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Post by Miege22 on Feb 26, 2024 9:41:49 GMT -5
EAST: Brooklyn vs. WashingtonHow They Got HereBrooklyn enters the postseason as the #1 seed, finishing 14-2. They were first in the North Division, and they finished with the best record in the league for the 6th time in franchise history.Washington enters the postseason as the #5 seed, finishing 10-6. They defeated Memphis in the play-in, 6-3Postseason HistoryThe Nets are making their 12th appearance in the postseason, returning to the playoffs after finishing 1-15 last season. All-Time Playoff Record: 18-6 Finals Record: 4-1 Titles: 4 (2013, 2014, 2018, 2019)The Wizards are making back-to-back trips to the playoffs for the first since the 2017 and 2018 postseasons. Their win over the Grizzlies was their first playoff win since 2018 when the made the Eastern Conference Finals… losing to these Nets. All-Time Playoff Record: 4-5 Finals Record: 0-1 Titles: 0Regular Season Meeting(s)The Nets and Wizards played in week 1 (Oct. 24-29) and week 13 (Jan. 15-21). The Nets won both match-ups, 5-4.Statistical Rankings Among Playoff TeamsBrooklyn FG %: 8th (14th) FT %: 3rd (6th) 3PTM: 5th (7th) REBS: 2nd (2nd) ASTS: 5th (5th) STLS: 6th (8th) BLKS: 1st (1st) TOS: 10th (20th) PTS: 3rd (4th)Washington FG %: 1st (1st) FT %: 10th (20th) 3PTM: 3rd (4th) REBS: 3rd (4th) ASTS: 6th (6th) STLS: 4th (4th) BLKS: 5th (6th) TOS: 7th (16th) PTS: 1st (2nd)KEY INJURIESBrooklyn – Scoot Henderson (adductor - out); Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad – DTD)Washington – Desmond Bane (ankle – out); Bradley Beal (hamstring/nose – DTD); CJ McCollum (ankle – DTD)Series Notes-The #1 seed in the East is 11-3 all-time in their first playoff matchup -The Nets’ all-time franchise record is 165-73 (regular season) -The Wizards’ all-time franchise record is 120-118 (regular season) -Despite the Nets and Wizards combining for a total of 16 playoff appearances prior to this season, this will be just the 2nd meeting between the two teams in the postseason. In 2018, the Wizards were the defending Eastern Conference champions, and they entered as the 2 seed. They would fall to the top-seeded Nets, as Brooklyn advanced and ultimately won their third NBA title. The Nets roared to the best record in the league, but should they be concerned here?There’s no other way to say it at this point. The Brooklyn Nets were a legitimately good, and quite possibly a great, team this year. After toiling away for a few years, they hit on some massive lottery luck, and landed the top-2 picks in the 2023 NBA draft. They used those picks to take Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. While it’s been a bit of a rough year for Scoot (though recent trends are positive), Wemby has been everything they could have hoped for and then some. He is arguably the main reason they’re here as the one-seed, but they also hit on so many other question marks (Austin Reaves, Coby White, Devin Vassell), that we can’t say Wemby is the only reason. That said, this Wizards team is really good, and if a few more plays go their way in the regular season, they would have swept the Nets and taken the one seed for themselves. This is an incredibly even match-up, and it would not be surprising if the EC one seed’s 4-game first round winning streak came to an end. So what happened in the play-in round?Giannis balled out, that’s what happened. Right from the get go, Giannis played as if Washington’s season was on the line. He opened things up with a massive 36/18/5/3/2 game, and it set the tone for the whole series. He ended up averaging 31-12-8 on 70% shooting, and the Wizards were never really challenged after the first week. He’s making a very strong case for best player left in the postseason, and if he can pull off another upset here, you’ve got to think he’ll be able to taste that first title. Brooklyn’s highlight of the season… week 11 vs. MiamiThere were quite a few wins to choose from, many of them thrilling (particularly their first half of the season), but we’re going with the win that flashed the terrifying potential of this team. Wemby averaged 24-9, made 6 threes and blocked 14 shots. JJJ put up 23-8, knocked down 13 threes and blocked 12 shots. Coby White averaged 21-6-6. Jalen Duren went for 14-12 and was 18/21 from the floor. They dominated without star big man Evan Mobley, and then they went and added Kyrie Irving, Kevin Huerter, and Gary Trent Jr. at the deadline a few weeks later. Washington’s highlight of the season... week 7 vs. New YorkSticking with what we wrote in the play-in round… The Wizards didn’t have the smoothest start out of the gate. They lost a nailbiter to Brooklyn to open the season, before bouncing back to beat Orlando and Toronto. When they lost to the Bulls and Jazz, it looked like the season just wouldn’t get off the ground. Then, after getting back to .500 by beating Miami, they went into New York… and took down the defending