Friends in fast breaks,
Come on Basketball gods, can you calm down for a MINUTE?
I don't need to see stars hobbling immediately, this is supposed to be peak competitive ball, and you're stealing that from us!
Can you just let the guys play and leave that injury report empty?
Round 1 PICKS
- Playoffs Pick'em
- Finals Props
- Coming Soon
PICK STATS
Playoffs Pick'em
- First, let's review the Play-In
- Did I think the Play-In was a mediocre idea at first? Yes
- Am I totally willing to eat crow? Also yes
- In our 7/8 seed matchups, the Lakers and 76ers successfully did their "win and in" maneuvers
- This gave 227 pickers and 273 pickers points, respectively
- In the 9/10 matchups, the Warriors and Hawks were sent packing
- This pushed the Kings and Bulls through to a second do-or-die match with the Pelicans and Heat, respectively
- In the final matchups, the Pelicans and Heat won
- This gave 145 pickers and 192 pickers points, respectively
- After the dust settled, 56 players went "4-0" on their Play-In predictions with 400 points and a joint first place heading into Round 1
- We saw major injuries to J. Butler and Z. Williamson, severely hurting MIA and NOP odds in their already-underdog states
- Now, how about Round 1?
- We've got 4 "close" matchups
- MIN v PHX - 51.9% to PHX
- NYK v PHI - 56.6% to NYK
- CLE v ORL - 56.9% to CLE
- MIL v IND - 59.4% to IND
- The other matchups
- LAC v DAL - 70.4% to DAL
- DEN v LAL - 91.2% to DEN
- OKC v NOP - 95.6% to OKC
- BOS v MIA - 99.1% to MIA
- We're calling for 3 "upsets" with DAL, IND, and PHX (based on seeds)
- I unerstand DAL (they've been hot, Kawhi injured, Harden and George shrinking in the playoffs)
- IND feels decently bold (IND hasn't been doing that amazing, Giannis hurt but presumed returning soon)
- PHX feels VERY bold (MIN has looked like a juggernaut all season, while PHX has underperformed expectations)
- And of course, Embiid just went down again
- I still don't understand, the landing just didn't look "extreme"
- Such a worrying sign for the big fella
- TURN INJURIES OFF PLEASE, thx
BEST PICK COMMENTS (Theme: Most on the line?)
Reminder: The weekly themes are totally voluntary, you can always be as wild as you want. Consider them a suggestion if you need a jumping-off point for your comment.
@Merlinmei383 (Thunder, Mavs, Suns, Nuggets, Celtics, Cavs, Pacers, Knicks): "Anything less than a NBA finals appearance for Boston is a major disappointment "
GM says: Does the pressure get to them? Do they lose to the Zombie Heat again???
@StatCzar (Thunder, Clippers, T'Wolves, Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, Pacers, Sixers): "Gotta be Boston, right? Bickerstaff is coaching for his job with the Cavs, and Doc is facing another round of jokes, but if the loaded Celtics team don’t win it all this year, maaaaaannnn."
GM says: They're coming for you Boston!
@JoshAllenLooksGoodInShorts (Thunder, Mavs, T'Wolves, Nuggets, Celtics, Cavs, Pacers, Knicks): "Wolves back. "
GM says: AWOOOOOOOOO
@Trentoff (Thunder, Mavs, T'Wolves, Nuggets, Heat, Magic, Pacers, Knicks): "Boston, anything short of conf finals and re-signing Second Row Joe Mazzulla is suddenly a massive mistake"
GM says: Only Conference Finals?
@kbanaian (Thunder, Mavs, Suns, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic, Pacers, Sixers): "Picks based on injuries more than anything else. I think the pressure on Boston (best record, no significant injuries) is very strong. If they don't make the NBA Finals it will be considered a disappointment after winning 64 games? At least they'll get some nice time in Florida during the first two rounds..."
GM says: Boston officially up against the ropes!
@doctorbong (Thunder, Clippers, T'Wolves, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic, Pacers, Sixers): "Sorry KD, your old ass is gettin’ eclipsed by Anthony Edwards."
GM says: 1 game down, you're right so far (though I don't think KD catches the blame in that one)
@Rodgers_is_dead_to_me (Thunder, Clippers, Suns, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic, Bucks, Sixers): "It’s got to be Jayson Tatum. How can it not be? He’s probably going to be top 5 in MVP voting, his team has the best record by a mile in the East, and every year this Celtic team doesn’t win it with their core group is another missed opportunity. Also, #bucksinsix"
GM says: Comments seem to be dogpiling on the Green Boys
@YikesVikes (Thunder, Mavs, T'Wolves, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic, Bucks, Knicks): "Sacramento is coming off a meaningful win and has been a solid road team this year. Visitors might go 2-0 in the Play-In desperation round. But it won't happen!"
GM says: No Playoffs Beams this year :(
@mconnaughton (Thunder, Mavs, T'Wolves, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic, Pacers, Knicks): "Jayson Tatum"
GM says: Just turned 26, but man the "what has he done?" talk has been crazy high
@NEELERSBTB1 (Thunder, Mavs, Suns, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic, Pacers, Knicks): "New York Knickerbockers, because the last time the won it all Tricky Dick was President, and a gallon of gas was 36cents, a dozen eggs was 52 Cents and last but not least I could tie my shoelaces without almost dying. Here's to the good old days!!!!!"
GM says: Prayers up for your safety each day when you leave the house!
@Salroc_ (Thunder, Mavs, Suns, Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, Bucks, Sixers): "Sixers - not only do they break my heart every year like a woman never could - the “process” is in pure shambles. Granted KD/Harden have something to prove - i mean what r we TALKIN here. Tons of narratives like bron beating defending champs too"
GM says: Your heart has to be held together with scotch tape at this point (like Embiid's knees, sad rimshot)
@Sportsfan90 (Thunder, Mavs, Suns, Nuggets, Celtics, Cavs, Pacers, Knicks): "Celtics boom or bust with multiple ecf appearances and a trip to the finals for the core group they have to blow it up if they can’t get it done or at least trade one of brown or jt at some point the players have to be held accountable jt specifically "
GM says: They're all-in this year and dominated the East. But can they handle what the West brings out?
@ContrarianDFS (Pelicans, Clippers, Suns, Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, Bucks, Sixers): "Most on the line? I'd say Toronto. If they still had Jontay Porter on the roster that is. Hey-oh! "
GM says: I'll take the under on TOR wins this Playoffs
@RedEd4 (Thunder, Mavs, Suns, Nuggets, Celtics, Magic, Bucks, Sixers): "Joe Mazzulla...wackiness is only cool when you are winning. "
GM says: But what if he quotes "The Town" some more?
Yours in Roundball Rock,
The GM