Predictions Thread Discussion

[MHSL82]

When Bjelica and Bogdanovic were substituted out in the first, they were down 9.

When Fox joined them 51 seconds later, they were down 11.

Cauley Stein then joined them 1:11 later, and they were down 5.

Hield joined them with 2:31 left in the first, and they were down 11.

Hield was the only starter to enter partway through the 2nd, and they were down 22. He played until halftime, and they were down 30.

Well either way, they took the starter is out when the game was pretty close. But they only didn’t put them back because the game was out of hand with the bench. They dropped by eight points with him in there, but no one else was in there so that’s not a true come back attempt.

So while I like the idea of resting your starters when the game is out of hand either by being up by too much or down by too much, I think this was stupid. I’m pretty sure he was trying to rest because of back to back games.

 

[nuraman00]

The Minnesota game was already on the 2nd night of a back to back, and the next game was Wednesday.

They had just blown out Minnesota a few days ago.

They would lose the Thunder game on Wednesday by 19.

I generally think that teams play about to their normal talent level on either end of a back to back.

Losing to the Thunder isn't much of a surprise, nor is occasionally getting blown out by Minnesota.

I'm not sure if they didn't play the starters because they were "resting them", or if the starters sucked. For what it's worth, the bench did get it from a 30 point game, to a 12 point game, briefly.

I guess it's better than the starters impact of having the team trail by double digits (9-11 points). At least the bench made the deficit better.

I didn't see the game, but a part of me thinks the bench probably just played better, in their extended minutes, then the starters, in their brief stint. But I don't know.

 

[MHSL82]

The Minnesota game was already on the 2nd night of a back to back, and the next game was Wednesday.

They had just blown out Minnesota a few days ago.

They would lose the Thunder game on Wednesday by 19.

I generally think that teams play about to their normal talent level on either end of a back to back.

Losing to the Thunder isn't much of a surprise, nor is occasionally getting blown out by Minnesota.

I'm not sure if they didn't play the starters because they were "resting them", or if the starters sucked. For what it's worth, the bench did get it from a 30 point game, to a 12 point game, briefly.

I guess it's better than the starters impact of having the team trail by double digits (9-11 points). At least the bench made the deficit better.

I didn't see the game, but a part of me thinks the bench probably just played better, in their extended minutes, then the starters, in their brief stint. But I don't know.

I don’t really give credit to the bench for allowing a 9-11 point game turn into 30 and then fight back to be a 12 point game, before losing by 27. I know there was a portion of that where Hield played.

Either way, I don’t think a 11 point deficit is warranting a benching. It was probably resting. Were there any articles about effort or not following coaches orders? Because that would be the only exception. It wasn’t that someone on the bench got hot.

 

[nuraman00]

I'll check.

I remember a Hornets-Spurs game in the late 2000s, where it was a 9 or 11 point game entering the 4th, and the Spurs were trailing. Popovich didn't play any starters.

A Portland fan was upset, because that game had seeding implications. This might have been 2007-2008, as New Orleans finished with the 2nd seed. So that's why a Portland fan was upset at New Orleans winning.

Portland also went on a December 2007 13 game winning streak, but missed the playoffs. So it was also a combination of seeing that hot stretch from earlier in the season help get them in the playoffs race, and then late in the year, their chances were fading.

 

[nuraman00]

Tuesday, December 25

Milwaukee over New York
Oklahoma City over Houston
Philadelphia over Boston
Golden State Warriors over Los Angeles Lakers
Utah over Portland (could we have 5 road wins if the Los Angeles Lakers win? I don't think we've had all road wins yet. Not even on a 2 game day)

Is this Utah's first time on Christmas since about 2007 (not sure)?

The Lakers got the road win.

OKC and Philly did not.

 

[nuraman00]

December 27, 2018:

513. Houston Rockets over Boston Celtics
514. Milwaukee Bucks over New York Knicks
515. Los Angeles Lakers over Sacramento Kings
516. Golden State Warriors over Portland Trail Blazers
517. Utah Jazz over Philadelphia 76ers

This might be the 2nd time we agree for all games. And I think this is for more games than last time. Or at least tied.

