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Status:
""...I wrote it down, now I follow thru...""
(set 12 days ago)
Location: North Raleigh x North Sacramento
5,749 posts, read 5,511,264 times
Reputation: 7021
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Early predictions:
EAST
Raptors over Wizards 4-1 (could see it going 6 but no more)
Cavaliers over Pacers 4-2 (could see it going 5 but no less)
Celtics over Bucks 4-2
Sixers over Heat 4-2
I wouldn't be surprised to see the entire East 1st Rd go 6 games...
WEST
Rockets over Wolves 4-1 (I can see a sweep possibly)
Thunder over Jazz 4-2 (I can see this in 5 but no less)
Warriors over Spurs 4-2 (I can see 5 or 7 but I don't see a Spurs win, period)
Blazers over Pelicans 4-3 (I can see this going either way)
All top seeds should hold, only one I'm worried about is Portland, they have a tough draw...
I'll withhold my later round predictions, but I do think Round 2, the Cavs are gonna be in some trouble in The East. This is the worst draw for Cleveland, Indiana in the first and Toronto in the second. Lebron's 7 straight Finals was gonna end at some point, and it truly looks like it'll be this year. Last time Lebron had a team that didn't win MORE than 50 games was 2008; they lost to Boston in 7 in Round 2. He did take a 50-win team to The Finals in '07, so the Cavs will be competitive and if/when they lose, it won't be in 4 or 5, but he just doesn't have a strong personnel...
The Raptors should get out of The East, but it's always scary to pick them. They didn't play particularly well down the stretch (7-6 in last 13 games, including 2-5 versus playoff teams). I am hesitant to pick them, but they were the most consistent East team all year. If they can't win the conference this year, when the hell will they? Literally everything fell in Toronto's favor this year:
•healthiest team in NBA
•weakest Lebron James team in a decade
•Celtics decimated by injuries
•Wizards decimated by incompetence
•Sixers just (assumedly) too young and inexperienced
I like the Raptors, but I mean really, if they can't win this year, this team and this era of the Raptors will deserve to go in the history books as THE most mentally fragile team in the league history...
The Sixers could be a team of Destiny. They won't win it all this year, but they got the best draw possible (avoids Toronto or Cleveland until ECF, drew Celtics without two best players). They could go on a run and it wouldn't be a 'total' shocker if they wound up in The Finals...
The Dubs are in some trouble, but we all knew that. The draw isn't that bad, but I have doubts they can just flip the switch. We'll see, but even if they do, Houston is not favorable and I can't see then beating the Rockets, healthy or not. They've avoided the Thunder until the WCF, and I'll be honest, I don't think Houston is necessarily a lock over OKC either. Thunder are the dark horse West team for sure...
Of course, I may be wrong and we may be gearing up to watch both Cleveland and Golden State flip the switch anf steamroll their conferences. The likelihood of that is probably less than 10%, but these two could benefit from being underdogs and having experience on their sides. It'll be interesting to watch...
EAST
Raptors over Wizards 4-1 (could see it going 6 but no more)
Cavaliers over Pacers 4-2 (could see it going 5 but no less)
Celtics over Bucks 4-2
Sixers over Heat 4-2
I wouldn't be surprised to see the entire East 1st Rd go 6 games...
WEST
Rockets over Wolves 4-1 (I can see a sweep possibly)
Thunder over Jazz 4-2 (I can see this in 5 but no less)
Warriors over Spurs 4-2 (I can see 5 or 7 but I don't see a Spurs win, period)
Blazers over Pelicans 4-3 (I can see this going either way)
All top seeds should hold, only one I'm worried about is Portland, they have a tough draw...
I'll withhold my later round predictions, but I do think Round 2, the Cavs are gonna be in some trouble in The East. This is the worst draw for Cleveland, Indiana in the first and Toronto in the second. Lebron's 7 straight Finals was gonna end at some point, and it truly looks like it'll be this year. Last time Lebron had a team that didn't win MORE than 50 games was 2008; they lost to Boston in 7 in Round 2. He did take a 50-win team to The Finals in '07, so the Cavs will be competitive and if/when they lose, it won't be in 4 or 5, but he just doesn't have a strong personnel...
The Raptors should get out of The East, but it's always scary to pick them. They didn't play particularly well down the stretch (7-6 in last 13 games, including 2-5 versus playoff teams). I am hesitant to pick them, but they were the most consistent East team all year. If they can't win the conference this year, when the hell will they? Literally everything fell in Toronto's favor this year:
•healthiest team in NBA
•weakest Lebron James team in a decade
•Celtics decimated by injuries
•Wizards decimated by incompetence
•Sixers just (assumedly) too young and inexperienced
I like the Raptors, but I mean really, if they can't win this year, this team and this era of the Raptors will deserve to go in the history books as THE most mentally fragile team in the league history...
