I definitely understand, he's gotta be there but that's gotta be tough on the team. Hope the Jazz fans stay civil on this one
Random NBA Observations 2019 - 2020
I definitely understand, he's gotta be there but that's gotta be tough on the team. Hope the Jazz fans stay civil on this one
Adebisi_Said
Truth is Power
thelonious21
I like my women tall
now their season is over..
Yall gotta admit ..
Zion needs to lose weight..
Yall gotta admit ..
Zion needs to lose weight..
Yep plus I was sick of that entire media and league narrative of trying to get "Zion vs LeBron" in the playoffs. It was like the ultimate narrative for casuals who don't even watch the games and on the other end an insult for those of us who do watch the games. You have a rook like Ja Morant running around the court for damn near 40 minutes a game all season long and then you got Zion, who is talented, but is chugging/laboring up and down the court, overweight, doesn't play every game, minutes/burst restrictions, and playing with some guys like Zo that have checked out already.
Since the Bubble is a neutral site, this may have been the year to test out the 1-16 format 
010101
C L O N E*0690//////
ha zbo legendary*
Since the Bubble is a neutral site, this may have been the year to test out the 1-16 format
They had a meeting about it and the owners mostly said that they don't want to do 1-16.
The play in game format is probably a keeper tho.
Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers
Scout’s outlook: “JaVale McGee can neutralize Jusuf Nurkic. Anthony Davis can neutralize Nurkic. And (Zach) Collins has not been very effective. … Can you really rely on Gary Trent Jr. to make shots at this level? … You need super-human efforts from Damian Lillard, which is what he’s done, but can that carry you for four wins? Probably not. I’d feel better (for the Blazers) if CJ McCollum was healthier. I’d feel better if they had Trevor Ariza. I’d feel better if Collins was more up to speed. …
“From the Lakers’ side, LeBron is LeBron. Is he going to get the whistle he gets always? In the bubble, you don’t have the Laker crowd. … Davis is a handful. Who’s going to guard him? Then you’d hope (Kyle) Kuzma steps up. (Dion) Waiters has actually had some good games. I think Waiters is somewhat of an X Factor. Maybe not in this series, but as they progress, he’s key for them, because they need that punch. Otherwise, who do they have? They don’t have anybody. They’ve got Kuzma and Waiters. It’s not KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope). It’s not Alex Caruso. It’s not Dwight Howard.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think the nature of (Portland’s) offense being so high octane is that they’re going to have a night or two where they’re probably going to get off. I don’t think the Lakers can shut the water off completely on (Damian Lillard). I think it would go six.”
Executive’s outlook: “I think it will be a great series. At the end of the day, the two best players (in the series; LeBron James and Anthony Davis) are still on the (Lakers), though, and I would pick the Lakers over the Blazers.”
Scout’s pick: Lakers in six
Coach’s pick: Lakers in six
Executive’s pick: Lakers in six
Consensus advancing team: Lakers
No. 2 LA Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
Scout’s outlook: “Can Luka Doncic win four games for (Dallas)? No, he can’t. Maybe if (Tim) Haradaway (Jr.) went nuts; he’s very streaky, though. Is (Kristaps) Porzingis going to last? I just think they need a third guy. They don’t really have him. The absence of (Dwight) Powell hurts. They’re well-coached. They don’t make enough outside shots. If they had two (lights-out) shooters to complement Doncic, they’d be in better shape. (Seth) Curry’s one of them. They need Curry and Hardaway to make a lot of shots consistently to really have a chance. …
“The Clippers’ problem is they haven’t played together. When they do, they’re really good. They’ve got two superstars, and then Montrezl Harrell coming back and Lou Williams. They can score to their heart’s content. They just have too much firepower.”
Coach’s outlook: “I question the Montrezl Harrell addition back into the lineup, (and the idea of him) being completely fluid for a full series. I think he might have a few good games, and maybe he’ll come out in Game 1 and kick ass but I’m not sure. They haven’t played together yet, so I’m not going to go out there and tell you that they’re going to be a guarantee to knock off the Mavs early. And then the Mavs’ historic offense, and their ability to put up 120 or 130 on any given night, I think they’re going to get hot a couple times and that’s going to allow them to win a game or two.”
