Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 171. (Read 902379 times)

I'm sure Kings have that strategy to annoy Draymond so he'll be thrown out in the game, and that's where they can take advantage. I hope Draymond is wiser because this is a do or die game and Curry is gonna lead this team to a big victory. Kings started great but when they loss Monk, their startegy had started.

This is a rematch on the same venue, why compliate things? Lebron are not gonna give this game away to avoid facing the Nuggets because facing the Warriors is also dangerous in a do or die game.

Nice. I am thinking the same thing too. Experience-wise they have the upper hand and whenever the Warriors are cornered they are always playing better. As long as they are complete, I think they can win this game.
I just wish there were no bad emotions that would come out like what Draymond Green did with Sabonis stomping on him. That affected the game way too much and that's a 4-point play with 2 free throws and a possession for a flagrant 2.
Play clean and finish it strong, that's all they have to do.

New Orleans Pelicans versus the LA Lakers on the other hand seems to be difficult to predict. Ingram just came back from an injury and there's a chance that he ain't in better health just yet or affected mentally. But still, I will be betting for them as I saw their strength even when he was not around.

Zion was limited on their previous game, so honestly I don't expect something different in this  game although the betting odds is looking like a trap but I think it's still the Lakers that will prevail as the winner here.

From +1 to +3 now for the Kings. This could due to a lot of money are going to the Warriors, but good thing the line has moved because I like the Warriors to win as well, -3 should not be a problem against a Monk Less Kings.

Everyone is really looking at the Lakers and Pelicans match, do that point that the odds are literally 50/50. So there could be sentiments for the Lakers but we can't discount the Zion lead Pelicans wanted to prove something as this is long overdue. First time that we will see Zion being healthy and have a good chance to make it to the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Warriors are the favorite over the Sacramento Kings. So it's going to be a great play-in regardless on who will make it, and who will not eliminated. So let's tonight, most likely a lot of fans are going to tune in to watch.

Lakers gonna play hard even if that means they'll be facing the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
There are speculations that they might purposely tank in this game to avoid the Nuggets, but I think there's no basis on that because the Lakers wants to be a champion and they'll face any team that will be match with them,  even if that team swept them in the WCF last season.

They cannot take chances on that as if they loss tomorrow, there's no gurantee that they'll win against the Warriors or Lakers.
Every game is very important to them and they'll treat it as a do or die game.

Less than 24 hours and we're going to see Lakers and Pelicans. I'm stuck thinking on which team should I go but my heart is with the Lakers. 

It actually is an advantage because whoever loses on 7/8 still have the chance for the loser bracket to play for the 8th seed.

OKC's performances during the pre-season is really outrageous but we all know there's a big difference when it came to the playoffs, and like what you mentioned, those 3 teams on the lower spot have that capabilities to upset their opponents, not just Lakers and Warriors but also Kings if they manage to beat the Warriors, with their great blends and chemistries they can come out and upset their opponents.


That's interesting, If either NO or Lakers beats the defending champ it might be a an easier next round for them, though we all know how tough the competion will be but no one can accurately predict the possible outcome during the first round.

I never even thought that they'll make it to the playoffs when Lavine was announce out for the season, I'm surprise they are here, but if they will make it to the playoffs, I still think that this team has a future. Next season, they will improve as long as they'll do one important thing, and that is "trading Zach Lavine".

I agree that it would be preferable for both the Lakers and Pelicans to lose the first play-in game of the tournament and then try to face the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. On the other hand, there is no point in stretching out the inevitable. I mean, if the Lakers or Pelicans could somehow beat the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, it would be easier for them in the later rounds of the playoffs.

I see my Chicago Bulls are in the play in game versus the Atlanta Hawks come Wednesday (april 17th).  I once again, like year after year, have absolutely nothing but disappointment and shame when it comes to this.  The Bulls are constantly on the line for making the playoffs, with absolutely ZERO chance at making any kind of legitimate run at it.  The Bulls are in purgatory, and nearing hell.

It's better than not playing at all, they could have a hard time against the defending champions, but who knows, they might give the Nuggets a very tough game series and it could extend to game 7. And if that happens, the Nuggets might not have the energy on the second round specially if they are facing a opponent that is fresh from their first round winning. So the Warriors still can do damage here even if the lose the series to the Nuggets. And we all know that the Warriors is still built like when they have their dynasty, Steph, Klay and Draymond is still around + some of their team from their last championship like Looney, Kuminga and Wiggins.

They are set to play today and they should not miss the opportunity to win one time to climb to the number 7 spot which gives them less stress because their opponent is not that strong rather than going to face the number 1 OKC because it will gonna be a hard time for them to cross it because winning against that team is almost impossible at their current rosters. Nuggets on the other hand is much easier for them because they have the right players to stop Jokic and if they cannot do so, then that's their season ending and we cannot blame them because Western Conference's top teams are currently the best.