champs. It was the surest sign there was that this team was for real, and they proceeded to win four of their next five to solidify their playoff position.Who to keep an eye on for Brooklyn... Devin VassellLot of options here, but we’re going to go with Vassell considering the pretty penny the Nets paid for him in the off-season. The Nets landed Vassell in the historic 11-team deal at the end of the off-season, and, after the dust settled, they ultimately traded the 3rd best lotto odds to acquire him. Given his kicker, he may not be long for the team, but he has a real chance to make it worth it with 6 good weeks. After a stop and start beginning of the season, Vassell has really found his game the last month, averaging 23-4-4.5, along with 2.5 threes on 50% shooting. If he can continue to put up those kind of numbers, the sky is the limit for this Nets team.Who to keep an eye on for Washington... Daniel GaffordIn the play-in round, we highlighted Bradley Beal and that went… poorly. Beal played 5 minutes, pulled his hamstring, and missed the rest of the series. It ultimately didn’t matter, but that doesn’t mean the Wizards won’t need him. They will, but we’re going to move the spotlight into the frontcourt and tab Daniel Gafford as the player to watch here. If there’s one thing the Nets do, it’s block shots, and the Wizards are absolutely going to need Gafford to have a big couple of weeks to keep pace in that category. In his first four games after the real life trade to the Mavs, Gafford has blocked 8 shots. That’s the kind of production they’re going to need out of him. Is this the deepest team in Brooklyn Nets history?Oh, goodness no. The 2014 Nets went undefeated, won the title, and finished in the top-5 in 8 of 9 categories (finishing first in 4 of them). That was, by far, the deepest team in league history. However, that says more about the Nets as a franchise than it does about this current Nets team. Post-deadline, it’s possible this is the deepest team in the league. In the last 30 days, every player on this roster is averaging at least double-figure scoring. All but two are grabbing at least 3 rebounds per game. Half of them are at 4+ assists. Half are at 2+ threes. Four are picking up 1.5+ steals. Four are at at least 1 block per game. Simply put, this is a damn good team.What is Washington’s path to victory?Sure, we just finished talking about how good Brooklyn has been, but did you know the Wizards were better, on the season, in 5 of 9 categories? There’s no reason they can’t ride that path to victory. This is a team that scores in bunches. Shoots it well. Knocks down threes. Nabs steals. And they don’t turn it over nearly as often as the Nets. Win those five categories, and you’re in the conference finals.What’s at stake for the Nets?This is a new category we’re adding for the conference semis. We’re going deep into the numbers to provide some historical context to these match-ups. Without further ado, here is what is at stake in this postseason for the Nets… -Trying to reach league record 9th conference finals -Trying to reach league record 6 Finals -Trying to win league record 5th title -Trying to win first title since 2019 -Have won league record 18 playoff games -Trying to win first playoff game since 2020 -Trying to move to 2-0 against Washington in playoffs -3-4 against Tampa Bay -2-0 against Orlando -1st title for everyone on the roster, save JJJ (Kyrie has 1 finals appearance – 2015) What’s at stake for the Wizards?-Trying to reach a 3rd conference finals -Trying to reach 2nd Finals -Trying to win first title -Never played Orlando -0-1 against Brooklyn -1-0 against Tampa Bay -Horford trying to make 5th finals (lost in 13, 14, 19, won in 22) -Beal (never won); Grayson (lost previous 2), CJ (won in 19 and 23), and Batum (lost in 17, 23) all trying to reach 3rd Finals -McDaniels (lost in 21), Giannis (lost in 17), and Pritchard (won in 21) all trying to reach a 2nd FinalsPOSTSEASON ROSTERSBrooklyn Duren, Jalen Henderson, Scoot Huerter, Kevin Irving, Kyrie Jackson Jr., Jaren Mobley, Evan Monk, Malik Reaves, Austin Thompson, Amen Thompson, Ausar Trent Jr., Gary Vassell, Devin Wembanyama, Victor White, Coby Williams, Vince – D-League Washington Allen, Grayson Antetokounmpo, Giannis Bane, Desmond - IR Brunson, Jalen Batum, Nic Beal, Bradley Collins, Zach Dort, Lu Gafford, Daniel Horford, Al McCollum, CJ McDaniels, Jaden Pritchard, Payton Porter Jr., Michael Wallace, Cason
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Post by Miege22 on Feb 26, 2024 9:47:01 GMT -5