Executive’s outlook: “The Mavs have two great players, but the Clippers have different bodies to throw at them, from Paul (George) to Marcus Morris to Kawhi (Leonard), obviously. (The Mavs) have the best offense in the league for a reason, and the Clippers are going to have to use all their depth to beat what is a good basketball team — a team that is better than their record, and the numbers play that out.”
Scout’s pick: Clippers in five
Coach’s pick: Clippers in six
Executive’s pick: Clippers in six
Consensus advancing team: Clippers
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz
Scout’s outlook: “Utah’s problem is they don’t have (injured small forward Bojan) Bogdanovic (who averaged 20.2 points per game before having season-ending wrist surgery in mid-May). They got him originally because they were short on scoring. His absence is key. (Mike) Conley is a nice player; he just really hasn’t stepped up to fill the void. They just don’t have enough. Now they’re back to being Donovan Mitchell and hope. I just don’t see them having enough offensively.”
Coach’s outlook: “If Gary Harris plays, and is healthy and is able to get out there and him and Torrey Craig are able to guard (Donovan) Mitchell, I think that they’ll be able to stop them. I don’t think Utah has enough firepower to keep up with the way Denver has been playing with (Michael) Porter (Jr.) now activated the way he is, so I’ve got Denver in six.”
Executive’s outlook: “With the addition of (Michael) Porter (Jr.) and Bol (Bol) and hopefully getting (Gary) Harris back for them, and Will Barton, Denver’s depth — I mean, without Bojan, Utah has no depth. They’re happy to not see the Rockets again, and it should be a better series. But (considering) Denver’s superior depth, and with Jokic playing at such a high level, I think (they’ll win). (Jokic) brings Rudy away from the hoop, which brings away Utah’s biggest weapon defensively, and I just think the Nuggets wear them down and win in six.”
Scout’s pick: Nuggets in five
Coach’s pick: Nuggets in six
Executive’s pick: Nuggets in six
Consensus advancing team: Nuggets
No. 4 Houston Rockets vs. No. 5 Oklahoma City Thunder
Scout’s outlook: “What a series! That is the series to watch. … The absence of (Russell) Westbrook (who has a quad injury and is expected to miss the early stages of the series) will be critical right from the get-go. That is a key factor. I would tend to think OKC’s got the advantage in the series because of that injury. Surely, Houston could beat OKC without Westbrook, but it’s that much harder.
“Obviously for Houston, are they going to make shots? … There are no answers for (James) Harden (if you’re OKC). You just hope he misses. I mean, nobody’s figured him out. Get the ball out of his hands, obviously. Is Danuel House legitimate? Is Ben McLemore legitimate when it counts? I mean, will they make shots when it counts? Will P.J. Tucker make shots?
“For OKC, Chris Paul is playing at a very high level. Do they have enough playoff experience to win? What has Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) done (in the playoffs)? … I’m not sure they’re quite playoff-ready. … (Danilo) Gallinari’s got to be big. He’s their No. 2 guy, really.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think the Russell Westbrook injury is going to make the first couple games a little bit more interesting, and I think down the line the guys that the Thunder are going to have to play to stop James Harden are going to severely hinder their offensive spacing. The Luguentz Dorts, the Hamidou Diallos — those guys, and Andre Roberson, (the Thunder’s) defensive players are just such non-offensive factors that I feel like that’s going to conversely give Harden and Westbrook opportunities to rest on defense and match up against them. I just don’t feel like the Thunder are going to put out enough weapons out there to make them guard, unless they completely believe in Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schröder and (Danilo) Gallinari, that foursome, to really play heavy, heavy minutes.
“I really like the Thunder, and Chris Paul, the way he played and the way he has generated their team’s overall ethos and mantra and disposition and such. I don’t think he’s going to go down without a fight, so I think it’s going to go seven games.”
Executive’s outlook: “Yeah, CP3 and Shai, they don’t have someone to guard either of them. They can guard one or the other. I think Harden goes for 45, 10 and 10 a couple of times, but the Thunder for the second half of the season have been a top four or five team in basketball and I think they continue it here, with Russ being out for the first few games tipping the scales.”
