The thing is that besides just being the Suns, each of those team has a legit reason to avoid them in first round.
LA just getting Lebron back, conditioning and stuff
Clippers likely wont have George in 1st rd
Warriors would be just getting Wiggcuck back so they need some time together
You still have to play Memphis as a 7
You could avoid PHX until the finals
Pretty much everyone wants the 6 seed. You avoid the Suns, plus it's very possible Memphis loses in the 2/7 match-up as well. Could get home court in the second round if you get by the Kings, or at worst a second round match-up vs a flawed Memphis team
Lakers likely would prefer to play Denver instead of Memphis from a match-up standpoint, so they'd weirdly prefer the 8 over the 7 in that scenario. But of course they'd like the 6 over the 5, even though they match up with Phoenix OK.
Warriors wouldn't mind the 6-8, especially with Wiggins coming back. Suns would be the toughest first round test for them, though admittedly I'd love to see KD vs Warriors. Granted, I'd rather see it in the WCF.
Clippers are pretty much doomed no matter what.
Lakers likely would prefer to play Denver instead of Memphis from a match-up standpoint, so they'd weirdly prefer the 8 over the 7 in that scenario. But of course they'd like the 6 over the 5, even though they match up with Phoenix OK.
Warriors wouldn't mind the 6-8, especially with Wiggins coming back. Suns would be the toughest first round test for them, though admittedly I'd love to see KD vs Warriors. Granted, I'd rather see it in the WCF.
Clippers are pretty much doomed no matter what.
good explanations and scenarios detailed
bleacherreport.com
NBA Playoff Picture 2023: Predicting Play-In Games and Standings Entering Final Week
Eight teams are competing for six spots in the NBA's Western Conference. Half of those franchises will be sent to the play-in round to earn their spots in the…
bleacherreport.com
Just in case you dont know this info.......
The No. 7 through No. 10 seeds are all in the play-in tournament to see who advances for the final two spots in their conference playoffs. The No. 7 and No. 8 seed play in a matchup which works like double elimination. The winner of the matchup advances as the No. 7 seed and will matchup as the No. 8 seed. The next matchup will be No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed. Whoever loses this will be out, while the winner will take on the loser of the No. 7 and No. 8 matchup. The winner of this fall matchup will be the No. 8 seed and the loser will be out.
Basically the No. 9 and No. 10 seed must win two games to advance and they must win both games they play. While the No. 7 and No. 8 seed get two chances to win one game to advance
NBA play-in tournament format
The No. 7 through No. 10 seeds are all in the play-in tournament to see who advances for the final two spots in their conference playoffs. The No. 7 and No. 8 seed play in a matchup which works like double elimination. The winner of the matchup advances as the No. 7 seed and will matchup as the No. 8 seed. The next matchup will be No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed. Whoever loses this will be out, while the winner will take on the loser of the No. 7 and No. 8 matchup. The winner of this fall matchup will be the No. 8 seed and the loser will be out.
Basically the No. 9 and No. 10 seed must win two games to advance and they must win both games they play. While the No. 7 and No. 8 seed get two chances to win one game to advance
-135 to -900 in 5 days, wish I bet it for more
Tough to fire too hard when Phi didn't really have much to play for in the last week and he can sit at any time. But obviously after last few years, Philly really wanted him to win it.
JJJ/Lopez for DPOY will be interesting. Bucks have best record, Giannis isn't winning MVP and their consensus 2nd best player barely played this year. Lopez is gonna play like 15 more games than JJJ as well. So maybe they toss a Bucks guy a bone for that. Logically, I'd want to bet him. But he's Brook fuckin Lopez, who really wants to give him the 2nd most important award.
Tough to fire too hard when Phi didn't really have much to play for in the last week and he can sit at any time. But obviously after last few years, Philly really wanted him to win it.
JJJ/Lopez for DPOY will be interesting. Bucks have best record, Giannis isn't winning MVP and their consensus 2nd best player barely played this year. Lopez is gonna play like 15 more games than JJJ as well. So maybe they toss a Bucks guy a bone for that. Logically, I'd want to bet him. But he's Brook fuckin Lopez, who really wants to give him the 2nd most important award.
Maybe. Would have been interesting the odds if Joel had the same game and still the 6ers would have lost.
Embiid really really wants the award and it seems like a lot of the voters are just going to vote for him because he has never won one and they think he deserves one----not really how the award should be(imo)
A little ironic they denied Gianis 3x because he had fizzled in the play offs the prior season but now will give it to Jokic(2) and Embiid(1) who will be out before conference finals.
Philly has been relatively healthy all season long and still just the #3 seed.
If Giannis had the same season as Embiid and was 3rd in the standings and Embiid had the season Giannis had and had given Philly the best record in NBA I would assume Embiid would be a near unanimous choice for MVP and Giannis would finish a distant 3rd.
Prior seasons shouldn't play into it, but obviously do and have done so for many a decades.
If Giannis had the same season as Embiid and was 3rd in the standings and Embiid had the season Giannis had and had given Philly the best record in NBA I would assume Embiid would be a near unanimous choice for MVP and Giannis would finish a distant 3rd.
Prior seasons shouldn't play into it, but obviously do and have done so for many a decades.
Jokic lost it because Denver has been pretty terrible down the stretch and Jokic hasn't played well or missed games.
Jokic was a heavy favorite at one point.
Giannis not playing tonight as the Bucks have everything just about wrapped. So Embiid without question is MVP.(If there was even the tiniest of doubt)
Jokic was a heavy favorite at one point.
Giannis not playing tonight as the Bucks have everything just about wrapped. So Embiid without question is MVP.(If there was even the tiniest of doubt)
