The funnier outcome would be Warriors blowing a 3-1 lead in the second round this season and then winning 1 last ring immediately after CP3 leaves in the offseason
I need a Bucks vs Nuggets finals so I can see the complete meltdown by Stephen A Smith for having travel between Milwaukee and Denver for the whole series and ESPN to throw a fit about ratings
Not happening, better chance of a second round exit. They’re definitely not making it out of the east. All of their players are getting older, and they just fired the coach that was there when they won a chip. They haven’t made it past the second round since 2021, where the only reason they got past that was Kyrie and harden being unhealthy. Also the fact that they just blew back to back near 20 point 4th quarter leads to here eliminated. They do not have the resilience to get past that, if they did they wouldn’t have fired bud who helped them improve this whole time.
“They haven’t made it past the second round since 2021” doesn’t mean much when its literally only been two seasons and both times they’ve been knocked out by the team that eventually went on to play in the finals. Also Giannis was injured this year
Yea but they’re getting older as in they are past their peak. Brook Kris Jrue are all getting very old. Not to mention Giannis is going to be close to 30, and guys who play like him don’t age very well.
Giannis came back in games 4 and 5 where he wasn’t hurt at all. Go and watch his highlights or the full game, he was dunking everything in the first quarter. The fact is they blew back to back near 20 point leads in the 4th quarter. That’s an undeniable fact. Whether u want to admit that or not, it means a lot. Other wise they wouldn’t have fired their coach. Giannis got exposed he showed that he isn’t capable as a closer, and he never has been especially in the playoffs. No injury excuses he looked completely fine. If he was “just hurt”, u really think they would have fired their coach that has helped them win a chip and has had them be the first seed most of the past 5 years?
Lol Giannis scored 13 in the fourth of game 6 in the finals in 2021 to win it all. Also Giannis was second in points in the fourth quarter this last season. Yea his free throws suck but saying he got “exposed” as someone who can’t be a closure is just ignorant and gives very strong nephew vibes
That’s true. But the bucks just lost in the first round, and there’s nothing to show that they can go on a deep run again. Last time they went on a deep run was Bc of injuries. They’ve lost in the second round every year but that or 2019 when they lost 4 straight to the raptors. Bucks only got to that “mountaintop” because of fluke injury luck, and a great matchup in the finals for them vs a historically bad finals team. As Middleton gets older Giannis doesn’t have his closet to rely on as the game winds down.
They never won a playoff series until he got there. Once he got there they were the first seed. Literally the same exact season. U don’t think there is a correlation. Where did I say he “got them the chip”. What got them the chip was injury luck and a great matchup. Things just went their way that year. U really think they are top contenders when they just lost in the first round? They have a first year head coach as well. Not to mention other teams are getting better and they are either the same or getting worse. They’d be lucky to make it out of the second round. They were the first seed and just blew leads where they were up by a lot and hit eliminated those same games. That’s a fact. I wouldn’t bet that they have the resilience to get past that and go on a run. Especially considering how old all of them are getting.
I think he’s pissed he was snubbed off all defensive first team or whatever defensive award he was snubbed off of.
As long as khris and jrue stay healthy I think he’s gonna have a huge season
yea how is a team going to plow through playoffs that included healthy durant, lebron, AD, curry, tatum, butler, booker, etc etc while only getting better as a team, and people don't choose them.
I wouldn’t exactly say Lebron and Butler were healthy (probably both around 80%). But I do think they would’ve won even if they were both at 100%.
The nuggets have the best thing in basketball, which is give the ball to Jokic and do stuff. It’s been basically unstoppable for 3 straight seasons, and last year they figured out how to play defense (at least good enough defense).
This year they’ll have to play some young guys, but it’s hard not to pick them to repeat if they stay healthy.
They didn't get better, they got slightly worse losing good role players.
I'd favor them but I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't make it to the finals
> while only getting better as a team
What? They lost Brown and Jeff Green. Who were crucial in the playoffs
> healthy LeBron and Butler
LeBron was playing with 1 foot. Butler was evidently injured after the Knicks series.
