Post by Herby New Year! on Sept 12, 2022 10:57:30 GMT -5
Welcome to the playoff matrix, where we will break down the playoffs with our most excellent predictions. Are the Bulls much ado about nothing? Will the Capitols speed away with a title or, if we're playing devil's advocate, will the Rockets resurgence put them back in Banner town. Do the Mavericks replacements have them reloaded and ready to win another title? Are the Jazz going to enjoy an excellent adventure through the 3032 playoffs or will it be bogus? Let's find out!
Round 1:
East
Bulls v. Cavs
Season series: 3-1 Bulls
Notable Injuries: None
Odin roars back into the TMBSL playoffs as a conference winner with Charlie Bell, Steve Mitchell, Desmond Penigar, and FA to be Lugentz Dort. His D/R big front court is a big departure from the old Bobcats days, but the success is the same.
Prediction: Bulls in 5.
Caps v. Hawks
Season series: 2-2
Notable injuries: None
This may come down to whether King sets a DC. The Hawks could make some noise in these playoffs if they did things like start their best player in Tyrese Haliburton. But for now we like the Admiral to take home court in the Nation's capitol and eek out a series win for Yawn.
Prediction: Caps in 7
Pacers v. Celtics
Season series: 3-1 Pacers
Notable injuries: None
The season series looks to favor the Pacers, but the match up could not be worse. The Celtics and Pacers play the same kind of ball with balanced squads across the board. Except the Celtics have the legs to run the Pacers off the court most nights. This is an upset alert!
Prediction: Celtics in 7.
Hornets v. Pipers
Season series: 4-0 Hornets
Notable injuries: none
Fecta's back! It's always dangerous to go up against the reigning MVP and the Pipers, but Fecta should be able to handle this match up with ease. Flynn, Herro, and Jackson dropping 3s all day long will be too much for Pipetown to handle.
Prediction: Hornets in 5.
West
Mavs v. Spurs
Season series: 4-0 Mavs
Notable injuries: Dwight Howard - 28 days
Dwight is "injured" for 28 days, but chances are the Mavericks are merely resting him for the first two series until they could legitimately be tested by the Nuggets or the Rockets. They have no chance of losing to the Spurs, the Bucks, or the Jazz. So why not freshen up the 32 year old Howard for the main event?
Prediction: Mavs in 4.
Nuggets v. Sonics
Season series: 2-2
Notable injuries: none
This match up looks fantastic. Two storied GMs facing off with two very good squads. Ultimately, the Nuggets have too much talent on the front court for the Sonics to handle, but they will win a game or three to make it interesting.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7.
Rockets v. Blazers
Season series: 2-2
Notable injuries: none
No one bothered to help kc tear down the Rockets and that is going to be a problem for the western conference in the playoffs. Their front court is outstanding and they've got Bogans and KCP on the wings - both great two-way players. The Blazers are going to have to hope Scottie Pippen can pull a rabbit out of a hat to make this match up close.
Prediction: Rockets in 5.
Bucks v. Jazz
Season series: 4-0
Notable injuries: Rudy Gay - 37 days
The season series wasn't close, but we expect the playoffs to be a little tighter with Gay missing from the Bucks line up. This match up may come down to home court advantage as Ebi and Henry battle for the opportunity to try to not get swept by Lebron and the Mavs.
Prediction: Jazz in 7.
Round 2
East
Bulls v. Hornets
Season series: 2-1 Hornets
Expect a barrage of 3 point attempts in this series, which features elite outside offenses with no shoot bigs. It could come down to a few lucky attempts and hopefully a commissioner's office pbp.
Prediction: Bulls in 6.
Capitols v. Celtics
Season Series: 2-2
This series should be great. The Celtics and Capitols are balanced teams with solid starters across the board. Expect it to go 7 with the Celtics potentially knocking off the Caps in DC to advance to the conference finals.
Prediction: Celtics in 7.
West
Mavs v. Jazz
Season series: 3-1 Mavs
The Jazz may think they have a chance with Dwight out, but they don't. Xavier Henry will be exposed as the MLE level player he is in this match up. Lebron may average near a triple double.
Prediction: Mavs in 5.
Nuggets v. Rockets
Season series: 2-2
This is going to be another great series. The Nuggets likely have the upper hand with the elite level talent, but the Rockets have the playoff experience to play spoiler. Ultimately Shaq, Kwame, and the Nuggets are going to roll on to the western conference finals.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6.
Conference finals
Bulls v. Celtics
Season series: 3-1 Bulls
Match-up of the former Cougs as Fergusson and Bell in the conference finals. The Celtics magical run may come to an end here against the Bulls, but it wont. The Bulls bigs just can't match up with talented front court in Boston and the wings aren't a strong lean to the Bulls. It could go chalk to the TMBSL finals, but we don't think so.
Prediction: Celtics in 7.
Mavs v. Nuggets
Season series: 3-1 Mavs
Dwight is back and fully rested. The Nuggets are a monster of a team, but they are going to need to hang on a few more seasons to have a chance of a title. This is the de facto TMBSL finals and hopefully the Nuggets can push it to 7. But they wont.
Prediction: Mavs in 5.
Finals
Celtics v. Mavs.
