3/19 - Play In Games Discussion Thread

[jeebs9]

Damn the Cavs were the number one defense in the NBA before All Star break. But are now 22nd. How?

[illwill10]

Pacers losing to Nets is big for the Standings. That moves Heat to 6th. Pacers last 5 games are against Thunder, Heat(winner gets tie-breaker), Raptors, Cavs, and Hawks(who could be fighting for the 9th seed). I could easily see them going 2-3 or even 1-4 in this stretch. That's why I think Sixers has a shot to get out of the play-in. I feel like they have the easiest stretch out of Miami, Sixers, and Pacers. Miami ends the season against Raptors twice at home. But, before that they have two sets of B2Bs and the Pacers game in the middle of the B2Bs that is the tie-breaker. I doubt Jimmy Butler is going to play in all 5 games before the Raptors games. They play Philly and Rockets on a B2B, Pacers, Hawks and Mavs on B2B. Butler has not played against Philly this year. After Miami, Philly has an easy stretch. The have a B2B against Memphis and Spurs, Pistons, Magic, and Nets. I doubt Embiid plays in both B2B games. I would expect him to miss the Memphis game and play against Spurs. Pistons and Nets likely mailing it in at this point. Even the Magic is a winnable game. Sixers have had the Magic's number recently. Sixers are 13-1 in the last 14 games against Magic. So, I do think Sixers have a chance at 6th. They would need to beat Heat and go at least 4-1 to end season. Either way the 6th and 7th seed is in the same playoff bracket and you could avoid Boston until CF. I think Bucks are vulnerable and 3-5 is beatable. Cavs have been 11-14 in last 25 games and is losing against Suns. Cavs have a tough stretch of games and I could see them falling to 4 or even 5. Magic have a tough 4 game stretch to end season with Rockets, Bucks, Sixers, and Bucks. Knicks play Bulls 3 times in last 7 games and Nets, but other three are against Celtics, Kings, and Bucks. It feels like Seeding won't be decided until the very end. Out of those three, I would least want to play Knicks because their brand of basketball, but even then you don't know if Randle is coming back or if OG can come back and stay.

[illwill10]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeebs9

Damn the Cavs were the number one defense in the NBA before All Star break. But are now 22nd. How?

They are looking to be 11-15 in the last 26 games. And that's right after they went on a 16-1 or 17-1 stretch when Philly broke that streak. I could easily see them falling to 5th seed. But, Cavs, Magic, and Knicks have difficult schedules to end season, so it's a toss up.

Bucks losing to Wizards(without Kuzma) and Grizzlies on a B2B is crazy, while Doc was throwing blame at everyone but self including travel staff. As a Sixers fan, I want to get to 6th and get out of the Play-in. But playing Doc and this version of Bucks isn't a bad outcome. There's a legit chance they could fall out of 2nd since they play Boston, ORL(2x), Knicks, and OKC in their last 5 games(after TOR).

[DamnYanks2]

What's a Malachi Flynn?

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by georgiafan

I’m not sure what his ceiling is, but yea he has been great this year. A real building block on the team

Y'all got a secret weapon that no one is talking about.

https://twitter.com/UsherNBA/status/...BGPExKTjw&s=19

[illwill10]

[DieHardYankee26]

Another wasted year, thank god for the Yankees.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Am I the only one that thinks the whole “Doc blaming everyone else” thing is a tired bit?