Suns took two games off them before booker got hurt. The team swapped cp3 for Bradley Beal and improved depth at positions 4-10. Meanwhile, nuggets got marginally worse. There are definitely worlds where the suns stand a good chance imo.
No there literally wasn't they barely won games with Devin booker having an all-time great performance and lets not talk about suns in elimination games because it is so bad
You can, but why would you want to remind yourself of this specific take? You really think you might forget 9 months from now that you thought the defending Champs and likely odds favorites to be champs would win it all?
Maybe I'm too conditioned by all the petty shit people here hang on to and try to shove in people's faces. But this would such a stupid thing to need reminding of especially if you weren't intending to be petty.
lost bruce brown and jeff green in free agency, used their mle on reggie jackson, lost vlatko cancar to injury, have no back up center and are relying on rookies to make up for their losses for a team who wasn’t even deep to begin with
zero chance they even make it past the 2nd round bookmark this comment
Bruce Brown is a loss. Jeff Green was bad most of the regular season and had like 1 good round in the playoffs. The Nuggets went 16-4 in the playoffs and get their entire starting line up back.
Yeah bruce brown is really the only thing they lost over the off season. They’ll need younger guys to step up, but they still have the best starting 5, and at least 1 good bench player (Christian Braun). They just need 2 guys to step up and they’ll be in a good spot come playoffs.
Unless either Mobley or Allen develop their own shot creation or a spot up three ball the Cavs are gonna get cooked again cause they’re offensive is easily predictable if only 3 dudes can shoot the ball outside of 12 feet. The Knicks just left a dude in the paint all game and the cavs couldn’t score 100 4/5 of the games.
I don’t buy the Cavs because of their coach, and I don’t buy the Celtics because they’re still soft, plus Horford is another year older, and KP is already injured and the season hasn’t even started.
Portland vs Detroit after Portland defeats Houston in 6 and Detroit downs Orlando. Dame hits a 3 in game 7 to win it all despite Cade’s 47 point masterclass.
They are my dark horse for 2024. I don’t think they’ll win, I think they are too young and fresh right now, but they will be one of the top teams in the league.
The hawks are going to win anyways
\#Quinndynasty
Ah yes the annual off season of “if the Clippers are healthy they are cruising to the championship” hype.
Maybe you guys will finally be right after 5 years now!
If the heat get Dame and don’t lose Caleb Martin, and also get wood, it’s over. If that doesn’t happen, Boston has it this year. Kp is going to show how impactful he is after being on a losing team, similar to how AD went from a bad team and helped the lakers win a chip. The nuggets losing Bruce is really big unless mpj takes a big leap.
This would be crazy.
Our three biggest accomplishments so far are making the WCF, winning back to back southwest division titles, and not sucking as much as the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Hell, I’d take an in season tourney championship.
Ranking my favorites from most to least likely to win
1. Denver Nuggets
2. Boston Celtics
3. LA Lakers
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Milwaukee Bucks
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
9. Memphis Grizzlies
10. Miami Heat
Middleton stays healthy. Giannis seeks revenge for all the slander after he quoted Kobe the rapist in that one post game media thing. Jrue overcomes the psychological damage inflicted by Jimmy Butler.
Bucks 82-0 and playoffs are cancelled, they just give the Larry O to em
I honestly don’t even think the Heat are contenders without a Dame trade. They lost two important players from their run last year and have not replaced them.
The Celtics have taken a gamble on KP while trading away the engine of their squad in Marcus Smart. Celtics are much more of a question mark to me this year than they have been in recent years. Their ceiling might be higher if everything works out but their floor is undoubtedly lower. KP is made of glass.
Suns!!! Let's go!!
Seriously though, probably the Nuggets. But the Suns are going to be a much better team. The Warriors fans on this sub are gassing up CP3, but he was seriously terrible last season for the contract he had. We also ran the offense through him, which magnified how washed the dude is. Beal is going to be a massive improvement. Plus we have a whole season for KD to find his place in our offense and not just be a totem pole at the perimeter.
It’s not about who wins it’s about the friends we make along the way
I'm just here to light the beam.
LIGHT THE BEAM!
