2024 Playoffs Prediction Contest

[Split T]

Getting this thread going so people can start preparing. In the past we’ve given 10 points for picking the correct winner of each series and 5 points for picking the number of games correct. Do we want to keep the same scoring process?

Should later rounds count for more?

Here’s the matchups we know so far…I’ll update the 8 seeds after the final play in games.

Eastern Conference playoffs:

1. Boston Celtics vs 8. Miami Heat
2. New York Knicks vs 7. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Milwaukee Bucks vs 6. Indiana Pacers
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. Orlando Magic

Western Conference Playoffs:

1. OKC Thunder vs 8. New Orleans Pelicans
2. Denver Nuggets vs 7. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Minnesota Timberwolves vs 6. Phoenix Suns
4. Los Angeles Clippers vs 5. Dallas Mavericks

[England Sun]

East

1 Boston in 5
2 Philli in 6
3 Pacers in 6
4 Cleveland in 5

West
1 OKC in either 4 or 5 depending on opp
2 Nuggets in 6
3 Suns in 5
4 Clips in 4

[ShelC]

Celtics in 4
NY in 5
Bucks in 6
Magic in 6

OKC vs Pels/Kings....Could be the 1st round upset. I'd go Pels in 6 if Zion were healthy. I still think the Pels and Kings can beat OKC in 6 or 7.
Nuggets in 6
Suns in 6
Mavs in 6

[Split T]

West:

Thunder in 5 over Pelicans
Nuggets in 5 over Lakers
Suns in 6 over Wolves
Mavs in 6 over Clippers

East

Celtics in 4 over Heat
76ers in 6 over Knicks
Pacers in 6 over Bucks
Magic in 7 over Cavs

Conference Semifinals

Mavs in 6 over Thunder
Nuggets in 7 over Suns

Celtics in 5 over Magic
76ers in 6 over Pacers

Conference Finals

Nuggets in 6 over Mavs
Celtics in 6 over 76ers

Finals

Nuggets in 7 over Celtics

[Mori Chu]

Eastern Conference 1st round:

1. Boston Celtics vs 8. Miami Heat: Celtics in 4. Celts are just too good this year. Heat without Butler can't mount a serious challenge.

2. New York Knicks vs 7. Philadelphia 76ers: Knicks in 6. Normally I would like the Philly upset potential here. But Embiid is not 100% and they just haven't looked the same down the home stretch of the season. Knicks have had a really impressive year.

3. Milwaukee Bucks vs 6. Indiana Pacers: Bucks in 7. I am super tempted to pick Indy here. And I think Milwaukee is very vulnerable and there are some health concerns there, too. But I don't think Indy has the firepower ultimately to take the Bucks down. And Milwaukee has been there before, is battle-tested, is ready.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. Orlando Magic: Magic in 6. This is a zany pick, but I really like the Magic this year and think the Cavs have been off their game since their major injuries. Magic defense is insane and they're peaking at the right time.

2nd round (Eastern semifinals):

1. Boston Celtics vs 5. Orlando Magic: Celtics in 5. Orlando's Cinderella run ends here, as they don't have the firepower to keep up with Boston.

2. New York Knicks vs 3. Milwaukee Bucks: Bucks in 6. This is a tricky one to pick. I don't really like the Bucks this year, but I like the Knicks less. I don't trust a Thibs team to get through a deep playoff run without everybody blowing out their ACLs or something. And the Knicks are a cursed franchise. So Bucks it is.

3rd round (Eastern finals):

1. Boston Celtics vs 3. Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics in 7. The Celtics don't have a great answer for Giannis, but they have so many weapons and such a deep rotation that I think they'll prevail. This will be a good series.


Western Conference 1st round:

1. OKC Thunder vs 8. NO Pelicans: OKC in 4. OKC is just too good, especially if the Pels don't have Zion.

2. Denver Nuggets vs 7. Los Angeles Lakers: Nuggets in 5. I like the Lakers as a bruising playoff team in general, but I don't think the Nugs are a good matchup for them. Lakers will take one at home but then lose in 5.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves vs 6. Phoenix Suns: Suns in 6. This Suns team is so flaky and inconsistent, it kind of makes my skin crawl to make predictions about them. They're the more talented team, but they didn't show it night to night all season. So who knows which Suns team will show up? I'm going to believe in them just for one round.

4. Los Angeles Clippers vs 5. Dallas Mavericks: Mavs in 5. I think this Mavs team is really good. Could see them in the WCF if they have a good series against OKC in Round 2. We're about due for a deep Luka playoff run this year.