Scout’s pick: Thunder in seven
Coach’s pick: Rockets in seven
Executive’s pick: Thunder in six
Consensus advancing team: Thunder
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers
Scout’s outlook: “JaVale McGee can neutralize Jusuf Nurkic. Anthony Davis can neutralize Nurkic. And (Zach) Collins has not been very effective. … Can you really rely on Gary Trent Jr. to make shots at this level? … You need super-human efforts from Damian Lillard, which is what he’s done, but can that carry you for four wins? Probably not. I’d feel better (for the Blazers) if CJ McCollum was healthier. I’d feel better if they had Trevor Ariza. I’d feel better if Collins was more up to speed. …
“From the Lakers’ side, LeBron is LeBron. Is he going to get the whistle he gets always? In the bubble, you don’t have the Laker crowd. … Davis is a handful. Who’s going to guard him? Then you’d hope (Kyle) Kuzma steps up. (Dion) Waiters has actually had some good games. I think Waiters is somewhat of an X Factor. Maybe not in this series, but as they progress, he’s key for them, because they need that punch. Otherwise, who do they have? They don’t have anybody. They’ve got Kuzma and Waiters. It’s not KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope). It’s not Alex Caruso. It’s not Dwight Howard.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think the nature of (Portland’s) offense being so high octane is that they’re going to have a night or two where they’re probably going to get off. I don’t think the Lakers can shut the water off completely on (Damian Lillard). I think it would go six.”
Executive’s outlook: “I think it will be a great series. At the end of the day, the two best players (in the series; LeBron James and Anthony Davis) are still on the (Lakers), though, and I would pick the Lakers over the Blazers.”
Scout’s pick: Lakers in six
Coach’s pick: Lakers in six
Executive’s pick: Lakers in six
Consensus advancing team: Lakers
No. 2 LA Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
Scout’s outlook: “Can Luka Doncic win four games for (Dallas)? No, he can’t. Maybe if (Tim) Haradaway (Jr.) went nuts; he’s very streaky, though. Is (Kristaps) Porzingis going to last? I just think they need a third guy. They don’t really have him. The absence of (Dwight) Powell hurts. They’re well-coached. They don’t make enough outside shots. If they had two (lights-out) shooters to complement Doncic, they’d be in better shape. (Seth) Curry’s one of them. They need Curry and Hardaway to make a lot of shots consistently to really have a chance. …
“The Clippers’ problem is they haven’t played together. When they do, they’re really good. They’ve got two superstars, and then Montrezl Harrell coming back and Lou Williams. They can score to their heart’s content. They just have too much firepower.”
Coach’s outlook: “I question the Montrezl Harrell addition back into the lineup, (and the idea of him) being completely fluid for a full series. I think he might have a few good games, and maybe he’ll come out in Game 1 and kick ass but I’m not sure. They haven’t played together yet, so I’m not going to go out there and tell you that they’re going to be a guarantee to knock off the Mavs early. And then the Mavs’ historic offense, and their ability to put up 120 or 130 on any given night, I think they’re going to get hot a couple times and that’s going to allow them to win a game or two.”
Executive’s outlook: “The Mavs have two great players, but the Clippers have different bodies to throw at them, from Paul (George) to Marcus Morris to Kawhi (Leonard), obviously. (The Mavs) have the best offense in the league for a reason, and the Clippers are going to have to use all their depth to beat what is a good basketball team — a team that is better than their record, and the numbers play that out.”
Scout’s pick: Clippers in five
Coach’s pick: Clippers in six
Executive’s pick: Clippers in six
Consensus advancing team: Clippers
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz
Scout’s outlook: “Utah’s problem is they don’t have (injured small forward Bojan) Bogdanovic (who averaged 20.2 points per game before having season-ending wrist surgery in mid-May). They got him originally because they were short on scoring. His absence is key. (Mike) Conley is a nice player; he just really hasn’t stepped up to fill the void. They just don’t have enough. Now they’re back to being Donovan Mitchell and hope. I just don’t see them having enough offensively.”
Coach’s outlook: “If Gary Harris plays, and is healthy and is able to get out there and him and Torrey Craig are able to guard (Donovan) Mitchell, I think that they’ll be able to stop them. I don’t think Utah has enough firepower to keep up with the way Denver has been playing with (Michael) Porter (Jr.) now activated the way he is, so I’ve got Denver in six.”