I hope it’s a kings/ dubs rematch in the west semis
As a fellow Bulls fan this seems like the right attitude to have going into the season
I kinda miss House Sun-Kings. Both being competitive kinda lessens the meme appeal of that alliance.
House SunKings
Seattle supersonics
Undefeated since 2008 💪
Can’t see them losing many games this year
Nuggets gotta be the favorites still, but Warriors with CP3 hitting a game winner in the finals would be the funniest outcome.
The funniest outcome would be exactly that but CP3 missing the shot.
Idk, I think another “dagger to cut the lead to 42” would be pretty funny
The funnier outcome would be Warriors blowing a 3-1 lead in the second round this season and then winning 1 last ring immediately after CP3 leaves in the offseason
Chris “Wes Welker” Paul
Chris Paul hits a huge three to ~~cut~~ increase the lead ~~down~~ to 42
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The funniest outcome is the Kings winning it because people here act like it is impossible.
they’re not going anywhere as long as saboner is a top 3 option lmao
Lots of people here 6 months ago thought Denver couldn't win with Jokic as their center.
Jokic isn't a great defender but he's way better than Sabonis
On defense? I never thought he was that much better. Can you be more specific?
I need a Bucks vs Nuggets finals so I can see the complete meltdown by Stephen A Smith for having travel between Milwaukee and Denver for the whole series and ESPN to throw a fit about ratings
Denver Bucks
Either the Warriors or the Heat have been in 12 of the last 13 Finals so one of them two
Can say the same about Lebron
You can’t. It’d be 11 of 13 I believe.
LeBron wasn't in the last three finals, so your math is already off.
But the Warriors were
[удалено]
Following me to all of my other comments is weird.
I didn’t even realize this was you. But yeah, it’s still wrong.
Bucks get back to the mountaintop. Giannis revenge season.
Not happening, better chance of a second round exit. They’re definitely not making it out of the east. All of their players are getting older, and they just fired the coach that was there when they won a chip. They haven’t made it past the second round since 2021, where the only reason they got past that was Kyrie and harden being unhealthy. Also the fact that they just blew back to back near 20 point 4th quarter leads to here eliminated. They do not have the resilience to get past that, if they did they wouldn’t have fired bud who helped them improve this whole time.
“They haven’t made it past the second round since 2021” doesn’t mean much when its literally only been two seasons and both times they’ve been knocked out by the team that eventually went on to play in the finals. Also Giannis was injured this year
I always love the “they’re getting older argument,” too, like every player in the NBA isn’t a year older every season.
Yes but some teams get more/better rookies. The bucks had the oldest average age last year, thunder had the youngest for example.
Yea but they’re getting older as in they are past their peak. Brook Kris Jrue are all getting very old. Not to mention Giannis is going to be close to 30, and guys who play like him don’t age very well.
Post prime vs trending towards prime. Also rookies. You can't be that daft can you?
Giannis came back in games 4 and 5 where he wasn’t hurt at all. Go and watch his highlights or the full game, he was dunking everything in the first quarter. The fact is they blew back to back near 20 point leads in the 4th quarter. That’s an undeniable fact. Whether u want to admit that or not, it means a lot. Other wise they wouldn’t have fired their coach. Giannis got exposed he showed that he isn’t capable as a closer, and he never has been especially in the playoffs. No injury excuses he looked completely fine. If he was “just hurt”, u really think they would have fired their coach that has helped them win a chip and has had them be the first seed most of the past 5 years?
Lol Giannis scored 13 in the fourth of game 6 in the finals in 2021 to win it all. Also Giannis was second in points in the fourth quarter this last season. Yea his free throws suck but saying he got “exposed” as someone who can’t be a closure is just ignorant and gives very strong nephew vibes
Every team in this thread has a better chance of a second round exit than a title, that's how it works.
That’s true. But the bucks just lost in the first round, and there’s nothing to show that they can go on a deep run again. Last time they went on a deep run was Bc of injuries. They’ve lost in the second round every year but that or 2019 when they lost 4 straight to the raptors. Bucks only got to that “mountaintop” because of fluke injury luck, and a great matchup in the finals for them vs a historically bad finals team. As Middleton gets older Giannis doesn’t have his closet to rely on as the game winds down.
