Everything Playoffs

[The Great One]

it'd be good
TV but if the raps don't rebound and play defence like they did against the Horner's...pistons will destroy us

I have this hunch that once they're pretty much a lock for the playoffs ...they'll strategically try to get 7th to to face the raps cause they know they can beat them

Nah between the Heat, Pistons, and Nets. Pistons by far are the easiest matchup of the 3. I think the Raptors would easily sweep them. Plus, if we play them in the playoffs, we'd have homecourt advantage in EVERY game

[DanH]

it'd be good
TV but if the raps don't rebound and play defence like they did against the Horner's...pistons will destroy us

I have this hunch that once they're pretty much a lock for the playoffs ...they'll strategically try to get 7th to to face the raps cause they know they can beat them

Raptors will sweep the Pistons if they face them. Maybe they get hot enough from three to take one.

The only way the Pistons cause the Raps any trouble is if they continue running 10-11 deep in the playoffs instead of 8 with a 9th as a sparkplug if things are going poorly. Which would be silly, and more importantly, would cause issues no matter who they face.

[golden]

Raptors will sweep the Pistons if they face them. Maybe they get hot enough from three to take one.

The only way the Pistons cause the Raps any trouble is if they continue running 10-11 deep in the playoffs instead of 8 with a 9th as a sparkplug if things are going poorly. Which would be silly, and more importantly, would cause issues no matter who they face.

We clearly need to bring in some semblance of a defensive rebounder. Giving up second, third and fourth chance points in the playoffs is not just bad, it's deflating.

[DanH]

We clearly need to bring in some semblance of a defensive rebounder. Giving up second, third and fourth chance points in the playoffs is not just bad, it's deflating.

It's not going to happen. They need to strategize for it. There is no cavalry coming. They aren't going to find a C or PF who will play over any of their current ones.

Trading JV carried this exact risk, but just as when the trade happened, there are ways to overcome that risk. One thing's for sure - a team can only afford so many weaknesses. The rebounding is going to be a weakness. What they have to do, more than address that weakness, is get rid of the other ones that they can so much more easily do something about. The turnovers. The silly rotations. The wrong players initiating the offence and throwing away possessions. Get rid of those and the rebounding shouldn't matter. Don't, and the rebounds may the the straw that breaks the camel's back.

[golden]

It's not going to happen. They need to strategize for it. There is no cavalry coming. They aren't going to find a C or PF who will play over any of their current ones.

Trading JV carried this exact risk, but just as when the trade happened, there are ways to overcome that risk. One thing's for sure - a team can only afford so many weaknesses. The rebounding is going to be a weakness. What they have to do, more than address that weakness, is get rid of the other ones that they can so much more easily do something about. The turnovers. The silly rotations. The wrong players initiating the offence and throwing away possessions. Get rid of those and the rebounding shouldn't matter. Don't, and the rebounds may the the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Of course there's no cavalry in the buyout market, but a guy like Gortat is still out there, and Bogut grabbed his spot on the Warriors.

[DanH]

Of course there's no cavalry in the buyout market, but a guy like Gortat is still out there, and Bogut grabbed his spot on the Warriors.

Both those guys are bad and will make the team worse if they play over either of Gasol or Ibaka. Which is my point - any rebounder we could grab to improve that area will just make the team worse in the rest of the game and you've gained nothing, and probably lost a lot.

[Demographic Shift]

Tonight sees two teams in the Turtle Derby playing against teams that are seeded higher than they are. Games where they won’t be favoured to win.

The Magic are at home to Philly. Philly is pretty much locked into 3rd. At this writing no insight if Philly rests some of their starters. If the Magic are going to catch the three teams in front of them winning this one at home is a big deal regardless if Philly gives some guys the night off or they all play.

The Nets continue their road trip from Hades with a stop in Portland. Out west seedlings change daily. Portland isn’t resting anyone.

Fearless predictions

Magic W..Philly is the better team but doesn’t have as much to play for as a desperate Magic does. The Magic is at home.
Nets L...Portland is just as motivated as the Nets tonight as they really want the 4th seed to play one round at home in the PO. Any advantage is big in a pretty equal 3 through 8 West. Portland is also tough at home with a 28 and 9 record. The Nets won’t mail it in. It’’ll be close.