EAST: Orlando vs. Tampa BayHow They Got HereOrlando enters as the 2nd seed. They finished 11-5 and won the Southeast division.Tampa Bay enters as the 3rd seed. They also finished 11-5, finishing tied for first in the division (but losing the head-to-head tiebreaker).Postseason HistoryThe Magic are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018 when the snuck in as the fourth seed and lost to the Nets in the first round. All-Time Playoff Record: 2-3 Finals Record: N/A Titles: 0This is the Bull Sharks' 13th playoff appearance. They’ve made the playoffs every year, save 2014 and 2018. Last season, they fell in the conference semifinals to the Toronto Raptors, ending a run of 4 straight ECF appearances (and 7 in 8 years). All-Time Playoff Record: 16-9 Finals Record: 3-1 Titles: 3 (2012, 2015, 2016)Regular Season Meeting(s)The Magic and Bull Sharks played in week 7 (Dec. 4-10) and week 13 (Jan. 15-21). Orlando won both meetings, 6-3.Statistical Rankings Among Playoff TeamsOrlando FG %: 5th (9th) FT %: 8th (14th) 3PTM: 8th (13th) REBS: 7th (10th) ASTS: 10th (15th) STLS: 10th (14th) BLKS: 3rd (3rd) TOS: 3rd (11th) PTS: 7th (8th)Tampa Bay FG %: 3rd (4th overall) FT %: 6th (11th) 3PTM: 2nd (3rd) REBS: 5th (7th) ASTS: 3rd (3rd) STLS: 9th (12th) BLKS: 9th (12th) TOS: 8th (17th) PTS: 6th (7th)KEY INJURIESOrlando – Rudy Gobert (ankle - DTD); Jonathan Isaac (knee - DTD); Cam Reddish (ankle – out)Tampa Bay – Deni Avdija (heel - DTD); Eric Gordon (groin - DTD); LeBron James (ankle – DTD)Series Notes-The #2 seed in the East is 11-3 all-time in their first playoff match-up -Orlando’s all-time franchise record is 106-132 (regular season) -Tampa Bay’s all-time franchise record is 153-85 (regular season) -Much like the other match-up in the East, this is just the 2nd postseason meeting between these in-state rivals, and that last one happened all the way back in 2012. Some of you may remember that season, surely the Bull Sharks do. After sneaking into the playoffs on a tiebreaker in the strike-shortened 11-12 season, Tampa upset the top-seeded Nets, then the 2nd-seeded Magic to advance to the Finals. It was the first year of two-week playoff match-ups, and it ended with Tampa holding their first trophy. Just how in the heck did the Magic get here?Pretty remarkable isn’t it? After a 1-4 start, the Magic ripped off 9 consecutive wins (they won 10 of their last 11) to go from top-5 lotto odds to top-4 team in the league. So how did they do it? Well, they rode free agency in a way we’ve never seen a team ride free agency before. They threw big one year offers at Derrick White, Miles Bridges, Rudy Gobert, RJ Barrett, and De’Andre Hunter. The first four were smashed out of the park, and Hunter has been solid despite some injuries. And to be quite honest, that first month of the season was kind of flukey. Claxton was injured. Bridges was suspended. Quickley and Barrett were still with the real life Knicks. Sexton wasn’t getting as much burn. And Franz Wagner was just flat out not playing well. All of those things flipped in Orlando’s favor, and they’ve been playing some of the best ball of anyone for the last two+ months. If it isn’t Tampa Bay, ya old bastardAfter playing out the string last year, and losing in round one to Toronto (snapping their streak of four straight ECFs), it appeared as if the Bull Sharks would be heading into a mini-rebuild. Well, not so fast my friend. The Bull Sharks went the other way. They doubled down, baby! Picks? Who needs em?! Tampa sent out draft picks and brought in Jamal Murray, D’Angelo Russell, and PJ Washington. They also crushed the picks they did have, landing Dereck Lively and Jaime Jaquez. Then at the deadline, they went whole hog. Even more picks, plus promising young guys, for the return of LeBron James (and don’t overlook the additions of Deni Avdija and Mike Conley). Suddenly, this team is loaded, and the top end talent is especially good. LeBron is LeBron. Domantas Sabonis is legitimate MVP contender. Both KAT and Murray are having fantastic seasons. It’s all there for this team to get back to the ECF and, potentially, the Finals. All they’ll have to contend with is the toughest Eastern Conference in recent memory.Orlando’s highlight of the season... week 6 vs. BrooklynThe week that saved Orlando’s season. This has to be the highlight. Orlando came into this one 1-4. The Nets were undefeated and riding high after several close wins. Orlando fought tooth and nail and, ultimately, survived a furious Nets rally on the final day. The win jumpstarted the Magic’s 9-game winning streak, and they notched some wildly impressive wins in that stretch. Shoot, the first three wins of that streak were Brooklyn, Tampa, and Kansas City. The win over Brooklyn was a true team effort that showed the rest of the league how deep this team was if they could all just stay on the floor.Tampa Bay’s highlight of the season... GM Cup TitleThe Bull Sharks had accomplished a lot in this league’s history. Three titles, almost ten conference finals appearances, over a dozen playoff trips. But in 2023-2024 they accomplished something no other team has achieved: they won the GM Cup. Now, to be fair, it was the first year of the GM Cup, so it’s not like it was a hole in the resume. But they’ll now be able to say, forever, they were the first GM Cup winner. After marching through group play with a 3-1 record, they easily defeated Seattle and Chicago, advancing to the final against the Colorado Swannies. It was anyone’s ballgame heading into the weekend, but Tampa closed out Saturday strong to hold on for the title. They’ll look to be the first team in league history to pull off the double this postseason.Who to keep an eye on for Orlando... Collin SextonSigned in the summer of 2022 coming off a missed season due a meniscus tear, it took a while for Sexton to find his footing again. But boy has he ever found it. Since entering the starting lineup for the Jazz, Sexton has been awesome. 