 

[nuraman00]

Rondo is out with an injury, but that won't change my prediction. I'm sure someone like Ball can step up.

 

[MHSL82]

Rondo is out with an injury, but that won't change my prediction. I'm sure someone like Ball can step up.

I would normally change my prediction, but you've convinced me. How? You are lower on the Lakers and are more knowledgeable on teams like the Kings. Though, I think I've picked the Kings more than you have. If you pick the Lakers still, that means you have a real feeling/instinct. Just like when you tell me that Such and Such team hasn't won on the road against Such and Such team on a Tuesday in 27 years. Ok, I'm joking about the Tuesday part, but I imagine that some games you remember the day of the week it happened (other than just holiday games).

 

[nuraman00]

I would normally change my prediction, but you've convinced me. How? You are lower on the Lakers and are more knowledgeable on teams like the Kings. Though, I think I've picked the Kings more than you have. If you pick the Lakers still, that means you have a real feeling/instinct. Just like when you tell me that Such and Such team hasn't won on the road against Such and Such team on a Tuesday in 27 years. Ok, I'm joking about the Tuesday part, but I imagine that some games you remember the day of the week it happened (other than just holiday games).

Since I don't have league pass, I'm not that knowledgeable about what really happens in games with teams like the Kings.

They might be on national TV 2x a month, which is less than teams like the Jazz.

Also, I'm higher on the Lakers now then I was at the beginning of the year.

Earlier in the year, I thought they would be like Houston with Harden. Pretty good regular season team some years, but not that scary in the playoffs. Even if they win a series, it's usually not impressive.

But, the Lakers look pretty cohesive to me, and a lot of it has to do with James. Although I've also seen guys like Zubac and Ball play pretty well.

I still think Dennis Lindsey should hire a Jameer Doe (is this a bad part of the post?) and have that person tamper and suggest to James that he should want to be traded to the Jazz. If he's having this much team success on the Lakers, he would have had even more on the Jazz. He's never played with someone like Gobert. And Mitchell's personality seems very easy going. He'll would have that great balance of being able to step up, yet also not clash with James either.

He would also have an even greater legacy of bringing a title to the Jazz. And could he be the first player to win Finals MVP for 3 different franchises? Not to say that Gobert, Rubio, or Mitchell can't win Finals MVP.

Thinking about other legacies, James has now beaten Boston enough times in the playoffs. But he hasn't beaten Philly yet. So if they come out of the East, he could add another victim to his legacy.

I'll see if I can watch the TNT game tonight.

 

[nuraman00]

Oops, the next Kings game that's on national TV is on Feb. 4th. And that's it.

I was confused a few minutes ago. I knew the Lakers were on national TV within the next few days. For a few minutes, I thought it was today against the Kings. But it's tomorrow against the Clippers.

So I thought the Kings would be on national TV because of the Lakers.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Feb. 4th game is dropped from NBA TV, but the Kings get 1 or 2 games added.

Especially since Tuesday is "Fan Night" on NBA TV, so fans might vote on some Tuesday games that the Kings have.

 

[MHSL82]

I’m switching my pick to Sacramento tonight because LeBron is out. I didn’t know that he was going to be missing. LeBron and Rondo out equals Kings win.

 

[MHSL82]

If LeBron James not playing changes your pick, I can change it for you.

 

[nuraman00]

If LeBron James not playing changes your pick, I can change it for you.

It did not change my pick.

 

[nuraman00]

December 28, 2018:

518. Brooklyn Nets over Charlotte Hornets
519. Indiana Pacers over Detroit Pistons
520. Toronto Raptors over Orlando Magic
521. Washington Wizards over Chicago Bulls
522. Miami Heat over Cleveland Cavaliers
523. Minnesota Timberwolves over Atlanta Hawks
524. Dallas Mavericks over New Orleans Pelicans
525. San Antonio Spurs over Denver Nuggets
526. Oklahoma City Thunder over Phoenix Suns
527. Los Angeles Clippers over L.A. Lakers

We differ in only the first NBA TV game.