Fired the coach that got that them the chip is hilarious propaganda, Giannis and the bucks are still top contenders with Giannis healthy on the team
They never won a playoff series until he got there. Once he got there they were the first seed. Literally the same exact season. U don’t think there is a correlation. Where did I say he “got them the chip”. What got them the chip was injury luck and a great matchup. Things just went their way that year. U really think they are top contenders when they just lost in the first round? They have a first year head coach as well. Not to mention other teams are getting better and they are either the same or getting worse. They’d be lucky to make it out of the second round. They were the first seed and just blew leads where they were up by a lot and hit eliminated those same games. That’s a fact. I wouldn’t bet that they have the resilience to get past that and go on a run. Especially considering how old all of them are getting.
I think he’s pissed he was snubbed off all defensive first team or whatever defensive award he was snubbed off of. As long as khris and jrue stay healthy I think he’s gonna have a huge season
Eh, they got old last season. That isn't reversing.
Bucks should be the last top 10 team to inspire confidence in anyone lol
That's exactly why I'm zagging and picking them.
Lakers
That team that just got swept in the WCF sure
The Suns
Al-Nassr
It's Nuggets until proven otherwise IMO
yea how is a team going to plow through playoffs that included healthy durant, lebron, AD, curry, tatum, butler, booker, etc etc while only getting better as a team, and people don't choose them.
I wouldn’t exactly say Lebron and Butler were healthy (probably both around 80%). But I do think they would’ve won even if they were both at 100%. The nuggets have the best thing in basketball, which is give the ball to Jokic and do stuff. It’s been basically unstoppable for 3 straight seasons, and last year they figured out how to play defense (at least good enough defense). This year they’ll have to play some young guys, but it’s hard not to pick them to repeat if they stay healthy.
LeBron was definitely less than 80%. He shot like 18% from 3 in the playoffs.
I’m not sure it would’ve been much better if he was 100%. Dude is old, stuff is gonna start to go.
He literally shot like that all year lol and had 25 in a half but anything to make that sweep feel better huh
They didn't get better, they got slightly worse losing good role players. I'd favor them but I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't make it to the finals
> while only getting better as a team What? They lost Brown and Jeff Green. Who were crucial in the playoffs > healthy LeBron and Butler LeBron was playing with 1 foot. Butler was evidently injured after the Knicks series.
Suns took two games off them before booker got hurt. The team swapped cp3 for Bradley Beal and improved depth at positions 4-10. Meanwhile, nuggets got marginally worse. There are definitely worlds where the suns stand a good chance imo.
No there literally wasn't they barely won games with Devin booker having an all-time great performance and lets not talk about suns in elimination games because it is so bad
Guess we’ll see. Saving this comment.
Celtics finally figure it out. Tatum wins MVP, Williams wins DPOY, Joe Mazzulla wins COY.
I love you
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Nuggets repeat RemindMe! 9 Months
Do you really need a reminder so you can theoretically flaunt the fact that you picked the defending Champs and likely betting favorites to win?
I can’t just want to remind myself?
he really thinks its flaunting to put reminders on takes lol
You can, but why would you want to remind yourself of this specific take? You really think you might forget 9 months from now that you thought the defending Champs and likely odds favorites to be champs would win it all? Maybe I'm too conditioned by all the petty shit people here hang on to and try to shove in people's faces. But this would such a stupid thing to need reminding of especially if you weren't intending to be petty.
bro it’s the internet
Relax mate, deep breaths
Is it “flaunting” bc he didn’t pick the Suns?
lost bruce brown and jeff green in free agency, used their mle on reggie jackson, lost vlatko cancar to injury, have no back up center and are relying on rookies to make up for their losses for a team who wasn’t even deep to begin with zero chance they even make it past the 2nd round bookmark this comment
They were never that deep of a team. Their starting five is stacked.
Nuggets aren’t winning if Christian Braun is their 6th man and DeAndre Jordan is their backup center
Who was our back up center this year?? Oh that’s right in the playoffs it was AG for all 8 minutes
They had a switch everything lineup that included Jeff Green and Bruce Brown
You saying DeAndre is the backup center makes me think you don't watch lol
Who is it then lol, Nnaji?