Executive’s outlook: “With the addition of (Michael) Porter (Jr.) and Bol (Bol) and hopefully getting (Gary) Harris back for them, and Will Barton, Denver’s depth — I mean, without Bojan, Utah has no depth. They’re happy to not see the Rockets again, and it should be a better series. But (considering) Denver’s superior depth, and with Jokic playing at such a high level, I think (they’ll win). (Jokic) brings Rudy away from the hoop, which brings away Utah’s biggest weapon defensively, and I just think the Nuggets wear them down and win in six.”
Scout’s pick: Nuggets in five
Coach’s pick: Nuggets in six
Executive’s pick: Nuggets in six
Consensus advancing team: Nuggets
No. 4 Houston Rockets vs. No. 5 Oklahoma City Thunder
Scout’s outlook: “What a series! That is the series to watch. … The absence of (Russell) Westbrook (who has a quad injury and is expected to miss the early stages of the series) will be critical right from the get-go. That is a key factor. I would tend to think OKC’s got the advantage in the series because of that injury. Surely, Houston could beat OKC without Westbrook, but it’s that much harder.
“Obviously for Houston, are they going to make shots? … There are no answers for (James) Harden (if you’re OKC). You just hope he misses. I mean, nobody’s figured him out. Get the ball out of his hands, obviously. Is Danuel House legitimate? Is Ben McLemore legitimate when it counts? I mean, will they make shots when it counts? Will P.J. Tucker make shots?
“For OKC, Chris Paul is playing at a very high level. Do they have enough playoff experience to win? What has Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) done (in the playoffs)? … I’m not sure they’re quite playoff-ready. … (Danilo) Gallinari’s got to be big. He’s their No. 2 guy, really.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think the Russell Westbrook injury is going to make the first couple games a little bit more interesting, and I think down the line the guys that the Thunder are going to have to play to stop James Harden are going to severely hinder their offensive spacing. The Luguentz Dorts, the Hamidou Diallos — those guys, and Andre Roberson, (the Thunder’s) defensive players are just such non-offensive factors that I feel like that’s going to conversely give Harden and Westbrook opportunities to rest on defense and match up against them. I just don’t feel like the Thunder are going to put out enough weapons out there to make them guard, unless they completely believe in Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schröder and (Danilo) Gallinari, that foursome, to really play heavy, heavy minutes.
“I really like the Thunder, and Chris Paul, the way he played and the way he has generated their team’s overall ethos and mantra and disposition and such. I don’t think he’s going to go down without a fight, so I think it’s going to go seven games.”
Executive’s outlook: “Yeah, CP3 and Shai, they don’t have someone to guard either of them. They can guard one or the other. I think Harden goes for 45, 10 and 10 a couple of times, but the Thunder for the second half of the season have been a top four or five team in basketball and I think they continue it here, with Russ being out for the first few games tipping the scales.”
Scout’s pick: Thunder in seven
Coach’s pick: Rockets in seven
Executive’s pick: Thunder in six
Consensus advancing team: Thunder
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
Scout’s outlook: “It’s a talent mismatch. The one guy (Jonathan Isaac) maybe the Magic had to guard Giannis a little bit is not playing. Who’s going to guard him? Orlando, if they’re in the West, they’re not even close to the playoffs. They’re just not a very good team, in my opinion. So that’s not a very intriguing series. Milwaukee’s struggled a little in the seeding games, but their minds will be more focused. But I’d be very surprised if Orlando wins a game.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think Orlando will make a few of the games close because of their length and (Magic coach Steve) Clifford’s defense, but I think Milwaukee is going to start clicking a little bit here in the first round.”
Executive’s outlook: “They’re just way better. I’m not even gonna lie to you with more (insight). I’m giving Orlando the gentleman’s sweep, (because) I think Milwaukee is still experimenting with things a little bit.”
Scout’s pick: Bucks in four
Coach’s pick: Bucks in four
Executive’s pick: Bucks in five
Consensus advancing team: Bucks
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
Scout’s outlook: “The Nets are playing at a high level. They have overachieved in the bubble. They have surprised a lot of people. They’re getting good performances from unexpected guys such as Tyler Johnson to a point and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. They have Caris LeVert, who is what you need in the playoffs: a go-to guy. The other team is going to focus on him even more, but the Nets have one of the elements of playoff success in LeVert. … They’re playing winning basketball, so I wouldn’t put it past them to win at least one game.
“The Raptors, to me, are the team to beat in the East. They have the toughest players in the league. They have five or six of the most competitive, toughest guys in the league: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam and OG (Anunoby). Those are the most macho, competitive guys in the league, and that’s the true strength of their team. Their talent’s not quite as good as last year, obviously, because of the absence of (Kawhi) Leonard. But Norman Powell’s had a career year. Their guards are fantastic. I haven’t even mentioned (Marc) Gasol. They have a championship under their belt. I don’t see them losing more than one game to Brooklyn. They have a creative coach. They can play at both ends. They have stars. They have guys who have done it in the playoffs. They’re a very, very good team on many levels.”
Coach’s outlook: “I just don’t think that Brooklyn is going to be able to stop Toronto in any way. I don’t think their defense is strong enough to allow them to even have a chance to win the games. I think it’s going to be competitive. I thought (the Nets) were one of the biggest surprises of the bubble. I thought they were incredible. (But) unless something happens injury-wise to Toronto, I just think Toronto is going to be pretty business-focused. I think Toronto is one of the three best teams in the NBA, so I don’t think they’re going to slip up and I think that they’re — if not the best — one of the two or three best two-way teams in the league. I think Brooklyn is going to do a great job, but I just don’t see them having the ability to stop Toronto, and I think Toronto will have the ability to lock in on (Caris) LaVert. They have elite wing defenders with size and length, and I think it’s going to really bother Caris.”
Executive’s outlook: “I think the Nets will play really hard, and steal one, and that’ll be it. I think that the Raptors have been the most cohesive team from the end of the regular season through the start of the (restart) games. They’re a group that we all envy as far as continuity and how the basketball is played.”
Scout’s pick: Raptors in five
Coach’s pick: Raptors in four
Executive’s pick: Raptors in five
Consensus advancing team: Raptors
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Scout’s outlook: “It’s a classic kind of matchup. Philly’s kind of old school, especially with Ben Simmons out because now the Sixers are going to start Al Horford. So you have big versus small. Another storyline is Boston’s quick perimeter guys versus Philly’s not-as-quick perimeter guys. …
“I think Philly’s defensively challenged, especially against Boston, from an athletic and quickness standpoint. Now, will the Sixers’ size matter? The Sixers have an old-school model with two bigs. The league is not playing like that anymore. … Embiid has to stay healthy. He has to be dominant. He just has to dominate Daniel Theis and (Enes) Kanter. The Sixers need (Embiid) to go the extra mile.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think Joel Embiid is going to have two games where he dominates at a level that allows them to win those games, but I just don’t believe that they’re going to be able to score at the level that they need to. Even though they had —quote-unquote — elite level offense without (Ben) Simmons and all these things, I don’t think that they’re going to be able to score at the rate that they need to. I think Brad Stevens is going to out-coach Brett Brown. I think he’s going to outscheme him.”
Executive’s outlook: “I don’t think they have anybody who can guard Joel, and he could make that prediction look wrong because he could win it — not by myself — but he could put up a 35-and-16 series, and I believe he’s going to keep it close because of that. But the Celtics’ depth (will be key), and in a series Brad continues to show that he makes the adjustments necessary and I give his team the benefit of the doubt to win in six.”
Scout’s pick: Celtics in seven
Coach’s pick: Celtics in six
Executive’s pick: Celtics in six
Consensus advancing team: Celtics
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5. Miami Heat
Scout’s outlook: “Miami is so deep. I think (player) One through Eleven they have the best roster in the league. Does that translate to winning the NBA championship? Maybe not. But their depth is very, very impressive. Their second team is really good.
“It’s not clear to me where Indiana has much of an advantage. Maybe (Victor) Oladipo, but he’s been sort of erratic. Is he at the same level (as he was before suffering a ruptured quad tendon in Jan. 2019 that kept him out for a year and even compelled him to choose not to play in Orlando before reversing his decision)? I don’t think so. Maybe Malcolm Brogdon gives them somewhat of an advantage but not clearly. …
“T.J. Warren, he’s been phenomenal. But Miami has any number of guys who can guard him, whether it’s Jimmy Butler or Andre Iguodala or even Jae Crowder. So the Heat can defend the guy who’s been the Pacers’ best in the seeding games. The Indiana bench is a little suspect.”
