It's easy to miss it with the bad Knicks injury news, the Bucks losing over and over again to lottery teams and most of the conference being pretty meh, but the Cavs are now 3-7 over their last 10, the worst record over that stretch of any team in the top 11 in either conference. And they've been healthy, or at least for the last few games. Forget the two seed, they're just a half game upMan, Cavs could have easily had the 2 seed but have fumbled the bag
It's been a banner year for the 30+ superstars in terms of availability. Over the last 3 years, Curry/James/Kawhi/AD/Durant missing an average of 31 games, per player, per year. This season, those five have missed a combined 37 games total. Unreal.Game 73 of 78 for Davis. His deal with the devil has no expiration date.
65-85% of the credit for that goes to luck, but for the remainder, I think the league's new awards and national TV policies have made a real difference.It's been a banner year for the 30+ superstars in terms of availability. Over the last 3 years, Curry/James/Kawhi/AD/Durant missing an average of 31 games, per player, per year. This season, those five have missed a combined 37 games total. Unreal.
Not long ago, I was told by some here that they were scary.Man, Cavs could have easily had the 2 seed but have fumbled the bag
Mitchell is still working his way back, but he hasn't been close to the game guy. Shooting just .345 overall and .241 from 3 in the 4 games he's played. We'll see if he improves but if not, they're going down in the first round.Not long ago, I was told by some here that they were scary.
They weren't and they aren't.
"Scary" is different than "might actually be the second best team in the East". The latter may be true, because all the other teams here have warts (SRS likes the Knicks better though). If they end up the 3 seed, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see them in the ECF. They don't have to be better than the Celtics to justify our respect, just better than the Bucks and Knicks.Not long ago, I was told by some here that they were scary.
They weren't and they aren't.
I respect them as I respect all teams in the playoffs. But I don't now, or never have found them to be scary."Scary" is different than "might actually be the second best team in the East". The latter may be true, because all the other teams here have warts (SRS likes the Knicks better though). If they end up the 3 seed, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see them in the ECF. They don't have to be better than the Celtics to justify our respect, just better than the Bucks and Knicks.
And Mitchell already doesn't have a great history of lifting his teams in the playoffs. Cavs fans I know lamented this from the day the team traded for him.Mitchell is still working his way back, but he hasn't been close to the game guy. Shooting just .345 overall and .241 from 3 in the 4 games he's played. We'll see if he improves but if not, they're going down in the first round.
Edit: they're 11-16 in their last 27
It was a full two months ago now that they briefly got to 1st place in the west, and were everyone's trendy non-Boston/Denver title pick. Since then, they're 15-13 entering today.The Cavs just put up 80 points in the first half of the 2nd game of B2B at the LA Clippers.
The LAC defense is somewhere between non-interested and horrible!
And now the Cavs have scored only 20 points in 14+ minutes in the 2nd half and it's a 3 point game...It was a full two months ago now that they briefly got to 1st place in the west, and were everyone's trendy non-Boston/Denver title pick. Since then, they're 15-13 entering today.
And the Cavs are without Mitchell. He and Garland just don't seem to work that great together, seems like a lock to break that duo up this summer (absent a deep playoff run).
And wouldn't 'cha know it...And now the Cavs have scored only 20 points in 14+ minutes in the 2nd half and it's a 3 point game...
Nothing to see here, just a full strength heat team (including Herro) losing to the Pacers (without Haliburton), a game they really needed to have if they want to avoid the play in. I'm sure they'll be rounding into form any day now.Fucking Heat
Halliburton played.Nothing to see here, just a full strength heat team (including Herro) losing to the Pacers (without Haliburton), a game they really needed to have if they want to avoid the play in. I'm sure they'll be rounding into form any day now.
Ah sorry, quick glance at the box score and I missed him, probably because he was as invisible as he's been for months (12 points on 3-10 shooting). Still, this Heat team really doesn't look like one that's about to explode into a long playoff run.Halliburton played.
Did they last year?Ah sorry, quick glance at the box score and I missed him, probably because he was as invisible as he's been for months (12 points on 3-10 shooting). Still, this Heat team really doesn't look like one that's about to explode into a long playoff run.
There was also 2021, where they were meh all year, everyone kept waiting for them to hit the gas, and they got swept in the 1st round.Did they last year?
Generally no, but there were some signs in retrospect. They were 2nd in crunch time net rating last year in the regular season, they're 27th this year.Did they last year?
There was also 2021, where they were meh all year, everyone kept waiting for them to hit the gas, and they got swept in the 1st round.
Last year was nice for Miami, but it was last year. Let's see what happens.
To be clear I think they’re going to lose easily in the first round if they even get there. But who knows.Generally no, but there were some signs in retrospect. They were 2nd in crunch time net rating last year in the regular season, they're 27th this year.
