Predicting the West and East standings/playoffs

[BSF101]

as much as id love to see the celtics struggle, i dont think heyward matters. we have seen the celtics thrive regardless of who is on the floor over the last few years.

I can see The Nets, 76ers, Raptors and Heat all being better.

[cattusmaru]

yea, i think they will coast a bit. Dallas is gonna be focused on wins to push Luka as MVP, Clippers i suspect learned their lesson with too much resting last year, Nuggets should be gunning for the top seed all season.

I think Nuggets best offseason decision was drafting R.J. Hampton. Losing Grant is big. Other moves are meh. They are at the 7th spot as other teams have jump ahead especially the Suns.

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[PAOboston]

as much as id love to see the celtics struggle, i dont think heyward matters. we have seen the celtics thrive regardless of who is on the floor over the last few years.

While doesn’t matter is harsh, I’d say you are right. Hayward has legit played like 120 games for the Cs over three years. I’d say at this point they should be used to not playing with him.

So far this offseason the Cs have lost Hayward and Wanamaker and traded away Porier/Kanter. 3 out of those 4 barely played in the playoffs and did not contribute pretty much anything (Hayward/Kanter/Porier). Wanamaker played minutes during the playoffs but he’s nothing flashy; he’s a solid role player.

So far Cs have drafted a couple of guys that can shoot via draft and added Teague (veteran ppg to replace Wanamaker) and Thompson (who’s a massive upgrade to Kanter defensively and likely starter for this team). I’d say their roster is better overall on paper so far than what they had in the playoffs. I guess ultimately it will also depend on what else they end up getting to bolster team and what materializes with the Hayward S&T.


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[Cal827]

You're my homiest homeboy on here but you're sleeping on the Cavs. Championship or bust.

Sounds like a bet to me.


*PTSD from 2018 Raptors-Cavs series returns*

...actually nevermind, you're probably right

[JAZZNC]

I think Nuggets best offseason decision was drafting R.J. Hampton. Losing Grant is big. Other moves are meh. They are at the 7th spot as other teams have jump ahead especially the Suns.

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Crazy people think CP3 is going to make that much of a difference. The Sun's are absolutely NOT better than the Nuggets. Barring injury there is no way possible the Sun's finish higher than the Nuggets in the standings.

[Chronz]

Yeah I love CP3 as much as anyone but hes not gonna be as good as he was last year and the Suns need improvement from their stars to get that good.

[cattusmaru]

Crazy people think CP3 is going to make that much of a difference. The Sun's are absolutely NOT better than the Nuggets. Barring injury there is no way possible the Sun's finish higher than the Nuggets in the standings.

The Suns was the hottest team in the bubble and missed the playoffs when Portland barely held the final spot. CP3 single handedly took a young team no one expect to make the playoffs...why? CP3 was healthy!!! If he can remain healthy next season, I take them over the Nuggets in a 7 game series after they didn't resign their best role player Jerami Grant. The Suns need to load manage CP3 as much as possible to rest his legs while he help assist the coaching staff much like Rondo was doing as he help the young players with his brilliance.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sirchar...sh/amp/?espv=1

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[cattusmaru]

Yeah I love CP3 as much as anyone but hes not gonna be as good as he was last year and the Suns need improvement from their stars to get that good.

They won all their games with ease in the bubble yet they are not that good [emoji1751]
https://youtu.be/1R5aJIaqYvw

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[Tg11]

Rethinking my predictions especially now that free agency is pretty much over but instead how I see the standings shaping up:

East

1- Milwaukee Bucks
2- Miami Heat
3- Brooklyn Nets
4- Boston Celtics
5- Toronto Raptors
6- Philadelphia 76ers
7- Atlanta Hawks
8- Detroit Pistons
9- Charlotte Hornets
10- Indiana Pacers
11- Orlando Magic
12- Washington Wizards
13- New York Knicks
14- Chicago Bulls
15- Cleveland Cavaliers

West

1- Los Angeles Lakers
2- Denver Nuggets
3- Dallas Mavericks
4- Los Angeles Clippers
5- Utah Jazz
6- Portland Trail Blazers
7- Houston Rockets
8- Phoenix Suns
9- Golden State Warriors
10- New Orleans Pelicans
11- Memphis Grizzlies
12- Minnesota Timberwolves
13- Sacramento Kings
14- San Antonio Spurs
15- OKC Thunder


