2022 NBA Playoff Discussion Thread

This topic contains 40 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by r377 4 years, 1 month ago.

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Posted on: Fri, 04/15/2022 - 7:42am #1255026

OhCanada-
Participant
I know its still playins which arent technically considered playoffs but I decided to start this thread a bit early because of how important these games are as far as draft positioning goes.
If Cavs lose to the Hawks they get their 1st round pick back from Indiana.
If Pelicans beat the Clippers they get their 1st round pick back from Portland.
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Posted on: Fri, 04/15/2022 - 9:07am #1255027

NorrinRadd
Participant
Looks like the Hawks pullin’ off the comeback.
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Posted on: Fri, 04/15/2022 - 12:41pm #1255037

OhCanada-
Participant
The Pelicans pick ends up going to Charlotte. Lottery odds and draft order outside the lottery is set.
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Posted on: Sat, 04/16/2022 - 10:18am #1255040

NorrinRadd
Participant
Philadelphia looked pretty good today. Tyrese Maxey came up big time. The Warriors looked pretty good tonight even with Steph at not quite full speed coming off the bench. They looked like they’re back! Memphis basically lost the game in the 1st quarter, trying to play catch up and hang around all game. ANT is a problem in this series. Utah won, but they’re boring. They should have kicked the crap out of the Mavericks with no Luka.
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Posted on: Sat, 04/16/2022 - 7:52pm #1255042

Hitster
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THe Hawks vs Cavs play in game surprised me how little the Cavs used their bench especially with a couple of title winners on there.
NOP making the play offs is a big bonus for them and if they can get Zion back and firing next season now with CJ MCCollum on the roster to support him and Ingram they have nice potential for next season. Likewise the beaten Clippers will be thinking about next year if they can get Kawhi back alongside PG13 but their window is beginning to close.
I agree Utah could have beaten a Luka less Dallas by more and Jason Kidd has had a very good first season there and how he develops Luka will be fun to watch.
Maxey had a massive game vs Raptors for 76ers and gives Philly an amazing 4th scoring option behind their big 3 and with the likes of Thybulle as an excellent defensive guy off the bench rhey have some nice options for the play offs if Embeast stays sound. Harden has played more as the provider on this team but still has the potential to take a game over on offence so I really like Philly’s balance at the moment.
The Raptors have had a 21 game rebound after a transitional season last year and whilst this year may be too soon. They are only just scratching the surface of likely ROY Scottie Barnes and with OG and Trent having been great drafts and acquisitions plus with Sikam and FVF still being only in their late 20’s then their future looks very good.
The T-Wolves were hugely impressive against Memphis in what was only their second play off visit since the KG era but to beat Memphis in a 7 game series would be a huge shock and blow that part of the series open.
GSW soundly dispatched the the Nuggets and with Steph playing his way back to fitness if he starts firing then I can only see a GSW vs Suns Conference Final out West.
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Posted on: Sat, 04/16/2022 - 8:16pm #1255043

OhCanada-
Participant
Credit to Embiid. Hes turned into a dirty motherfucker. Its whats always needed to happen for Philly to win and hes finally decided to throw his weight around. Its how Toronto won a Championship too so I fully respect the game. Its how Giannis won.
Not sure if you guys watched the game and didn’t think to mention this. Embiid injured three of our players last night. Van Vleet and Boucher fouled out for the first time all season, look up Fred’s calls they were some BS. Now Philly played well, they limited turnovers, cleaned up the defensive rebounding and knocked down shots. They didn’t need the refs to win this game but they sure as hell has help.
Like I said credit to Embiid. He saw the refs were allowing him to do whatever he wanted and that we were not allowed to even touch him and he took advantage of it. Van Vleets first two fouls were literal touch fouls. But thats what happens when the refs swallow their whistle, guys get hurt. Now you have our star rookie out for what looks like the remainder of the season which likely means we get eliminated.
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Posted on: Sun, 04/17/2022 - 2:33am #1255045

NorrinRadd
Participant
Miami destroyed Atlanta… nice going ICE Trae… was ice cold today.
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Posted on: Sun, 04/17/2022 - 6:20am #1255047

Hitster
Participant
Miami know how to win play off games and the Hawks have punched above their weight to make the play offs proper. Miami’s starting 5 controlled their counterparts and with Robinson having a big scoring game off the bench. Wonder if Udonis Haslem will get a minute or two in the play offs this year. He last saw play off minutes in 2016. Amazing how he has been kept on year after year now 19 years running but last 6 or so have been mainly ceremonial but he is clearly there as a senior pro and locker room presence. He played a key supporting role on 3 title winning teams so is a legend in Miami.
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Posted on: Sat, 04/23/2022 - 12:17pm #1255079

