2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

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Indy
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2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Indy »

If anyone wants to play, post your predictions here after the end of the play-in games and before the first actual playoff game. I will be happy to compile them all. Pick the winner and number of games.


Rules:
  • Pick all round winner and number of games before the first playoff game tips off
  • +10 for getting the right *winner* in a series
  • +5 if you *also* pick the right number of games
WEST ROUND 1
Suns vs XXXX: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
Mavs vs Jazz: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
Warriors vs Nuggets: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
Grizz vs Wolves: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Suns/Pels vs Mavs/Jazz: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
Warriors/Nuggets vs Grizz/Wolves: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games

WEST FINALS
Suns/Pels/Mavs/Jazz vs Warriors/Nuggets/Grizz/Wolves: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games

EAST ROUND 1
Heat vs Hawks: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
76ers vs Raptors: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
Bucks vs Bulls: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
Celtics vs Nets: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Heat/Hawks vs 76ers/Raptors: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games
Bucks/Bulls vs Celtics/Nets: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games

EAST FINALS
Heat/Hawks/76ers/Raptors vs Bucks/Bulls/Celtics/Nets: [WINNER HERE] in [X] games

NBA FINALS
Suns/Pels/Mavs/Jazz vs Warriors/Nuggets/Grizz/Wolves

VS

Heat/Hawks/76ers/Raptors vs Bucks/Bulls/Celtics/Nets

[NBA CHAMP] in [X] games
Last edited by Indy on Fri Apr 15, 2022 10:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Split T
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Split T »

We doing round by round or the whole playoffs from the start?

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Indy
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Indy »

I like the idea of doing it all from the start. Gets too easy updating after each round.

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Mori Chu
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Mori Chu »

Indy wrote:
Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:56 am
If anyone wants to play, post your predictions here after the end of the play-in games and before the first actual playoff game. I will be happy to compile them all. Pick the winner and number of games. How about 10 points for picking the right winner, and another 10 if you get the correct number of games.
May I suggest more of a sliding scale for the games? That is, maybe +X points if you get it exactly right, +Y if you're off-by-1, +Z if you're off-by-2, etc. I don't know what the values should be, but that would be more fun to me since it's hard to get it exactly right.

Maybe the following would be my proposal:

* +10 points for predicting the right winner of a series
* +5 points for predicting the right number of games
* +3 if you are off-by-1 on the number of games
* +0 if you are off-by-2-or-more on the number of games (no reward)

Some clarifications:

* You need to predict the right series winner to be eligible for the "number of games" bonuses. Example: If the series is Celtics/Nets and you predict Nets in 6 but the outcome is Celtics in 6, you don't get any points for guessing the right number of games.

* Once a team is eliminated, any predictions you make about that team winning later series inherently yield zero points. If you pick the 76ers to go all the way but they lose in the 1st round, your predictions about the 76ers winning in any later rounds won't be eligible to score anything.

* A prediction can still score points even if the "loser" in the predicted series is wrong. Example: You predict that the ECF will be Miami over Atlanta in 5 games. The actual ECF ends up being Miami over Boston in 6 games. You still predicted the right ECF series winner (Miami) and were still within 1 on the number of games, so you would still get your 13 points even though you thought the other participant would be Atlanta.

Thoughts? These are just suggestions so I'm welcome to any bright ideas.

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Cap
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Cap »

Mori Chu wrote:
Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:10 am

* A prediction can still score points even if the "loser" in the predicted series is wrong. Example: You predict that the ECF will be Miami over Atlanta in 5 games.
Miami and Atlanta can’t meet in the ECF. If they meet, it will be the first round.

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Indy
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Indy »

If you pick the right winner, there are only 4 options for number of games--4, 5, 6, or 7). Considering the rarity of sweeps, just choosing 6 every series would likely mean you are not more than 1 game off and guarantee 3 extra points. That is why I was thinking of it as an all-or-nothing criteria.

Maybe there is a hybrid way and give a lot of points for getting it exact, and a few points for being off by 1? Like 10-10-5? So the right winner in right number of games gets 20 points, but the right winner in wrong number of games but close gets 15, right winner +1 game off gets 10 points.

For the last point, I do not like the idea of getting points for picking the right loser instead of the right winner, but I can see the argument for it. I would be fine with whatever the group participating decides.