The national audience will look to this thread after the game and tell the prediction loser to eat a sock.

 

[MHSL82]

December 28, 2018:

518. Brooklyn Nets over Charlotte Hornets
519. Indiana Pacers over Detroit Pistons
520. Toronto Raptors over Orlando Magic
521. Washington Wizards over Chicago Bulls
522. Miami Heat over Cleveland Cavaliers
523. Minnesota Timberwolves over Atlanta Hawks
524. Dallas Mavericks over New Orleans Pelicans
525. San Antonio Spurs over Denver Nuggets
526. Oklahoma City Thunder over Phoenix Suns
527. Los Angeles Clippers over L.A. Lakers

4-6

 

[nuraman00]

December 29, 2018:

528. Milwaukee Bucks over Brooklyn Nets
529. Charlotte Hornets over Washington Wizards
530. Houston Rockets over New Orleans Pelicans
531. Cleveland Cavaliers over Atlanta Hawks
532. Memphis Grizzlies over Boston Celtics
533. Denver Nuggets over Phoenix Suns
534. Golden State Warriors over Portland Trailblazers
535. San Antonio Spurs over Los Angeles Clippers

You're missing the Knickerbockers game.

Also, we differ by only the first NBA TV game again!

The national TV audience will again check this thread, and tell the predictions loser to eat a sock, for the Houston - New Orleans game.

 

[nuraman00]

December 28, 2018:

518. Brooklyn Nets over Charlotte Hornets
519. Indiana Pacers over Detroit Pistons
520. Toronto Raptors over Orlando Magic
521. Washington Wizards over Chicago Bulls
522. Miami Heat over Cleveland Cavaliers
523. Minnesota Timberwolves over Atlanta Hawks
524. Dallas Mavericks over New Orleans Pelicans
525. San Antonio Spurs over Denver Nuggets
526. Oklahoma City Thunder over Phoenix Suns
527. Los Angeles Clippers over L.A. Lakers

We differ in only the first NBA TV game.

The national audience will look to this thread after the game and tell the prediction loser to eat a sock.

Some Anonymous Pelicans fans internet posters who are reading this thread: Hey @MHSL82, eat a sock.

Those are their words, not nuraman00's.

 

[MHSL82]

December 29, 2018:

528. Milwaukee Bucks over Brooklyn Nets
529. Charlotte Hornets over Washington Wizards
530. Houston Rockets over New Orleans Pelicans
531. Cleveland Cavaliers over Atlanta Hawks
532. Memphis Grizzlies over Boston Celtics
533. Denver Nuggets over Phoenix Suns
534. Golden State Warriors over Portland Trailblazers
535. San Antonio Spurs over Los Angeles Clippers

You're missing the Knickerbockers game.

Also, we differ by only the first NBA TV game again!

The national TV audience will again check this thread, and tell the predictions loser to eat a sock, for the Houston - New Orleans game.

Thanks for the reminder. I always post the Jazz game last and I forgot.

 

[nuraman00]

December 29, 2018:

528. Milwaukee Bucks over Brooklyn Nets
529. Charlotte Hornets over Washington Wizards
530. Houston Rockets over New Orleans Pelicans
531. Cleveland Cavaliers over Atlanta Hawks
532. Memphis Grizzlies over Boston Celtics
533. Denver Nuggets over Phoenix Suns
534. Golden State Warriors over Portland Trailblazers
535. San Antonio Spurs over Los Angeles Clippers
536. Utah Jazz over New York Knicks

You're missing the Knickerbockers game.

Also, we differ by only the first NBA TV game again!

The national TV audience will again check this thread, and tell the predictions loser to eat a sock, for the Houston - New Orleans game.

It looks like nuraman00 eats the sock today.

 

[MHSL82]

So I finally inputted the predictions onto an Excel sheet.

I have not looked at my results team by team because I don’t want it to influence my predictions. But I did look at yours. Do you want me to say anything or no?

I won’t give you any team names, but I can tell you trends or observations.