The NBENFANT Thread (NBA): 2023-2024 Edition!

zzaj · Post #1001 » by **zzaj** » Thu Aug 6, 2020 4:55 am

The team I’m starting to worry about is Phoenix. They haven’t lost yet and seem to be hot at the right time. They are what 1.5 games back from 8th?

Post #1002 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Thu Aug 6, 2020 8:27 pm

The league's bends over to make it easy for the Pelicans to have a shot at the 8th seed and so far they are laying an egg. Big game today for Phoenix. If they win, then they definitely have a shot. If they lose, then maybe they're done.

Post #1003 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Fri Aug 7, 2020 3:16 am

I think the Blazers can finish in the 8th spot with 2 wins out of the last 4 games. I think Memphis goes 1-3 at best. Phoenix is the wild card at this point. If they finish 3-1, they still finish behind Portland if they finish 2-2.

Post #1004 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Sat Aug 8, 2020 8:24 am

Bad day for the Western Conference. All the teams we needed to lose actually won.

Post #1005 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 8:58 pm

Of the 4 teams vying for the 8th & 9th seeds, all teams have played 6 games in the bubble:
1-5 Memphis Grizzlies
4-2 Portland Trail Blazers
4-2 San Antonio Spurs
6-0 Phoenix Suns

Standings following the Suns game today:
33-38 .465 Memphis Grizzlies
33-39 .458 Portland Trail Blazers
32-39 .451 Phoenix Suns (including today's win)
31-38 .449 San Antonio Spurs

With just 2 games remaining for all 4 teams, things should get very interesting after Tuesday night's games. All 4 teams play Tuesday leaving just one game apiece on Thursday. Portland plays last so they should have a good idea where they sit and how they need to finish against Brooklyn.

The Blazers have the easiest remaining schedule of the 4 teams with games against Dallas & Brooklyn. If they take care of business, I think they'll finish in 8th place. While Memphis may win one of their remaining games against Boston & Milwaukee, I don't see them winning both games, which would drop them below Portland in the standings (assuming Portland wins both of their games).

Best case scenario, everyone goes 2-0:
35-38 .479 Memphis Grizzlies
35-39 .473 Portland Trail Blazers
34-39 .466 Phoenix Suns
33-38 .464 San Antonio Spurs

If All Teams Go 1-1 in Remaining 2 Games
34-39 .466 Memphis Grizzlies
34-40 .459 Portland Trail Blazers
33-40 .452 Phoenix Suns
32-39 .451 San Antonio Spurs

If Portland Goes 0-2, regardless of what anyone else does:
33-41 .446 Portland Trail Blazers

Village Idiot · Post #1006 » by **Village Idiot** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:30 pm

Thanks TVM. great overview.

Dallas rested both Doncic and Porzingis today so that bodes well for tomorrow's game.

Brooklyn is locked in as the 7th seed and will have reason to win, not that they won't try though.

Matt800 · Post #1007 » by **Matt800** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:44 pm

DaVoiceMaster wrote:Of the 4 teams vying for the 8th & 9th seeds, all teams have played 6 games in the bubble:
1-5 Memphis Grizzlies
4-2 Portland Trail Blazers
4-2 San Antonio Spurs
6-0 Phoenix Suns

Standings following the Suns game today:
33-38 .465 Memphis Grizzlies
33-39 .458 Portland Trail Blazers
32-39 .451 Phoenix Suns (including today's win)
31-38 .449 San Antonio Spurs

With just 2 games remaining for all 4 teams, things should get very interesting after Tuesday night's games. All 4 teams play Tuesday leaving just one game apiece on Thursday. Portland plays last so they should have a good idea where they sit and how they need to finish against Brooklyn.

The Blazers have the easiest remaining schedule of the 4 teams with games against Dallas & Brooklyn. If they take care of business, I think they'll finish in 8th place. While Memphis may win one of their remaining games against Boston & Milwaukee, I don't see them winning both games, which would drop them below Portland in the standings (assuming Portland wins both of their games).