I've long been of the view that the Heat's run to the finals last year was pretty fluky (Giannis broke his back and Jimmy had his best series as a pro in round 1, then Boston went ice cold from 3 and Tatum sprained his ankle while Miami got red hot from 3 and barely survived an historic collapse), they just aren't that good. They've got perhaps the best coach in the league, one of the best clutch players in the league, and just enough 3 point shooting to look better than they are from time to time. I'm really glad they didn't get Lillard, even considering his struggles this year.
*edit - we have decades of evidence that while some teams do flip the switch, going deep into the playoffs after a bottom of the bracket regular season (especially one in which you can't really blame injuries for their struggles) is incredibly rare. Especially from teams that haven't actually won a title. "They did it once, last year" in the face of all the evidence since then really doesn't do it for me.
Mascots need to be more professional.Bucks, playing everyone, have blown an 11 point lead at home to the Knicks and now trail. Damn bus drivers.
and wemby is awesome.This Sixers @ Spurs game is kinda fun. Nickles ran a great play for Maxey who got a layup to tie the game and send it into OT.
This lakers loss makes Tuesday vs golden state very interesting.Minnesota putting the Lakers to the sword here. Lebron out with flu symptoms and Davis left in the 2Q after being raked across the eyes by Kyle Anderson.
It really does. I believe if the Warriors technically control their own destiny vs LA now. If they win out (and the Lakers win their other two games), they would finish with the same record and be 2-2 against each other, but the Warriors would have the better record in their division, putting them ahead.This lakers loss makes Tuesday vs golden state very interesting.
I think a home game matters for both teams.It really does. I believe if the Warriors technically control their own destiny vs LA now. If they win out (and the Lakers win their other two games), they would finish with the same record and be 2-2 against each other, but the Warriors would have the better record in their division, putting them ahead.
I'm not sure it matters that much, to be honest. The big prize is getting to 8th or better, not playing at home in the first do or die game.
Weirdly, the Ws are 15-3 in their last 18 road games and 23-15 overall (better than the Nuggets, e.g.) Yet a desultory 20-19 at home. The Lakers have a more normal split: 28-13 home, 17-21 road.I think a home game matters for both teams.
For one game, I don't know that it's the biggest deal for two veteran teams. The Warriors are 23-16 on the road this year, but they were 11-30 last year, despite a very similar overall record. What do we take from that? No clue.I think a home game matters for both teams.
H2H won loss record is the first tiebreaker between 3 or more teams that have the same record when no one is winning their division:6th-8th seed breakdown:
Pacers: 45-34; finish @ TOR, @ CLE, vs ATL. The CLE game is a swing game, but they should win at least 2, maybe 3.
Sixers: 44-35; finish vs DET, vs ORL, vs BRK. No back to backs, so Embiid should play all 3. They should win at least 2, maybe 3.
Heat: 43-35; finish @ ATL, vs. DAL (B2B), vs TOR, vs TOR. The ATL game is huge. Win that and they could get to 46 wins.
How do the tiebreaks work for these seeds? And who has the advantage in the tiebreaks?
Thanks. Is it also H2H for 2 teams? Say if the Pacers finish with 35 losses, and the Sixers and Heat finish with 36?H2H won loss record is the first tiebreaker between 3 or more teams that have the same record when no one is winning their division:
Pacers: 4-2
Sixers: 2-4
Heat: 3-3
Suffice to say, yesterday's Indy win was huge. Playoffstatus gives the Pacers a 24% chance of finishing 7th/8th, the Sixers a 75% chance, and the Heat an 84% chance.
According to Doc Rivers GSW must have hired a better travel crew.For one game, I don't know that it's the biggest deal for two veteran teams. The Warriors are 23-16 on the road this year, but they were 11-30 last year, despite a very similar overall record. What do we take from that? No clue.
It is. Miami and Philly are 2-2 agains teach other, so it goes to conference record, where Miami has a 1 game lead. After that, we're pretty deep in the weeds. Record against playoff teams from your own conference, I believe.Thanks. Is it also H2H for 2 teams? Say if the Pacers finish with 35 losses, and the Sixers and Heat finish with 36?
So it’s going down to the wire. Thanks.It is. Miami and Philly are 2-2 agains teach other, so it goes to conference record, where Miami has a 1 game lead. After that, we're pretty deep in the weeds. Record against playoff teams from your own conference, I believe.
I’d say the prize is avoiding NO in the playin. Hosting the Kings, while anything can happen in one game, is as close as a bye as you’ll see at this level without Monk or Huerter.It really does. I believe if the Warriors technically control their own destiny vs LA now. If they win out (and the Lakers win their other two games), they would finish with the same record and be 2-2 against each other, but the Warriors would have the better record in their division, putting them ahead.
I'm not sure it matters that much, to be honest. The big prize is getting to 8th or better, not playing at home in the first do or die game.
The betting market is. They are the 6th favorite to come out of the WC. Luka is making an MVP push for any voters who don’t want to click Jokic again.HRB, no one ever sleeps on the mavericks. They have Luka. That alone warrants sleepless nights.