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Mori Chu
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Mori Chu »

Cap wrote:
Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:53 am
Miami and Atlanta can’t meet in the ECF. If they meet, it will be the first round.
Yeah, I got lazy and just made up 2 random teams for my example. :-)

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Mori Chu
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Mori Chu »

Indy wrote:
Wed Apr 13, 2022 11:11 am
If you pick the right winner, there are only 4 options for number of games--4, 5, 6, or 7). Considering the rarity of sweeps, just choosing 6 every series would likely mean you are not more than 1 game off and guarantee 3 extra points. That is why I was thinking of it as an all-or-nothing criteria.
That's a good point. I don't like the idea that somebody would just always pick 6 to rack up easy points. I want it to be a true prediction where you say what you actually think will happen, not what you think best rigs the game in your favor. So I guess by that logic I am okay with it being all-or-nothing for guessing the number of games.
Maybe there is a hybrid way and give a lot of points for getting it exact, and a few points for being off by 1? Like 10-10-5? So the right winner in right number of games gets 20 points, but the right winner in wrong number of games but close gets 15, right winner +1 game off gets 10 points.
I think my main comment is that +10 for getting the number of games right seems like a pretty huge amount. I think based on your message I'd want to just suggest something like:

Correct winner => +10 points, then if you also get exactly the right number of games, +5 points.
For the last point, I do not like the idea of getting points for picking the right loser instead of the right winner, but I can see the argument for it. I would be fine with whatever the group participating decides.
Sorry, maybe I was unclear. I do not want to award anybody anything for predicting who would LOSE a series. My point was that if you pick the right WINNER, but you incorrectly guessed who that winner would beat (who the other team in the series was), you could still earn your points. Example: You think the ECF is gonna be Miami in 5 over Boston? But then the actual ECF is Miami in 5 over Brooklyn? Fine, you still get your full points for correctly guessing the winner (Miami) and the number of games. It doesn't matter that the loser was a different team than you thought it'd be. Do we agree on that?

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Indy
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Indy »

that all makes sense, especially that last part. I didn't read it that way, but it makes sense now.

Rules:
Pick all round winner and number of games before the first playoff game tips off
+10 for getting the right *winner* in a series
+5 if you *also* pick the right number of games

Did I miss anything?

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Split T
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Split T »

Looks good to me!

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Indy
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Indy »

OK, I edited the first post with those rules.

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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by ShelC »

Western Conference
(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Clippers or Pelicans
Odds Machine: Suns in 5 (either opponent)


Justin Verrier: It may be hard to remember now, but last year’s flameout against the Bucks seemed like Chris Paul’s last best chance to win a title. Critical injuries to the Lakers and Clippers, as well as many COVID-related disruptions throughout the 2020-21 season, laid out a yellow-and-orange-brick road to the Finals—a route that an upstart spearheaded by a 30-something with a damn-near hex on his head in big moments would struggle to replicate.

Instead, the Suns decimated the field in the regular season, finishing more games (eight) ahead of the NBA’s second-best team than anyone since the 1999-00 Lakers. Oops.

This time around, the question isn’t if Phoenix can make it back to the Finals—it is, far and away, the favorite in the West—but if it can make it past a supremely confident Bucks team or an East replacement with the chutzpah to fell the reigning champs. Paul’s mysterious wrist injury last year took the zest out of the Suns’ offense, and while a broken thumb midseason hasn’t exactly put Phoenix fans’ minds at ease, it did showcase the growth of the young core: The CP-less Suns went 12-3 coming out of the All-Star break, with Devin Booker putting up the kind of numbers (28 points on 52/40/90 shooting) that may vault him to first team All-NBA.

Much has been made of Giannis’s post-title leap, but the Suns, collectively, have also become a juggernaut: a deep, talented, versatile, and—most importantly—motivated team. Until they get a shot at a rematch, the goal is simply to keep playing like the favorites.

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Indy
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Indy »

Template in the top post if you want to just copy and paste it

WEST ROUND 1
Suns vs Pels: Suns in 5 games
Mavs vs Jazz: Jazz in 7 games
Warriors vs Nuggets: Warriors in 6 games
Grizz vs Wolves: Grizzlies in 7 games (I think this will be a lot closer than it should be)

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Suns vs Jazz: Suns in 5 games
Warriors vs Grizz: Warriors in 5 games

WEST FINALS
Suns vs Warriors: Suns in 7 games

EAST ROUND 1
Heat vs Hawks: Heat in 5 games
76ers vs Raptors: Raptors in 6 games
Bucks vs Bulls: Bucks in 5 games
Celtics vs Nets: Nets in 7 games

