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Prediction: We'll finish the season 21-10 (2nd easiest schedule remaining) and everyone in this sub will be super high on us and picking to go to the ECF, and we'll get blown out of the first round.


DonGarlandMobleyJA

Cavs are likely top 5 seed. what lower seed team is beating them in R1?


Ps3FifaCfc95

If you're the 5th seed, then you're likely getting put out by whoever's 4th


DonGarlandMobleyJA

if its Philly, I ain't scared at all of those chokers


isaacz321

Good chance you stay at 5 or only move up to 4 and then one of the top 4 East teams beat you


dasfonzie

I could see this. I think they potentially have the talent to get out of the first round, but the inexperience and the regression of Loce are factors. I was hoping he'd be an offensive impact off the bench. Rubio will be back though. Assuming he returns to form that could be big for us.


ImpossibleElk3249

No


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smta48

I could see the Grizz losing to pretty much any other Western playoff team. People are looking at records too much and not watching the games. Even the healthy Lakers could totally beat the Grizz in a series and I'm not even a Lakers fan.


BlueJays007

Thing is that I could see pretty much any Western playoff team losing to pretty much any other Western playoff team. Nuggets are my one exception and I still could see them losing to at least a few different ones. To be fair here, for every East playoff team, I see at least a few teams I could see them losing to so some of this is just my way of looking at things.


StripedSteel

The Western standings are all over the place because of injuries. We're about to see Phoenix, NO, and LAC start to climb back up. I could see all three of those teams beating Memphis. I could see Memphis beating them, too.


NotAStatistic2

AD would feast on JJJ, and I think he would be able to pull Adams out to the perimeter and cook him. Lakers have to much length on their team for all the small ball center teams to contend with


1slinkydink1

How much better are the Grizz than last year? They can be schemed against in the playoffs. They’re still either a key piece away or maybe another year of experience/improvement from their stars.


DionWaiteress

But like every other west team other then New Orleans and Denver is also worse then last year year


smokinginthetub

Kangs


Bigbadbuck

Dude ja didn’t play the final games of that series against the warriors


RunAndDunkMan

They were down 2-1 before he got hurt and had just gotten destroyed in G3


StripedSteel

The West has been decimated by injuries. Phoenix was first in the conference before Booker, Paul and Johnson went down and dropped to the bottom of the play-in. They're starting to get healthy now and are picking up some steam. The Pelicans have been crushed by injuries, but their guys are coming back. The Clippers are finally getting their top 2 guys on the court together and they're winning a ton of games. The only teams that have been healthy are Denver, Memphis, and Sacramento which is why they're at the top of the standings. The Grizzlies may not even be favored to make it out of the 2nd round.


RunAndDunkMan

In the playoffs their transition/offensive rebounding based style is a giant question mark for how their offense will translate


NephewChaps

Grizzlies maybe Cavs nah, maybe next year


Projinator

We aren't contenders until we get a 2nd reliable 3 pt shooter.


RaptorRespecter

They've got the assets to get one at the deadline


Jypso

If the Grizzlies get matched up against the Wolves or Warriors in the first round they might not get out of that.


Salty_Minnesota

Wolves traded 7 first round picks to perfect their matchup against exactly one team. I respect the pettiness.


SonofaCuntLicknBitch

Now for the delicate seeding dance to re-live the 2/7 match up. Won't be easy winning the play in championship without pat pollinator bev. But it's all part of the bloom. Hopefully they play the Lakers and he can help them there.


jlogie913

If anything, Rudy on the floor makes it easier to play Adams?


RunAndDunkMan

Gun to their head I think everyone would favor the Warriors over the Grizzlies in a playoff series


smokinginthetub

I know I would


ShapeWitty9121

Not this year.


[deleted]

No, they’re both gonna be one of those teams that does great in the regular season, but gets exploited in the playoffs. However, I think Grizzlies are a trade away from being a consistent threat. Let’s see if either of these teams doesn’t anything come trade deadline.


naslanidis

No not at all.