21/2.5/5.5 might not seem like anything special, but the efficiency with which he’s doing it is where you have to tip your cap. He is shooting 50% from the floor, 86.5% from the line, and knocking down 1.9 threes per game (on 42.6% shooting). If the Magic are going to make a deep run, Sexton playing Jamal Murray to a draw, at least, will be key.Who to keep an eye on for Tampa Bay… LeBron JamesLook, I know it feels like a bit of a copout, but there’s a reason we’ve pinpointed LeBron here. His numbers this year have been great. 25-7-7, better than 52% shooting, over 2 threes… but he’s also old. There’s no sugarcoating it. He’s seemingly carried a questionable tag for the entire season, and while he plays more often than not, he does still sit games. In a playoff field this loaded, losing a game or two of LeBron can be the difference between a Finals run and a first round exit. Could this be a one and done run for the Magic?On first glance, you would probably say yes, just looking at the number of guys signed to one-year deals. However, when you look a little deeper, there’s a good chance the core of this team is coming back again next year. The Magic have all three re-signs left, and while that obviously isn’t enough for everyone, it still gives them a massive leg up. They also aren’t likely to be strapped for cash since some, or all, of those re-signs are probably going to be cheaper on a per year basis than some of the one-year balloon deals they’ve handed out. It’s hard to say who the Magic will choose, but we know Franz, Sexton, and Claxton are all coming back. Adding three of Quickley, Barrett, Bridges, White, and Gobert will keep this team competitive moving forward. It feels crazy to say this about a three time champion, but is this the year Tampa breaks through?The Bull Sharks won back-to-back titles in 2015-2016, becoming the second team in league history to accomplish that feat. Since then, they’ve made the playoffs 6 times in 7 years. They lost in the ECF four of those years. They lost in the Finals in 2022. For whatever reason, they’ve just not been able to get over the hump since their reboot. This will be their 7th appearance in the 8 seasons since their last title. Can they finally finish the job and match rival Brooklyn with four titles?What’s at stake for the Magic?-Trying to reach 2nd conference finals -Trying to reach first NBA Finals -Trying to win first title -2-2 in first playoff game -Trying to win first playoff game since 2014 -0-1 against Tampa Bay -0-2 against Brooklyn -Never played Washington -Derrick White (won in 23), Bridges (won in 23), Gobert (lost in 21), and RJ (lost in 23) are all trying to reach their 2nd FinalsWhat’s at stake for the Bull Sharks?-Trying to reach league record 9th conference finals -Trying to reach 5th Finals -Trying to tie Brooklyn with 4 titles -Trying to win first title since 2016 -Have won league record 16 playoff games; trying to surpass/tie Brooklyn -Trying to win first playoff game since 2022 -Trying to move to 2-0 against Orlando in playoffs -4-3 against Brooklyn -0-1 against Washington -LeBron trying to reach league record 6th Finals (has won 3; ties league record w/4) -Towns, Gordon trying to reach 3rd Finals (win 1st) -Sabonis (lost in 22), Russell (won in 21), O’Neale (won in 21), Avdija (won in 21) trying to reach 2nd Finals POSTSEASON ROSTERSOrlando Barrett, RJ Bridges, Miles Claxton, Nic Gobert, Rudy Hendricks, Taylor Hunter, De’Andre Isaac, Jonathan Jackson, Isaiah Poole, Jordan Quickley, Immanuel Reddish, Cam Sexton, Collin Wagner, Franz White, Derrick Tampa Bay Avdija, Deni Beasley, Malik Conley, Mike Gordon, Eric James, LeBron Jaquez Jr., Jaime Lively II, Dereck Murray, Jamal O’Neale, Royce Robinson, Duncan Russell, D’Angelo Sabonis, Domantas Towns, Karl-Anthony Washington, PJ
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Post by Miege22 on Feb 26, 2024 9:54:13 GMT -5
