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Posted

It's almost time for the season to fully kick off.  I've made my picks below using the ESPN Bet win projections and giving an over / under.  I also picked the playoff and play-in teams.
image.thumb.png.45bd432f191bfbc9daa5befba9b05ce4.png

Notes:

  • I picked the Thunder under 62.5, but I am expecting them to still win the West with about 60 wins. 
  • I think the Warriors are going over and will end up in the 50+ win range.
  • I have the Mavs and the Spurs going at each other for the 7-8 play-in spot.
  • The Trailblazers and Suns I think will exceed expectations.
  • In the East, I think the Cavs, Knicks and Magic will battle for the top with 52ish wins taking the conference.
  • I am under on the 76ers, having them out of the play-in.
  • I think the Raptors will surprise with 40+ wins.

 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
1 hour ago, MNLonghornFUKM said:

Why are you buying high on golden state? 

 

36, 37,35,39 and 32 probably their starting 5's ages. 

that’s also going to be the number of games played for at least two of those five.

  • Haha 1
Posted
22 hours ago, Fastbreak said:

It's almost time for the season to fully kick off.  I've made my picks below using the ESPN Bet win projections and giving an over / under.  I also picked the playoff and play-in teams.
image.thumb.png.45bd432f191bfbc9daa5befba9b05ce4.png

Notes:

  • I picked the Thunder under 62.5, but I am expecting them to still win the West with about 60 wins. 
  • I think the Warriors are going over and will end up in the 50+ win range.
  • I have the Mavs and the Spurs going at each other for the 7-8 play-in spot.
  • The Trailblazers and Suns I think will exceed expectations.
  • In the East, I think the Cavs, Knicks and Magic will battle for the top with 52ish wins taking the conference.
  • I am under on the 76ers, having them out of the play-in.
  • I think the Raptors will surprise with 40+ wins.

 

The Thunder won 68 last year wth Holmgren missing 50 games and Hartenstein missing 30. They return everybody. They are by far the deepest team in the league and still one of the youngest, with a lot of their players still on an upward trajectory. I also think the west is going to be overall worse this year and the east is awash with injuries to star players -- the league in general is weaker overall. Barring SGA getting hurt for an extended period of time or them just getting bored or complacent, I'm more inclined to think they win 70 than fewer than 63. 

Handicapping the rest of the west:

  1. I like Denver over. They need some injury luck from guys with iffy health histories like Murray, Gordon and Johnson, but they won 50 last year with a 6 man roster and front office dysfunction. Combine what they added -- Johnson, Brown, Hardaway and JV plus natural growth from their young guys Braun, Watson and Strawther... that's a scary team.
  2. Houston losing FVV hurts but they had a great off season otherwise. I do wonder if they will play defense at the same level as last year. I hate Dillon Brooks but he did have some value add as far as attitude and defense. I have zero faith in Reed Sheppard becoming anything more than 3 point specialist off the bench and KD is old as dirt now, but holy fuck Amen Thompson is nasty. 
  3. The Wolves didn't get any better this off season unless Dillingham makes a jump or Edwards can level up even more. No NAW and Conley is washed. Divencenzo needs to be great for them. I've never liked this roster construction but apparently Julius Randle not being baked all the time has made him more productive and a better human being. Who knew? I dunno. I still think their back to back conference finals appearances are more fluke/function of matchups than a realistic reflection of how good they are. 
  4. Clippers - say what you want about their offseason shenanigans, that's still a veteran, deep team that can win a lot of games. They won 50 with KL only playing in 37 total. I think they will miss Powell but overall that roster is probably improved depending on how much CP3, Bropez and John Collins have in the tank and Kawhi's under the table payments coming through health. I'll take over 47.5 for them.
  5. Lakers - Luka is probably worth 45-50  wins by himself, but Lebron is old/hurt and acting like a massive diva (shocker) and they have no size other than the headcase that is Deandre Ayton. This looks like one of those poorly constructed Mavs rosters from a few years back. I think they are going to be terrible on defense and there's going to be lots of drama.
  6. Golden State will need multiple miracles for them to be healthy during the regular season. Give me the under - they are going to have to load manage and keep key guys out who have mild injuries in the hope of making it to the playoffs in any sort of decent shape.
  7. Give me Spurs over. Homer pick, but I think Dylan Haper is goiing to great sooner than later, they have a much better/bigger bench with Kornet and Olynyk, we saw no Fox last year and Castle should be better. Regardless, it's all about Wemby and his growtha and health. Outside shot at 50 wins if things break right and Wemby is as good as I think he will be
  8. Dallas isn't going to have Kyrie and has a roster constructed for Luka. Flagg is going to be great, but I don't think the pieces they have right now fit together at all. I'm sure Nico will work some trade magic -- I'm actually halfway serious about that. I thought the guy was nails until he lost his mind and did the Luka trade.
  9. Memphis can't stay healthy. Bane is gone. Kennard is gone. Who is going to stretch the court for them? KCP seemed washed in Orlando. They always find surprisingly good randoms to fill out their bench but they are a complete wildcard to me. If JJJ and Morant can play 65ish games together, then I like the over. Otherwise, it might be time to start breaking this group up.
  10. I don't know what the fuck Sacramento is doing for like the 40th straight year. That's got to be worst ratio of talent to roster construction in the league. Nothing fits and now they add Westbrook. Just a perpetual shitshow there.
  11. Portland started to develop an identity and played well the last half of the season. They have a lot of long dudes that can shoot and defend and handle. But they just don't have any diffeence making talent. They might be sneaky better than people think, but unless Scoot takes a massive jump I think they are going to lose a lot more than win.
  12. Phoenix seems like a mess. They've added some interesting pieces, but the mix looks bad to me. I think they're going to suck again.
  13. NOLA - like Memphis, they can't stay healthy. Maybe skinny Zion plays 82 games, but Jordan Poole is basketball cancer. It's cool, though, I'm sure Joe Dumars will make some great moves to keep them in the playoffs and avoid sending Atlant a top 5 pick.
  14. Poor Utah. They owe OKC a top 8 protected pick so you know they are going to be in full tank mode from day 1. Again. I actually like a good bit of their young talent including Ace Bailey, but they dumped all their vets this off season. I can already feel Lauri Markkannan's groin tightening up.

 

 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

So Russillo is officially gone to Barstool and is taking Kyle and Ceruti with him. 

The Ringer just started some partnership with Netflix for streaming their content.

Assuming Russillo wanted more points than he was getting on the impending Netflix deal (or just with the Ringer in general) and shit stalled out and he had a better offer with the Stool. Not sure if there was bad blood or not. 

Assuming Lowe takes Russillo's spot on the Sunday pod.

Oh well.

Posted

Who has enough time in the day to listen to 5 different NBA pods lol

 

by the time you get around to it, the contents old 

5 hours ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

The Thunder won 68 last year wth Holmgren missing 50 games and Hartenstein missing 30. They return everybody. They are by far the deepest team in the league and still one of the youngest, with a lot of their players still on an upward trajectory. I also think the west is going to be overall worse this year and the east is awash with injuries to star players -- the league in general is weaker overall. Barring SGA getting hurt for an extended period of time or them just getting bored or complacent, I'm more inclined to think they win 70 than fewer than 63. 

Handicapping the rest of the west:

