First round thoughts

[divol]

Don't know how much time I will have and I been watching NBA on and off the last few seasons, but will try to post some thoughts - if they will help anyone idk

In Denver - LAC series - in regular season home team won all 4 games, so HCA can have a meaning here.
Both teams are enigma to some point. LAC been rarely fully healthy and Denver just changed coach. I think that Denver in the end has the player that should do the difference and Harden will have to prove himself big time for LAC to have a shot here.

In Houston - GSW series, It's feels like in both cases, we look too much at the past and not the current situation. GSW struggles all season long and while Butler brought a lot, no sure if it will be enough against much much much deeper and more energetic Rockets. Feeling like the odds are way off here.

Lakers - Minny for me is easy. Minny did manage to beat Denver last season with some heroic moments, but still... Lakers off a rest should start well and we will see if Minny can deliver some punches of their own later in the series. I would look at LAL ATS here.

NYK - Detroit - didn't watch either team enough this season - will try to watch tonight's game to form some opinion.

Indiana - Milwaukee - Indiana will win Game 1, but wonder if what will be the price on the Bucks for the series after Game 1. Indiana are well coached, pretty deep and already won the Bucks in the playoffs in round 1 last year - but it's hard to see in a fight between two pretty equal teams, to see one team easily winning series two seasons in a row.


Will add later

 

[B.A.R.]

Good stuff, glad to see you around for the playoffs!

 

[divol]

Good stuff, glad to see you around for the playoffs!

Thanks! Didn't expect the beating Wolves handed the Lakers...

 

[divol]

OKC - Memphis
Boston - Orlando

Both cases on paper should be easy wins for the favorites. Orlando finished the season (very) strong and did win Boston twice in regular season, but so hard to believe Boston will need more than 5 games to win Orlando. Will gladly be wrong, since I like Orlando and the opposite of love towards Boston
No thoughts of spread either. Maybe after Game 1 we will have some indication.
Memphis are a tough team, but Morant carrying an injury won't help the Grizzlies + they lost all 4 games to the Thunder this season, all 4 by DD and Thunder are young and probably will come firing on all cylinders. Maybe Thunder ATS makes sense, but I don't remember myself betting DD spreads even when I was much more involved

Cavs - Heat I doubt Cavs happy with the rival, but still... Cavs are so talented and Heat just lack talent. I assume very low score, because can't see Heat trying outrun the Cavs, but regular season results (though not worth too much in the playoffs) were well above the total today.

 

[divol]

Many thoughts here, but will try to be short (and maybe even on point):
Denver - Clippers

Somehow this series intrigues me even more than Lakers - Wolves, especially after the beating in Game 1 for the Lakers.
Game 1 was great and somehow I feel that it's even more confusing now, after seeing them play, than before.
Denver shot 33% behind the arc - this is a team that is second in the league behind the arc at home and they were horrible. Somehow, it's not even on RW missing - because he shot 33.3% that is about 100000% higher than his average (at least against Clips this season)
MPJ won't be as bad, because he just can't be... Bench probably will be better for both teams.
Clippers had the game in their hands, but it got away. Usually it can easily turn to an easy win for the home team in Game 2, especially with a team that had sow many letdowns and disappointments as the Clippers.
On the other hand, they almost won despite Kawhi having so-so game and were carried by Dunn, Zubac, Battum and Harden... If those 4 show up again, doubt they will lose - but what the chance of that? Bogdanovic on the other hand can't be as bad as he was...
Staying away, but if I had to guess, home team is 5 - 0 this season in this match up - logic says 6 - 0 makes more sense than 5 - 1
I do think that Kawhi Over in props and Jocic can be smart here.