WEST: Portland vs. Golden St.How They Got HerePortland enters as the #1 seed and finished 12-4. They won the Pacific Division, and they closed the regular season winning 4 of their final 5 games.Golden St. finished as the 5th seed, with a 9-7 record. They defeated the 4th-seeded Seattle Supersonics in the play-in round, 7-2.Postseason HistoryThis is the 6th playoff appearance for the Blazers. They’re making their first back-to-back postseason appearances since they went to three in a row from 2010-2012 when they were in Cleveland. Last year, they advanced all the way to the NBA Finals out of the play-in round before losing to the New York Knicks. All-Time Playoff Record: 6-5 Finals Record: 0-2 Titles: 0Golden St. is making their 6th playoff appearance. The last time they made the playoffs was the 2021-2022 season, when they finished 14-2 and proceeded to defeat OKC, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay en route to their first title in franchise history. All-Time Playoff Record: 4-4 Finals Record: 1-0 Titles: 1 (2022)Regular Season Meeting(s)These two played in week 7 (Dec. 4-10) and week 14 (Jan. 22-28). The Blazers won the first match-up, 7-2, while GS evened the season series by winning in week 14, 6-3.Statistical Rankings Among Playoff TeamsPortland FG %: 7th (11th overall) FT %: 1st (1st) 3PTM: 2nd (2nd) REBS: 6th (9th) ASTS: 2nd (2nd) STLS: 1st (1st) BLKS: 2nd (2nd) TOS: 9th (19th) PTS: 2nd (3rd)Golden St. FG %: 2nd (3rd) FT %: 9th (17th) 3PTM: 7th (12th) REBS: 4th (6th) ASTS: 1st (1st) STLS: 5th (7th) BLKS: 8th (11th) TOS: 6th (14th) PTS: 8th (9th)KEY INJURIESPortland – Jarred Vanderbilt (foot – out); Terry Rozier (knee – DTD); Paul Goerge (knee – DTD); Trae Young (finger - out)Golden St. – Mitchell Robinson (ankle – out); Mark Williams (back - out); Khris Middleton (ankle - DTD)Series Notes-Portland's all-time record is 130-108 -Golden St.’s all-time record is 116-122 -The #1 seed in the West is 11-3 all-time in their first playoff match-up. -Believe it or not, yes, these two teams have faced off before in the playoffs. Travel back with us to 2010-2011. The Portland Trailblazers were known as the Cleveland Cavaliers, though still competing in the West. They were the defending Western Conference champions, but they were stuck in the 3-6 match-up against these Golden St. Warriors. They’d defeat GS and lose in the next round to Utah. The best players in that series? Probably Kevin Love, Rudy Gay (Portland), Kevin Martin, and Andrea Bargnani (GS). It’s… been a while. Wait! Portland is here again, but Kevin Durant is not injured?That’s right. Nobody move a muscle! No pun intended on that one, but KD is healthy, playing, and looking to lead his team back to the promised land. It’s been TEN YEARS since KD won his last title, leading the way for the undefeated Nets back in 2014. Somehow, despite being 10 years older and surviving an achilles tear along the way, KD is better than ever. He’s averaging 28 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on the season, to go along with 0.9 steals and 1.3 blocks. He’s shooting 53% from the floor and 87% from the foul line. He’s been fantastic. And he's getting help. Trae Young, Paul George, and Terry Rozier (pour one out for Trae Young, who is now going to be out until the Finals at the earliest) are all putting up 20+ points per game. Brook Lopez and Jakob Poeltl are swatting shots. Draymond Green is playing his all-around game (when he’s not freaking out and punching people). From top to bottom, this might be the best team in Trailblazer history, and they’ll be looking to avenge last season’s heartbreaking Finals loss. Golden St. actually pulled it off? Somehow, someway, this Warriors team managed to fight back and hold off the Seattle Supersonics in the Western Conference Play-In round. It wasn’t pretty, but they were able to get it done in large part due to the efforts of their stars: Devin Booker and Pascal Siakam. Booker and Siakam put up 23-3-6 and 18-6-4, respectively. Going up against a far more star-laded opponent in Portland, the Warriors are going to need everything they can get from those two… and then some. Portland’s highlight of the season... week 15 vs. SeattleBy the time Portland reached their penultimate game of the season, against the rival Sonics, their playoff berth had already been solidified. In fact, they were already pretty comfortable knowing they’d likely be avoiding the play-in game (unless the unthinkable happened and they lost to Phoenix to end the year. They did not). Still, they went out and DEMOLISHED the Sonics to leave no doubt who the favorite in the West really was. Trae Young was masterful, putting up 31-11 and making 20 threes. Kevin Durant averaged 26-6-6, while shooting 61% from the floor and 89% from the line. That they dominated without Paul George playing well at all had to put a scare into the rest of the West.Golden St.’s highlight of the season... week 14 vs. PortlandIt’s a repeat from our play-in preview, but it’s even more relevant now that GS has advanced… This was the week when the Warriors cemented themselves as a real threat in the playoffs. They played roughly the same number of minutes as Portland, and they dominated the top seed in the West. Devin Booker went crazy, averaging 42 ppg that week, and if there's a reason the Warriors make a run through the postseason, it's going to be that guy. Booker has had a phenomenal season, putting up 28-5-7 on 50% shooting, and he has a real shot to land the All-NBA nod for this year.Who to keep an eye on for Portland... Cam Whitmore150% it’s Whitmore. After getting very little run to start the season, Whitmore has seen more and more playing time for the real life Rockets, partially due to injuries, but mainly because they just can’t keep the kid off the floor. Just look at what he’s done the last month of the season: 17-5, 2.6 threes. That might not sound like a lot, but for a rookie who was literally giving the team nothing to start the year, it’s a godsend. Expect Whitmore to keep getting a lot of run, and if he continues to play well, Portland is that much more dangerous.Who to keep an eye on for Golden St.