Coach’s outlook: “I’ve got the Heat in six, and a lot of that has to do with the Heat’s ability to throw multiple wing defenders on T.J. Warren and (Victor) Oladipo and (Malcolm) Brogdon. I just think the Heat’s ability to play (Jae) Crowder, Jimmy Butler, (Andre) Iguodala. Their versatility defensively, I think, is going to cause issues for Indiana. And although they’ve been hot, I don’t see them being able to score at the level they need to.”
Executive’s outlook: “The Pacers have been awesome, but the Heat have the bodies to guard T.J. Warren, or at least slow him down. And without (forward Domantis) Sabonis (who left the Orlando bubble on July 24 to seek treatment for a foot injury), the Pacers’ depth is hurt and the Heat, although they will run into teams that will be able to give them issues, I don’t think the Pacers at the end of the day are good enough to beat them in a series.”
Scout’s pick: Heat in five
Coach’s pick: Heat in six
Executive’s pick: Heat in five
Consensus advancing team: Heat
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
Scout’s outlook: “It’s a talent mismatch. The one guy (Jonathan Isaac) maybe the Magic had to guard Giannis a little bit is not playing. Who’s going to guard him? Orlando, if they’re in the West, they’re not even close to the playoffs. They’re just not a very good team, in my opinion. So that’s not a very intriguing series. Milwaukee’s struggled a little in the seeding games, but their minds will be more focused. But I’d be very surprised if Orlando wins a game.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think Orlando will make a few of the games close because of their length and (Magic coach Steve) Clifford’s defense, but I think Milwaukee is going to start clicking a little bit here in the first round.”
Executive’s outlook: “They’re just way better. I’m not even gonna lie to you with more (insight). I’m giving Orlando the gentleman’s sweep, (because) I think Milwaukee is still experimenting with things a little bit.”
Scout’s pick: Bucks in four
Coach’s pick: Bucks in four
Executive’s pick: Bucks in five
Consensus advancing team: Bucks
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
Scout’s outlook: “The Nets are playing at a high level. They have overachieved in the bubble. They have surprised a lot of people. They’re getting good performances from unexpected guys such as Tyler Johnson to a point and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. They have Caris LeVert, who is what you need in the playoffs: a go-to guy. The other team is going to focus on him even more, but the Nets have one of the elements of playoff success in LeVert. … They’re playing winning basketball, so I wouldn’t put it past them to win at least one game.
“The Raptors, to me, are the team to beat in the East. They have the toughest players in the league. They have five or six of the most competitive, toughest guys in the league: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam and OG (Anunoby). Those are the most macho, competitive guys in the league, and that’s the true strength of their team. Their talent’s not quite as good as last year, obviously, because of the absence of (Kawhi) Leonard. But Norman Powell’s had a career year. Their guards are fantastic. I haven’t even mentioned (Marc) Gasol. They have a championship under their belt. I don’t see them losing more than one game to Brooklyn. They have a creative coach. They can play at both ends. They have stars. They have guys who have done it in the playoffs. They’re a very, very good team on many levels.”
Coach’s outlook: “I just don’t think that Brooklyn is going to be able to stop Toronto in any way. I don’t think their defense is strong enough to allow them to even have a chance to win the games. I think it’s going to be competitive. I thought (the Nets) were one of the biggest surprises of the bubble. I thought they were incredible. (But) unless something happens injury-wise to Toronto, I just think Toronto is going to be pretty business-focused. I think Toronto is one of the three best teams in the NBA, so I don’t think they’re going to slip up and I think that they’re — if not the best — one of the two or three best two-way teams in the league. I think Brooklyn is going to do a great job, but I just don’t see them having the ability to stop Toronto, and I think Toronto will have the ability to lock in on (Caris) LaVert. They have elite wing defenders with size and length, and I think it’s going to really bother Caris.”
Executive’s outlook: “I think the Nets will play really hard, and steal one, and that’ll be it. I think that the Raptors have been the most cohesive team from the end of the regular season through the start of the (restart) games. They’re a group that we all envy as far as continuity and how the basketball is played.”