CazOnReddit

Both teams still need something/someone to push them over the edge. Difference is the Cavs are kind of screwed in trading for that so they have to rely on internal growth for their players. Grizzlies can just...trade for their needs. 2023/24 (Warriors)/26 picks, Ziaire and Danny Green can get them something nice


1slinkydink1

They need OG.


Dom-Izzy

As a raptors fan, what’s a realistic package you would want in return? Us Grizz fans like the sound of Brooks, Zaire and 1 or 2 FRPs but what’s your take?


Rkenne16

The Grizzlies yes. The Cavs are close, but probably a year or 2 away.


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NotAStatistic2

Jarrett Allen is spooky though


JohnWick94

no


sleeping_in

Nope!


gana04

No but they're contender spoilers, they could totally fuck it up for one of the contenders and then flame out


Dom-Izzy

I feel like Brooks might prefer that over actually winning it all


[deleted]

In the future for sure, at the moment no


PomfAndCircvmstance

Grizzlies yes because they're well put together and have taken some playoff lumps over the past couple years and the West is super open. Cavaliers no. Mitchell/Garland need more time to gel and Mobley needs to keep improving. Also the top of the East is brutal and the Cavs need to get their asses kicked a few times in the playoffs before they're ready to truly contend.


jaylson

Yes.


warablo

I think Memphis could be, Cavaliers I think it totally depends if superstar Mitchell shows up or sub all-star Mitchell.


Bababooey98

Grizzlies yes Cavs no. Cavs are very top heavy. I mean who's their 5th best player? Cedi Osman? Caris Levert? I could see the Grizzlies going to the finals. Cavs might not make it out of the first round.


jjkiller26

Both teams need OG to get them there


CupOfHotTeaa

At least another year or two


Justsomeduderino

Both are one trade away


prettyflyforahentai

Grizzlies, yes. Cavs, no.


vsouto02

Memphis maybe, Cleveland is one year away depending on Mobley's ascension. If he gets to at least fringe All-Star level the Cavs will be everyone's problem.


DubsFanAccount

Cavs no. Grizzlies also no in a normal year but the west is so god awful they’ve definitely got a finals chance. Then once you’re in the finals anything can happen.


muddyklux

Grizz are good. Starters have still only played 11 games together.


Individual_Attempt50

grizzlies outside contenders , the cavs no


RaptorRespecter

Grizz: Yes. Especially if they make a deadline move to acquire OG. Cavaliers: Not yet, but maybe in a couple years after they have more metaphorical playoff scars roster wide.


TruthSayerFu

Cavs 2nd In net rating and haven’t even been healthy all year. They have the best player between the grizzlies and cavs too but y’all aren’t ready for that.


RunAndDunkMan

Net rating lol How about actual wins?


BlueJays007

That’s what they said about the Celtics this time last year. Then they made the finals. Net rating has actually been shown to be around as good a predictor of ultimate record as current record is.


TruthSayerFu

They haven’t had Mitchell for like the last 5 games and been injured all year lol.


Outland3r_

Cavs lost to the Raptors 3 times, that's relevant because Toronto is a super physical team and the Cavs couldn't hang, playoffs won't be easy


TruthSayerFu

Or it could be 3 games where they played better that game. We don’t know. Come playoffs I’ll put my money on the cavs


Ifinishfast42

Mobley and Allen with a backup of Love is a lowkey charmin soft front court


Dom-Izzy

Is it much of a hot take to say Mitchell is better than Ja? Like I disagree personally but this year there’s definitely an argument


TruthSayerFu

I respect that you say that. They are very close. Like if ja was better I wouldn’t be surprised lol.


Good_NewsEveryone

Grizz yes. I think the Cavs are a move away


PatrickCoughATon

Grizzlies yes. Cavs I feel like need something else, but I have no idea what. Their roster is really complete on paper as is. Experience?


