2024 Play-In and Playoffs Predictions.

[nuraman00]

Looking forward to night's Pacers - Knickerbockers game, especially if we can get a tie series.

 

[nuraman00]

Looking forward to night's Pacers - Knickerbockers game, especially if we can get a tie series.

I meant Packers.

 

[MHSL82]

Pretty good shooting by both teams, esp New York: Knicks 130-121 Pacers (May 8, 2024) Box Score - ESPN

 

[nuraman00]

Pretty good shooting by both teams, esp New York: Knicks 130-121 Pacers (May 8, 2024) Box Score - ESPN

When I read your first 3 words, I thought you actually watched the game!

Then I saw you post a link.

 

[nuraman00]

New York with a huge comeback.

Indiana showing very little fight or ability to stop the bleeding.

 

[nuraman00]

Here's other series where the road team won the first three games.

* Dallas - Los Angeles Clippers 2021: Road team won the first 6 games.

* Chicago-Boston 2017: Road team won the first 4 games.

www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2017-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-bulls-vs-celtics.html

* Utah - Houston 2008: Utah was the #4 seed but didn't have homecourt, because at the time, Houston had homecourt because they were a division winner. Road team won the first 3 games.

www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2008-nba-western-conference-first-round-jazz-vs-rockets.html

* Houston - San Antonio 1995: Road team won the first 5 games.

www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1995-nba-western-conference-finals-rockets-vs-spurs.html


====

* Houston - San Antonio 1981: Road team won 5 games overall, including game 4 - 7.

www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1981-nba-western-conference-semifinals-rockets-vs-spurs.html

Houston was the 6th seed, and would go onto the NBA Finals.

* San Antonio - Los Angeles Clippers 2015: Road team didn't win game 1, but won 4 games overall, including games 4 - 6.

* Utah - Los Angeles Clippers 2017: Road team won game 1, 5 - 7, and 5 games overall.

 

[MHSL82]

Today, two of the four teams that were tied 1-1 took a 2-1 lead in the series. Two teams fell to 1-2.

 

[MHSL82]

Today, two of the two teams that were trailing 1-2 tied the series. Two of the two teams that were leading 2-1 had their series tied.

 

[nuraman00]

Kenny Smith resorting to tricks to win the race to the video board, is pathetic.

He's done this multiple times, during the playoffs.

I'd rather lose 18 times without using tricks, than win two times with trickery.

I'll admit that the first time winning using a trick would probably be funny, but I'd think to myself that I can't do it anymore, it just cheapens the race too much.

 

[MHSL82]

I like the coach’s response. I didn’t see, but I heard about what Marie did and it sounded like it should’ve gotten a bigger response. On the radio, they said that it is automatic ejection to throw something into the stands, but just a technical to throw something onto the court.

 

[nuraman00]

Yes, Murray should have gotten a bigger fine, or suspension.

 

[nuraman00]

After game 4, I thought Minnesota's best chance at winning the series was win games 5 and 7.

I do not think they could win games 6 and 7.

Additionally, even if they won game 5, I knew Denver would win game 6. When looking at only the history of games 5-7, there have been a lot more series in recent years where road teams win games 5 and 6. I thought this series would follow that pattern.

And if Minnesota did win game 7, we could have finally had a series where the road team wins every game. After game 4, I thought there was a good chance of that happening.

From the 2021 playoffs onwards, we've had 6 series where the road teams wins games 5 and 6, and in 3 of those, the road team also won game 7.

I also just realized that the road team won every game in the 2020 Raptors-Celtics series. But because every game was at a neutral venue, that won't count.



With Denver winning game 5, even if Minnesota wins game 6, I think they'll lose game 7.

Whereas if Minnesota won game 5, I thought they'd then win game 7.

Some of that has to do with Denver now winning 3 in a row. And the games aren't close. That's why I don't like the chances of Minnesota in game 7 anymore.


Whereas at the start of the series, there were a lot of reasons to like Minnesota in a game 7. It was just not via this series path which had them dropping 3 straight after losing game 5. If they had dropped games 3 and 4 but won 5, then I would have liked them in game 7. And especially since the games aren't close.



Also, I think you have to try a double team at some point in the next game, on Jokic. If it doesn't seem to be working, then stop using it. But at least try every single scheme to see if you can slow him down for a little while. Hence, throwing the kitchen sink at him.

 

[nuraman00]

In the playoffs, Haliburton is averaging 22 ppg on 19 FGAs at home, 15 ppg on 10 FGAs on the road.

 

[nuraman00]

Tyrese Haliburton had 6 FGAs in game 2, and his team lost.

How many times did John Stockton have 6 FGAs or less in a playoffs game, and what is his team's overall record in those situations?

 

[nuraman00]

Indiana was fine in games 1 and 2 even though they lost. They looked awful in game 5, and Haliburton had another game where he couldn't make an impact.

His assists are fine in all games, but he's looked bad on the road, and unable to positively affect the game.

 

[nuraman00]

To be fair, Jokic has had a great series every single postseason. His ppg, FG%, and rebounding are always great.

The optics though with Gobert being Defensive Player Of The Year, are not good.

 

[nuraman00]

Draymond Green should look at what Jokic did against the Warriors 2 years ago.

 

[nuraman00]

Nice competitive mentally tough start by Cleveland, for 1+ quarters.

 

[MHSL82]

I kind of want Gobert and Conley to advance, especially if Jokic doesn’t really care about basketball but is just great at it. But has Doncic and Jokic played against each other in the playoffs?

 

[nuraman00]

No they haven't.

I think Jokic cares. He had to prove himself from being the 41st pick in the draft.

And from people who say every year someone else should have been MVP.