Zouldiers
Participant
Celtics are up 3-0 and are now about to sweep the KD/Kyrie Nets. Who would have thought lol? That Celtics Defense has broken Kevin Durant apparently
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Posted on: Sat, 04/23/2022 - 8:56pm #1255080

Hitster
Participant
The Celtics play as a team whilst I feel the Nets are a team of star players. The Nets have had Kyrie with his vaccination status, KD having injury issues and the Harden/Simmons saga. If they can all play next season then they should be a nore cohesive unit but the flip side is KD is a year older and Kyrie would need to resign as a FA which he hits he will do but will be on a huge deal.
Boston rebullt their core under Danny Ainge after the big 3 era really started the current desire to create super teams but which only bought them one title. When Brad Stevens was HC Boston were certainly stronger in the play offs than during regular season only winning one Div title but reaching 3 Conference Finals. Boston seem like they are always steadily building but they have made big moves both on and off court in the past but there has always been continuity. Doc moved on Brad came in as HC and then last summer Brad moved into an Executive role when Ainge stepped back and Ime Udoka came in as HC. It seems as if there is a plan always in place and often it seems like the right move in hindsight.
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- Posted on: Sun, 04/24/2022 - 4:43am #1255086
  
  OhCanada-
  Participant
  Nets never had a chance. I was never high on them at all. I think Nash has been a terrible coach or hasnt been aloud to coach either way its been terrible.
  To touch up on the Simmons situation… He is now sitting out with back pain. Nets wanted him to play game 4 but he says he isnt ready. Jalen Rose said he wont even take shots in practice.
  I don’t know if he is truly experiencing back pain or not but I do know as part of the Harden trade the Nets agreed to pay the 76ers the money Ben Simmons still owed them due to unpaid fines they were still attempting to recoup. So I’m pretty sure for at least a bit into April Ben Simmons never received a check from the Nets which may have had an effect on how motivated he was to recover from his back injury. I don’t know all the details but I’m pretty sure at the beggining of the year a large portion of his salary was paid to him in the form of an advance.
  Back pain is no joke. But neither is mental illness, depression or any of the other things Simmons has claimed to be afflicted with in order to recoup his salary. At some point you just gotta play.
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  - Posted on: Sun, 04/24/2022 - 2:57pm #1255093
    
    r377
    Participant
    His mental toughness is about as strong as his jump shot.
    Terrible trade for Brooklyn, Durant and Harden are friends, not sure why you would get rid of harden for ben simmons
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Posted on: Sun, 04/24/2022 - 5:13am #1255087

Hitster
Participant
If he has been getting it on with his fiance Maya Jama I can understand him having back pain or he was going to play and then read Melo’s Great Places to visit during Play Off Time blog.
On a more serious note I’m sure a few of us recall when STAT’s deal couldn’t be insured because of injury issues will a player’s mental health now be taken into account for something like these. Also when players are traded could one team’s insurers refuse to cover a player even if the sending club’s ones had done so?
If Ben wasn’t sending in medical notes or refusing to be seen by Philly’s medical and well being team then I’d figure they would fine him the max they could as he couldn’t effectively go AWOL.
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Posted on: Sun, 04/24/2022 - 2:55pm #1255092

r377
Participant
This year looks great, 4-6 teams could genuinely win it all
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Posted on: Tue, 04/26/2022 - 6:44pm #1255106

Hitster
Participant
Heat through minus two of their key players so when they are fully fit have got to be a live contender given their previous experience in the play offs.
Memphis had a huge comeback win over T-Wolves which could be crucial in the series. Ja’s dunk has gone mainstream here in England too.
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Posted on: Thu, 04/28/2022 - 7:23pm #1255120

Hitster
Participant
A couple of the series were tighter than they looked Denver could have taken GSW to a6th game easily and NOP were very close to taking the Suns to a 7th and deciding game. NOP could really be a team to watch next season all their core are returning and if they get Zion back should easily be well above .500. I assume they own the Lakers pick inside the top 10 so they should get a decent player in unless it falls to 11th when it goes to Memphis. But if it did come up high in the lottery the return of Zion plus one of the hot shots from this years’ draft would give them a great young core with Ingram plus the experienced vets like CJ and Jonas.
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Posted on: Sun, 05/01/2022 - 4:39am #1255135

OhCanada-
Participant
I think its gonna be Bucks vs Warriors in the Finals with Giannis winning b2b. Only thing is I thought Warriors would run into injury problems and Memphis would beat them but now Im not too sure. They are pretty healthy and look like they are the better team at managing runs. More experience and poise.
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Posted on: Fri, 05/13/2022 - 5:36pm #1255301

r377
Participant
This Boston vs Milwaukee series is great.
Boston look to be the best and most complete team in the league. Tatum and Giannis really stepping up ( I hope Harden & Embiid took notes) Horford still a great defender even at nearly 36yo, marcus smart is a bulldog. Great team Boston
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Posted on: Fri, 05/13/2022 - 5:38pm #1255302

r377
Participant
Dillon Brooks is a chucker who doesn’t look for teammates, Memphis could have won with him passing it around more…
Grayson Allen woeful especially defensive
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Posted on: Fri, 05/13/2022 - 7:32pm #1255304

Hitster
Participant
When I look at all round teams in the play offs I agree Boston and Miami tick a lot of boxes. Suns, Bucks and GSW may have more “stars” but both Celtics and Heat have guys who perfectly compliment their main players.
Sometimes in the draft it’s not getting that franchise changer/star player – for all Tatum and Brown give the Celtics Marcus Smart with his defensive game is just as important a part to the team as their top running mate. Likewise Big Al as R377 says is still an excellent defender and uses his 15 years of NBA experience to anchor the team and knows what passes to make as well as being the veteran presence.
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Posted on: Sun, 05/15/2022 - 7:54am #1255314

armchairgm
Participant
Since my bracket of Grizzlies over Raptors is busted haha my new pick Mavs over Celtics.
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- Posted on: Sun, 05/15/2022 - 8:34am #1255315
  
  OhCanada-
  Participant
  I really hope Dallas and Luka wins it all. Also can’t stand Boston and hope they lose to Miami. The East is really tough.
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Posted on: Sun, 05/15/2022 - 8:59am #1255317

OhCanada-
Participant
Suns get destroyed ib game 7. Luka, Dinwiddie and Brunson took 53 of the Mavs 73 shots halfway through the 4th and I’m pretty sure only Brunson played in the 4th. I stopped watching. Happy the Suns didn’t advance, I can;t stand all the flopping they do it so annoying.
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Posted on: Sun, 05/15/2022 - 12:23pm #1255319

r377
Participant
Chris Paul comes up short again. I never thought Dallas would make it to WCF.
I usually hate all the try hard / fairweather teams – Knicks, Boston & Lakers but I really like the way the celtics play. Good defense and chemistry. Marcus Smart guarding Steph Curry in the Finals would be worth the price of admission !
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Posted on: Sun, 05/15/2022 - 12:26pm #1255320

r377
Participant
Jalen Brunson will get paid in the offseason, would be good if he came back to the Mavs
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Posted on: Sun, 05/15/2022 - 8:51pm #1255322

BothTeamsPlayedHard-
Participant
For the third straight year, no team that made the Conference Finals the year prior has returned there. This is a different kind of era in the NBA. Throughout its history, it has been the most dynastic among the American leagues, but right now it is wide open. We don’t know how long it will last. The failed superteams in LA and Brooklyn, and the hilariously failed Process in Philadelphia, has changed the league. Instead of three to five teams who think they can win and push their chips in, there might be ten or more next year. This isn’t to slight Dallas, Miami, Boston, or Golden State, but none of them are going to make front offices admit they can’t be beaten next year. It is a good place for the league to be in.
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Posted on: Mon, 05/16/2022 - 2:28am #1255324

Hitster
Participant
As a Suns fan we came up short again but Luka has done a great job carrying this team. All the other teams have at least one All the other teams have a player who is at least All Star level as the running mate to their top star. Luka doesn’t have anyone of that level although Brunson has been excellent this season.
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- Posted on: Mon, 05/16/2022 - 3:45am #1255325
  
  OhCanada-
  Participant
  This is where it starts to get tricky for the Suns. Ayton commands the max this offseason and Bridges and Shamet get very large increases next year. Phoenix is gonna have to go well into the luxary tax and thats not something they are known for doing. They have their core together for a few more years if ownership wants to pay though.
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  - Posted on: Mon, 05/16/2022 - 9:31am #1255327
    
    r377
    Participant
    Could be a crippler for the Suns if they overpay Ayton.
    They have Booker, Paul, Bridges and Cam Johnson all with decent contracts.
    Ayton is good, but not spectacular. Not a huge shot blocker, no much of a leader and no 3 ball. You could get 70-90% of a player for half or even a quarter of the money he would command.
    I would be ringing the Pelicans to try and trade him for Jonas Valanciaus – bargain @ $15 mill.
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Posted on: Mon, 05/16/2022 - 3:50am #1255326

