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Post by hitnrun24 on Apr 16, 2024 12:27:38 GMT -8
I know travel plays a big part of it, but this is basically year 25 of the West being much more difficult than the East. It's ranged from slightly tougher to extremely tougher. Top 4 East teams get Magic, Pacers and 2 play ins (and if a team from the 9/10 passes through it's a sub .500 team). While the West top 4 plays Mavs, Suns and 2 play ins. And even the 9/10 teams are capable of pushing you in a series. Mavs/Suns would probably be as good a bet as anyone in the East outside of Boston.
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Post by jglanton on Apr 16, 2024 12:44:11 GMT -8
It's hard to see the Pels winning a close game against the Lakers so I'm gonna have to go with the Lakers here.
Probably golden state for similar reasons.
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Post by gilp5 on Apr 16, 2024 12:46:06 GMT -8
It's hard to see the Pels winning a close game against the Lakers so I'm gonna have to go with the Lakers here. Probably golden state for similar reasons. Except Lakers do not want to win this game. They won the last 3 games against OKC and have lost over and over to Denver. They'd rather risk a game against GSW at home than win this game and play Denver.
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Post by hitnrun24 on Apr 16, 2024 13:19:34 GMT -8
It's hard to see the Pels winning a close game against the Lakers so I'm gonna have to go with the Lakers here. Probably golden state for similar reasons. Except Lakers do not want to win this game. They won the last 3 games against OKC and have lost over and over to Denver. They'd rather risk a game against GSW at home than win this game and play Denver. It's probably too risky, but things do seem to break right for the Lakers. But I don't see how they go in with that strategy even if there might be an argument for it.
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Post by mistwell on Apr 16, 2024 14:27:45 GMT -8
It's hard to see the Pels winning a close game against the Lakers so I'm gonna have to go with the Lakers here. Probably golden state for similar reasons. Except Lakers do not want to win this game. They won the last 3 games against OKC and have lost over and over to Denver. They'd rather risk a game against GSW at home than win this game and play Denver. No they wouldn't. Obviously they do not want to risk one game against GSW or Kings (both of which have beat them this season) on the entire season. They want to beat the Pels tonight.
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Post by jglanton on Apr 16, 2024 14:54:01 GMT -8
Lakers want to win. The Pels have to try to run them early and get a big lead. They cannot win if it's close. They can't figure out who is running the game in crunch time and they don't have a point guard or even point forward. So they lose.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:09:47 GMT -8
Pelicans are off to a good start.
Valanciunas is making an impact.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:13:58 GMT -8
I don’t think they get past OKC either. You seem to have a lot of faith in OKC. I think they are this year's 2023 Memphis - a nice regular season team but incredibly weak playoff team. Memphis didn't have their starting center for the 2023 playoffs.
They were weak due to unexpected injury.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:16:00 GMT -8
I know travel plays a big part of it, but this is basically year 25 of the West being much more difficult than the East. It's ranged from slightly tougher to extremely tougher. Top 4 East teams get Magic, Pacers and 2 play ins (and if a team from the 9/10 passes through it's a sub .500 team). While the West top 4 plays Mavs, Suns and 2 play ins. And even the 9/10 teams are capable of pushing you in a series. Mavs/Suns would probably be as good a bet as anyone in the East outside of Boston. I don't rate Phoenix or Denver as highly as you do.
Orlando does suffer the problem of having only one All-Star, but having the 2nd best defense should help them play a decent series.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:20:55 GMT -8
Why don't Pelicans fans boo Davis every time he touches the ball?
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:36:26 GMT -8
Where's the template spreadsheet? You let us participate last year. Let us know if you can provide the spreadsheet so we can participate again. Like you did last year.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:36:41 GMT -8
Don't like the Pelicans not playing Valanciunas.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:40:20 GMT -8
Seems like the Pelicans don't use McCollum when the game slows down. I think they should.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:49:22 GMT -8
Except Lakers do not want to win this game. They won the last 3 games against OKC and have lost over and over to Denver. They'd rather risk a game against GSW at home than win this game and play Denver. No they wouldn't. Obviously they do not want to risk one game against GSW or Kings (both of which have beat them this season) on the entire season. They want to beat the Pels tonight. I hate the tanking talk, and I'll provide one more reason not to tank a 7/8 game.
If you lose the 7/8 game, and need the 2nd play-in game, you only get 1 day of rest before the start of the playoffs.
If you win the 7/8 game, you get either 4 days off (West) or 3 days off (East).
I think there is such a thing as too much time off (Clippers normal starters not playing the last few regular season game). But 3 - 4 days of is what I think is the right amount.
Not too much, not too little.
Old teams like the Suns, Warriors, Lakers, Bulls, Heat, 76ers should take as much rest as they can get, this postseason.
Hawks are middle aged.
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Post by nuraman00 on Apr 16, 2024 16:53:29 GMT -8
Bucks with Lillard also have an aging player.
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