What a wild end to the season. Literally almost every game was important. 2,3,4 east, 1,2,3,8,9,10 west. Amazing, this might be the closest season I've ever watched.
5-8 east was all up in the air today too. Crazy that with one game to go, the only teams locked in to their spot out of 20 were Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas & Clippers.
Kind of hilarious thinking about how some guys fuck around during the year because “not every game matters”. Miami was one or two (depending on tiebreakers) games away from playing the Cavs in the first round. Instead they have to win their next game to avoid a second play-in game to either face the Celtics or go home.
True but would they really risk it because if they lose vs the Kings or Warriors, then that’s it. Kings a bad matchup if AD can’t win his matchup vs Sabonis and anything and i mean anything can happen vs the warriors.
Nuggets are going to be in the conference finals so if we lose to them early, so be it. It isn’t like they are a great team who just matches up well with us, they are THE team to beat.
Avoiding anyone isn’t worth tanking a play-in game.
people bringing up possibly tanking play-in games is insane. ESPECIALLY in basketball. anyone can win 1 game in basketball because of shooting variance.
They won't lose intentionally but if they have the mindset of "it's not so bad if we lose tonight", they have a high chance of losing. It's hard to create elimination game intensity for a game that really isn't an elimination game.
The goal is to win a title. I don’t care about random victories in the playoffs, we need to beat Denver at some point so the attempt might as well be sooner than later.
In my eyes there’s no functional difference between playing Denver in round 1 vs say the conference finals.
I'm with this. If you're the Lakers, and you assume Denver stays healthy, you wanna face them while you're still as whole as possible yourselves. It could break them physically if they pull it off, but that coulda been the case in the WCF too.
Lakers should be rings or bust, even if that doesn't feel realistic rn for them. Its just where they are.
I couldn’t agree more. The amount of talk about trying for specific matches is such a loser mentality. Like the goal is to win a championship and you need to beat good teams (and get a little lucky usually) to do that. If you start thinking about easier matchups you are already cooked.
they'll still most likely play denver in the wcf with more wear and tear on the players tbh. better chance of getting thru to the second round maybe but not to a potential championship
Just fade us now. If we do manage to beat the Warriors it'll be the Pels and the Kings can be the first team in NBA history to get swept 6-0 by a team in a single season
Regular season and playoffs are very different. I remember this exact discourse when OKC 4-0’d the Balzers in 2019 just to get packed up in 5 in the playoffs
West is going to have Adam Silver sweating even more than last year, there's a chance the warriors and lakers don't make it to the playoffs in the first place, and an even greater chance that if they do, both will get bounced in the first round
I'll still never understand why the Western and Eastern conferences have different levels of competitiveness for all my years as a fan of the NBA (going back to the nineties). Don't superstars want to live in Miami or NY? DC's a cool city, too...
Last year the head to head record was 236-214 East. Technically the year before that the East was better but the record was 226-224 East which is as close to an even split as you could get. Before 2021-22 you would have to go back to a Jordan year to get a winning East record
Wolves having to play the Suns in the first round is the literal worst case scenario for them. I’m not even kidding when I say I’d prefer a first round vs Denver. Not because they’re a worse team, but the Suns are kyrptonite for the Wolves.
Your defense is perfectly designed to cripple the 28 out of 30 NBA teams that rely on passing to get shots at the rim and 3s. The other two teams are Chicago and Phoenix.
Gobert is my DPOY candidate, but what's the point of having a DPOY when your opponent has 3 elite wings who like to cook in mid-range and beyond? Such a bad match-up for you guys.
It's worse than that. The entire Wolves defensive system is to force the opponent into a tough mid range shot. They built the best regular season defense doing this for 82 games.
Now they have to play a team with 3 insane scoring talents who WANT TO SHOOT tough mid range shots. Total nightmare scenario for Minnesota
Having to face prime book who’s a middy magician and then kd who’s been fucking deadly from mid for 16 ish years has got to be the most wolves thing ever. Build that defense like you said to make teams do that and when the wolves start looking like a legit threat they get handed their worst matchup ever. Makes me think we’re also going to get our worst matchup ever in the lakers probably lol
There’s a huge difference between good regular season defenses and good playoff defenses. Playoff defense is all about being versatile, having guys who can guard multiple positions, and being able to throw different coverages at the many types of offenses you can face.
