Sports NBA Thread: 2023-2024 Season

(1) Boston Celtics versus (4) Cleveland Cavaliers

I'm just not caring about the eastern conference right now. Both of these teams are the poster child for Jekyll & Hyde. Who can be the least inconsistent? I wouldn't be surprised if Boston swept or had to win a game 7. I detest thinking about Boston and Cleveland, and now they're in the same series.

Boston in whatever they feel like doing.
What I'm hearing is that our coin overlord is correct about Celtics in seven.
 
Never gonna count out joker but yea they got punched in the mouth immediately in g1 and have yet to recover. I doubt anyone saw the twolves dominating them the way they have so far.
 
It's only one game, but the Cavaliers are looking severely overmatched. Donovan Mitchell can't play all five positions at once. Even if it's just a matter of rest, they only get one rest day between each of the first four games. It's not looking good.
 

awyp

'Alexa play Ladyfingers by Herb Alpert'
is a Forum Moderatoris a Top Tiering Contributoris a Top Tutor Alumnusis a Top Team Rater Alumnusis a Community Leader Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
Moderator
As a mavs fan I already put my money on who I think will be in the NBA Finals, Wolves vs Celtics. I don't think any other team got it, we'll see if I win or lose my bet :(

I been saying after the Mavs trade that I dont think they still have enough (I said best case scenario they get past round 1 but I don't think they have all the right tools, especially with Luka playing like absolute ass because of his injury [worst I've ever seen Luka play])
 
I'll give the Mavs until game 3 to see if they have what it takes to beat the Thunder but so far, they have worse three point shooters and turn the ball over. They even got killed on the glass. How??


Luka had some pretty bad defensive possessions. Coaches don't believe in his defense. He could of course improve like the last series but maaaaaan. I guess it's the knee.

Though it doesn't stop with his defense. The entire team as a whole have been bad in transition and guarding against drives. No one was capable.

If your centers can't play big that's it. No Kleber to go small vs small with.
 
Last edited:

Stallion

Tree Young
is a Tiering Contributoris a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnusis a Three-Time Past WCoP Champion
Screenshot_20240509-134854~2.png

As you can see from the screenshot, I made this bracket on April 20. Got 7/8 first round series' right and the way things are going, I'll go 3/4 this round (but I'll lose my predicted champion).
 
It's only one game, but the Cavaliers are looking severely overmatched. Donovan Mitchell can't play all five positions at once. Even if it's just a matter of rest, they only get one rest day between each of the first four games. It's not looking good.
Update: It looks like he might actually be able to play all five positions at once after all.
 
Luka's knee and ankle really concern me but damn this team keeps fighting back to back big games from PJ. For all that talk about dort's defense man's just flopped and gone low after luka's legs all series smh.
 

awyp

'Alexa play Ladyfingers by Herb Alpert'
is a Forum Moderatoris a Top Tiering Contributoris a Top Tutor Alumnusis a Top Team Rater Alumnusis a Community Leader Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
Moderator
Luka's knee and ankle really concern me but damn this team keeps fighting back to back big games from PJ. For all that talk about dort's defense man's just flopped and gone low after luka's legs all series smh.
I think Mavs auto lose next game because Luka hasnt been right and unless Kyrie drops 40 I dont think PJ can be consistent I'm just being honest. It's the offensive rebounds that have been the hero thus far in this matchup.
 
I think Mavs auto lose next game because Luka hasnt been right and unless Kyrie drops 40 I dont think PJ can be consistent I'm just being honest. It's the offensive rebounds that have been the hero thus far in this matchup.
I didn't expect PJ to do it 2 games in a row either I appreciate what kyrie's been doing though he's been facilitating and playing hard on def while pj has cooked. We're def due for a regression from PJ and will need kyrie to step up which he's obv capable of doing with luka so beat up.
 
PJ Washington is totally capable scoring this much in consecutive games. Charlotte is my homestate's team, and he's been their best draft pick outside of Lamelo for the last half decade or so. Dude is athletic, can D up, and score if he likes his matchup. I always envisioned if he was on a competent team, he'd be the perfect terteriary player. The Michael Jordan of Tobias Harris.

For this particular game along with Lively and Jones, they are playing incredibly well defensively on their switches and guarding Thunder's drives to the paint. They're still winning the glass as well.

Even with Luka offensively struggling, it's more important that he has 15 boards. Luka understands at this point Kyrie is scoring better than him, so Kyrie handled the clutch baskets and Luka actually did the superstar thing and contribute in other areas like that key steal and the rebounds.

I say Mavs fans should be more optimistic about after game 3. I'm finally seeing the length and strength around the paint necessary to stymie Thunder's offense. Doing it twice in two games is a great sign.

OKC may make the potential adjustment of having Holmgren roll more to the rim or post. Shai could still have a breakout game too.
 
Last edited:
PJ Washington is totally capable scoring this much in consecutive games. Charlotte is my homestate's team, and he's been their best draft pick outside of Lamelo for the last half decade or so. Dude is athletic, can D up, and score if he likes his matchup. I always envisioned if he was on a competent team, he'd be the perfect terteriary player. The Michael Jordan of Tobias Harris.

For this particular game along with Lively and Jones, they are playing incredibly well defensively on their switches and guarding Thunder's drives to the paint. They're still winning the glass as well.

Even with Luka offensively struggling, it's more important that he has 15 boards. Luka understands at this point Kyrie is scoring better than him, so Kyrie handled the clutch baskets and Luka actually did the superstar thing and contribute in other areas like that key steal and the rebounds.

I say Mavs fans should be more optimistic about after game 3. I'm finally seeing the length and strength around the paint necessary to stymie Thunder's offense. Doing it twice in two games is a great sign.

OKC may make the potential adjustment of having Holmgren roll more to the rim or post. Shai could still have a breakout game too.
Definitely agree he's capable of it he's just been very inconsistent on the offensive end but until Luka got hurt we didn't need him to step up just keep playing great def however he's answered the call in amazing fashion.
 
Last edited:
I have a feeling that the Minnesota Timberwolves will win the title Anthony Edwards is so good in the playoffs this season 30 points 6.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists isnt a joke and even though they lost game 3 i have a feeling that they will win the series and the chip
 
I have a feeling that the Minnesota Timberwolves will win the title Anthony Edwards is so good in the playoffs this season 30 points 6.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists isnt a joke and even though they lost game 3 i have a feeling that they will win the series and the chip
If they can finish off the Nuggets, then I'll jump on the hype train. You can't ever totally count out teams in the playoffs, but the Nuggets seem like the toughest challenge that the Timberwolves would face on the theoretical road to a ring from here.
 
Well, it didn't take as many games as the almighty coin predicted, but the Celtics did win, so I'm counting this as a W. Will they cruise to the Finals, or will they blow it in the ECF? Place your bets now.
 
Hard time seeing the Celtics lose to either Knicks/Pacers, .... but it is the Celtics. I don't know the health status of everyone potentially involved. Porzingua/OG Anunoby make really big differences.
 
Dallas can bring this home tonight if they continue protecting against OKC's drives and contest at the rim. Outside of Shai, everyone else drive and shoots threes. Isai is a better shooter but clearly was exploited by Kyrie defensively and every other 5th man Daigneault inserted just couldn't score.

Dallas just has to rebound, avoid turnovers, and Luka/Kyrie make decisive moves and don't bitch at the refs.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 1)

Top