2028 NBN Playoff Predictions: Western Conference Round 1
Jul 31, 2024 17:48:56 GMT
SpikeLee14 likes this
Post by cop5414 on Jul 31, 2024 17:48:56 GMT
2028 NBN Western Conference Playoffs Round 1
#1 Sacremento Kings [65-17] vs #8 Golden State Warriors [40-42]
Defensive Player of the Year? Check. MVP? Check. A combo I don't believe has been seen since the 2024 76ers when they began their run. Is Claxton + Fox a greater combo than Embiid + Maxey? Nope. But hey, Keegan Murray can cover the scoring. Especially at a postion with limited elite players. I'm sure I can just square the Kings away as the West favorite at this point, but as long as De'Aaron Fox stays healthy, I see a quick path to the Western Conference finals. For the Warriors this is likely goodbye. They've got a nice starting five, but little depth oustide of that. Derek Lively does return in five does that, so maybe that adds something? Unlikely though, this should finish up quickley.
Kings in 4
#2 Vancouver Grizzlies [57-25] vs #7 Phoenix Suns [40-42]
Things were looking dire for the Grizzlies mid-season. In a crap division and still couldn't pull away from the Utah Jazz. A complete turn around from the halfway point of the season where they sat at .500, finished it out 30-8. The big addition being afro's return to the league. He traded to Dame Sarr to his alma mater after all. Not exactly for nothing. A couple of Knicks picks, a mid-round 1st in the Cavs pick, a future Grizzlies 1st, and of course what is hopefully a promising prospect in Oscar Wembamyama. However, I can't help but feel uc got a steal for Sarr. Only 22 and still sitting a A potential with borderline elite scoring ratings. I can respect afro's need to forge hos own path. So here's to hoping Sarr walks this free agency. Well the Grizzlies title defense starts with a should be a pushover team in the Suns who are all but forced to participate in these playoffs. A franchise who should count their lucky stars that the amnesty cut exists. Booker had a noticable drop off in volume production, and if that misinput by the temporary interm GM stuck. Yeesh! I expect this series to wrap up quickly.
Grizzlies in 4
#3 Oklahoma City Thunder [64-18] vs #6 Los Angeles Clippers [43-39]
Clippers were a team that I thought could take a big step this season. After all they reached the Conference finals just last season with a losing record to boot. All three of Holmes, Holland, and Sarr improved. Then add former Knick Donovan Mitchell with an already more productive than he should be Markell Fultz. I was hoping for a +48 win season. Unfortunately I don't see a second straight Cinderella run in the mix. Especially not when you have to face a healthy OKC. The Thunder have been even hotter than the Grizzlies in the back half of the season. Going 38-7 to end the season, led by the usual MVP snub victim Victor Wembamyama, the Thunder are looking primed for a deep post season run. They have questions is the backcourt, and overall depth in my opinion, but that really should 't be a huge concern as the tandem of Murphy, Wemby and Mobley should be too much for Sarr, Holmes, and Holland to handle. Mitchell will need to do the heavy lifting, but I don't think it'll be enough.
Thunder in 4
#4 Los Angeles Lakers [51-31] vs Utah Jazz [44-38]
No Sikma mode here!! However, if some GM were to pull some DC nonsense out of his ass it's probably jballin. The Jazz have likely already accomplished their season goal of reaching the postseason with a winning record. So as the expression goes, "playing with house money". I do wonder if he'll mess around and maybe give Tran an honest look. Big key here is that Egor has got to shine. More than the Ja Morant that is. The Lakers have the more lethal weapons in this series, but FBB has the tendency to punish teams that don't deserve to be. Why? Probably rebounding. I mean both teams are technically even in that regard in RPG and oRPG, but that 0.7 total difference will be enough to convince the sim to screw over the Lakers. Kendicks, Capela, Giles, and Kessler contribute little offensively and Game 1 missed by Reaves will hurt them.
Jazz in 6
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