2nd round (Western semis):

1. OKC Thunder vs 5. Dallas Mavericks: Mavs in 6. I don't feel great about this pick, but Luka will be the best player in the series, and I don't see how OKC can stop him. Surround him with deadly 3-point shooters and you have a great recipe. I love OKC's team but I think Dallas is a bad matchup for them.

2. Denver Nuggets vs 6. Phoenix Suns: Nuggets in 5. I kind of like the Suns matchup against the Nugs in theory, at least, better than against OKC, the Clips, or the Mavs. But I still think we'll hit the rocks here. Denver has championship pedigree, and we aren't disciplined or consistent enough to take 4 games away from them. I am even going to go out on a limb and say that we have at least one horrible game a la the recent Mavs eliminations where we fall down by some horrible margin like 32-4 and embarrass ourselves in a must-win playoff game in this series.

3rd round (Western finals):

2. Denver Nuggets vs 5. Dallas Mavericks: Mavs in 6. Mavs going to the Finals is my crazy pick this year. I could see the Nugs winning this series, and Dallas doesn't have a great answer for Jokic. But I think the Mavs have more shooting and playmaking and are healthier and hungrier than Denver will be.

NBA Finals:

1. Boston Celtics vs 5. Dallas Mavericks: Celtics in 6. I feel pretty good about picking the Celtics to go all the way. It's Boston's year. They've been by far the best in the league all season, and much of the time it hasn't even been close. The Mavs match up with them pretty well, but they aren't as deep or as talented top-to-bottom as Boston. This will be a fun Finals though, with a lot of star power on both teams.

[Wally_West]

Do only do the 1st round or do we call our shot for the whole playoffs?


Fuggg it. I do it all now. No risk it, no biscuit!


1st Round
West:
OKC over Kings(Pels) in 5
Nuggets over Lakers in 5
Suns over Twolves in 6
Mavs over clips in 7

East
Celtics over Bulls (Heat) in 4
Knicks over Sixers in 7
Pacers over Bucks in 7
Cavs over Magic in 6

2nd Round
West
Mavs over OKC in 6
Suns over Nuggets in 6

East
Celtics over Cavs in 5
Knicks over Indy in 6

Conf. Finals
West
Suns over Mavs in 7

East
Celtics over Knicks in 6

Finals
Suns over Celtics in 6.


BOOM!!! I said what I said.

[Split T]

In the past we’ve called our shot for the whole playoffs from the start…last year we allowed people to submit up to game 2….but no points for picking the number of games unless you get your pick in before game 1. Gotta pick the whole thing now to get points for later rounds.

[Superbone]

In the past we’ve called our shot for the whole playoffs from the start…last year we allowed people to submit up to game 2….but no points for picking the number of games unless you get your pick in before game 1. Gotta pick the whole thing now to get points for later rounds.

So, when is the deadline? After today's games and before tomorrow's? Speaking of which, shouldn't there be a Suns game day thread my now?! Get on it, Bone!

[Split T]

Submit at any point. If you want your number of games prediction to count you need to submit before the start time of the specified series. First game of the first series is tomorrow at 1pm ET.

The absolute last time to submit will be 7pm ET on Monday before game 2 of Cavs-Magic. And at that point you’d get zero credit for picking number of games for any series in the 1st round.

[Mori Chu]

In the past we’ve called our shot for the whole playoffs from the start…last year we allowed people to submit up to game 2….but no points for picking the number of games unless you get your pick in before game 1. Gotta pick the whole thing now to get points for later rounds.

Good point. I'll edit mine to include series after the 1st round.

[specialsauce]

Eastern Conference playoffs:

1. Celtics in 5
2. Sixers in 6
3. Pacers in 6
4. Cavs in 7

Western Conference Playoffs:

1. Thunder in 6
2. Nuggets in 5
3. Suns in 6
4. Mavs in 7

[Split T]

Alright, playoffs are set. First post is updated. Get your picks in.

[JeremyG]

Getting this thread going so people can start preparing. In the past we’ve given 10 points for picking the correct winner of each series and 5 points for picking the number of games correct. Do we want to keep the same scoring process?

Should later rounds count for more?

Here’s the matchups we know so far…I’ll update the 8 seeds after the final play in games.