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Heat vs Raptors: Raptors in 7 games
Bucks vs Nets: Nets in 6 games

EAST FINALS
Nets vs Raptors: Nets in 5 games

NBA FINALS
Suns
VS
Nets

Suns in 6 games

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Split T
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Split T »

WEST ROUND 1
Suns vs Pelicans: Suns in 4 games
Mavs vs Jazz: Jazz in 6 games
Warriors vs Nuggets: Warriors in 5 games
Grizz vs Wolves: Grizz in 7 games

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Suns vs Jazz: Suns in 5 games
Warriors vs Grizz: Warriors in 6 games

WEST FINALS
Suns vs Warriors: Suns in 7 games

EAST ROUND 1
Heat vs Hawks: Heat in 6 games
76ers vs Raptors: Raptors in 6 games
Bucks vs Bulls: Bucks in 4 games
Celtics vs Nets: Celtics in 6 games

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Heat vs Raptors: Heat in 7 games
Bucks vs Celtics: Bucks in 7 games

EAST FINALS
Heat vs Bucks: Bucks in 6 games

NBA FINALS
Suns
vs
Bucks

Suns in 6 games

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BKinSJC
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by BKinSJC »

WEST ROUND 1
Suns vs Pelicans: Suns in 5 games
Mavs vs Jazz: Jazz in 6 games
Warriors vs Nuggets: Warriors in 6 games
Grizz vs Wolves: Grizz in 5 games

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Suns vs Jazz: Suns in 5 games
Warriors vs Grizz: Grizz in 7 games

WEST FINALS
Suns vs Grizz: Suns in 7 games

EAST ROUND 1
Heat vs Hawks: Heat in 5 games
76ers vs Raptors: Raptors in 6 games
Bucks vs Bulls: Bucks in 4 games
Celtics vs Nets: Celtics in 6 games

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Heat vs Raptors: Heat in 7 games
Bucks vs Celtics: Bucks in 6 games

EAST FINALS
Heat vs Bucks: Bucks in 5 games

NBA FINALS

Suns
VS
Bucks

Suns in 6 games

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Superbone
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Superbone »

WEST ROUND 1
Suns vs Pelicans: Suns in 5 games
Mavs vs Jazz: Jazz in 5 games
Warriors vs Nuggets: Warriors in 6 games
Grizzlies vs Wolves: Grizzlies in 6 games

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Suns vs Jazz: Suns in 5 games
Warriors vs Grizzlies: Grizzlies in 6 games

WEST FINALS
Suns vs Grizzlies: Suns in 6 games

EAST ROUND 1
Heat vs Hawks: Heat in 6 games
76ers vs Raptors: 76ers in 6 games
Bucks vs Bulls: Bucks in 5 games
Celtics vs Nets: Nets in 7 games

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Heat vs 76ers: 76ers in 7 games
Bucks vs Nets: Bucks in 7 games

EAST FINALS
76ers vs Bucks: Bucks in 6 games

NBA FINALS
Suns
VS
Bucks

Phoenix Suns in 6 games
"Be Legendary."

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LVSunsFAN
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by LVSunsFAN »

WEST ROUND 1
Suns vs Pelicans: Suns in 4 games
Mavs vs Jazz: Jazz in 5 games
Warriors vs Nuggets: Warriors in 7 games
Grizz vs Wolves: Grizz in 5 games

WEST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Suns vs Jazz: Suns in 5 games
Warriors vs Grizz: Warriors in 6 games

WEST FINALS
Suns vs Warriors: Suns in 5 games

EAST ROUND 1
Heat vs Hawks: Heat in 5 games
76ers vs Raptors: 76ers in 6 games
Bucks vs Bulls: Bucks in 4 games
Celtics vs Nets: Nets in 6 games

EAST CONFERENCE SEMIS
Heat vs 76ers: 76ers in 7 games
Bucks vs Nets: Bucks in 6 games

EAST FINALS
76ers vs Bucks: Bucks in 6 games

NBA FINALS
Suns
vs
Bucks

Suns in 5 games
Last edited by LVSunsFAN on Fri Apr 15, 2022 10:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Split T
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Split T »

Will anyone pick us to lose? Haha

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Superbone
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Superbone »

Split T wrote:
Fri Apr 15, 2022 10:51 pm
Will anyone pick us to lose? Haha
You could…if you want to lose. :P
"Be Legendary."

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Split T
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Re: 2021-2022 NBA Playoff Predictions

Post by Split T »

Already made my picks, can’t and wouldn’t change, ha

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