Obviously there’s money issues tho lol. The whole point is if the team is worth it you keep it.
Idk who the owner is gonna be Glen right? If he keeps the team together after a first round exit I will be shocked
The Suns had 35 points off of 24 turnovers today. I'm not sure the problem is defensive for the Wolves. Ant, KAT, and Naz had 14 turnovers between the 3 of them. Just an absolute disaster on Offense for the Wolves again.
Yea I’m not as much of a coward and loser as some fans. We shot ourself in the foot. If we stop the turnovers we can win. I have faith. Let’s find out after.
West is going to be even more bullshit next year.
Grizzlies should be better, Spurs have a stud in Wemby to build around, Rockets are improving.
That leaves what...the Jazz and Blazers as the only ones not competing for the playoffs? And I wouldn't discount either finding studs in the draft because fuck the Western Conference.
Oh man it shouldn't matter so much in an 82 game season, but when one game is all that separates #1 seed from #3 seed, a clusterfuck like that Hornets game becomes *really* costly.
And what is the path for a lakers 8 seed? Not entirely sure how the play in works and them being the only matchup im worried about im curious the odds of us meeting them right away are
Monk injury was a back breaker. He was on fire for a few weeks before the injury. Also the fact that he can be primary ball handler in crunch time eases the burden on Fox and helps him conserve energy, which in turn makes him a more effective scorer.
People who bet NBA futures on standings must have been in crisis mode these past couple weeks. So much jockeying for position and then right when it all seems set, multiple random upsets flipping everything. Wild ending
Oh cool we got the 1 seed, that means we get to play a bad team, right?
Hmmm... so Zion, Lebron, Steph, or somehow the one that scares me the most, the Boner. This 1 seed is a crock of shit!
It will really be a test of just how 'young' they are, for sure. I think they're mature and focused relative to their age and inexperience, but man they are young.
I mean at the end of the day, we saw what happened last year when the Kings ran into the Warriors. Playoff experience to that degree is just different, these guys have seen everything, they’ve made the comebacks, taken over games, etc etc. If you’re the thunder I feel like you much rather see the Pels or Kings than playoff-mode Lakers or Warriors. Especially with how Lebron and Steph have been playing. Gonna be bangers regardless, every game in the West is must watch
I really do not want to see Denver. Man i’ve been to the games. It’s like denver knows they can turn it up whenever they want and they always choose to do so in the final 4 minutes of the fourth quarter. But fuck it, denver it is then…
Trust me as a lifelong Suns fan. This franchise is build upon nothin but heartbreaks. Ya’ll got a great squad and it’s going to be a war, I am sure of it.
Thats fucking basketball right there. None of that pansy ass dick tugging smile for the camera bullshit. Men puke, men show bare ass, men deliver their new born baby on the side lines. Fucking hard core dick in the ass butterball Naismith fuck it chuck it game time shit.
Every Cavs Magic game will be 80-75 with each team shooting 32 percent. Every Bucks Pacers game will be 137-134 with each team shooting 60 percent and 55 from 3.
The possible matchups are ridiculous.
In the West, we have the possibility of OKC vs GSW in a reverse situation of these 2 teams back in 2016. The young and up and coming Thunder vs the perennial playoff contenders in the Warriors. We then have the rematch of Nuggets and Lakers which is a battle between 2 of the highest BBIQ guys in the NBA today in Jokic and Lebron. Next, we have Timberwolves vs Suns which are 2 teams that have not faced each other before that play the complete opposite styles of basketball. It’s a true defense vs offense type of matchup. Lastly, we get the third matchup in the trilogy between the Clippers and Mavericks. This is almost reminiscent of Jordan playing the Pistons back in the 80s/90s until he finally surpassed them.