… Devin BookerWe tabbed Bagley as the guy to watch against Seattle, and he was fine. Solid double-double stat line. Exactly what the Warriors needed with so many bigs banged up. That all changes against Portland. This is a big boy series, and the Warriors are going to need the stars to show out. Booker has done that all year (28-5-7), and if the Warriors want to have any shot to make another Finals run, they’re going to need Booker to do what he did two years ago. As a reminder, Devin Booker averaged 30 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.6 threes while shooting 51% from the floor during the 2022 playoffs.Is the third time the charm for Portland?Since leaving Cleveland, the “new” Blazers have enjoyed a level of success they haven’t achieved since the inception of the league. Over the last four years, they’ve gone 10-4, 10-6, 11-5, and 12-4. It has all crested this year, as they finished with the best record since the year 1 Cavs (18-2), and won their first division title since 2012 (again, as the Cavs). They’ve gotten closer to a title with each successive step, and given the ages and injury histories of KD and PG, they have to feel like this could, potentially, be their last best shot. Perhaps nowhere else feels greater pressure to win a title this year than these Blazers. The next six weeks could be the greatest in franchise history…Could the stars be aligning for these Warriors?Is it possible that, in May when we look back on this season, we think, “we really should have realized that February was just a month from hell for the Warriors”? Think about it. Injuries and a wonky scheduled contributed to a rough end of season loss to a Sonics team that, all things equal, is probably less talented, top to bottom, than these Warriors. They managed to sneak past them in the play-in round despite still struggling through injuries both old and new. And they entered the semi-final match-up against Portland with a weird scheduling quirk in their favor… Booker and KD being tied at the hip because of their status as real life teammates. This team is getting healthier, and they’ve already shown once in the regular season that they’re capable of beating Portland. Why can’t they do it again? And if they do… who’s to say they can’t beat Utah or Kansas City? They beat KC in the conference finals two years ago, after all. The beauty of this match-up with Portland? While the Blazers are certainly feeling the pressure to finish the job, the Warriors, by virtue of their underdog status and having won a title two years ago, enter this with absolutely zero pressure. Anything beyond this is gravy. For a team with real title experience? That makes them extra dangerous.What’s at stake for the Blazers?-Trying to reach 3rd conference finals and 3rd NBA Finals -Trying to reach back-to-back conference finals/NBA Finals -Would be 4th WC team to make back-to-back Finals (1st since Seattle in 20-21) -Only Brooklyn and Tampa have done it in East -Seeking to become 4th franchise with 3 Finals appearances -1-0 against Golden State -2-1 against Utah -Never played Kansas City -KD trying to make 5th Finals (lost in 11, 23; won in 13, 14) -RJax trying to make 3rd straight Finals (won in 22, lost in 23) -PG (lost in 19, 23), Draymond (lost in 18, 23), and Lopez (lost in 21, 23) trying to make 3rd Finals -Trae, Naz, Poeltl (first three lost in 23), Melton (won in 19), DSJ (won in 18) all trying to make 2nd Finals What’s at stake for the Warriors?-Trying to reach 2nd conference finals -Trying to reach 2nd Finals -Would be first postseason win over Portland -1-0 against Kansas City -0-1 against Utah -Khris Middleton trying to make 4th Finals (lost in 16, won in 17 and 21) -Vucevic (won in 21 and 22) and Siakam (won in 19, 22) trying to make 3rd Finals -Booker, Herb Jones, and FVV all trying to make 2nd Finals (all won w/GS in 22) POSTSEASON ROSTERS Portland Durant, Kevin George, Paul Green, Draymond Hart, Josh Jackson, Reggie Lopez, Brook Melton, De’Anthony Okoro, Isaac Poeltl, Jakob Reid, Naz Rozier, Terry Smith Jr., Dennis Vanderbilt, Jarred - IR Whitmore, Cam Young, Trae Golden St. Bagley, Marvin Booker, Devin DiVincenzo, Donte Hartenstein, Isaiah Ivey, Jaden Jones, Herb Jones, Tre McConnell, TJ Middleton, Khris Robinson, Mitchell - IR Siakam, Pascal Toppin, Obi Fred VanVleet Vucevic, Nikola Williams, Mark