Knicks - Pistons
Hoping to get to watch at least part of Game 1 in the Garden before saying enough about Game 2

 

[divol]

Just caught the second half of the Knicks vs. Pistons game—great game!
I haven’t watched much of the Pistons this season, but I’m really impressed with their play. They’ve got talent, energy, and solid teamwork. That said, I’m not sold on their coach, JB. I’ve never quite understood the hype around him, to be honest.
The Knicks, on the other hand, I’ve seen a few times this year, and I think Towns has found the perfect home. He’s getting the respect he deserves, but Brunson remains the face of the team. Towns seems to thrive on both ends of the floor when he’s surrounded by blue-collar grinders, which this Knicks roster has in loads. The Pistons are young and play well together, but the Knicks just grind harder. Plus, New York has more experience, while Detroit still lacks that go-to player who can carry them in the postseason.
I think Brunson wasn't expect to be that guy either—until he joined the Knicks and transformed into a star. Nobody saw that coming! I think Cade Cunningham has the potential to be that player for Detroit, but he needs postseason experience to get there.
This series could go either way. I can see the Knicks sweeping, but with four tight games, or it stretching to Game 6 or 7. I’d be shocked if the Knicks win too many games by double digits—Detroit’s too young and scrappy to roll over. Every minute they get on the floor in the playoffs is going to help them grow. If the line was 8 or higher, I’d lean toward the Pistons, but 6.5 feels too tight for me to call.
One thing for Detroit: Tobias Harris needs to step up as the veteran in clutch moments, not just in the first three quarters. Also, I’d take Dennis Schröder over THJ any day—especially in the playoffs. Schröder led Germany to Olympic gold; he’s tough as nails and could be a great example for this young Pistons squad.

 

[B.A.R.]

Cade most definitely is that player.

He's the best player in this series. He carried this team in many 4th quarters. I wouldn't take G1 performance to the heart too much. He absolutely torched NY in the regular season. They concentrated on him Heavily in G1.

Now, New York is certainly a grinding team but they waited till the last 9 mins. That can't happy anymore of Detroit will give them a scare.

I absolutely LOVE JB as a coach -- with a caveat. This guy transformation of a 14 win team to mid 40s makes him the coach of year IMO. No homer slant there. This isn't your normal NBA team. They play hard and together almost every night.

My caveat there is I don't think he's a championship coach. He reminds me of a Doug Collins -- a coach that will help build your team and make them work hard before that wears on the players.

Cleveland success this year shows what he helped build.

I hope he's here for two more years before they find their champ coach.

 

[divol]

Cade most definitely is that player.

He's the best player in this series. He carried this team in many 4th quarters. I wouldn't take G1 performance to the heart too much. He absolutely torched NY in the regular season. They concentrated on him Heavily in G1.

Now, New York is certainly a grinding team but they waited till the last 9 mins. That can't happy anymore of Detroit will give them a scare.

I absolutely LOVE JB as a coach -- with a caveat. This guy transformation of a 14 win team to mid 40s makes him the coach of year IMO. No homer slant there. This isn't your normal NBA team. They play hard and together almost every night.

My caveat there is I don't think he's a championship coach. He reminds me of a Doug Collins -- a coach that will help build your team and make them work hard before that wears on the players.

Cleveland success this year shows what he helped build.

I hope he's here for two more years before they find their champ coach.

Obviously you know Pistons way better than me. Just watching 4th quarter, when Knicks pressed on the D, both players and HC in Detroit seemed lost... I would think that maybe veteran coach would have handled it better. But I do remember how Pop cost Spurs the title against the Heat and many great ones made mistake - so who knows...
Schroder still better than THJ

 

[divol]

2/2 road wins on a playoff evening is something you don't see too often - yesterday was such.
Tonight we have 3 games - Lakers need to find answers. Can they? Yes. Will they? I don't know. I like the extra day rest to work on the problems, but don't like the line. Doubt it will go to Minny 0 - 2, but I remember last season's series of Wolves against Denver, so with them it's hard to rule anything out
Lillard is crucial obviously, but will he come back and in what form, no one knows - easy skip.
As for Thunder - Grizzlies - this series is Thunder or nothing in all games till it's over like I said before Game 1. Not touching DDs so again easy skip, but they are young, hungry and I don't see them put the foot on the breaks if Grizzlies won't force them...