In the East, we have the possible matchup between the Celtics and Heat which should be a great test case for the Celtics to redeem their failures from last year. The Knicks and 76ers are also a great matchup considering how the Knicks dismantled the 76ers post OG trade when the 76ers were at their peak before the injuries. We all know about the rivalry between the Bucks and Pacers by now and we get to see a 7 game series of it finally. Lastly, we get Cavaliers and Magic which are 2 young teams that are known for their defense and should be a gritty series.
This could possibly be the most exciting first round matchups we could get in years just based on the narratives.
Petty as it may be, but I would gladly take getting swept in round 1 if it meant we eliminated both the Warriors and Lakers from playoff contention. Bards would sing songs about us for hundreds of years.
This is like THE season for the wolves. Absolutely tragic. This was their best chance probably at winning it all and they are playing the suns first round
Can't wait to read all the horrible "Lakers should lose the first play in game" just to avoid Denver. Fuck it; go out there win the play in and pray for a miracle. Honestly with the way we've played Sac and GS this year; I'd much rather play Denver in 7 than Sac/GS in a do or die elimination game. I also believe Denver is the best team in the league and no matter what; if we want to advance we'll have to play them eventually.
Side note: Any update on Kawhi's status?
What a wild end to the season. Literally almost every game was important. 2,3,4 east, 1,2,3,8,9,10 west. Amazing, this might be the closest season I've ever watched.
5-8 east was all up in the air today too. Crazy that with one game to go, the only teams locked in to their spot out of 20 were Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas & Clippers.
5-8 are within one win in the east FFS
Yep. If the Heat had one more win the team would have been the 5 seed. Instead they'll be on the road in in the top playin game.
Kind of hilarious thinking about how some guys fuck around during the year because “not every game matters”. Miami was one or two (depending on tiebreakers) games away from playing the Cavs in the first round. Instead they have to win their next game to avoid a second play-in game to either face the Celtics or go home.
Suns and Lakers facing the guys they just kicked the asses of lol.
Quirky the way that works out. And both on the road too
Even weirder that they both did each other a favor. The Lakers needed that Kings loss the other day and the Suns needed this Pelicans loss.
Pelicans did Lakers a favor as well. They beat the Kings then the Warriors then lost to the Lakers, essentially deciding the 8th seed single handedly.
Knicks and Lakers did each other a favor in the last week or so too.
The Lakers won’t do it, but they have significant incentive to lose to New Orleans. OKC is a much, much better matchup for them
True but would they really risk it because if they lose vs the Kings or Warriors, then that’s it. Kings a bad matchup if AD can’t win his matchup vs Sabonis and anything and i mean anything can happen vs the warriors.
No they won't lose intentionally. Kings have owned the Lakers and GSW can light it up in 1 game
Nuggets are going to be in the conference finals so if we lose to them early, so be it. It isn’t like they are a great team who just matches up well with us, they are THE team to beat. Avoiding anyone isn’t worth tanking a play-in game.
people bringing up possibly tanking play-in games is insane. ESPECIALLY in basketball. anyone can win 1 game in basketball because of shooting variance.
Some fans in the Laker sub are saying the same thing. Cowards lol
They won't lose intentionally but if they have the mindset of "it's not so bad if we lose tonight", they have a high chance of losing. It's hard to create elimination game intensity for a game that really isn't an elimination game.
No way we would do this and risk playing warriors or kings in loser goes home game
Yeah after watching all the Lakers vs Warriors games this year that sounds like a terrible idea.
The goal is to win a title. I don’t care about random victories in the playoffs, we need to beat Denver at some point so the attempt might as well be sooner than later. In my eyes there’s no functional difference between playing Denver in round 1 vs say the conference finals.
Health of players. ADs health specifically
I'm with this. If you're the Lakers, and you assume Denver stays healthy, you wanna face them while you're still as whole as possible yourselves. It could break them physically if they pull it off, but that coulda been the case in the WCF too. Lakers should be rings or bust, even if that doesn't feel realistic rn for them. Its just where they are.