The Sixers could be a team of Destiny. They won't win it all this year, but they got the best draw possible (avoids Toronto or Cleveland until ECF, drew Celtics without two best players). They could go on a run and it wouldn't be a 'total' shocker if they wound up in The Finals...
The Dubs are in some trouble, but we all knew that. The draw isn't that bad, but I have doubts they can just flip the switch. We'll see, but even if they do, Houston is not favorable and I can't see then beating the Rockets, healthy or not. They've avoided the Thunder until the WCF, and I'll be honest, I don't think Houston is necessarily a lock over OKC either. Thunder are the dark horse West team for sure...
Of course, I may be wrong and we may be gearing up to watch both Cleveland and Golden State flip the switch anf steamroll their conferences. The likelihood of that is probably less than 10%, but these two could benefit from being underdogs and having experience on their sides. It'll be interesting to watch...
Can't wait until Saturday, guys!
I like the Bucks over the Celtics. I think the Raps & Roz sweep, while GSW takes SAS in 5. I like the Jazz over the Thunder. I’m with you on the winners of the other round 1 matchups. I see Jazz-Thunder & Cs-Bucks as the likely 7-game series.
I like a Warriors-Cavs finals, if Curry comes back healthyish. Otherwise Roz-Cavs.
I'd be a happy man. I wanted two titles when Lebron came back. He can play baseball, produce a movie, be a Warrior next year- it doesn't matter anymore. Just make sure he steers his kid to Cleveland in 6-7 years. The Cavs have made me forget about the Browns troubles (well almost), but I feel a turn happening soon for both franchises.
I'd be a happy man. I wanted two titles when Lebron came back. He can play baseball, produce a movie, be a Warrior next year- it doesn't matter anymore. Just make sure he steers his kid to Cleveland in 6-7 years. The Cavs have made me forget about the Browns troubles (well almost), but I feel a turn happening soon for both franchises.
I'd rather see Golden State repeat this year since their first attempt fell short.
EAST
Raptors over Wizards 4-1 (could see it going 6 but no more)
Cavaliers over Pacers 4-2 (could see it going 5 but no less)
Celtics over Bucks 4-2
Sixers over Heat 4-2
I wouldn't be surprised to see the entire East 1st Rd go 6 games...
WEST
Rockets over Wolves 4-1 (I can see a sweep possibly)
Thunder over Jazz 4-2 (I can see this in 5 but no less)
Warriors over Spurs 4-2 (I can see 5 or 7 but I don't see a Spurs win, period)
Blazers over Pelicans 4-3 (I can see this going either way)
All top seeds should hold, only one I'm worried about is Portland, they have a tough draw...
I'll withhold my later round predictions, but I do think Round 2, the Cavs are gonna be in some trouble in The East. This is the worst draw for Cleveland, Indiana in the first and Toronto in the second. Lebron's 7 straight Finals was gonna end at some point, and it truly looks like it'll be this year. Last time Lebron had a team that didn't win MORE than 50 games was 2008; they lost to Boston in 7 in Round 2. He did take a 50-win team to The Finals in '07, so the Cavs will be competitive and if/when they lose, it won't be in 4 or 5, but he just doesn't have a strong personnel...
The Raptors should get out of The East, but it's always scary to pick them. They didn't play particularly well down the stretch (7-6 in last 13 games, including 2-5 versus playoff teams). I am hesitant to pick them, but they were the most consistent East team all year. If they can't win the conference this year, when the hell will they? Literally everything fell in Toronto's favor this year:
•healthiest team in NBA
•weakest Lebron James team in a decade
•Celtics decimated by injuries
•Wizards decimated by incompetence
•Sixers just (assumedly) too young and inexperienced
I like the Raptors, but I mean really, if they can't win this year, this team and this era of the Raptors will deserve to go in the history books as THE most mentally fragile team in the league history...
The Sixers could be a team of Destiny. They won't win it all this year, but they got the best draw possible (avoids Toronto or Cleveland until ECF, drew Celtics without two best players). They could go on a run and it wouldn't be a 'total' shocker if they wound up in The Finals...
The Dubs are in some trouble, but we all knew that. The draw isn't that bad, but I have doubts they can just flip the switch. We'll see, but even if they do, Houston is not favorable and I can't see then beating the Rockets, healthy or not. They've avoided the Thunder until the WCF, and I'll be honest, I don't think Houston is necessarily a lock over OKC either. Thunder are the dark horse West team for sure...
Of course, I may be wrong and we may be gearing up to watch both Cleveland and Golden State flip the switch anf steamroll their conferences. The likelihood of that is probably less than 10%, but these two could benefit from being underdogs and having experience on their sides. It'll be interesting to watch...
Can't wait until Saturday, guys!
The Warriors are not in trouble yet. I think they will flip the switch since they have the experience of what it's like in the playoffs as opposed to the regular season. There's just no way Houston would defeat a healthy Golden State team. The only way the Rockets win the series is if the Warriors are anything less than full strength.
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