Playoff Predictions 2020/21

[The Great One]

The Westbrook trade changed everything for me. They're now a playoff imo. My new top 8:

Milwaukee
Boston
New Jersey
Toronto
Philly
Miami
Washington
Chicago

[LJ2]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody is picking Miami to finish higher. They still play great D and their young players should come back better.

[Demographic Shift]

I'm a bit surprised that nobody is picking Miami to finish higher. They still play great D and their young players should come back better.

They are getting the lets see this again, for an extended period of time and outside the bubble level of due diligence.

[Demographic Shift]

The Westbrook trade changed everything for me. They're now a playoff imo. My new top 8:

Milwaukee
Boston
New Jersey
Toronto
Philly
Miami
Washington
Chicago

IF the Bulls make the playoffs this year its going to be on the back of Markannen who was invisible last year and he has to come back to form, Coby White will need to be a reliable ball handler all game long , Otto Porter has to give them at least one good year AND.... Zach Levine is going to have to have an epiphany on defense and put wins above his stats. .. Tall orders... but possible.

But there are some younger up and comer teams this year... Atlanta, Chicago and Charlotte.

[Ciceniss]

I somehow agree with the OP's list, but there are a lot of factors that come into play that I didn't have time to research quite yet and I think that's key when it comes to making any predictions or bets based on these predictions. I have this channel that I found https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmY...oaPJVNpeqsdrvQ which I mostly base my predictions on, anyway, it's just a tip in case any of you are interested. I didn't have time with all the craziness happening to actually do research about what's been happening at those playoffs. Hope that I'll be able to get again back into it as the new year begins. I'm from Miami originally, so I really hope they'll get out of the due diligence period, as someone said above.

[Jclaw]

I somehow agree with the OP's list, but there are a lot of factors that come into play that I didn't have time to research quite yet.

One of the best first posts ever. Welcome to the Republic.

[DanH]

So I wrote my annual thing where I compile a bunch of production and impact stats (WS, BPM, RPM, PIPM) from last year, and apply them to this year's rosters to get a guess at the standings.

https://www.raptorshq.com/2020/12/16...tors-win-total

Or for those not interested in the long read:

[S.R.]

So I wrote my annual thing where I compile a bunch of production and impact stats (WS, BPM, RPM, PIPM) from last year, and apply them to this year's rosters to get a guess at the standings.

https://www.raptorshq.com/2020/12/16...tors-win-total

Or for those not interested in the long read:

Playoff bracket looks right to me - but Washington's a definite threat to take Orlando's spot.

The Warriors look low. I'm ready for a Steph-carrying-the-team season.

[LJ2]

I have a tough time seeing the Raptors finishing 2nd in the East this season. I WANT to believe

[golden]

So I wrote my annual thing where I compile a bunch of production and impact stats (WS, BPM, RPM, PIPM) from last year, and apply them to this year's rosters to get a guess at the standings.

https://www.raptorshq.com/2020/12/16...tors-win-total

Or for those not interested in the long read:

How did your predictions for the 2019-20 season end up (i.e. predicted vs. actual)?

[DanH]

How did your predictions for the 2019-20 season end up (i.e. predicted vs. actual)?

I haven't checked! Let me go see...

The model:


Actual standings:
MIL
TOR
BOS
IND
MIA
PHI
BRK
ORL

LAL
LAC
DEN
HOU
OKC
UTA
DAL
POR

15/16 playoff teams isn't bad, and the one the model missed was in 9th! But still pretty big deviations among those teams - I mean there's a reason they play the games, plus injuries, etc. I suspect that's an outlier year in terms of effectiveness of the model too, definitely some luck in there.

[DanH]

Playoff bracket looks right to me - but Washington's a definite threat to take Orlando's spot.

The Warriors look low. I'm ready for a Steph-carrying-the-team season.

100% agreed. Have to imagine the Warriors are at the very least going to be in contention for the playoffs if Steph can play a full season (which the model is assuming) and not near the bottom of the league.

[DanH]

I have a tough time seeing the Raptors finishing 2nd in the East this season. I WANT to believe

Yeah, with you on this. Weirdly, the ORTG and DRTG predictions are about what I would peg them as (great defensively, poor offensively), although the defence may fall off a bit. And yet I still think it likes them too much. Home court is a real possibility though.

[G__Deane]

I have a tough time seeing the Raptors finishing 2nd in the East this season. I WANT to believe

They're not finishing second in the East without a miracle. Hopefully top 4 .... not that it will matter tremendously in the playoffs

[bertarapsfan]

Better get my predections in on the verge of the season.
In the East the real main question is where the nets stand are they in the top tier that includes just the bucks or with the raps, celtics, sixers and heat in the next tier? Ill say durant is almost back and they are up with the bucks while healthy.

1.Nets
2.Bucks
3.Celtics
4.Raps
5.Heat
6.76ers
7.Wizards
8.Pacers
9.Hawks
10.Hornets

West has 10-12 teams that could be playoff teams. And 5 of those will be fighting for the last couple seeds.

1.Den
2.LAL
3.Mavs
4.LAC
5.Utah
6.GSW
7.Portland
8.NOP
9.Phx
10.Memphis