[slaw]

Fearless predictions

Magic W..Philly is the better team but doesn’t have as much to play for as a desperate Magic does. The Magic is at home.
Nets L...Portland is just as motivated as the Nets tonight as they really want the 4th seed to play one round at home in the PO. Any advantage is big in a pretty equal 3 through 8 West. Portland is also tough at home with a 28 and 9 record. The Nets won’t mail it in. It’’ll be close.

Good call. Blazers pretty much watched any hopes of winning in the playoffs go up in smoke though with that Nurkic injury. Tough blow.

[slaw]

Speaking of Toronto bumbling and stumbling into the playoffs, what the hell is happening in Boston? Losers of 4 in a row, they no-showed against the Spurs on the weekend after getting beat late in Charlotte. Irving is calling out Stevens, now he's missing games for 'load management', Horford is out and the rotations look a mess. The offense looks miserable and they are giving up a lot of points to, well, everyone. And a first round series as a five seed awaits against a Pacer team that defends and wins at home. Maybe they light it up at some point but I'm beginning to think this Celtics team just isn't very good....

[LJ2]

There's no way that Boston could lose in the first round could they? To a Indiana team missing their best play? I don't see it, but a guy can dream.

[KeonClark]

Speaking of Toronto bumbling and stumbling into the playoffs, what the hell is happening in Boston? Losers of 4 in a row, they no-showed against the Spurs on the weekend after getting beat late in Charlotte. Irving is calling out Stevens, now he's missing games for 'load management', Horford is out and the rotations look a mess. The offense looks miserable and they are giving up a lot of points to, well, everyone. And a first round series as a five seed awaits against a Pacer team that defends and wins at home. Maybe they light it up at some point but I'm beginning to think this Celtics team just isn't very good....

The biggest takeaway here is Kyrie Irving. He has had about a dozen "bad press conferences", reports from insiders, incidents etc this year. He wanted to leave Cleveland so he could prove he could lead his own team and was quite confident in that. Well, now we see the results. A guy who went down last year and watch the collective of young guys go to game 7 of the ecf. Now his team is middling in the mid bracket of the seeding, and at the first sign of things going wrong, over and over this year, he has chosen to pout or throw teammates and coaches under the bus.

This is a guy, in a rough patch couple months ago, decided to not only call Lebron out of nowhere to say "aw hey man, remember how I didn't tell you enough before how hard it is to lead? Yeah, its tough to lead these guys man, man, the way you did it man, big ups man. Just wanted to say that cause leading these guys is a challenge." Now, not only did he make that call, but he did it for the sole purpose of telling the media the next day that he did it. Douche. bag. With a capital D.

[Demographic Shift]

Speaking of Toronto bumbling and stumbling into the playoffs, what the hell is happening in Boston? Losers of 4 in a row, they no-showed against the Spurs on the weekend after getting beat late in Charlotte. Irving is calling out Stevens, now he's missing games for 'load management', Horford is out and the rotations look a mess. The offense looks miserable and they are giving up a lot of points to, well, everyone. And a first round series as a five seed awaits against a Pacer team that defends and wins at home. Maybe they light it up at some point but I'm beginning to think this Celtics team just isn't very good....

The biggest takeaway here is Kyrie Irving. He has had about a dozen "bad press conferences", reports from insiders, incidents etc this year. He wanted to leave Cleveland so he could prove he could lead his own team and was quite confident in that. Well, now we see the results. A guy who went down last year and watch the collective of young guys go to game 7 of the ecf. Now his team is middling in the mid bracket of the seeding, and at the first sign of things going wrong, over and over this year, he has chosen to pout or throw teammates and coaches under the bus.

This is a guy, in a rough patch couple months ago, decided to not only call Lebron out of nowhere to say "aw hey man, remember how I didn't tell you enough before how hard it is to lead? Yeah, its tough to lead these guys man, man, the way you did it man, big ups man. Just wanted to say that cause leading these guys is a challenge." Now, not only did he make that call, but he did it for the sole purpose of telling the media the next day that he did it. Douche. bag. With a capital D.

As goes Al Horford so will go the Celtics....They are now two back in the loss column to the Pacers with 8 to go.
Tonight the Chowders should get healthy as they travel to Cleveland to take on the deadlooks. The Pacers are still on that extended road trip and draw an up and down OKC team on Wednesday...The Celtics have the easier draw for sure.

Howver if they both win their respective games . It sets up the game of the night this coming Friday as Indy travels to Boston. A win by Indy on Friday puts a rear naked choke hold on 4th for the Pacers up 3 games with 6 to go. Boston would finish in 5th.