Best case scenario, everyone goes 2-0:
35-38 .479 Memphis Grizzlies
35-39 .473 Portland Trail Blazers
34-39 .466 Phoenix Suns
33-38 .464 San Antonio Spurs

If All Teams Go 1-1 in Remaining 2 Games
34-39 .466 Memphis Grizzlies
34-40 .459 Portland Trail Blazers
33-40 .452 Phoenix Suns
32-39 .451 San Antonio Spurs

If Portland Goes 0-2, regardless of what anyone else does:
33-41 .446 Portland Trail Blazers

Thanks, that's helpful info. And Portland doesn't necessarily have the easiest schedule. Dallas rested guys today, and I heard they plan to play tomorrow. And Brooklyn has a bunch of guys trying to show they can play and they are 4 and 2 so far. So Portland might be looking at 2 competitive games. The Suns play 76ers and Dallas. 76rs are hurt, and it's possible Dallas will rest guys in that last game. So the Suns might be facing two resting teams. I could see Mem going 0-2, Phx going 2-0, and Portland and SAS going 1-1. Which I think would still get Portland into the play in tournament.

Post #1008 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 10:47 pm

Easiest schedule in terms of where the teams are ranked currently... #7 in the West and #8 in the East vs #1 and #3 in the East for Memphis, etc. In your scenario, Phoenix would finish 8th and Portland would finish 9th, just a half game ahead of Memphis. I don't like the Blazers odds of advancing given your scenario.

Matt800 · Post #1009 » by **Matt800** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 11:56 pm

DaVoiceMaster wrote:Easiest schedule in terms of where the teams are ranked currently... #7 in the West and #8 in the East vs #1 and #3 in the East for Memphis, etc. In your scenario, Phoenix would finish 8th and Portland would finish 9th, just a half game ahead of Memphis. I don't like the Blazers odds of advancing given your scenario.

Yeah very true. It seems like the Blazers don't tend to play their best against Phoenix. I could see them winning a game, but 2 in a row would take a lot. If Portland wins their next game, and all the other west teams competing for 8/9th lose, that would really help take some pressure off. Suns have the 2nd in a back to back tomorrow against the 76ers. They didn't play heavy minutes today but if there was a time for them to lose it might be tomorrow.

Post #1010 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:28 am

Yeah, that would be a fantastic scenario. Phoenix scares me at this point.

monopoman · Post #1011 » by **monopoman** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 4:36 am

Phoenix outscored OKC from the 2nd quarter on 105 to 64, They slaughtered the Thunder.

JasonStern · Post #1012 » by **JasonStern** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:52 pm

Watch on YouTube

skywalker33 · Post #1013 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:34 am

Since NO playoff thread yet, gotta think that should POR have any chance of winning the series, the key has got to be Nurkic. Really think he has the ability and motivation to neutralize AD, leaving CJ and Dame to tag-team LBJ (who appears to be slowing down to Father Time)

Post #1014 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 6:11 am

Steven A. Smith says Lillard is the best basketball player in the world right now. Wow!

Post #1015 » by **The Sebastian Express** » Sun Aug 23, 2020 11:04 pm

The audacity of Paul George to have criticized/made fun of/taunted Dame when he plays like this as second fiddle to Leonard.

An embarrassment.

Epicurus · Post #1016 » by **Epicurus** » Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:39 pm

DaVoiceMaster wrote:Steven A. Smith says Lillard is the best basketball player in the world right now. Wow!

If it were not for contrarian hyperbole Steven A Smith would be mute.

Post #1017 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Fri Aug 28, 2020 4:06 pm

The Sebastian Express wrote:The audacity of Paul George to have criticized/made fun of/taunted Dame when he plays like this as second fiddle to Leonard.

An embarrassment.

Gotta love Karma!!!

Shem · Post #1018 » by **Shem** » Sat Sep 5, 2020 4:39 am

Watch on YouTube

JasonStern · Post #1019 » by **JasonStern** » Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:52 pm

Read on Twitter

BlazersBroncos · Post #1020 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:21 pm

OT, but the current Denver / LAL series is partially why I think we need to target another star rather than some defensive specialist. The playoffs are won and lost based on star calls. LAL is getting those right now. You add a borderline star like DeRozan to this team and we are adding numerous star calls once the playoffs hit. He is good enough and has enough name recognition and clout to get tons of tacky fouls in the playoffs, not to mention his game is attacking downhill.

We are not a Robert Covington away from contending, but we may be one star-calls type player away from a surprising postseason. I continue to think Demar is that guy.