he has a history of underwhelming playoff performances against 7-footers but Robin Lopez is now stealing his lunch money. It'll only get worse as he gets older with that steadily growing salary.


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Thank God he rejected Wizards offer. We would be **** with him. And he will be even worst with age

ATL Boy wrote:Looks like Al Horford did us a favor in rejecting a 5-year deal which was near max.

Seriously, I know he has a history of underwhelming playoff performances against 7-footers but Robin Lopez is now stealing his lunch money. It'll only get worse as he gets older with that steadily growing salary.

Yeah. His playoff averages are pitiful.

And it was embarrassing to watch him play so passively yesterday when that team needed a second scorer to be aggressive and take control.

Admittedly, he still shouldn't be playing Center. Stronger defensive 5s have always given him trouble in the post season. But R Lopez is just out hustling him.

Also, he passed on playing PF next to future Hall of Fame Center Dwight Howard. So...

This is like watching a breakup where everyone ends up unhappy.

Fun fact: Brad Stevens Has Worst Playoff Winning Percentage In NBA History amongst head coaches with at least 10 games in the playoffs.

Stevens has a 2-10 record over his first 12 games.