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Post by Miege22 on Feb 26, 2024 9:58:52 GMT -5
WEST: Utah vs. Kansas CityHow They Got HereUtah finished 12-4 to grab the #2 seed in the Western Conference. They won their final 8 games to clinch the Midwest Division title.Kansas City is the #3 seed, entering the postseason at 11-5. They dropped 2 of their final 3 to fall from the top seed to 2nd in the Midwest Division.Postseason HistoryThis is Utah's 12th playoff appearance, and it’s the first time making back-to-back appearances since 2018 and 2019. Last year, they lost in the play-in round to the Portland Trailblazers All-Time Playoff Record: 9-11 Finals Record: 0-3 Titles: 0This is the 9th playoff appearance for the Kings. They last made the playoffs in 2022, advancing to the WCF before losing an absolute heartbreaker to the Golden St. Warriors. All-Time Playoff Record: 5-8 Finals Record: 0-0 Titles: N/ARegular Season Meeting(s)These two played in week 1 (Oct. 24-29) and again in week 16 (Feb. 5-11). The Jazz won both match-ups, 6-3.Statistical Rankings Among Playoff TeamsUtah FG %: 6th (10th) FT %: 7th (12th) 3PTM: 6th (8th) REBS: 1st (1st) ASTS: 9th (14th) STLS: 7th (9th) BLKS: 7th (8th) TOS: 2nd (8th) PTS: 5th (6th)Kansas City FG %: 4th (5th overall) FT %: 4th (8th) 3PTM: 10th (17th) REBS: 8th (13th) ASTS: 7th (8th) STLS: 4th (5th) BLKS: 4th (4th) TOS: 5th (13th) PTS: 4th (5th)KEY INJURIESUtah – Dante Exum (knee – out)Kansas City – Malcolm Brogdon (elbow – out); John Konchar (thumb - DTD); Paolo Banchero (sick - DTD); Isaiah Stewart (punched out Drew Eubanks – suspended for at least 1 game this round); Jimmy Butler (choked out by Naji Marshall - suspended for 1 game)Series Notes-Utah’s all-time record is 174-64 -Kansas City’s all-time record is 139-99 -The #2 seed in the Western Conference might officially be cursed. It’s been SIX YEARS since the West’s 2nd seed has managed to win their first playoff game. The last #2 seed to accomplish that feat is now in Miami. Though interestingly enough, the #2 seed in the West had made the Finals three straight years before the “curse” started. We think it was Portland leaving for Miami. They took the mojo with them. -It’s a year of rehashing old rivalries, apparently, and this one is no different. Both of the previous match-ups between these two took place in the WCF, in back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014. The Jazz were the #1 seed both years, and they were undefeated in 2013. They defeated the Kings both times, but they would lose to the Nets in back-to-back Finals. Did Utah make the gamble of the summer?Honestly, they might have. Fresh off their first postseason appearance in years, the Jazz returned the bulk of their roster. Instead of trying to add around the edges, though, they went bold. They traded star PG Jamal Murray, straight up, for the #3 pick in the draft. After years of dealing away picks for proven talent, the Jazz took a massive swing on the draft… and it looks like they knocked it out of the park. Over the last month, Miller has averaged 21 points, 4 boards, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3 threes per game. If not for Victor Wembanyama, he’d probably be the clear front-runner for ROY. While they’re a bit thinner at PG with Murray gone, bringing on Miller has given this team a legit young star to build around moving into the future. What do we even make of the Kings? We really don’t know. The Kings are one of the more perplexing teams in the league. They were on top of the West for a good chunk of the season before the wheels came off in the final three weeks. They have wins over Portland and Brooklyn, something no other team in the league can say. They have a real, honest-to-god, MVP candidate in SGA. And yet, there’s just something about this team that appears to be missing. They’ve been injured off and on all year, so it’s a real credit to them that they’re here in the first place, let alone a top-3 seed. We’re not sure what to expect from this team. An early round flameout, a magic run to the title, and anything in between is on the table. Utah’s highlight of the season... week 16 vs. Kansas CityThe Jazz and Kings entered the final week of the regular season knowing they’d both be top-3 seeds, but there was still quite a bit left to be determined. The winner would claim the Midwest division, and Kansas City could still jump to the top of the West if they pulled it off. Utah had that opportunity as well, but they needed Portland to lose to Phoenix. Still, a win by Utah would mean a sweep of the season series. The Jazz left no doubt who the superior team was this year, throttling the Kings behind sublime performances from Brandon Miller and DeMar DeRozan. It has set the stage for what should be a fascinating playoff match-up.Kansas City’s highlight of the season... week 9 vs. BrooklynWe thought about their early season upset of the Trailblazers, but at the end of the day, their win over Brooklyn felt more impactful. The Nets entered this one as the best team in the league, but 68 points on the final day from SGA and Paolo slammed the door shut for Kansas City. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Kings, and it actually kickstarted a five game winning streak that locked up a top-3 seed. It also reminded the league that these Kings could absolutely compete with the top of the league. Who to keep an eye on for Utah... Buddy HieldThe Jazz almost traded Hield in the summer, and they have got to be thrilled they didn’t go through with that deal. Since Hield’s real life trade to Philly, he’s been incredible. It’s only been 5 games, but in that stretch, he’s averaged 21-4-7, swiped 1.6 steals, and made 4.4(!) threes per game. The shooting is bound to cool off, but he’s being allowed to show more of his all-around game in his new role, and the Jazz are reaping the benefits. Who to keep an eye on for Kansas City... Jimmy ButlerJimmy, when he plays, has had a solid season for the Kings. But the “when he plays” part is key because the guy has flat out missed too many games. Of the 55 games the real life Heat have played, Jimmy has missed 18 of them. The Kings have managed to win without him, but if they want to have any shot of making a real run, they need Jimmy on the floor.Could this finally be the year for the Jazz?We’re not blowing smoke when we say the Jazz are one of the best franchises in this league. The numbers, and wins, back them up. They’ve got the best regular season record since the league’s inception. They’re one of only two teams that have finished a regular season unbeaten. They’re one of only three franchises to make it to 3 or more Finals. They’ve done it all… except win the final game of the year. In the glory days of the franchise, they made the Finals in 2012, 2013, and 2014, they always seemed to run into an Eastern Conference opponent that was just better or healthier (or both). Since those three Finals losses, the Jazz have had a tough time in the postseason. They’ve won just one playoff game in six trips, though they’ve been the lower seeded team in each of those previous five trips. Believe it or not, this will be the first time in a decade that the Jazz will face a lower seeded opponent. Can the Buffalo Bills of our league finally break through?It would be a real surprise for the Kings to win the title… right?Who knows! It seems like every time we try and figure out whether Poopy can win the title or not, the team goes in the opposite direction. The last time they were here, in 2022, they were clear underdogs against Phoenix… they beat them. Then they should have beaten Golden St. in the WCF, but they got cute with lineups and lost by one shot. In 2020 and 2021, they entered as the higher seed against Seattle, finishing first in the West in 2020, and both times they went down in an upset. The year before, they knocked off the Rockets as the third seed. There’s no rhyme or reason to how the Kings seem to perform in the playoffs. Just sit back and enjoy the show.What’s at stake for the Jazz?-Trying to reach WC record 7th conference finals -First WCF since 2017 -First playoff win since 2017 -First Finals since 2014 -2-0 against KC (13 and 14 WCF) -1-2 against Portland -1-0 against Golden State -2-1 against Utah -Russ trying to make 4th Finals (won in 11, 15, 16) -Portis (lost in 18, won in 19) and Powell (won in 17, 23) trying to make 3rd Finals -Collins, DeRozan (both lost in 18), Capela (won in 23), and Schroder (lost in 21) all trying to make their 2nd Finals What’s at stake for the Kings? -Trying to reach 5th WCF (break tie with Houston) -First WCF since 2022 -First playoff win since 2022 -First Finals ever -5-3 in first playoff game -0-2 against Utah (13 and 14 WCF) -Never played Portland -0-1 against Golden State (22 WCF) -2-1 against Utah -Kennard trying to make 3rd Finals (lost in 18, won in 22) -Dejounte (lost in 21), SGA (won in 19), Jimmy (won in 22), Wagner (lost in 23), Stewart (lost in 21), and Brogdon (won in 19) all trying to make their 2nd Finals POSTSEASON ROSTERS Utah Beverley, Patrick Capela, Clint Collins, John DeRozan, DeMar Exum, Dante - IR Hield, Buddy Markkanen, Lauri Miller, Brandon Nurkic, Jusuf Portis, Bobby Powell, Norman Reath, Duop Schroder, Dennis Walker, Jabari Westbrook, Russell Kansas City Banchero, Paolo Brogdon, Malcolm - IR Butler, Jimmy Gilgeous-Alexander, Shai Grant, Jerami Kennard, Luke Kessler, Walker Konchar, John Mann, Terance Murray, Dejounte Niang, Georges Porter Jr., Craig Stewart, Isaiah Thybulle, Matisse Wagner, Mo
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Tampa Bay Bull Sharks
Moderator
2012 NBA Champions, 2015 NBA Champions, 2016 NBA Champions, 2024 GM League Cup Champions
Posts: 2,922
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Post by Tampa Bay Bull Sharks on Feb 26, 2024 11:09:33 GMT -5
Wow. Hell of a job on this.
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