|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 13:55:58 GMT -8
People aren't taking the wolves seriously just like OKC. If the Lakers were playing OKC they would probably be favored even though OKC is the 1 seed. I think the wolves are better than OKC because they have some real playoff veterans mixed with young talent, and also size advantages. I have feeling OKC or Minny are going to be a much tougher out than the experts are predicting. I had OKC as the # 2 seed in my pre-season predictions (based on Chet, but he's been underwhelming to me in reality from December onwards).
Once the season started, I thought they could get to the WCF, but not further. Because I can't find reference for a first year young team with only one All-Star getting further.
Veterans teams, yes, have gone further. Or teams with multiple All-Stars. But not young teams with one All-Star in their first year.
Also, OKC should be "probable" to win at least a playoffs series.
Here's a partial list of players who have won their first playoffs series. This is just based off my own playoffs knowledge, and is limited to this century, so I don't get into too big of a wormhole. There are probably others too.
But this is just my manual list that I'm making:
Hall of famers like Paul Pierce, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki all won at least their first playoffs series, as did Steph Curry, Chris Paul, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard.
Then players who could make the hall of fame, if they have a long enough career, like Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, also won their first playoffs series.
Rudy Gobert and Blake Griffin also won their first playoffs series.
Baron Davis won his first playoffs series.
The Utah Jazz with Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur got the the Western Conference Finals in their first playoffs. That Jazz team had two All-stars, with Williams not making one until a few years later.
So Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is considered a MVP candidate.
He is in his 6th year.
A lot of the players I listed above were in their 2nd or 3rd years, when they won their first playoffs series.
I have never heard of a MVP candidate where there wasn't some confidence that they'd win their first playoffs series.
Gilgeous-Alexander should not get a pass. Especially not when he's in 6th year, and this is his 3rd playoffs appearance. Not his first. Not his second.
Yes, MVPs have lost in the 1st round before. But when they did, it was considered a disappointment. There weren't excuses for them.
So the same should apply to the Thunder.
It's not big deal if they win a round, and it's a disappointment if they lose.
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 13:57:04 GMT -8
Ok I'll come back and finish off my play-in picks for tonight, later.
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 15:31:34 GMT -8
Eastern Conference Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat
Butler is hurt. Adebayo and Jamie Jaquez Jr. could keep it close. But Chicago should win.
Pick: Chicago Bulls
Western Conference Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans
Here's a list of teams that won a playoffs series after being swept by that team in the regular season:
1989 Bulls vs Cavs (3-2) playoffs, 0-6 regular season.
1998 Bulls vs Jazz (4-2) playoffs, 0-2 regular season.
2009 Lakers vs Magic (4-1) playoffs, 0-2 regular season.
2011 Heat vs Bulls (4-1) playoffs, 0-3 regular season.
2014 Heat vs Nets (4-1) playoffs, 0-4 regular season.
2015 Washington vs Raptors (4-0) playoffs, 0-4 regular season.
2016 Cavs vs Warriors (4-3) playoffs, 0-2 regular season.
2019 Blazers vs OKC (4-1) playoffs, 0-4 regular season.
2023 Mavericks vs Suns (4-3) playoffs, 0-3 regular season.
Kings lost a game at home by 33 points without Zion Williamson.
New Orleans is not a good home team, and Kings are better on the road.
New Orleans won 28 on the road, 21 at home. Memphis is another team with huge splits. 18 wins on the road, 9 at home.
I think the Kings will finally limit CJ McCollum. Although the Kings also lost by 36 without CJ McCollum too.
Pick: Sacramento Kings
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 15:35:15 GMT -8
OMG Miami out to a huge lead.
|
|
|
Post by clipsentuboca on Apr 19, 2024 16:00:43 GMT -8
great Ashley Moyer-Gleich of luka’s smoove talkin “I’m fouling in love w you” fame is reffing Clipper series. Better see impartiality and any pro-mav bias or it’ll require calling the bald freak commissioner.
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 16:12:53 GMT -8
great Ashley Moyer-Gleich of luka’s smoove talkin “I’m fouling in love w you” fame is reffing Clipper series. Better see impartiality and any pro-mav bias or it’ll require calling the bald freak commissioner. Dallas: 22.5 FT attempts per game.
Los Angeles Clippers: 22.2
Harden, Leonard, George are all capable.
|
|
|
Post by clipsentuboca on Apr 19, 2024 16:30:04 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by clipsentuboca on Apr 19, 2024 16:30:57 GMT -8
never realized it was against the clippers as noticed by Lue’s stupid mask overuse. Great.
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 16:32:27 GMT -8
It's early in the 3rd.
Miami is not going away.
I think they win this.
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 16:33:12 GMT -8
Did he get called for a foul, or was he saying he should have gotten fouled?
|
|
|
Post by clipsentuboca on Apr 19, 2024 16:35:43 GMT -8
not sure the context, and he likely was totally away from the play, but know he was just entirely joking w her.
|
|
|
Post by dane on Apr 19, 2024 17:38:56 GMT -8
Was that last year? or the year before? That made me a Luka fan!
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 18:28:58 GMT -8
Was that last year? or the year before? That made me a Luka fan! Clippers and Dallas played in 2020, 2021.
I think that was 2020.
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 19, 2024 19:13:42 GMT -8
Was that last year? or the year before? That made me a Luka fan! So you liked the pun?
|
|
|
Post by mistwell on Apr 19, 2024 20:57:57 GMT -8
Down go Kings. Ah man, I had hopes for them despite their injuries.
|
|