Hey everyone!
We are heading into the start of all the Game 5s, and we now have a much clearer picture of who might advance. The East has a lot of clarity as of yet so far. The Milwaukee Bucks have swept the Miami Heat, and other series are currently at a 3-1 advantage. It is a very safe bet to predict that Philadelphia and Brooklyn will advance, while the New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks series could feasibly still be flipped to the Knicks, who have two home games out of three remaining. The West is much more of a jumble, with only Utah carrying a 3-1 advantage and all other series tied 2-2.
Let's take a look at which teams are playing each day and strategize how best to move forward:
Tuesday (Game 5), Thursday (Game 6), and Saturday (Game 7)
Brooklyn vs Boston (Nets lead 3-1), Denver vs Portland (tied 2-2), and Phoenix vs LA Lakers (tied 2-2)
This slate of games has a significant dilemma you will need to deal with, as two series are tied 2-2. Boston is the safe pick for elimination, but you likely have already picked most of their best players and the blowout potential makes production from Celtic players a risk. Additionally, ff you leave both of the 2-2 series untouched for one more game, you risk a potential player log jam on Thursday when two of those teams will be facing elimination. I would suggest picking from one of the 2-2 series unless you have Jayson Tatum remaining from Boston to pick (if so, what have you been waiting for?). For myself, I have already picked Jokic from Denver and plan to pick LeBron James today. If I am wrong and both Phoenix and Portland lose today, let's just say Thursday will be a log jam for me :S.
Wednesday (Game 5), Friday (Game 6), and Sunday (Game 7)
Philadelphia vs Washington (76ers lead 3-1), Utah vs Memphis (Jazz lead 3-1), New York Knicks vs Atlanta (Hawks lead 3-1), LA Clippers vs Dallas (tied 2-2)
This is a bit easier a day to pick from. You should pick from one of the teams trailing 3-1 and then pick from Dallas vs LA Clippers on Friday. Assuming you have picked your best players from Washington (Beal and Westbrook were must pick and should have been done by now), that leaves good players from the Knicks and Grizzlies to pick. Make a prediction on who you like best of Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Derrick Rose, Ja Morant, Jonas Valanciunas, or Dillon Brooks and hope for the best. I like Julius Randle here, but I already picked him in Game 2 so I am going to try out RJ Barrett. The decision between Rose and Barrett felt like a close call but I like the upward potential that Barrett has.
Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favour!
Yes, with 2-2 and Joker & Booker already picked I want to play it safe and wait as I expect Blazers to win and I want to see who is going to win from Suns-Lakers (hope for Suns)... Porter Jr may be good pick if he's going to score a lot, but Smart feels more safe as even in blowout loss he should deliver over 20 PRA (and if Nuggets win, it's tough) and I'm sticking with him.
ReplyDeleteTommorow I follow your advice and going with Ja as he loves to play under pressure, so I want to see him going big and Knicks have the most chance to win. Hachimura can be dark horse pick as Bertans is out for playoffs.
I am also sticking with Smart, I think he should have a good game without Kemba. And having Jokic and Booker picked, I will wait there. I know there's a risk, but I still trust the Lakers and Blazers, at least I don't think either of them will lose in 6.
DeleteTomorrow I still have Randle in FP, going with Rose in DTTF as long as he is healthy. I don't have a lot of hope in the Knicks coming back to win the series. If they do I will be happy to be screwed up with my picks for the 2nd round. It's a win-win :D
Yeah, when writing I wasn't thinking from the perspective of having both Jokic and Booker picked, and also still having Smart available. Smart is a good pick in that case, but also worth noting that if both of the 2-2 home teams win their matchup tonight, there will be some tough decisions to make for Game 6.
DeleteAnd here we are with Dame/LeBron dillema for Game 6 ;) Dame today was probably best pick, but I still believe this series is going to Game 7, so it's time for LeBron in Game 6 hoping for Lakers to not be blown out, but also still lose ;)
DeleteDame was a great pick today in hindsight, but I see this series going 7 & I definitely believe the Blazers can win in Denver. They really should have won there tonight. Blazers lack of depth & poor coaching is rearing its ugly head yet again. Dame is the best player in this series. Give the man some damn help!
DeleteAs I said, I can't watch the games during the week. But this box score for the Lakers look really awful. I still believe in Blazers too, but LeBron looks like a must pick right now for game6. Give the man some damn help! part2
DeleteWinners go bold. I like Clippers, Suns and Blazers. Without AD, I'll take LeBron tonight, Randle Wednesday and Doncic Thursday. Still have Kawhi, PG13, Dame, Booker for next round.
ReplyDeleteThankfully you got that 3rd qtr out of Lebron where he hit 5 three-pointers cuz this game was all wrapped in the first half & he sat all 4th. Hoping for the bounce-back out of him Thursday with a big triple double, cuz well, he has no choice but to go the distance in that one.
Deletehad James last night I wanted 40 plus but 36 not too bad .I got Randle tonight .Tomorows pick tough If Davis plays maybe him or MCcullem even though i think Portland can win
ReplyDeleteIs James really going out in the first round? Looks like it. Took him long enough to even lose consecutive games in the first round. In his 15th first round series. That´s still impressive. And he probably wouldn´t even lose against the number 2 seed if not for ADs injury. He disappointed me in FP and I hope he will go all-out in g6. Preferably with a loss.
ReplyDeleteLillard on the other hand had a near perfect game. 71 PRA and losing after double overtime. I don´t quite know why he wasn´t involved in the game for the second half of the second overtime, but what can you do?
What´s really bugging me, the Lakers and the Trail Blazers can still realistically win their series even though they lost g5. And that is considering the Clippers lost their first two games at home and now seem to be in the driver´s seat, too. The West is very intriguing, but really bad for the purpose of this game.
Tonight it´s Morant in FP and Randle in GD. Then it get´s low. James in GD and Schroder (my fellow German) in FP.
The WILD WILD WEST is here!
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