My preference is to play the best teams who aren't likely to seriously injure us as they try and fail to stop us. If it weren't for the injury risk, I'd be happy playing (say) the Heat, or the Sixers who now have Lowry. But other than that, I want to see us tested, so that when the season comes down to the wire we're as prepared as we could be, as ready to give our best. So give me:
ECQF: Pacers. They're 2 games up on the 8 seed but I suppose could slip. We need practice containing Haliburton if we want to get fully ready for Edwards or Murray.
ECSF: Cleveland. I think the Knicks would play us harder but between Garland and Mitchell, our defense will need to get used to being as connected and in-rhythm as possible. If we stay focused we win every game by 20, but getting in the reps has a lot of value.
ECF: A healthy Milwaukee. I actually think we roll them, like max 5 games. They showed plenty of depth a few weeks ago in almost beating us without Giannis, but in some ways, we have built this team to be a Giannis stopper, what with Jaylen / Horford / Tillman. Jrue had a bad game a few weeks ago, he won't have one come playoff time. I want the wisdom of our roster construction to be proven out in how comprehensively we can stop a team that actually has the best player on the floor against us. If it's a fully healthy Knicks squad, might be more of a rock fight, but we have out-coached them 4 straight times this season, too.
NBAF: Denver. Yeah that's right, I said it. I want the respect that will come from beating the champs, the team with the best player, the one everyone says is the best in the West come playoff time. If it's OKC or MIN, I'm still confident. Denver probably has a better chance to beat us. But we're built to be as lethal as any team could be against what they do well, staying home on perimeter shooters as often as we do, and playing 5-out on offense. Let the league witness the firepower of this fully operational battle station.
(please stay healthy. Jaylen get your wrist looked at please, and see you in a week.)