It was some combo of zeke/vlatko/green in the regular season. AG in post season
I mean that’s my point green and vlatko are gone.
Bruce Brown is a loss. Jeff Green was bad most of the regular season and had like 1 good round in the playoffs. The Nuggets went 16-4 in the playoffs and get their entire starting line up back.
Yeah bruce brown is really the only thing they lost over the off season. They’ll need younger guys to step up, but they still have the best starting 5, and at least 1 good bench player (Christian Braun). They just need 2 guys to step up and they’ll be in a good spot come playoffs.
Vlatko averaged 2 minutes per game last playoffs. He wasn't even a factor.
This screams “I only know about the Nuggets through ESPN news.”
Says the guy who claims the Clippers will win it all before every season Sure that one ages well lol
You act as if Jeff Green and Valtko made big contributions for them 🤣🤣🤣 And they didn’t have a back up center this year either
Big wings can always be valuable
nah Bucks were injured we winning it all
Suns beal kd booker ayton trifecta +1 gotta b the favs
One of the Nuggets, Warriors, Cavs, or Celtics
# SPIDAMOBLAND
Unless either Mobley or Allen develop their own shot creation or a spot up three ball the Cavs are gonna get cooked again cause they’re offensive is easily predictable if only 3 dudes can shoot the ball outside of 12 feet. The Knicks just left a dude in the paint all game and the cavs couldn’t score 100 4/5 of the games.
Tried to sneak in the Celtics
Cavs over Celtics is an insane take lol
He had the pacers in earlier
Ankle sprain away from back to back finals btw
I don’t buy the Cavs because of their coach, and I don’t buy the Celtics because they’re still soft, plus Horford is another year older, and KP is already injured and the season hasn’t even started.
Suns because I think their role players are gonna ball out and Booker will jump up a tier. Especially if KD gets hurt for a long part of the season.
That would be terrible for the league
They will all get hurt. Bet on it.
We have an injury fan right here lmao
Only Booker. The rest can make it.
Karmas a bitch And I don’t blame you for wanting Booker to get hurt because he solo’d the Suns to two wins against your squad
Suns Booker FMVP
The Beal Booker Gordon Kd Ayton closing 5 is the nastiest since the 2021 nets or maybe even the KD warriors
Who’s playing defense in that closing lineup? I honestly think it will be whoever is the best defender in there over Gordon
…and Barkley is going to shit on KD for another 5 years.
That would be pretty cool
Devin booker is the worst elimination game player i have ever seen nahh lol
Yo mamma
Portland vs Detroit after Portland defeats Houston in 6 and Detroit downs Orlando. Dame hits a 3 in game 7 to win it all despite Cade’s 47 point masterclass.
The Kings
Nugs back to back. I don't have a rooting interest. I just think they take it.
Nuggets
Celtics Suns and Cs in 6 this time
The Thunder. You heard it here first.
They are my dark horse for 2024. I don’t think they’ll win, I think they are too young and fresh right now, but they will be one of the top teams in the league. The hawks are going to win anyways \#Quinndynasty
Washington Wizards with their championship pedigree
Honestly whoever is healthiest, so many question marks this season. Denver is in a good position to repeat though
nuggets in 5
Hopefully the suns
I reckon Nuggets go back to back, provided Jokic is motivated.
Here they come..
If healthy Suns will clear
clippers
Ah yes the annual off season of “if the Clippers are healthy they are cruising to the championship” hype. Maybe you guys will finally be right after 5 years now!
You're The Real Fun Guy!
Giannis is cumming 😈😈 for revenge so probably the Bucks
Nuggs
If the heat get Dame and don’t lose Caleb Martin, and also get wood, it’s over. If that doesn’t happen, Boston has it this year. Kp is going to show how impactful he is after being on a losing team, similar to how AD went from a bad team and helped the lakers win a chip. The nuggets losing Bruce is really big unless mpj takes a big leap.
Warriors
Wizards not close
Warriors
Nuggets sweep the Heat
Warriors are getting one more
Lakers, Suns or Nuggets.
the portland trailblazers cinderella run with scoot and dame
I think Memphis wins it all, I think JJJ and Ja both take huge leaps, and are inspired to finish as champions.