Season series: 1-1
The Celtics could RNG into a competitive series, but it's unlikely. Lebron will continue carrying Dirt to the promised land.
Prediction: Mavs in 5.
Champions: The Dallas Mavericks
MVP: Kira Lewis Jr.
Round 1:
East
Bulls v. Cavs
Season series: 3-1 Bulls
Notable Injuries: None
Odin roars back into the TMBSL playoffs as a conference winner with Charlie Bell, Steve Mitchell, Desmond Penigar, and FA to be Lugentz Dort. His D/R big front court is a big departure from the old Bobcats days, but the success is the same.
Prediction: Bulls in 5.
Caps v. Hawks
Season series: 2-2
Notable injuries: None
This may come down to whether King sets a DC. The Hawks could make some noise in these playoffs if they did things like start their best player in Tyrese Haliburton. But for now we like the Admiral to take home court in the Nation's capitol and eek out a series win for Yawn.
Prediction: Caps in 7
Pacers v. Celtics
Season series: 3-1 Pacers
Notable injuries: None
The season series looks to favor the Pacers, but the match up could not be worse. The Celtics and Pacers play the same kind of ball with balanced squads across the board. Except the Celtics have the legs to run the Pacers off the court most nights. This is an upset alert!
Prediction: Celtics in 7.
Hornets v. Pipers
Season series: 4-0 Hornets
Notable injuries: none
Fecta's back! It's always dangerous to go up against the reigning MVP and the Pipers, but Fecta should be able to handle this match up with ease. Flynn, Herro, and Jackson dropping 3s all day long will be too much for Pipetown to handle.
Prediction: Hornets in 5.
West
Mavs v. Spurs
Season series: 4-0 Mavs
Notable injuries: Dwight Howard - 28 days
Dwight is "injured" for 28 days, but chances are the Mavericks are merely resting him for the first two series until they could legitimately be tested by the Nuggets or the Rockets. They have no chance of losing to the Spurs, the Bucks, or the Jazz. So why not freshen up the 32 year old Howard for the main event?
Prediction: Mavs in 4.
Nuggets v. Sonics
Season series: 2-2
Notable injuries: none
This match up looks fantastic. Two storied GMs facing off with two very good squads. Ultimately, the Nuggets have too much talent on the front court for the Sonics to handle, but they will win a game or three to make it interesting.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7.
Rockets v. Blazers
Season series: 2-2
Notable injuries: none
No one bothered to help kc tear down the Rockets and that is going to be a problem for the western conference in the playoffs. Their front court is outstanding and they've got Bogans and KCP on the wings - both great two-way players. The Blazers are going to have to hope Scottie Pippen can pull a rabbit out of a hat to make this match up close.
Prediction: Rockets in 5.
Bucks v. Jazz
Season series: 4-0
Notable injuries: Rudy Gay - 37 days
The season series wasn't close, but we expect the playoffs to be a little tighter with Gay missing from the Bucks line up. This match up may come down to home court advantage as Ebi and Henry battle for the opportunity to try to not get swept by Lebron and the Mavs.
Prediction: Jazz in 7.
Round 2
East
Bulls v. Hornets
Season series: 2-1 Hornets
Expect a barrage of 3 point attempts in this series, which features elite outside offenses with no shoot bigs. It could come down to a few lucky attempts and hopefully a commissioner's office pbp.
Prediction: Bulls in 6.
Capitols v. Celtics
Season Series: 2-2
This series should be great. The Celtics and Capitols are balanced teams with solid starters across the board. Expect it to go 7 with the Celtics potentially knocking off the Caps in DC to advance to the conference finals.
Prediction: Celtics in 7.
West
Mavs v. Jazz
Season series: 3-1 Mavs
The Jazz may think they have a chance with Dwight out, but they don't. Xavier Henry will be exposed as the MLE level player he is in this match up. Lebron may average near a triple double.
Prediction: Mavs in 5.
Nuggets v. Rockets
Season series: 2-2
This is going to be another great series. The Nuggets likely have the upper hand with the elite level talent, but the Rockets have the playoff experience to play spoiler. Ultimately Shaq, Kwame, and the Nuggets are going to roll on to the western conference finals.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6.
Conference finals
Bulls v. Celtics
Season series: 3-1 Bulls
Match-up of the former Cougs as Fergusson and Bell in the conference finals. The Celtics magical run may come to an end here against the Bulls, but it wont. The Bulls bigs just can't match up with talented front court in Boston and the wings aren't a strong lean to the Bulls. It could go chalk to the TMBSL finals, but we don't think so.
Prediction: Celtics in 7.
Mavs v. Nuggets
Season series: 3-1 Mavs
Dwight is back and fully rested. The Nuggets are a monster of a team, but they are going to need to hang on a few more seasons to have a chance of a title. This is the de facto TMBSL finals and hopefully the Nuggets can push it to 7. But they wont.
Prediction: Mavs in 5.
Finals
Celtics v. Mavs.
Season series: 1-1
The Celtics could RNG into a competitive series, but it's unlikely. Lebron will continue carrying Dirt to the promised land.
Prediction: Mavs in 5.
Champions: The Dallas Mavericks
MVP: Kira Lewis Jr.