  1. I like Denver over. They need some injury luck from guys with iffy health histories like Murray, Gordon and Johnson, but they won 50 last year with a 6 man roster and front office dysfunction. Combine what they added -- Johnson, Brown, Hardaway and JV plus natural growth from their young guys Braun, Watson and Strawther... that's a scary team.
  2. Houston losing FVV hurts but they had a great off season otherwise. I do wonder if they will play defense at the same level as last year. I hate Dillon Brooks but he did have some value add as far as attitude and defense. I have zero faith in Reed Sheppard becoming anything more than 3 point specialist off the bench and KD is old as dirt now, but holy fuck Amen Thompson is nasty. 
  3. The Wolves didn't get any better this off season unless Dillingham makes a jump or Edwards can level up even more. No NAW and Conley is washed. Divencenzo needs to be great for them. I've never liked this roster construction but apparently Julius Randle not being baked all the time has made him more productive and a better human being. Who knew? I dunno. I still think their back to back conference finals appearances are more fluke/function of matchups than a realistic reflection of how good they are. 
  4. Clippers - say what you want about their offseason shenanigans, that's still a veteran, deep team that can win a lot of games. They won 50 with KL only playing in 37 total. I think they will miss Powell but overall that roster is probably improved depending on how much CP3, Bropez and John Collins have in the tank and Kawhi's under the table payments coming through health. I'll take over 47.5 for them.
  5. Lakers - Luka is probably worth 45-50  wins by himself, but Lebron is old/hurt and acting like a massive diva (shocker) and they have no size other than the headcase that is Deandre Ayton. This looks like one of those poorly constructed Mavs rosters from a few years back. I think they are going to be terrible on defense and there's going to be lots of drama.
  6. Golden State will need multiple miracles for them to be healthy during the regular season. Give me the under - they are going to have to load manage and keep key guys out who have mild injuries in the hope of making it to the playoffs in any sort of decent shape.
  7. Give me Spurs over. Homer pick, but I think Dylan Haper is goiing to great sooner than later, they have a much better/bigger bench with Kornet and Olynyk, we saw no Fox last year and Castle should be better. Regardless, it's all about Wemby and his growtha and health. Outside shot at 50 wins if things break right and Wemby is as good as I think he will be
  8. Dallas isn't going to have Kyrie and has a roster constructed for Luka. Flagg is going to be great, but I don't think the pieces they have right now fit together at all. I'm sure Nico will work some trade magic -- I'm actually halfway serious about that. I thought the guy was nails until he lost his mind and did the Luka trade.
  9. Memphis can't stay healthy. Bane is gone. Kennard is gone. Who is going to stretch the court for them? KCP seemed washed in Orlando. They always find surprisingly good randoms to fill out their bench but they are a complete wildcard to me. If JJJ and Morant can play 65ish games together, then I like the over. Otherwise, it might be time to start breaking this group up.
  10. I don't know what the fuck Sacramento is doing for like the 40th straight year. That's got to be worst ratio of talent to roster construction in the league. Nothing fits and now they add Westbrook. Just a perpetual shitshow there.
  11. Portland started to develop an identity and played well the last half of the season. They have a lot of long dudes that can shoot and defend and handle. But they just don't have any diffeence making talent. They might be sneaky better than people think, but unless Scoot takes a massive jump I think they are going to lose a lot more than win.
  12. Phoenix seems like a mess. They've added some interesting pieces, but the mix looks bad to me. I think they're going to suck again.
  13. NOLA - like Memphis, they can't stay healthy. Maybe skinny Zion plays 82 games, but Jordan Poole is basketball cancer. It's cool, though, I'm sure Joe Dumars will make some great moves to keep them in the playoffs and avoid sending Atlant a top 5 pick.
  14. Poor Utah. They owe OKC a top 8 protected pick so you know they are going to be in full tank mode from day 1. Again. I actually like a good bit of their young talent including Ace Bailey, but they dumped all their vets this off season. I can already feel Lauri Markkannan's groin tightening up.

 

 

I'll give you Conley being close to washed. Dillingham has to take a leap after being a top 10 pick. theyre playing the fuck out of him in preseason. He did get 27 and 9 vs some chinese team, but hey..baby steps.  

Ant still has another level. hes 24 and been  back to back WCF's slaying legends each run. that isnt' a fluke as much as you hope it is. Wolves were an average Ant/Randle game away from going back to OKC tied 2-2 but both played piss poor, OKCs big 3 starred out and won 128-126 so it was there. 

Wolves basically blew up the roster the night before training camp and it took til March to go 16-4 to close out season. 

 

Rockets lose their only ball handler and distributor. Thats gonna hurt more than just sayin "it hurts but..."

Clippers are fossils liek Golden State: Batum, Beal, Bogdanovic, Harden, Leonard, Lopez and Paul are all north of 30.  most all mid 30s. Collins, Derrick JOnes and Zubac the only contributors i see under 30

 

I do like Denvers team. theyre also getting up there, and have gotten really lucky with Jokic injury luck the last 5 years. I guess if you can hardly move and barely jump, tweaking an ankle hardly happens

Posted

Started the Netflix Starting 5 show last night.  After one episode, it's already light years better than the last one.  Their sports shows are all pretty good except that one.  I guess they just got a collection of boring people.  

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