There are zero easy matchups in the West. Memphis is the easiest, along with like Sac, but facing a team like that is why you get the 1 or 2 seed. I would rather try to figure out Minny’s size than have to have our guards chase Steph around for a series, or as Cookie pointed out in game time, have Draymond beating up our guys for a series. If we make it out of round 1, it’s possible we could see GS then I think, if they get in and beat the Rockets, but that’s preferable to me, they’d be a little more tired.
wolves are far from an "easy" matchup, but i think they're much more preferable than having to play the warriors or nuggets in round 1
Im ok with Minny. We need someone outside of the big3 to step up and make some shots. I don't care if its Rui, DFS or Knecht, just get it done and then rest waiting for another opponent
curry was gassed at the end of that game yesterday, and it's part of why they lost. they just depend so heavily on his virtuosity, and he has to work harder than say, harden, to get his ideal shots. but both curry and butler (whom i've always considered indefatigable) were coming up short on shots they usually make late in the game. as the playoffs wear on, it will get tougher and tougher to expect curry to just bail you out offensively. now that lebron isn't our main guy, that's less of an issue for us. he can conserve energy on offense at times instead of constantly having to be the engine.
Edwards is not there yet in terms of making good decisions as the main guy .. He often pre-determines if he wants to score or pass the ball regardless of the type of coverage he's facing . This plus Randle being a playoffs choker are huge plus for us
Feels like time to starting watching the standings/schedule on a daily basis Basketball reference thinks the most likely first round matchups are: 1 Thunder vs. 8 Warriors 2 Spurs vs. 7 Clippers 3 Rockets vs. 6 Lakers 4 Nuggets vs. 5 Wolves Obviously 7 and 8 need to be determined in the play-in, but those matchups would make for a pretty fun 1st round. I'd prefer to see a healthy Suns team get in over the Warriors. If this was how the seeding broke...I think I'd pick the Spurs to make it to the Finals.
You know what annoys me… according to the media, we’re just a rubbish team that’s going to lose against any and every playoff bound team. No one cares that Denver just hasn’t been that good this year even though they’ve had their best team since the chip, or that Houston has been struggling, that we’ve swept the Wolves, or that we’re clearly better than the clips, suns and warriors when healthy. When it comes to us, the context doesn’t matter st all. Who cares that AR missed a third of the season, that Lebron missed the beginning of it without training camp, that we’ve had dozens of starting lineups and no time to gel. The disrespect is real, Luka apparently isn’t close to an MVP, Reaves isn’t close to an All Star, Lebron shouldn’t be in the NBA, Smart & Rui are heading to a vet min, Ayton should be out of the league. If I’m JJ, it’s time to go us against the world mode and turn up the defense. I know a lot of people have given up on this team, but I think we’ll clinch the 3-5 seed and are going to the conference finals.
Nope you’re delusional like the FO and me if you believe that we’ve got “even” more than just a puncher’s chance “IF” healthy. We’re just “pretending”.
I'm with you, but there is a possibility that we're just replaying last year. Last year we came on strong down the stretch after the Luka trade, turned out there were big structural issues we were masking by playing with more effort. Last year Denver looked pretty mediocre for significant stretches, to the point that I think the Clippers were favored to win their first round series, but they pulled it together and nearly beat OKC. Last year the Wolves looked out of sorts for stretches and we thought they were a good matchup for us, but ultimately their size and athleticism was too much in the playoffs. It could be another prompt first round exit, or yeah we could go to the conference finals. No idea. I'd feel really good if we had one more guard who could defend at the point of attack.
The only team I’m really scared of is the Spurs. They are a complete team, play FOR each other, are well coached and nobody has an answer for Wemby.
We’ve beaten 2 good teams lately. We’re about to play Houston twice, Miami, Orlando, and Detroit, we’re gonna see if we’re for real or not. As far as contention goes, we are indeed just pretenders this year, sorry, the defense just isn’t good enough when things get real and guys like Vando and likely Jake will get played off the floor at times for being such one way players. Hopefully that doesn’t happen to Ayton as well and Hayes again, but man I don’t feel great counting on Ayton when things get tight and as much as Hayes has improved he still is limited on the defensive end. He gets some nice blocks now and then, but he still isn’t a great rebounder or great man defender. I’m I’m really not sure we are better than the Clippers or Suns when it comes down to it either, nor with how Kawhi has been playing and how athletic the Suns are, they destroyed us last time and I believe they didn’t have Brooks, that’s just a bad matchup. I’d love to be wrong here, but I’m sorry I don’t think I am, this roster is too flawed. I’m not rooting against us, I’m pleasantly surprised with the improved defense and defensive effort as of late and the ball movement is looking much better as well. I just don’t think this team has what it takes to get past the 2nd round, I don’t think that’s a crazy take. I also don’t think it’s a crazy take that with the right draw, the right matchups, some unexpected injuries on the other teams, we could make it to the WCF. Luka is that good, if he can stay healthy that deep into the season.
The Lakers problem in the playoffs have been, the inability to score in the 2nd halves...not the defense. For some reason the defense is the only thing people talk about. Defense wasn't the problem against Minnesota last season either.
I think we're an improved team to last year quite clearly. Luka is in much better shape. Reaves is healthy. Lebron & Rui are worse, but not by that much. We also have Smart, Luke and Ayton, and they're better than losing DFS. Let's see where the chips fall over the next 15 games.
They gotta knock down those open looks, in the 2nd half, in order to advance. We've had a problem doing that for 3 series straight now. The shots have been there, gotta convert. That's why we go into every offseason, talking about adding more shooting.