Eastern Conference playoffs:

1. Boston Celtics vs 8. Miami Heat
2. New York Knicks vs 7. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Milwaukee Bucks vs 6. Indiana Pacers
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. Orlando Magic

Western Conference Playoffs:

1. OKC Thunder vs 8. New Orleans Pelicans
2. Denver Nuggets vs 7. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Minnesota Timberwolves vs 6. Phoenix Suns
4. Los Angeles Clippers vs 5. Dallas Mavericks

East:
Celtics in 7
Sixers in 6
Bucks in 6
Cavs in 5

Celtics in 4
Sixers in 6

Celtics in 7

West:
Thunder in 6
Lakers in 6
Suns in 5
Clippers in 7

Thunder in 7
Suns in 4

Thunder in 6

Finals:
Celtics in 5

[BKinSJC]

East:
Celtics in 5
Knicks in 7
Pacers in 6
Magic in 6

Celtics in 5
Knicks in 6

Celtics in 5

West:
Thunder in 7
Nuggets in 5
Suns in 6
Mavs in 6

Mavs in 6
Nuggets in 7

Nuggets in 6

Finals:

Celtics in 6

[Superbone]

East:

Celtics over Heat in 5
Knicks over 76ers in 6
Bucks over Pacers in 6
Magic over Cavs in 6

Celtics over Magic in 5
Bucks over Knicks in 7

Celtics over Bucks in 6

West:

Thunder over Pelicans in 6
Nuggets over Lakers in 6
Suns over Wolves in 6
Mavs over Clippers in 6

Thunder over Mavs in 7
Nuggets over Suns in 7

Nuggets over Thunder in 6

Celtics over Nuggets in 6

[Split T]

Getting this thread going so people can start preparing. In the past we’ve given 10 points for picking the correct winner of each series and 5 points for picking the number of games correct. Do we want to keep the same scoring process?

Should later rounds count for more?

Here’s the matchups we know so far…I’ll update the 8 seeds after the final play in games.

Eastern Conference playoffs:

1. Boston Celtics vs 8. Miami Heat
2. New York Knicks vs 7. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Milwaukee Bucks vs 6. Indiana Pacers
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. Orlando Magic

Western Conference Playoffs:

1. OKC Thunder vs 8. New Orleans Pelicans
2. Denver Nuggets vs 7. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Minnesota Timberwolves vs 6. Phoenix Suns
4. Los Angeles Clippers vs 5. Dallas Mavericks

East:
Celtics in 7
Sixers in 6
Bucks in 6
Cavs in 5

Celtics in 4
Sixers in 6

Celtics in 7

West:
Thunder in 6
Lakers in 6
Suns in 5
Clippers in 7

Thunder in 7
Suns in 4

Thunder in 6

Finals:
Celtics in 5

Nuggets out round 1? Bold pick

[SunnyOrange]

East:

Celtics over Heat in 5
76ers over Knicks in 6
Pacers over Bucks in 6
Magic over Cavs in 6

Celtics over Magic in 7
76ers over Pacers in 6

Celtics over 76ers in 7

West:

Thunder over Pelicans in 5
Mavs over Clippers in 5
Nuggets over Lakers in 5
Suns over Wolves in 6

Mavs over Thunder in 7
Suns over Nuggets in 6

Suns over Mavs in 7

Finals:

Suns over Celtics in 6

[Flagrant Fowl]

I waited until I was in full gut-feeling mode.

Celtics in 5
Knicks in 7
Pacers in 6
Magic in 6

Thunder in 6
Nuggets in 7
Wolves in 7
Mavs in 5

Celtics in 5
Knicks in 6

Nuggets in 4
Mavs in 7

Celtics in 6
Mavs in 7

Celtics in 6

[JeremyG]

Getting this thread going so people can start preparing. In the past we’ve given 10 points for picking the correct winner of each series and 5 points for picking the number of games correct. Do we want to keep the same scoring process?

Should later rounds count for more?

Here’s the matchups we know so far…I’ll update the 8 seeds after the final play in games.

Eastern Conference playoffs:

1. Boston Celtics vs 8. Miami Heat
2. New York Knicks vs 7. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Milwaukee Bucks vs 6. Indiana Pacers
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. Orlando Magic

Western Conference Playoffs:

1. OKC Thunder vs 8. New Orleans Pelicans
2. Denver Nuggets vs 7. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Minnesota Timberwolves vs 6. Phoenix Suns
4. Los Angeles Clippers vs 5. Dallas Mavericks

East:
Celtics in 7
Sixers in 6
Bucks in 6
Cavs in 5

Celtics in 4
Sixers in 6

Celtics in 7

West:
Thunder in 6
Lakers in 6
Suns in 5
Clippers in 7

Thunder in 7
Suns in 4

Thunder in 6

Finals:
Celtics in 5

Nuggets out round 1? Bold pick

I don't believe in Denver this year. If they get past LA, I could see us losing to them but other than that, I don't see them going far.

[Split T]

After 2 games I am regretting my Denver title pick…I agree they might not have it this year. It’s probably Boston’s year