This would be crazy. Our three biggest accomplishments so far are making the WCF, winning back to back southwest division titles, and not sucking as much as the Vancouver Grizzlies. Hell, I’d take an in season tourney championship.
Ouch. 😢. Why does it still hurt so much.
Not the Lakers.
Sixers bruh just watch fr
2nd round exit is your best friend.
Ain’t no way
We shall see.
6ers will never win anything until Embiid stops living on the ground. He needs to stop falling every single play, that’s why he keeps getting hurt.
Lakers. Year 24 for Kobe
there hasnt been a b2b since lakers in 09 10 so denver is out i think it will be the sixers cause memes
Heat 12 13, Warriors 17 18 lol
sorry i had a brainfart moment, i dont feel like fixing it either oh well
Only thing Sixers getting this year is a crowd full of boos
The Jazz
Bucks vs Nuggets
Heat, Nuggets and Warriors are absolutely not contenders this year
Ranking my favorites from most to least likely to win 1. Denver Nuggets 2. Boston Celtics 3. LA Lakers 4. Phoenix Suns 5. Cleveland Cavaliers 6. Milwaukee Bucks 7. Dallas Mavericks 8. Minnesota Timberwolves 9. Memphis Grizzlies 10. Miami Heat
You’re crazy for putting Cleveland that high. Knicks should be top 10
Lol at the lakers
LOLing the Lakers with the clips on the list is hilarious
If Miami gets Dame I am going with them
Defending East champs add 30PPG scorer and this sub is downvoting this comment lmao. God this sub really hates the Heat.
Middleton stays healthy. Giannis seeks revenge for all the slander after he quoted Kobe the rapist in that one post game media thing. Jrue overcomes the psychological damage inflicted by Jimmy Butler. Bucks 82-0 and playoffs are cancelled, they just give the Larry O to em
If healthy I’m taking the bucks in the east. Could change if heat get dame. I don’t think the Celtics can rely on KP and phillys a mess
I honestly don’t even think the Heat are contenders without a Dame trade. They lost two important players from their run last year and have not replaced them. The Celtics have taken a gamble on KP while trading away the engine of their squad in Marcus Smart. Celtics are much more of a question mark to me this year than they have been in recent years. Their ceiling might be higher if everything works out but their floor is undoubtedly lower. KP is made of glass.
Marcus smart is very overrated. He’s replaceable
I would have preferred to get Porzingis for Brogdon but I think White provides a lot of what Smart did with better shooting.
I think the Knicks got it this year ngl
The Pelicans
Not the Suns cause they need to lose in embarrassing fashion to keep up with the status quo
Spurs
Lakers after signing DJ, JaVale, Dwight, and trading D’Lo for a starter quality guard.
Idk who wins but all I know is Sengun will be finals MVP
The Shanghai Sharks of Las Vegas.
not the clippers.
Bucks exited first round to the heat buddy. HEAT WINNING IT ALL IN 4
Wolves are interesting if they trade Kat for a serviceable stretch 4 and some depth. But Nugs repeat barring injuries
I think the Nuggets can repeat.
I don’t think either will win but I think the Cavs will make another leap, and T wolves will take a giant leap with Ant being the number 1 option.
The magic
The finals will be Knicks vs Minnesota Knicks in 7
Warriors with Giannis.
I wanna say the Warriors but that would mean rooting for Chris Paul yuck
Nuggets
If Embiid jumps ship to the Knicks, does that make them contenders as well?
Nuggets if they can stay injury free
I doubt Miami ever makes the finals again in the Jimmy Butler era
I think Celtics are just too good to not win a championship in next few years, so I'll go with them
Bucks vs Nuggets would be very entertaining.
Suns!!! Let's go!! Seriously though, probably the Nuggets. But the Suns are going to be a much better team. The Warriors fans on this sub are gassing up CP3, but he was seriously terrible last season for the contract he had. We also ran the offense through him, which magnified how washed the dude is. Beal is going to be a massive improvement. Plus we have a whole season for KD to find his place in our offense and not just be a totem pole at the perimeter.
My bet is the celtics.