2024 Play-In and Playoffs Predictions.

[nuraman00]

It's early in the 3rd.

Miami is not going away.

I think they win this.

 

[nuraman00]

Eastern Conference:

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics:

Miami is a good road team, especially in the playoffs, so I think they win a game.

Boston in 5.

Boston
Miami
Boston
Boston
Boston

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks:

Embiid always struggles in the playoffs. Every year.

But New York seems small, and Tyreke Maxey is good.

Philadelphia in 7.

Philadelphia
New York
Philadelphia
New York
Philadelphia
New York
Philadelphia

Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks:

Milwaukee has had a lot of disappointing losses this year.

Tyrese Haliburton did struggle from January - March. He’ll probably be good in the playoffs though.

Indiana in 7.

Milwaukee
Indiana
Indiana
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Indiana
Indiana

Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland seems like one of those teams that will keep on having disappointing playoffs.

I think the Magic’s defense and identity of who they are will continue in the playoffs.

Orlando in 6.

Orlando
Cleveland
Orlando
Orlando
Cleveland
Orlando


Ok I didn’t pick any short series. There will probably be one in the East.

Western Conference:

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder:

New Orleans is not a good home team. Thunder have the best player in the series.

Oklahoma City in 5.

Oklahoma City
New Orleans
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City

I almost wanted to flip games 1 and 2.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

Denver won’t lose the series, but they will make it interesting.

Denver in 6.

Los Angeles Lakers
Denver
Denver
Los Angeles Lakers
Denver
Denver

Phoenix Suns vs. Minnesota Timberwolves:

Minnesota is too big. While both teams have older players, Kevin Durant is among one of several players who have struggled lately (Luka Doncic, De’Arron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton are a few others).

Nurkic has never been able to be better than an average center.

Minnesota in 5.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns
Minnesota Timberwolves

Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers:

Dallas has been playing well lately, but that doesn’t always carry over in the playoffs.

Neither team is a good home playoffs team, so there will be a lot of road wins.

I think Westbrook will make a positive impact.

Clippers have 3 guys that could get to the foul line.

Los Angeles Clippers in 6.

Los Angeles Clippers
Dallas Mavericks
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
Dallas Mavericks
Los Angeles Clippers

 

[nuraman00]

Heat - Celtics continues to be a great rivalry.

Heat up by ten.

 

[nuraman00]

@MHSL82, where are your posts about Paul George in these playoffs?

 

[MHSL82]

 

[MHSL82]

@MHSL82, where are your posts about Paul George in these playoffs?

None. If he missed the series, LAC would be up 3-1 or a sweep.

 

[nuraman00]

None. If he missed the series, LAC would be up 3-1 or a sweep.

One could argue that might be true about Kawhi Leonard.

 

[Jordan23]

One could argue that might be true about Kawhi Leonard.

Sure looking that way. They look better without him right now.

 

[nuraman00]

Western Conference

Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves


I think a team with two All-Stars is going to be better than a team with one.

I think Minnesota wins, but will need the full 7 games. Nevermind, I'll go with 6.

Minnesota in 6.

Minnesota
Denver
Minnesota
Denver
Minnesota
Minnesota

 

[nuraman00]

Forgot to mention this:

I'm making a slight change. I wanted to do something a little bold with the Minnesota-Denver series.

If I'm not going to do a 7 game series, a 6 game series is a little boring.

I'll go with Minnesota in 5, Denver wins game 2. On the other hand, I never predict a road team winning the first two games. Maybe it's time I try that.

Ok, Minnesota in 5, Denver wins game 4.

 

[Jordan23]

Forgot to mention this:

I'm making a slight change. I wanted to do something a little bold with the Minnesota-Denver series.

If I'm not going to do a 7 game series, a 6 game series is a little boring.

I'll go with Minnesota in 5, Denver wins game 2. On the other hand, I never predict a road team winning the first two games. Maybe it's time I try that.

Ok, Minnesota in 5, Denver wins game 4.

Wolves gonna lose at home and win 3 in Denver? I hope you are right

 

[nuraman00]

Eastern Conference
New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
Indiana in 6.

Indiana is inconsistent and flawed. But I think Siakam will provide an advantage in some games over the New York frontcourt.

New York will have another Pacer or two to hate, in Haliburton and possibly Siakam.

Indiana
New York
Indiana
New York
Indiana
Indiana

Normally I'd pick a road team in 7, since road teams have done quite well over the past 10 or 11 game 7's. But I don't think Indiana is that good on the road. So I won't have this go 7 games, but 6.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics:

I hope Jarrett Allen is back soon, so we can see what that frontcourt can do when challenged against the best.

This could have a lot of lower scoring games. Feels like a lot of blowout games.

I have not predicted a sweep in these playoffs yet. This one could be a sweep, but I'll say it goes 5 games.

Boston in 5.

Cleveland
Boston
Boston
Boston
Boston


Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks

A battle of two teams that struggle with rebounding.

I think this is a 6 game series, but the individual games might not be great. Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey should have some standout games.

Oklahoma City in 6.

Oklahoma City
Dallas
Oklahoma City
Dallas
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City

 

[nuraman00]

Wolves gonna lose at home and win 3 in Denver? I hope you are right

This has happened before, in Phoenix vs. San Antonio 2005. San Antonio won the series in 5, and won 3 in Phoenix.

Denver is also the 15th best playoffs team all time. That's not that great.

I know Minnesota struggled on the road early in the season, but defensive teams generally do well on the road, and I think they played better on the road as the season progressed.

Even Orlando, another good defensive team, did well last night, even if they lost. They did have a 16 point lead.

 

[nuraman00]

Gobert DNP tonight, he had a baby.

 

[nuraman00]

@MHSL82, we're thinking the same thing, aren't we.

Rudy Gobert is having a baby on the same day that Victor Wembanyama wins Rookie Of The Year.

The French are so lucky with good fortune on the same day.

 

[nuraman00]

Minnesota almost went up by 30.

Love it.

 

[MHSL82]

Minnesota almost went up by 30.

Love it.

I am not predicting a comeback win, but if there’s any team that can come back from this, it’s Dallas. They won multiple times this season where they have come back from 20+ down and either barely lost it or won... wait, we’re talking about Denver. Still maybe.

 

[nuraman00]

Were those Nugget fans or Timberwolves fans shouting MVP when Edwards was at the free throw line?

 

[nuraman00]

I am not predicting a comeback win, but if there’s any team that can come back from this, it’s Dallas. They won multiple times this season where they have come back from 20+ down and either barely lost it or won... wait, we’re talking about Denver. Still maybe.

I think a few teams have won games when they were down by 20 points in games this year.

Probably not the Utah Jazz though. They sucked too much.

 

[MHSL82]

I thought it was funny that both teams seemed to be upset at the ref: