Post by cop5414 on Aug 4, 2024 18:14:56 GMT
2028 NBN Western Conference Finals:
Welp, I'm out 500 bucks in, but won't complain. That was a hell of a 2nd round. Even going back to my 2.0 days, I can't recall a time all four series went the distance. Also two of them started 3-0. Just crazy, it really is. So the Kings survived a De'Aaron Fox-less series versus the Utah Jazz. I wouldn't say the end results is too shocking. I know I had the Jazz in 6, but Nic Claxton going off for 31 in Game 5 and Scottie Barnes doing his best 2024 Klay Thompson playoff impersonation weren't in my cards. Nevertheless, it was a fun series that went back and forth with never a repeat winner, and some props to Garway Dual, who replaced the league MVP Fox, he went 17.0 ppg and 9.3 apg. Lost a big step inscoring but provided excellent ball movement. In a sense he is kind of an ideal backup point guard in this league, great enough handles to move the offense, but not enough scoring ability to take away too many key minutes of the starter. Well now the Kings are only 7 days away from the return of Fox. If their opponent can't jump out to an early 2-1 lead in that time, the Kings might survive this one as well.
The Thunder had nearly an laughable upset versus the NBN champs. Up 3-0, then lost three straight before winning a nail biter which came down to at least a 10 point comeback in the 4th to win 130-128. The real funny thing in this series was the DC adjustments each team made. Two simple switches occurred, the first one on sim 4 by the Grizzlies was to move Zion to the 5, and in 4.5 where the Thunder placed Wembanyama at the 4 for Game 7. One would probably think it'd be about getting Zion vs. Wembanyama for whatever reason, crazy enough it likely more about targeting Evan Mobley. His numbers absolutely dipped when Jarrett Allen got placed on him, until Game 7 where he was swapped to center and was more on pace for his usual input if hadn't fouled out. So now the thought turns to the Kings and whether that is something that can be exploited by using the DPOTY Nic Claxton to make Mobley irrelevant, since players like Wemby usually get their numbers regardless. Anyhow...
Thunder in 7
2028 NBN Eastern Conference Finals:
#1 New Orleans Pelicans [69-27] vs #2 Orlando Magic [67-26]
Now call me Peter, cause I will deny the Pelicans 3 times. Sunday sermon I don't care, I'll use the excuse that this is a rog sim and that his computer simply likes The Slough more than A. Silver's. I still don't buy it, and I'll never buy in. I'll remain convinced that this team is a joke. I don't care that they took out the 4 years straight defending Eastern Conference Champions in the Philadelphia 76ers. Regardless of my "distaste" of this team, I'll need to applaud the changes The Slough made to the DC heading into Game 4. Vassell got kicked to the bench, Mintz moved to the 2, and the 5-time All-Defensive 1st Team Ausar Thompson was given a starting role. They went from having a -10 rebound differential in the first 3 games to have a +36 in the final four. Rattled off 4 straight, and now get the pleasure of facing the Orlando Magic.
The Orlando Magic a different kind of series versus the Washington Wizards. In fact neither team made any DC adjustments in the series and just let it ride out. Interesting series as the Wizards quickly took home court advantage by taking the first two in Orlando before quickly surrenduring it back by forfeiting the next two at home. Then there is the cherry on top of dash's dreams once again getting crushed in a 1-point loss in game 7. Now it comes down to how they matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans whom they went 3-1 against in the regular season. Problem is that all of their games came when Chrt Holmgren was still on the roster. Although, its hard to root against Game 7 hero Anthony Edwards who dropped 46pts. It'll likely come down to the wire.
Magic in 7
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