Scout’s pick: Raptors in five
Coach’s pick: Raptors in four
Executive’s pick: Raptors in five
Consensus advancing team: Raptors
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Scout’s outlook: “It’s a classic kind of matchup. Philly’s kind of old school, especially with Ben Simmons out because now the Sixers are going to start Al Horford. So you have big versus small. Another storyline is Boston’s quick perimeter guys versus Philly’s not-as-quick perimeter guys. …
“I think Philly’s defensively challenged, especially against Boston, from an athletic and quickness standpoint. Now, will the Sixers’ size matter? The Sixers have an old-school model with two bigs. The league is not playing like that anymore. … Embiid has to stay healthy. He has to be dominant. He just has to dominate Daniel Theis and (Enes) Kanter. The Sixers need (Embiid) to go the extra mile.”
Coach’s outlook: “I think Joel Embiid is going to have two games where he dominates at a level that allows them to win those games, but I just don’t believe that they’re going to be able to score at the level that they need to. Even though they had —quote-unquote — elite level offense without (Ben) Simmons and all these things, I don’t think that they’re going to be able to score at the rate that they need to. I think Brad Stevens is going to out-coach Brett Brown. I think he’s going to outscheme him.”
Executive’s outlook: “I don’t think they have anybody who can guard Joel, and he could make that prediction look wrong because he could win it — not by myself — but he could put up a 35-and-16 series, and I believe he’s going to keep it close because of that. But the Celtics’ depth (will be key), and in a series Brad continues to show that he makes the adjustments necessary and I give his team the benefit of the doubt to win in six.”
Scout’s pick: Celtics in seven
Coach’s pick: Celtics in six
Executive’s pick: Celtics in six
Consensus advancing team: Celtics
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5. Miami Heat
Scout’s outlook: “Miami is so deep. I think (player) One through Eleven they have the best roster in the league. Does that translate to winning the NBA championship? Maybe not. But their depth is very, very impressive. Their second team is really good.
“It’s not clear to me where Indiana has much of an advantage. Maybe (Victor) Oladipo, but he’s been sort of erratic. Is he at the same level (as he was before suffering a ruptured quad tendon in Jan. 2019 that kept him out for a year and even compelled him to choose not to play in Orlando before reversing his decision)? I don’t think so. Maybe Malcolm Brogdon gives them somewhat of an advantage but not clearly. …
“T.J. Warren, he’s been phenomenal. But Miami has any number of guys who can guard him, whether it’s Jimmy Butler or Andre Iguodala or even Jae Crowder. So the Heat can defend the guy who’s been the Pacers’ best in the seeding games. The Indiana bench is a little suspect.”
Coach’s outlook: “I’ve got the Heat in six, and a lot of that has to do with the Heat’s ability to throw multiple wing defenders on T.J. Warren and (Victor) Oladipo and (Malcolm) Brogdon. I just think the Heat’s ability to play (Jae) Crowder, Jimmy Butler, (Andre) Iguodala. Their versatility defensively, I think, is going to cause issues for Indiana. And although they’ve been hot, I don’t see them being able to score at the level they need to.”
Executive’s outlook: “The Pacers have been awesome, but the Heat have the bodies to guard T.J. Warren, or at least slow him down. And without (forward Domantis) Sabonis (who left the Orlando bubble on July 24 to seek treatment for a foot injury), the Pacers’ depth is hurt and the Heat, although they will run into teams that will be able to give them issues, I don’t think the Pacers at the end of the day are good enough to beat them in a series.”
Scout’s pick: Heat in five
Coach’s pick: Heat in six
Executive’s pick: Heat in five
Consensus advancing team: Heat
Trojan 24
Veteran
They really should have kicked off the playoffs today, it's hot as fukk out here and I don't wanna head out 
How do people feel about the Lakers chances vs Rockets? I think it's give and take when it comes to the Lakers' size advantage, but the Rockets also have the personnel to switch on LeBron. Lakers also do not have the guards to stop Harden / Westbrook or the 3 point shooting to match Houston. Harden and Westbrook though are typically inconsistent in the playoffs and they'll be depending on their bench and roleplayers to be making shots or else their whole offensive identity is negated.
Flex Luger
Job Is Finished
InstantKlassik
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Posting in here too. I'd do anything to get the year 2015 back, just so that Kobe would still be here
ffs USAA