The Knicks… are not too smart

durden_tyler · Post #1 » by **durden_tyler** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:07 pm

All they had to do was lose that meaningless game vs the Bulls (who really wanted that meaningless win for whatever reason) and get a friendlier draw in the first round.

So rather draw with the Indiana Pacers if they ended up the 3rd seed, they’ll now get the Philadelphia 76ers (who are expected to beat Miami in the playin), the relatively stronger team with Embiid back healthy.

The first route (to the Finals) would have been

Pacers, Bucks/Sixers, Celtics

But now they’ll have to survive

Sixers, Bucks, Celtics.

Obviously, the easier route would have been to settle for the 3rd seed and they had no business actually wanting to win that final game (or nobody told them that the Bucks were losing vs the Magic the same day. LOL)

Discuss. And discuss the importance of playoff positioning.

Sure, you *almost always* play to win blah blah and that if you’re a contender you don’t choose opponents blah blah but that only works if say, you’re a quality team like the Celtics or defending champs Nuggets.

DaGawd · Post #2 » by **DaGawd** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:08 pm

you say that like indiana is an easy out

durden_tyler · Post #3 » by **durden_tyler** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:11 pm

DaGawd wrote:you say that like indiana is an easy out

Yeah, they still have to play of course and Indiana is a capable team. But current context,

Sixers is the bigger threat than the Pacers.

kuclas · Post #4 » by **kuclas** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:12 pm

If embiid was 100% or even 90-% healthy. Yes. It’s dumb move by knicks.

But embiid is close to 80% healthy and tweaked his knee again. He may not survive a 7 game series vs any team.

AntetokounmBros · Post #5 » by **AntetokounmBros** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:14 pm

People said the same in 2021 when the Bucks could have avoided Miami. They swept them and went on to win the title. We'll see how it goes for NY.

picc · Post #6 » by **picc** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:17 pm

Loser talk. Cowardly. I wouldn't expect any team actually worth a damn to start ducking people. Knicks are better for not caring.

Im Coming Home · Post #7 » by **Im Coming Home** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:19 pm

You're asking a team with Thibs and Jalen Brunson to 'throw' a game.

That is just not in their DNA at all, never gonna happen.

You take the win and take on the challenge, it is what it is.

BigGargamel · Post #8 » by **BigGargamel** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:20 pm

God why is this losing talk so rampant on this board right now? Teams don't care who they face, they're confident in their ability to beat anyone. Or at least they should be. Losing on purpose to draw another team is weak, loser mentality and no one in the NBA thinks this. Fans are weird.

whatisacenter · Post #9 » by **whatisacenter** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:20 pm

durden_tyler · Post #10 » by **durden_tyler** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:21 pm

BigGargamel wrote:God why is this losing talk so rampant on this board right now? Teams don't care who they face, they're confident in their ability to beat anyone. Or at least they should be. Losing on purpose to draw another team is weak, loser mentality and no one in the NBA thinks this. Fans are weird.

The Bucks and Cavs were happy losers today

picc · Post #11 » by **picc** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:22 pm

Imagine you're a fan of a team with championship aspirations, and it comes out they were ducking a 7 seed. Actually losing on purpose to avoid them.

Its at that moment you know they aren't winning ****.

meekrab · Post #12 » by **meekrab** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:24 pm

It's not like the Pacers are a G league squad. Embiid isn't 100% and in half of his career postseason series he was bad anyway.

jym85 · Post #13 » by **jym85** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:25 pm

Glad to see that no one agrees with the OP

durden_tyler · Post #14 » by **durden_tyler** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:25 pm

meekrab wrote:It's not like the Pacers are a G league squad. Embiid isn't 100% and in half of his career postseason series he was bad anyway.

So honestly, just answer the question; if you had a choice, would you rather meet the Pacers or Sixers in a best of seven series?

whatisacenter · Post #15 » by **whatisacenter** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:25 pm

durden_tyler wrote:
BigGargamel wrote:God why is this losing talk so rampant on this board right now? Teams don't care who they face, they're confident in their ability to beat anyone. Or at least they should be. Losing on purpose to draw another team is weak, loser mentality and no one in the NBA thinks this. Fans are weird.

The Bucks and Cavs were losers today

fact.

Hornet Mania · Post #16 » by **Hornet Mania** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:27 pm

They earned the 2 seed. They should rightly feel as if they have a good shot at beating every team below them since they have home court advantage.

I get lower seeds jostling for certain matchups, but if a 2 or 3 seed feels like they have to avoid opponents they're probably frauds anyway.

meekrab · Post #17 » by **meekrab** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:28 pm

durden_tyler wrote:
meekrab wrote:It's not like the Pacers are a G league squad. Embiid isn't 100% and in half of his career postseason series he was bad anyway.

So honestly, just answer the question; if you had a choice, would you rather meet the Pacers or Sixers in a best of seven series?

I'd rather have HCA against the Bucks than worry about which low seeded team I'm playing.

NZB2323 · Post #18 » by **NZB2323** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:29 pm

They aren’t ducking. I can’t criticize them for that. Also standings weren’t set today.

Oscirus · Post #19 » by **Oscirus** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:37 pm

So they should run away from homecourt advantage cuz their first round is too hard?

Big FatKAT · Post #20 » by **Big FatKAT** » Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:38 pm

Ducking teams is for losers…