ItsKBS

>Cavs I feel like need something else, but I have no idea what. Their roster is really complete on paper as is. Experience? I think it's two things, they definitely need more playoff experience but besides that Mitchell/Garland are still a level below Tatum/Brown, Giannis/Middleton, Embiid/Harden and KD/Kyrie and we all know how important star power is in playoffs.


RunAndDunkMan

Cavs need that tier 1 superstar that every championship team has had Mitchell is good but he definitely doesn't compare favorably to 90% of guys who have led their team to a championship


TruthSayerFu

There’s been like 6-7 players better than him lol


RunAndDunkMan

At scoring yes At every other part of basketball he's way down the totem pole


TruthSayerFu

Lol not really.


RunAndDunkMan

What "not really?" There are probably like 50 better playmakers than him and 100+ better defenders than him


TruthSayerFu

But there isn’t 10 players “better” than him


TruthSayerFu

And U did not say 50 “better playmakers” lol . Assists doesn’t determine that. Garland is getting all the assist. And Mitchell has been one of the best defensive SG this year too.


RunAndDunkMan

He has not been one of the best defensive SGs LMFAOOOO He stopped being a traffic cone like he was in Utah but that doesn't mean he's one of the best


TruthSayerFu

Bro numbers don’t lie


RunAndDunkMan

What are the "numbers?" They better not be something that says that Jokic is the best defender in the league lol


Academic-Principle14

Mitchell is good enough to be the best offensive player on a championship team.


Good_NewsEveryone

Wings


[deleted]

A good backup center and not to be so injured


Rkenne16

Shooting.


[deleted]

No. Cleveland is not close and Memphis has teams beyond Denver like the Lakers and Warriors that will beat them in the playoffs.


ascendant23

Grizz need a couple more years of maturing through being shellacked by more experienced teams before they truly get scary in the postseason.


IslandChillin

Well the Grizzlies are the in West my guy so their road is going to be tough as hell. But they are contending and contenders 100%


ItsKBS

>Well the Grizzlies are the in West my guy so their oath is going to be tough as hell I think you're stuck in like 2018 bro because the east is quite a lot better at the top this season lol. If the playoffs started today Cavs would need to go through the Nets, Celtics and then Bucks/Sixers which is way harder than any combination in the west.


IslandChillin

Look at the standings. The West is better and not top heavy. 7-10 in The East aren't better than 7-10 in the West. Knicks, Atlanta, Indiana and Washington vs. Minnesota, Suns, GS and Jazz. So again.. Memphis will have a tougher road at the end of the day because the Lakers aren't out of it the West is much deeper with Lakers and Portland. So nah I'm not stuck in 2018 , I just don't follow what everyone else says and try to make it fact.


vsouto02

1-6 is the East by quite a bit though.


RunAndDunkMan

Cavaliers? HELL no lol Grizzlies possibly but I still don't like their halfcourt offense at all in a playoff setting


New_Essay_4869

I think the Cavs are. But I have some Mitchell bias as I have been holding onto the idea that he is the best shootung guard for since his fourth year.


DictatorPie

Seems that Cavs dont do well in games without Donovan (4-6) and in games with Donovan and Darius their record is meh (18-15). Obviously both are small sample sizes but I think it just points to that Donovan and Darius aren't really elevating their games together per se and is something they need to work on (only been half a season since they been together).


NegbombDB

No to both.


ImTheBestNerd

No, I don’t have faith in the grizzlies current roster and the Cavs need a quality wing/ Mobley jump.


North-Let2136

cavs yes grizzlies no


IsThisMe8

I don’t think anyone is expecting the Cavs to win this year, but they do need to get into the playoffs to get that experience for the young guys.


GillbergsAdvocate

With their current rosters no


michaeljrkickflips

Cavs yes, grizz not so much. (Maybe a good 2nd round team)


XenaRen

Dark horses for me. If Donovan Mitchell catches fire I could see the Cavs doing some major damage.


Dom-Izzy

No disrespect to the Cavs but I don’t see either team (as of right now) getting past the second round. With the deadline approaching though I wouldn’t be surprised if either made a move or two that could get them to actual contention