We are ramping up... it is almost time for the playoffs. Who do you all have making it out of these tight races? 

The West has become a disaster zone. The season could end with only one team hitting the 50-win mark (will probably end up being two). Seriously, I could be convinced six-seven teams could come out of the West. Gun to my head I would say Denver figures it out, but I don't feel confident in that. If Durant slides right back into the rotation I will roll with the Suns, but that is an incredibly flawed roster.

In the East my money is on Milwaukee and Philly in the conference finals. I'll pick the Bucks to outlast the 76ers and playoff Harden returns when Jrue gets all up in his space for two weeks.

1 hour ago, bugatti said:

The West has become a disaster zone. The season could end with only one team hitting the 50-win mark (will probably end up being two). Seriously, I could be convinced six-seven teams could come out of the West. Gun to my head I would say Denver figures it out, but I don't feel confident in that. If Durant slides right back into the rotation I will roll with the Suns, but that is an incredibly flawed roster.

In the East my money is on Milwaukee and Philly in the conference finals. I'll pick the Bucks to outlast the 76ers and playoff Harden returns when Jrue gets all up in his space for two weeks.

I remember a time in life where the West had 8 teams with 50+ wins. 

40 minutes ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

I remember a time in life where the West had 8 teams with 50+ wins. 

Yep. There is still a lot of star power and punch to the West squads, so it is not as if they are devoid of talent like the bygone Eastern conference.

Shockingly, I think the Lakers will make noise and maybe slide up to 6.

Edited April 5, 20233 yr by theguru

On 3/21/2023 at 9:09 AM, bugatti said:

If Durant slides right back into the rotation I will roll with the Suns, but that is an incredibly flawed roster.

I bet them the morning after the Durant trade to win the whole thing. They've played well when he's in the lineup, but yeah I don't love their supporting cast.

1 hour ago, spindoc said:

Shockingly, I think the Lakers will make noise and maybe slide up to 6

Tonight will probably determine their playoff fate as the take on the #6 seed Clippers. Big question for the Lakers is can they stay healthy for grinding playoff rounds? Looking like their opening round will either be Memphis or Sacramento. Both are the type of teams that will give them trouble.

1 hour ago, bugatti said:

Tonight will probably determine their playoff fate as the take on the #6 seed Clippers. Big question for the Lakers is can they stay healthy for grinding playoff rounds? Looking like their opening round will either be Memphis or Sacramento. Both are the type of teams that will give them trouble.

The playoffs might be the first time both teams play each other at full strength.  That will be must see TV.

Edited April 5, 20233 yr by theguru

2 hours ago, spindoc said:

The playoffs might be the first time both teams play each other at full strength.  That will be must see TV.

Can both teams lose?

2 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

Can both teams lose?

Maybe they'll tie and the one with the least "load management" advances.

Lakers staring at the play in.  2nd qtr killed them. I checked out at halftime. 

1 hour ago, spindoc said:

Lakers staring at the play in.  2nd qtr killed them. I checked out at halftime. 

LeBron on the loss: "This was one of those scheduling conflicts in the season. And it definitely got the best of us tonight."

The "scheduling conflict" he is alluding to is the fact they had back-to-back games, albeit coming off a five game road swing. Something every team does about 20 times a season. We can just brush over the fact the day before they went into OT against a Utah Jazz team without Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, or Walker Kessler, and they played a de-facto home on the second night of their back-to-back against a Clippers team without Paul George.

10 minutes ago, bugatti said:

LeBron on the loss: "This was one of those scheduling conflicts in the season. And it definitely got the best of us tonight."

The "scheduling conflict" he is alluding to is the fact they had back-to-back games, albeit coming off a five game road swing. Something every team does about 20 times a season. We can just brush over the fact the day before they went into OT against a Utah Jazz team without Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, or Walker Kessler, and they played a de-facto home on the second night of their back-to-back against a Clippers team without Paul George.

LeBron making excuses? That's very uncharacteristic of him. 

Lance McAlister posted this on Facebook:

The Kentucky Wildcats have 17 players participating in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. 
Of the 22 teams comprising the playoff field, 10 feature former UK players. Five teams have multiple Wildcats, led by the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings which each have three.

Denver Nuggets (1) – Jamal Murray
Los Angeles Clippers (1) – Brandon Boston Jr.
Los Angeles Lakers (3) – Anthony Davis, Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt
Miami Heat (2) – Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
Minnesota Timberwolves (1) – Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks (2) – Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle
Oklahoma City Thunder (2) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Olivier Sarr
Philadelphia 76ers (1) – Tyrese Maxey
Phoenix Suns (1) – Devin Booker
Sacramento Kings (3) – De’Aaron Fox, Trey Lyles, Malik Monk