In a game against the kings where they don't have many people who can lock down step I expect a 40 point type of game.  He is going to get up 30+ shots.  Shoukd be a high scoring game.  Winning the 7th spot is no treat as you have to go to Denver for a tough 7 game series.  I can't see any of the play in teams beating the Nuggets 4 times before the nuts beat them 4.

Without a doubt anyone that will win in this play-in will have a hard time because they will eventually face the top seeded in the conference. But this is the first time that the Thunder will be in this spot, so this might be good for them, but then again it's going to be as series, and even if you are the top seed, the record is 0-0 and if my chance the game can go to a grueling 7 series and so teams that have experience it before could still have the advantage like the Lakers or the Warriors if they are going to face OKC. So we should give Lakers a slim chance to upset the OKC.

I think they will want to salvage their season still regardless of who they are going to face in they move to the playoff. But obviously, it will be the best and 2nd best team in the West. So they should take care of their business first before looking as who will it be.

Same for the Warriors, although they have a good chance as they will be facing the King. Betting odds agree to the majority that they are going to be the favorite. But let's see, Warriors are pump to this kind of games and Steph will be Steph, maybe scoring 30 points or more to carry the team in his back.

My prediction for the Western Conference Play-In Tournament is that either the Lakers or Pelicans won't make it to the playoffs, the Warriors will win against the Kings, and whoever faces the Warriors next will lose to them and won't make playoffs, whether it's the Lakers or Pelicans. In short, I'm confident the Warriors will make it to the playoffs. But if Warriors lose to the Kings, they're both has a chance. But hese two California teams won't make playoffs if they face the Lakers in 8th seed battle, but if AD doesn't play, they might have a chance.

Lakers at 8th, not a bad position to be in, they could beat Pelicans and even finish at 7th as well, going from 9th to there within two games is definitely a big achievement without a doubt. I understand that people may look at it differently, but I do believe that's actually an advantage for Lakers.

Thunder finished first, Nuggets finished second, so anyone who is 7th would be in trouble, I think both Pelicans and Lakers will be aware of that and may not want to win it in the end, if they win it, they are facing Nuggets, if they lose then they will face 9-10th winner too, but at the very least they will face Thunder in that situation. I think it is going to be a very weak spot, Thunder is not that great, they may have finished first, but they lack playoff experience.

Same here, I will be going on the Warriors here against the Sacramento King. They have the rivalry, but not even close as the Warriors have their numbers and obviously, they have the championship DNA.

Although the Kings have improved from last season, it seems that they are inconsistent this year. They started hot, then after the break, it was a different performance from them that's why they lose their position. But still very good play-in, and if we look at the odds, the Warriors as we thought is the slight favorite as per ML.

Nah, I don't think the Lakers will risk playing a do-or-die game between either the Kings or the Warriors. Comparing them to the Pelicans, the Pelicans are a much easier team to beat, so it is better to win their first play-in rather than facing either the Kings, which AD hasn't won against Sabonis (he is 0-8 against Sabonis, btw), or the Warriors, who still have their power in them and might wake up anytime soon. If the reward for beating the Pelicans is facing Denver in the first round, then so be it; they're going to face them sooner in the playoffs, so it is much better to face them early when they still have fresh legs. I think that is one of the reasons why the Lakers got swept last season; all of them are tired from playing too many games, especially Lebron, and you can clearly see it in the last game of the WCF. Lakers also got new guards that can guard Murray, Vincent, and Dinwiddie, who can take the defensive assignment and DLo and reaves on the offense. If the Lakers manage to beat Denver in the first round, then it will be much easier to get that chip.

Their roster is better than last year although it wasn't close to what it was when they won the title in the Bubble.
You know what's lacking on the team aside from their ability to shoot outside? Leadership. LeBron you might say? I agree with that, but having a coach that the team doesn't like has an effect on the whole team. I guess we will all agree that the Lakers wanted to fire Darvin Ham already. I just don't know the reason why they didn't do it TBH, but I will not be surprised if he will get fired and will have a new coach next season.

The Lakers will get maybe 1 win against the Nuggets or worse, they might get swept "AGAIN".
Before the start of the playoffs, I already predicted that the Nuggets will win the Western Conference again, and will be going to the NBA Finals and from there, they will be facing the Celtics because I don't see any team in the East that can defeat the Celtics in 7 games as well. Heat maybe?

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Well, it seems like the Bucks dodged a bullet because they went down to the 3rd spot because of how awful they played ever since Giannis is out but for me, they did it on purpose because they don't want to face either the Sixers or the Heat in the first round because they know they can't defeat them especially the Sixers with Embiid. For them, the Pacers are a much better opponent since they don't the playoff experience yet. Even though the Bucks lost to the Pacers in their regular season match-up 4-1, I think the Bucks have a better winning percentage against the Pacers who doesn't have any experience at all compare to both the Heat and the Sixers.