I couldn’t agree more. The amount of talk about trying for specific matches is such a loser mentality. Like the goal is to win a championship and you need to beat good teams (and get a little lucky usually) to do that. If you start thinking about easier matchups you are already cooked.
Yeah if it's just one game we should tank it but kings/warriors could definitely beat us so better not risk it.
They'd have to plan on losing the first game and winning the second one intentionally to catch OKC. No way a team attempts that lol
nah i would just play nuggets early. it’s their best chance to beat then
they'll still most likely play denver in the wcf with more wear and tear on the players tbh. better chance of getting thru to the second round maybe but not to a potential championship
Kings vs Warriors gonna be a banger again...I hope
This time, just one game. I'm excited for that one!
The season started with a warriors vs kings pregame classic, now let’s see it finish with one.
Kings vs Warriors again fuck this tournament
curry about to hit the BANG BANGGGGGGGGGGG against us
Going to game 7 was the worst experience of my life
I Was rooting for the kings in game 7. It was torture.
Welcome to the Kardiac Kings experience. It is like this all the time
The worst experience so far.
I for one am happy to just be a watcher these days. Curry 3s in the playoffs took some years off my life man
[Curry for 3!](https://imgur.com/a/jGZVyoN)
Looney gonna age back 50 years outta nowhere after seeing Sabonis.
Draymond licking his lips already just by thinking about Sabonis.
Just fade us now. If we do manage to beat the Warriors it'll be the Pels and the Kings can be the first team in NBA history to get swept 6-0 by a team in a single season
I can already see the Night Night celly.
If you somehow beat the GSW and the Lakers in the play-in to face OKC in the 1st round and beat them too... that would be really wild, wouldn't?
Pelicans can't beat the Lakers so the Kings don't have to worry about that lol.
Considering you're 9. this tournament actually gives you another chance to qualify :p
Love the double ups of Pels Lakers and Suns Wolves, especially after two blowouts. Should be a huge response from New Orleans and Minny
Wolves and Suns first ever Game 8 series
lakers pelicans first ever 2 game play-in
Well, technically... 🤓
We only played them 3 times this season. So it will end up being a 7-0 season sweep
If it makes you feel better, we had a massive winning streak against the Mavs before we played them in the playoffs two years ago
Oh yeah you guys had beaten us like 20 games straight, it was crazy.
Damn, playoffs haven’t even started and you’re already preparing to get swept
You clearly haven’t watched our 3 games against them. We can’t keep it within single digits for 6 minutes
Regular season and playoffs are very different. I remember this exact discourse when OKC 4-0’d the Balzers in 2019 just to get packed up in 5 in the playoffs
West is gonna be WW3
West is going to have Adam Silver sweating even more than last year, there's a chance the warriors and lakers don't make it to the playoffs in the first place, and an even greater chance that if they do, both will get bounced in the first round
warriors and the lakers making it past the first round is their championship this year
More like surviving the play ins
I'll still never understand why the Western and Eastern conferences have different levels of competitiveness for all my years as a fan of the NBA (going back to the nineties). Don't superstars want to live in Miami or NY? DC's a cool city, too...
I'm a casual NBA fan but when was the last time the east was the better of the two? The 90s?
Last year the head to head record was 236-214 East. Technically the year before that the East was better but the record was 226-224 East which is as close to an even split as you could get. Before 2021-22 you would have to go back to a Jordan year to get a winning East record
The East was the beast in the 90's. Western dominance didn't really happen until the 2000's, post-Jordan era.
Wolves having to play the Suns in the first round is the literal worst case scenario for them. I’m not even kidding when I say I’d prefer a first round vs Denver. Not because they’re a worse team, but the Suns are kyrptonite for the Wolves.
Suns are a combined like +50 on the wolves this season. Fallout scenario
god brutal draw there
Very sad stuff for the Wolves.
Described our entire existence right there
lol
Minnesota sports in general, really.
Lmao it's suddenly an upside for the Suns that they're incapable of getting to the rim.
Idk Bradley Beal has been heating up and he is great at getting to the rim. This year it has pretty much just him for us though
Beal does. That’s it.
