The jockeying for playoff place within the NBA stays extremely entertaining.
It’s so charming, it jogs my memory of convention tournaments in school basketball.
These video games are the very best — groups placing the whole lot they’ve into each recreation for concern it is likely to be their final. Or worse but, relegation to the CBI.
Then actuality units in …
Duke 85, Alabama 65.
Auburn 78, Michigan 65.
Florida 87, Maryland 71.
Houston 69, Tennessee 50.
And right here I assumed these losers had been good.
Seems, these weren’t nice basketball showcases main into the NCAA Event. Simply aggressive.
What’s that must do with the NBA? Every little thing, really.
The Pacers and Rockets are rolling. The Magic and Warriors abruptly look sturdy. The Knicks, Bucks, Lakers, Nuggets …
Nope. I’m not falling for this once more.
The NBA has itself a Duke, an Auburn and a Florida this season. The one factor missing is a Houston — and that’s OK, as a result of they’re kinda boring.
There’s no approach — repeat, NO WAY — the Cavaliers and Celtics don’t meet within the Japanese Convention finals.
The Cavaliers are Auburn. The dominant workforce within the common season, but folks by no means actually believed in them. However imagine it, folks. Auburn made the semifinals. The Cavaliers will, too.
The Celtics are Duke. The workforce folks wish to root in opposition to as a result of they’re stuffy and simply probably the most gifted. They have already got sufficient banners. And don’t look now, however they need to be the overwhelming favourite to hold one other.
The Thunder are Florida. The out-of-nowhere workforce that may’t presumably have sufficient postseason expertise to go all the best way. However typically, what you don’t know can’t damage you.
And the remainder of the NBA? They’re Mount St. Mary’s. Man, they had been enjoyable to look at within the convention match. However then the intense lights got here on and the make-up melted.
Can one of many different 13 groups that can make the NBA playoffs pull off the colossal upset? It absolutely received’t occur within the East, the place the six different quarterfinalists might merge rosters and nonetheless lose 4-2 to the Cavaliers and 4-1 to the Celtics within the Japanese semis.
There’s just one state of affairs that might derail the Massive Three …
If the Thunder are to be denied their spot within the NBA Finals, right here’s the way it’s going to must occur:
Spherical 1: They get bullied.
Thunder boss Sam Presti has brilliantly molded his roster. Including a bodyguard (Isaiah Hartenstein) for fragile co-star Chet Holmgren was a stroke of genius.
If Holmgren can keep wholesome, the Thunder will make the Finals. A primary-round matchup in opposition to a delicate workforce just like the Warriors, Grizzlies or Kings can be splendid.
However a wrestling match with the Timberwolves can be a catastrophe.
You bear in mind the T’wolves. They slayed the large — the Nuggets — final season and have the depth of huge guys to pound the Thunder up entrance. That’s dangerous information for Holmgren, who would possibly survive to see Spherical 2, however not and not using a limp and a number of ice luggage.
Spherical 2: They get LeBronned.
The Thunder don’t have a good matchup for Luka Doncic. Over seven video games, they’ll strive various things, and would possibly stumble into one thing.
However they may play 70 video games and by no means discover somebody to take care of LeBron at playoff time.
The Lakers are unlikely to go far within the playoffs as a result of they don’t have an enormous man. However in opposition to the Thunder, that might work of their favor.
Holmgren goes to have to protect someone, and there’s no approach that’s going to be LeBron.
Hartenstein goes to have to protect someone. Take that again. No approach the massive oaf sees the sunshine of day on this collection.
Softened up by Minnesota’s massive males, Holmgren will get pummeled by LeBron. Possibly snapped in two. The Thunder would possibly survive the collection, however not unscathed.
Spherical 3: They draw a joker.
When all of the items are in place, the Nuggets are a greater workforce than the Thunder.
Nikola Jokic will outperform Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the massive stage.
Jamal Murray is a much better supporting weapon than something Oklahoma Metropolis has.
And the Nuggets have a number of defensive whizzes to throw at SGA.
The Thunder shall be exhausted by the point they attain the skinny air of Denver for Sport 6. The excellent news: The flight house can have air masks. And with this roster, there’s at all times subsequent 12 months. Heck, subsequent decade.
How can this occur?
The Timberwolves should fall into the play-ins and end eighth.
The Lakers should drop to fourth or fifth.
And the Nuggets should end second or third.
All nonetheless doable.
And if the 8-4-3 trifecta hits …
C’mon. Do you actually suppose Florida goes to lose?