East Round 1

(1) Bucks vs (8) Pistons= Bucks sweep Pistons 4-0
(2) Heat vs (7) Hawks= Heat beat Hawks 4-1
(3) Nets vs (6) 76ers= Nets beat 76ers 4-3
(4) Celtics vs (5) Raptors= Celtics beat Raptors 4-2

West

(1) Lakers vs (8) Suns= Lakers beat Suns 4-2
(2) Nuggets vs (7) Rockets= Nuggets beat Rockets 4-3
(3) Mavericks vs (6) Blazers= Mavericks beat Blazers 4-3
(4) Clippers vs (5) Jazz= Clippers beat Jazz 4-1

East Round 2

(1) Bucks vs (4) Celtics= Bucks beat Celtics 4-3
(2) Heat vs (3) Nets= Nets beat Heat 4-3

West Round 2

(1) Lakers vs (4) Clippers= Lakers beat Clippers 4-3
(2) Nuggets vs (3) Mavericks= Mavericks beat Nuggets 4-2


Eastern Conference Final

(1) Bucks vs (3) Nets= Nets beat Bucks 4-3


Western Conference Finals

(1) Lakers vs (3) Mavericks= Lakers beat Mavericks 4-2


2021 NBA Finals

Brooklyn Nets vs Los Angeles Lakers= Los Angeles Lakers repeat as NBA Champions back to back beating the Brooklyn Nets in 6 games (4-2)

NBA Finals MVP will be: Anthony Davis (AD) wins his 1st Finals MVP; LeBron wins his 5th ring and AD wins his 2nd ring in a row

[tp13baby]

The Suns was the hottest team in the bubble and missed the playoffs when Portland barely held the final spot. CP3 single handedly took a young team no one expect to make the playoffs...why? CP3 was healthy!!! If he can remain healthy next season, I take them over the Nuggets in a 7 game series after they didn't resign their best role player Jerami Grant. The Suns need to load manage CP3 as much as possible to rest his legs while he help assist the coaching staff much like Rondo was doing as he help the young players with his brilliance.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sirchar...sh/amp/?espv=1

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Best role player? I get his defense was absolutely crucial, but better than Will Barton? Absolutely not. MPJ with normal minutes? Doubtful. I’ll even believe Bol Bol is a bigger positive than Grant was last season. He isn’t even Denver’s best defender.

Grant doesn’t get his 20 mil a year if it wasn’t for the heroic effort by Jamal with big comeback games from Harris and Millsap. Clippers had absolute no shows from Trez and Lou. Not to mention PG played more like a role player than a star for the majority of that series. And still Clippers outplayed Denver for 70 percent of that series.

Denver matched an offer and Grant wanted a bigger role. Good for him. But that tells you all you need to know, he is a defensive specialist that wouldn’t be a top 4 option on the offensive side and we have guys that can fill defensive minutes.

[NBA all the way]

I guess I'm ready to give this a shot. Like last season, no order.

East

Bucks
Celtics
Nets
76ers
Heat
Raptors
Pacers
Wizards

Hawks (play in)

West

Lakers
Nuggets
Clippers
Jazz
Rockets
Mavs
Warriors
Blazers

Suns (play in)

[smith&wesson]

76ers & Raptors will be a 5th or 6th seed.

Raptors will miss Ibaka & Gasol. They will slide down a few seeds for sure, you just cant replace that experience with Baynes and Len.

76ers got rid of their log jam, and thats great but Green & Curry dont move the needle much. Theyll find out soon enough why Raptor and Lakers fans think Green is on the decline.. I also think they will regret losing Richardson.

Bucks
Nets
Heat
Celtics
76ers
Raptors
Pacers
Hawks

[Kobe1016]

The biggest question mark I have about the Nets is the health of both KD and Kyrie and a rookie HC in Steve Nash. On paper I agreed that is a talented team.

[Kobe1016]

Josh Richardson for Seth Curry is win-win for both teams. Richardson will benefit playing with Luka and Curry is a 3 point sniper playing with Ben and Joel which is what the 76ers needed.

[Tg11]

ATL...they for sure makin the playoffs in Hot lanta out in the Dirty South