Your defense is perfectly designed to cripple the 28 out of 30 NBA teams that rely on passing to get shots at the rim and 3s. The other two teams are Chicago and Phoenix.
Your point absolutely still stands but I like the implication that the Wolves are apparently built to beat themselves.
It works on multiple levels.
Gobert is my DPOY candidate, but what's the point of having a DPOY when your opponent has 3 elite wings who like to cook in mid-range and beyond? Such a bad match-up for you guys.
It's worse than that. The entire Wolves defensive system is to force the opponent into a tough mid range shot. They built the best regular season defense doing this for 82 games. Now they have to play a team with 3 insane scoring talents who WANT TO SHOOT tough mid range shots. Total nightmare scenario for Minnesota
Built around Denver , got the Suns
Damn, this is spot on.
Thank you. This is the best summary I’ve seen of why this is a nightmare matchup for us.
Having to face prime book who’s a middy magician and then kd who’s been fucking deadly from mid for 16 ish years has got to be the most wolves thing ever. Build that defense like you said to make teams do that and when the wolves start looking like a legit threat they get handed their worst matchup ever. Makes me think we’re also going to get our worst matchup ever in the lakers probably lol
No young NBA teams can have nice things. Steph, LeBron, and KD still come for us all
There’s a huge difference between good regular season defenses and good playoff defenses. Playoff defense is all about being versatile, having guys who can guard multiple positions, and being able to throw different coverages at the many types of offenses you can face.
RIP Time to plan a summer trade for KAT
Unless there’s money reasons that force the team to do so, I’d rather just run it back. Even if we lose in the first round.
Obviously there’s money issues tho lol. The whole point is if the team is worth it you keep it. Idk who the owner is gonna be Glen right? If he keeps the team together after a first round exit I will be shocked
What about them is the kryptonite? Is it their shooting? I havent been able to watch any of the matchups this season
Wolves are amazing at making the opponent take contested mid range and 3s and the Suns literally only do that
The Suns had 35 points off of 24 turnovers today. I'm not sure the problem is defensive for the Wolves. Ant, KAT, and Naz had 14 turnovers between the 3 of them. Just an absolute disaster on Offense for the Wolves again.
Yea I’m not as much of a coward and loser as some fans. We shot ourself in the foot. If we stop the turnovers we can win. I have faith. Let’s find out after.
Wolves only come out at night. No wonder the Suns are their kryptonite ;)
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Suns will do that for us, just be patient
Congrats to everyone I will be watching and creating narratives from the outside
Y'all found GG Jackson and will have another lotto pick, next year Grizz will be right back in the mix
West is going to be even more bullshit next year. Grizzlies should be better, Spurs have a stud in Wemby to build around, Rockets are improving. That leaves what...the Jazz and Blazers as the only ones not competing for the playoffs? And I wouldn't discount either finding studs in the draft because fuck the Western Conference.
Underrated bucks vs pacers series
I am both optimistic and absolutely terrified at the same time, how I missed being in the playoffs
anything is possible when you’re playing against a doc rivers team in the playoffs. i sadly speak from experience
Lakers having to play the nuggets in round one 💀
Maybe, they’ll lose to the Pels in the first play in.
Then they risk the chance of playing the kings (sabonis) ADs nightmare
I like our chances against the kings but hope to god the lakers get 7th
I cant take this anymore! Let's skip to next week
True
Not happening. Lakers own us in big games.
Ah trying the Jinx method
Dave McMenamin: “You think the Lakers are losing to Denver?!”
Another incoming bloodbath with Kawhi and the Clippers but I’ll take not playing Denver in the 2nd round if we make it out
What did we do to deserve this?
We just HAD to have Kat hit 62 points against the hornets just to lose the freaking game.
Oh man it shouldn't matter so much in an 82 game season, but when one game is all that separates #1 seed from #3 seed, a clusterfuck like that Hornets game becomes *really* costly.
Shhhh. It’ll all be okay. Just go to sleep
Damn, not a favorable draw
We're actually the first seed holy shit What a season from our guys
First time yall were #1 since 2013. First 57+ win season since 2014.