OhCanada-
Participant
Bucks are in a tough position as well. Losing Portis is a very difficult situation for them. Thats a high level role player they are gonna have to replace with their 1st round pick either through trade or a selection but its just hard to find a player with that level of skill and size along with his toughness. Brook Lopez also gets older. Losing Tucker was already a big issue for them. They probably do fine because they have the best player in the world but not sure I would consider them contenders.
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Posted on: Tue, 05/17/2022 - 3:54am #1255330

Hitster
Participant
The Bucks are pretty much dialed into Giannis supported by Middleton and Holiday for next couple of seasons. They have a title and with Giannis there they will always be in the mix for FAs wanting to be on a contender.
Ayton I think we have to pay him if he was traded or walked in a years time that could annoy Booker who is our cornerstone. Also CP3 turns 37 soon and he is committed to the team until he is 40 so can he keep going at this level for those years?
But with Ayton having had a run in with HC Monty Williams his position may not be as strong as he thinks. But with a good batch of bigs high in the draft then the Suns are unlikely to get high picks and if teams know Ayton couldn’t get the job done with CP3 and Booker in the line up can he be considered a top running mate to say Lillard in Portland?
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- Posted on: Tue, 05/17/2022 - 4:14am #1255331
  
  NorrinRadd
  Participant
  Suns are a better team that just got outplayed by a hotter team. Ayton is solid. He’s not a star player, but what he is – is a player who plays his role very well. They just ended in a terrible note. And is he worth the max as a great role player? If they got a Kamagate or something though, that might not be a bad substitute. Ayton might not solve Portland, that’s a good point. But he might improve the team a little. Ayton can be on a contender but, it would have to be with the right team and situation like Horry did for years. Phoenix to me ran into the wrong team at the wrong time. GSW will be an interesting series against the Mavs.
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Posted on: Wed, 05/18/2022 - 6:52am #1255356

NorrinRadd
Participant
Hoping Dubs win tonight.
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- Posted on: Fri, 05/20/2022 - 9:40am #1255386
  
  OhCanada-
  Participant
  Im watching the game while listening to music with my headphones in and I can still hear Draymond Green running around saying “thats F*ck*ng bullsh*t!”. You can visable see him cussing out the refs. I don’t know how he gets away with it. Double tech him kick him out and give him his excuse for why they lost. I also have money on the Mavs tonight…
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  - Posted on: Sat, 05/21/2022 - 12:59am #1255398
    
    NorrinRadd
    Participant
    That’s how I usually watch basketball… funny – I see what you mean about Draymond… what a burner though for the Mavs.
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Posted on: Sat, 05/21/2022 - 5:21am #1255402

Hitster
Participant
As a Phoenix fan I don’t think we can afford to lose Ayton but if we overpay him it limits chances to add another top player when CP3 moves on. Phoenix can merely match any offer another team makes as I don’t see Ayton risking a one year deal to become a FA next season.
Dallas being pulled back last night means they will struggle to get anything out of this series as GSW seem to be clicking and if the splash brothers find their range GSW will be hard to beat in the rest of the Finals.
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Posted on: Sun, 05/22/2022 - 9:56am #1255438

NorrinRadd
Participant
Dubs look like they’re back! They will be a tough out in the finals…
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- Posted on: Sun, 05/22/2022 - 12:48pm #1255444
  
  r377
  Participant
  If I am golden state, I would want to play Miami and not Boston.
  I can’t see Miami beating them, but Boston if full strenght and healthy would have more of a chance than Miami
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Posted on: Sun, 05/22/2022 - 12:44pm #1255442

r377
Participant
Nasty, nasty dunk by Wiggins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Ncn56I9GA
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Posted on: Sun, 05/22/2022 - 12:46pm #1255443

r377
Participant
Luka plays too much iso ball, looks to pass only when forced to. He needs to share it around more…
Some of the best ball movement by the Mavs was when Luka was on the bench.
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Posted on: Thu, 05/26/2022 - 1:02pm #1255557

r377
Participant
Trying to work out what annoys me most, looking at Steph Curry’s bum fluff beard or watching Luka taking step back 3’s. Shooting 10-of-28 shooting with only six assists. Next guy down had 12 shots compared to lukas 28
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