NBA 2017-2018 Season

[19loveless91]

Kinda started following the league more after we won Eurobasket and with all the hype around Dončić being in next year's draft. Also curious about how the Serb rookies perform - namely Bogdanović who really impressed me at Eurobasket and Teodosić, who is a Euro legend but almost seems unfit to compete with NBA level athletes

Based on what you guys wrote and looking at the current standings, it does kind of seem predictable at the top huh Seems like all other (non GSW or Cavs) teams need more depth than what they currently have. But I wasn't that impressed with the christmas game between the two.

So, the impression that I get is that Rockets are the only ones who can challenge, but only if Paul stays healthy?

[CA Dreamin]

As a Philadelphia fan, all I can say is wow. Trust the process indeed. As I said earlier, I'm a fair weather fan when it comes to basketball. Thus I've watched more 76ers games in the past three weeks than I had in the previous five seasons. Looking forward to seeing them in the playoffs.

Now for some Round 1 predictions:

Toronto vs. Washington - Raptors in 5. Nothing to say here.

Boston vs. Milwaukee - Celtics in 7. Even without Irving, the Celtics are good enough to squeak by. The Bucks could win this though.

Philadelphia vs. Miami - 76ers in 6. The win streak will come to an end, but Embiid will return to close out the series.

Cleveland vs. Indiana - Cavs in 7. Don't underestimate the Pacers, but don't bet against Lebron in Round 1.

Rockets vs. Timberwolves - Rockets in 4. Nothing to say here.

Warriors vs. Spurs - Warriors in 6. Both teams dealing with key injuries, but the Warriors will still have two of their superstars.

Trailblazers vs. Pelicans - Blazers in 7. They seem pretty even on paper, so home court advantage.

Oklahoma City vs. Utah - Jazz in 6.

[19loveless91]

One newbie's playoff prediction:

West:
Rockets vs Timberwolves (in 5)
Warriors vs Spurs (in 6)
Blazers vs Pelicans (in 6)
Thunder vs Jazz (in 7)

East:
Raptors vs Wizards (in 6)
Celtics vs Bucks (in 6)
Sixers vs Heat (in 7, could go either way)
Cavs vs Pacers (in 5)

Then:
Rockets in 6. Warriors in 5. Warriors in 6 for the finals.
Cavs in 6. Sixers in 6. Cavs in 6 for the finals.

Finals: Warriors in 6.



I'll be rooting for Jazz and Heat.

[Mercury]

Rockets over Wolves in 4
Warriors over Spurs in 5
Pelicans over Blazers in 7
Jazz over Thunder in 5
Raptors over Wizards in 5
Bucks over Celtics in 6
Sixers over Heat in 7
Cavs over Pacers in 4

Then:
Rockets over Jazz in 5
Warriors over Pelicans in 5
Raptors over Cavs in 7
Sixers over Bucks in 6

Then

Rockets over Warriors in 6
Sixers over Raptors in 7

Then

Rockets over Sixers in 5

—————

I will obviously adjust predictions later if first round varies, and or if the way I mentally sorted the way the NBA playoff bracket works incorrectly and the next round is totally different than what I’m saying.

Oh and I’m rooting for the Celtics, and Warriors. And Pelicans and Sixers. Basically everyone.
_________________
-Ryan

ONLY 4% of people can understand this chart! Come try!

My Fave Metal - you won't believe #5!!!

[Repo]

[mdbaxter]

Hey Mercury, I hope you don't mind me using your format but here are my predictions:

Rockets over Wolves in 5 (Too much offense for MIN)
Warriors over Spurs in 4 (GS has playoff mode just like LeBron)
Blazers over Pelicans in 7 (Tough series but I think POR guards get it done)
Thunder over Jazz in 7 (Could also go either way, I think, but Russ/PG will score)
Raptors over Wizards in 6 (The Raptors are a good team that should finally show up but Wall is no slouch)
Celtics over Bucks in 6 (Giannis isn't enough to discount the Bucks mediocrity in a series)
Sixers over Heat in 7 (Good coaching from Spo plays on the Sixers inexperience to turn this into a series)
Cavs over Pacers in 5 (Playoff LeBron too much)

Then:
Rockets over Thunder in 6 (If, big if given their personnel's past, the Rockets shoot anywhere near decent they win this)
Warriors over Blazers in 4 (Blazers could steal a game ala 2016 but with Curry most likely back, this is easy for GS)
Cavs over Raptors in 6 (Seems like this is just a repeat of the past unless Derozan puts on an MVP-like performance)
Celtics over Sixers in 7 (Confidence and experience, with the addition of Smart, out plan the Sixers)

Then

Warriors over Rockets in 5 (Stellar defense and stellar offense overpowers stellar offense)
Cavs over Celtics in 5 (Deja Vu. LeBron too much for depleted Celtics)

Then

Warriors over Cavs in 5 (Feel like we've been here before, haven't we? Cavs support not enough to contend.)

Admittedly I am a Celtics fan but even I can't see them getting past the Cavs. High hopes for a Finals appearance next year, though, but I still think the Warriors will be too much and will be too much for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, either a LeBron move, a healthy Celtics, or a more experienced Sixers can shake things up a little bit.

[AfterHours]

1st Round:
Rockets over Wolves in 5
Warriors over Spurs in 6 (assuming no Steph ... Also, if Kawhi suddenly returns, and Steph doesn't, I may go with the Spurs)
Blazers over Pelicans in 7
Thunder over Jazz in 7

Raptors over Wizards in 7
Celtics over Bucks in 6
Sixers over Heat in 6
Cavs over Pacers in 5

2nd Round:
Rockets over Thunder in 6
Warriors over Portland in 5 (Warriors in 6 if no Steph...)

Cavs over Raptors in 7
Sixers over Boston in 5

Conf Finals:

Warriors over Houston in 6 (if Steph has returned... If no Steph or he is clearly not himself due to injury, then Houston in 6)
Cavs over Sixers in 6

Finals:

Warriors over Cavs in 6 (if Houston, due to the above parenthetic scenarios, then Cavs over Houston in 7)
_________________
Best Classical
Best Films
Best Paintings

[junodog4]

You people have no faith in the Raptors...

West

Houston over Minn in 6
GS over SA in 6
OKC over Utah in 6
Por over NO in 7

Hou over Por in 5
OKC over GS in 7 (that's right. Even with Curry)

Hou over OKC in 5

East

Tor over Was in 6
Mil over Bos in 7
Phi over Mia in 4
Cle over Ind in 6

Tor over Cle in 7
Phi over Mil in 7

Tor over Phi in 6

Finals

Hou over Tor in 7
_________________
Finnegan was super bad-ass.

[cestuneblague]

Yeah I share Junodog's assessment (hope?) of a Toronto-Houston championship, even if I don't share the fact of the Thunder nearly knocking out the Rockets in the west but hey I'm always biased. But who knows, it could very well be yet another Warriors-Cavaliers finals, perhaps depending on Stephen Curry's knees and Cavaliers not giving up 50 field goals a game.

[CA Dreamin]

Western Conference Round 2 predictions:

Houston over Utah in 5 - Not much to say here.

Golden State over New Orleans in 5 - Curry will return this series, destroying any hope for an upset.

I'll post my Eastern Conference predictions tomorrow, once we know who's actually playing.

Anybody want to change their predictions based on Round 1 results?