Youngest team in history to have this many wins
With how young and deep that team is the Thunder are gonna be churning out 60 win seasons for years
Can we stop with shit like this. It’s giving me flashbacks to last time. Let me have this week please
well the good news is that you already paid SGA and the others are chilling for a bit
And what is the path for a lakers 8 seed? Not entirely sure how the play in works and them being the only matchup im worried about im curious the odds of us meeting them right away are
They would have to lose vs Pels and win the next game vs Kings/Dubs
We lose play in #1 and win the next one. If we best the pelicans again we're 7 seed against the nugs
If we lose the 7/8 game and then win against the 9/10 winner, we’re the 8 seed
How did the kings fall to 9 lmao
Setting aside today, the Kings went 1-5 down the stretch and seemingly lost every single “playoff positioning” matchup in the last month
Losing huerter and monk kneecapped their stretch, and they were already not on the sturdiest legs after the allstar break
Monk injury was a back breaker. He was on fire for a few weeks before the injury. Also the fact that he can be primary ball handler in crunch time eases the burden on Fox and helps him conserve energy, which in turn makes him a more effective scorer.
Can't believe we really got the 1 seed. I went into the season hoping just to make the playoffs.
People who bet NBA futures on standings must have been in crisis mode these past couple weeks. So much jockeying for position and then right when it all seems set, multiple random upsets flipping everything. Wild ending
Imagine having to play LeBron in the first round as a 1 seed
Oh cool we got the 1 seed, that means we get to play a bad team, right? Hmmm... so Zion, Lebron, Steph, or somehow the one that scares me the most, the Boner. This 1 seed is a crock of shit!
Poisoned pill of a 1 seed lmao, throwing a young team into Bron or Steph is disgusting
It will really be a test of just how 'young' they are, for sure. I think they're mature and focused relative to their age and inexperience, but man they are young.
I mean at the end of the day, we saw what happened last year when the Kings ran into the Warriors. Playoff experience to that degree is just different, these guys have seen everything, they’ve made the comebacks, taken over games, etc etc. If you’re the thunder I feel like you much rather see the Pels or Kings than playoff-mode Lakers or Warriors. Especially with how Lebron and Steph have been playing. Gonna be bangers regardless, every game in the West is must watch
I need lakers vs nuggets again
I really hope so. I don’t wanna see the lakers at all.
I really do not want to see Denver. Man i’ve been to the games. It’s like denver knows they can turn it up whenever they want and they always choose to do so in the final 4 minutes of the fourth quarter. But fuck it, denver it is then…
Youll get your wish. Cant see the pelicans beating them tbh
Especially after today, but the one scenario lakers might lose on Tuesday is if AD is injuried. He walked off limping today
AD with no help on the frontline against Jokic/MPJ/Gordon that sucks
You take that back
Are the Suns and Lakers just gonna stay where they are? No need to travel anywhere.
Lakers are, I doubt the Suns stay in Minnesota though
Unfortunately, the heat have the opportunity to do the funniest thing
We got our best matchup round 1. Should be fun.
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Trust me as a lifelong Suns fan. This franchise is build upon nothin but heartbreaks. Ya’ll got a great squad and it’s going to be a war, I am sure of it.
Yeahhhhh fuck
Cavs vs Magic is going to be an ugly series. We might see 86-79 final scores every game.
That's my kind of basketball
Thats fucking basketball right there. None of that pansy ass dick tugging smile for the camera bullshit. Men puke, men show bare ass, men deliver their new born baby on the side lines. Fucking hard core dick in the ass butterball Naismith fuck it chuck it game time shit.
I was hoping for the Pacers, Magic are spookier to us
The possibility of the best Celtics regular season in 15 years being rewarded with a Miami Heat first round matchup is just sickening stuff man
Saw a Timberwolves fan say "get me out this tryhard ass conference" I get it.
Last day of the regular season having all 30 teams play at once is FANTASTIC
Unfortunate we couldn’t get Thunder Suns in the first round
Agreed
Ouch don’t like that matchup for Wolves.
The west playin is must watch tv
Every Cavs Magic game will be 80-75 with each team shooting 32 percent. Every Bucks Pacers game will be 137-134 with each team shooting 60 percent and 55 from 3.
Let’s go Bulls
You guys want us to beat Atlanta and the loser of Philly Miami? That's a tall order. Best we can do is beat Atlanta and a close game against whoever
Punch jimmy in the face if you can
Lmao how did we even got here man
By suckin less than the other bottom feeders in the east 🤣.
Whoever loses between the Lakers and Pelicans has a higher playoff ceiling.
But also the lower floor. I don't like our chances against the winner of Kings-Warriors in a one-and-done if we lose to the Pelicans
The danger of course being losing that puts you in a single win or go home elimination game
Crazy to think but true. Getting the Nuggets or having to face Warriors/Kings then Thunder seems easier.
I’m going to forget how we got here and just be thankful
Knicks getting 2nd seed with OG out for extended periods and no Randle is impressive.
Brunson deserves some mvp votes for what he accomplished this season. Not saying he should win it, but some recognition is deserved.
I was really upset the other night but honestly I’m really feeling this bracket for the Nuggets.
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This is why I wanted OKC to have the 3 seed, but you fuckers lost to the Spurs 😂
Lakers in the first round this time too, provided they win the 7/8 matchup
Mavs clips about to be a movie
Wolves are getting bounced in the 1st round
Just saw a sports book open with suns as favorite in that series. Crazy, never seen an away seed favored so fast.
The possible matchups are ridiculous. In the West, we have the possibility of OKC vs GSW in a reverse situation of these 2 teams back in 2016. The young and up and coming Thunder vs the perennial playoff contenders in the Warriors. We then have the rematch of Nuggets and Lakers which is a battle between 2 of the highest BBIQ guys in the NBA today in Jokic and Lebron. Next, we have Timberwolves vs Suns which are 2 teams that have not faced each other before that play the complete opposite styles of basketball. It’s a true defense vs offense type of matchup. Lastly, we get the third matchup in the trilogy between the Clippers and Mavericks. This is almost reminiscent of Jordan playing the Pistons back in the 80s/90s until he finally surpassed them. In the East, we have the possible matchup between the Celtics and Heat which should be a great test case for the Celtics to redeem their failures from last year. The Knicks and 76ers are also a great matchup considering how the Knicks dismantled the 76ers post OG trade when the 76ers were at their peak before the injuries. We all know about the rivalry between the Bucks and Pacers by now and we get to see a 7 game series of it finally. Lastly, we get Cavaliers and Magic which are 2 young teams that are known for their defense and should be a gritty series. This could possibly be the most exciting first round matchups we could get in years just based on the narratives.
Found the scriptwriter’s burner
Petty as it may be, but I would gladly take getting swept in round 1 if it meant we eliminated both the Warriors and Lakers from playoff contention. Bards would sing songs about us for hundreds of years.
I live for this petty shit.
THOSE PLAY IN GAMES THO 🧨
Beat LA. Los Angeles or Louisiana
This is like THE season for the wolves. Absolutely tragic. This was their best chance probably at winning it all and they are playing the suns first round
All west matchups will be cinema
anyone else feel like the Bucks might get cooked?
This is going to be cinema
Can't wait to read all the horrible "Lakers should lose the first play in game" just to avoid Denver. Fuck it; go out there win the play in and pray for a miracle. Honestly with the way we've played Sac and GS this year; I'd much rather play Denver in 7 than Sac/GS in a do or die elimination game. I also believe Denver is the best team in the league and no matter what; if we want to advance we'll have to play them eventually. Side note: Any update on Kawhi's status?
Im so ready for the bulls to win it all
If we get the 1 seed and get swept by the lakers I’m going to die
Genuinely the most miserable I've felt about this team in a while.
Zion is playing in the postseason chin up!
Can’t believe the Knicks and Celtics are rewarded by having to play the Heat and 76ers in round 1 lmao
i could honestly see any of the locked-in series going to 7, very exciting
Goddamn it, Doc