No one.. not even a bona fide Chowder hater . .thought that Boston would shit the bed like have in the reg season.

[LJ2]

The biggest takeaway here is Kyrie Irving. He has had about a dozen "bad press conferences", reports from insiders, incidents etc this year. He wanted to leave Cleveland so he could prove he could lead his own team and was quite confident in that. Well, now we see the results. A guy who went down last year and watch the collective of young guys go to game 7 of the ecf. Now his team is middling in the mid bracket of the seeding, and at the first sign of things going wrong, over and over this year, he has chosen to pout or throw teammates and coaches under the bus.

This is a guy, in a rough patch couple months ago, decided to not only call Lebron out of nowhere to say "aw hey man, remember how I didn't tell you enough before how hard it is to lead? Yeah, its tough to lead these guys man, man, the way you did it man, big ups man. Just wanted to say that cause leading these guys is a challenge." Now, not only did he make that call, but he did it for the sole purpose of telling the media the next day that he did it. Douche. bag. With a capital D.

Yeah I can see what you're saying about Kyrie, but all that is just noise. There are some real issues with the way that roster is fitting and that's not on Kyrie. Tatum and Brown's emergence along with Hayward's fit have been the bigger issue imo. Brad doesn't know how to make everyone happy (ah the Casey vs. Stephens debate), and get them to play together as a team, and Ainge refuses to make any moves with all of those assets he has.

[KeonClark]

Yeah I can see what you're saying about Kyrie, but all that is just noise. There are some real issues with the way that roster is fitting and that's not on Kyrie. Tatum and Brown's emergence along with Hayward's fit have been the bigger issue imo. Brad doesn't know how to make everyone happy (ah the Casey vs. Stephens debate), and get them to play together as a team, and Ainge refuses to make any moves with all of those assets he has.

How is it not on Kyrie, when he is the point guard, and quarterback, who takes the most shots, and wanted to own a team ie be the best player. How is he free of blame?

Tatums and Browns emergence and Haywards fit are all directly and undeniably linked back to..Kyrie!

[Demographic Shift]

So last night the Magic hung one on the Sixers.. Simmons got a rest .. but none the less the Magic won a game they had to against a playoff team who started Embiid/Butler/Harris and Reddick. With that win the Magic pulls within a game in the loss column with the Nets and the Heat who they play tonight with the final playoff spot on the line..

Of interest on the post game wrap up was that the NBA TV guys took some time to highlight a hole in the Hinkies game. The Magic encouraged the ball to be pushed down to Embiid in the paint .. then then really sagged off one of Phillys non shooting guards (last night it was McConnell.. but SImmons fits that role as well as he is not a high risk threat to make shots from the corner) as soon as Embiid went to his head down move to the basket. As soon as he dropped his head they swung the defender in behind Embiid and either disrupted his move for a miss and on a couple of times they just got a steal. Lots of tape on that is likely to be run at the OVO practice centre over the next couple of weeks.

The Nets gave it everything they had last night but they looked weary in the overtimes as the toll of the 82 game season and living out of a suitcase for the past two weeks was apparent. They left a ton of shots short. A hell of an effort by the Nets. A Pyrrhic victory for the Blazers as Nurkic went down with a Joe Thiesman like leg injury. Brooklyn heads back east for the 7th and final game of the road trip from hell to take on Philly Thursday.

The good news for the Nets and the Heat and the Magic is that the Raptor killing Pistons seem to be on the down escalator. right now. Losers of 3 of their last 4 they draw the Nuggets tonight at altitude before boarding the plane to face the Magic in huge game in Motown for both teams.

Fearless predictions for tonight.

Magic W - The Magic didn't have to play the starters big minutes in their wipeout of the Hinkies last night and its a short trip down to Miami for them. Throw in that the Magic seem to own the Heat lately and I think we see a mild upset tonight in South Beach.

Pistons L - The Nuggets can draw into a tie for first out west with a win tonight. Jokic will draw Drummond out of the paint and likely out of the game tonight and Denvers guards will make Reggie Jackson miserable on both ends of the court. Paul Millsap is a good machup on Blake Griffin and will keep him in check .. Blake will get his.. but Millsap will ensure he won't go off. Caseys heroes could be going home to Detroit in what might be a dead heat with the Magic / Heat / Nets with 7 games to go.

Whoever loses the least as these dogs with fleas limp to the finish line.