WAIT SO WHO IS GOOD NOW?! A quick look at who remains in playoffs
I love postseason basketball, even if the Warriors aren't in them.
Quick gold-blooded rant as I sit down for some playoff hoops tonight. Won’t you join me?
The Boston Celtics dispatched of the Miami Heat in five games and are the odds on favorite to escape from the Eastern Conference. My take? I don’t trust these guys, and haven’t since Paul Pierce played for them. I could see them randomly choking before they make the Eastern Conference Finals, or they could steamroll through the East and look like the juggernaut of 2022. Remember what happened to THAT team?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are ALIVE? I truly thought that what Steph, KD, Klay, Dray, and Iguodala did to them back in those four straight NBA Finals from 2015-2018 would have completely destroyed that city and organization for good. But whaddya know? They’re back and in the second round of the playoffs taking on the Celtics! Speaking of Paul Pierce, I remember when Pierce’s Celts ran LeBron out of Cleveland back in 2010. Those were the good ol’ days.
The New York Knicks are apparently really good again, led by Jalen Brunson, a guy the Warriors completely neutralized when he was with the Dallas Mavericks back in the 2002 Western Conference Finals. If you had told me then this guy would bring New York back to the forefront of the basketball world, I would have thought you were drunk on some good Henny. Shout to our guy Donte DiVincenzo, former Warrior who is now a key piece for those Knicks.
TYRESE HALLIBURTON IS READY TO SHOCK THE WORLD WITH THOSE INDIANA PACERS!!! He was the guy DNHQ really wanted to draft back in 2020. Alas, we got James Wiseman (a guy I really rooted for) instead.
The Thunder are a really strong, young, top seed in the West with unlimited potential and a ravenous fan base. I’ve seen this before, let’s see if their best player ends up on the Warriors.
KYRIE IRVING IS BACK MAKING NOISE IN THE PLAYOFFS! He and Luka Doncic seem pretty unguardable at times, making the Dallas Mavericks a dark horse pick to come out of the west.
The Denver Nuggets look shellshocked through two games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who apparently are the greatest possible modern era basketball team thanks to their twin towers, rangy veteran role players, and the young king Anthony Edwards. I’ll have more to discuss on them soon…
LET’S WATCH SOME PLAYOFF BASKETBALL TOGETHER!
I think we are seeing the development of generational players in Edwards and SGA. Reminds me of the advent of LBJ, Splash, Joker (quad-double-capable big man)...I avoid MJ comparisons as that was ALL-TIME extraordinary even before he came into the NBA....dude led USA Team to Olympic gold before he played a day in NBA....
I'm low-key happy with Minnesota taking it to Denver and OKC jumping out in front of Dallas. I don't dislike Jokic, but I'm glad for him to not repeat, and Kyrie going out is desirable.
In the East, I wish someone would take out the Celtics, but I don't think the Cavs can do it. I don't really care between the Knicks and Pacers.
In the end, I hope the champ is either Minnesota or OKC.