2024 Play-In and Playoffs Predictions.

[nuraman00]

Was that a foul or blocked shot at the end?

Why wasn't the last free throw attempt a violation? I thought attempts had to hit the rim. To prevent the shooter from throwing it off the backboard and bouncing it back to the shooter.

 

[nuraman00]

Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers
Celtics in 6, Indiana wins games 2,4.

Boston always loses a home game. They never have their complete focus, and are prone to games with 24% 3 point shooting.

On paper, this should be Boston in 4.

On the other hand, Turner and Siakam never play well in the same game. Turner is rarely as good as he should be.

I would pick Indiana in a game 7 too.

Larry Bird trophy: Going with the easy pick, Jayson Tatum

Western Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks
Timberwolves in 4.

Dallas can win a few games with their defense. Minnesota's size should prove to be too much.

I want to say 6 but can't decide which 2 Dallas will win, so will say 5. No, I say 4.

Magic Johnson trophy: Towns is more likely but I will pick Rudy Gobert. It would be awesome if Conley Jr. is MVP.

 

[nuraman00]

After Boston's early lead, I was surprised the Pacers came back to take the lead.

 

[nuraman00]

I hate Indiana's late game turnovers.

This could be like 2013 Grizzlies vs. Spurs conference finals, which had two OT losses by the Grizzlies, and a sweep by the Spurs.

One of the closest 4 game sweeps, because of how close 2 games were.

 

[MHSL82]

I kind of dislike Doncic for how he acts when he wins a game. It was annoying when he beat us and it was annoying yesterday when he beat Gobert. I think it would be funny if they had called a technical on him after he screamed obscenities at Gobert after making the three. Not saying it should be called, but it would have been hilarious. This is why I’ll always like Jokic better. He just beats you. Maybe there are examples of the same idiocy as Doncic. I have no problem with turning and saying the exact same thing into the air/crowd celebration, but the direct at your opponent is BS. It’s probably because of trash talk by players in Minnesota or just what gets him going (slights).

 

[nuraman00]

I kind of dislike Doncic for how he acts when he wins a game. It was annoying when he beat us and it was annoying yesterday when he beat Gobert. I think it would be funny if they had called a technical on him after he screamed obscenities at Gobert after making the three. Not saying it should be called, but it would have been hilarious. This is why I’ll always like Jokic better. He just beats you. Maybe there are examples of the same idiocy as Doncic. I have no problem with turning and saying the exact same thing into the air/crowd celebration, but the direct at your opponent is BS. It’s probably because of trash talk by players in Minnesota or just what gets him going (slights).

No, Jokic does not have the same idiocy as Doncic.

 

[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.

Jokic has a dry personality. He cares about being great, but in a dry way.

I'm fine with his personality. He works hard, plays as much as he can, and played 46 minutes in an elimination game.

 

[nuraman00]

Dallas should be up by more.

However, I don't like that Conley Jr. got hurt.

 

[nuraman00]

Forgot to do trophy presenters.

I'm going with Tom Gugliotta for Minnesota, although I also considered Pooh Richardson.

 

[nuraman00]

Funniest thing I just heard. "Karl-Anthony Towns has decided to be Vladimir Radmanovic".

 

[nuraman00]

In all fairness, Towns is shooting 13.6% from 3 in his conference finals, and Tatum shot 30.6%.

Both bad.

Tatum just gets overlooked because his team won.

Towns bigger problem is he's shooting 27.8% from the field.

 

[nuraman00]

Remember, Dallas has a history of not closing out 3-0 leads.

Remember when they were up 3-0 against Portland? Portland than unleashed a 2nd year Zach Randolph, and Scottie Pippen also played more minutes, getting on an exercise bike during timeouts.

Portland than won the next 3 games.

If Towns can play sub-normal instead of submarine normal, Minnesota can win games. Towns just has to play like Zach Randolph did in 2003.

 

[nuraman00]

Cmon Minnesota, that was deflating.

 

[nuraman00]

NBA Finals

Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks

I can't trust Boston's 3 point shooting in big games, or Tatum's style of play.

If Boston wins, Jaylen Brown would be the MVP.

Dallas has a more credible style of play.

Boston has a ton of depth this year.

I am not sure how Dallas has rebounded as well as they have so far. Doesn't seem like they should have.

Dallas still looks a little thin to me.

I'll take Dallas, even though I do have some questions about their size and depth.

I want to pick an odd number of games. Can't decide between 5 or 7. I guess I'll pick Dallas in 7.

Dallas
Boston
Boston
Dallas
Dallas
Boston
Dallas

MVP: Doncic

 

[nuraman00]

I forgot to do the prediction for which movie promo would be promoted during the NBA Finals.

It looks like we have the answer. It's the new Bad Boys movie.

 

[nuraman00]

It was really disappointing that ABC did not air the Boston PA starting lineups in game 1.

Every championship series in a sport always airs the home PA's starting lineups for both teams.

I like hearing the starting intros for the first time.

Also, typically the entire roster is introduced in the first home game for each team.

Happens in the World Series, happens in the NBA Finals.

Except apparently in this series. This series didn't even air the starting lineups from the PA.

 

[nuraman00]

They're not doing it the same way I imagined, but Dallas is using the paint more in game 2.

Dallas is hard to watch with their missed FTs. 3 - 8 I think after the first quarter.

 

[nuraman00]

Not a good first half for Dallas, because of how many missed free throws they had.

 

[nuraman00]

If Lively messed up on the inbounds, why isn't it a turnover for Dallas?

 

[nuraman00]

Steve Nash is in the audience, watching the Mavs get blown out.

Wish Minnesota had made the Finals. They might have still lost to Boston, they might have still even gotten swept. But I would have liked it more, for their size.