OFFICIAL Postseason race thread *Sticky*

[zman1527]

It's fun watching (and sometimes participating in) the mood swings around here. Just last week there were a bunch of punks talking about tanking. Now we're talking about 5th seed.

Good times!

And individuals players going from complete busts to key pieces, based on the last game. Good thing that jazzfanz does not run The Jazz.

 

[vegas]

And individuals players going from complete busts to key pieces, based on the last game. Good thing that jazzfanz does not run The Jazz.

Truth

 

[Stifle Tower]

You are doing a good job driving this bus. Repped. Despite the negativity of so many, I still believe the Jazz will make the playoffs. Accomplishing that despite all these injuries is a very big deal. Go Jazz!

Jazz will make the playoffs by default. Who else would pass them up? The WC is extremely weak at the bottom. A couple of sub-.500 teams could make the playoffs. The West is the new East.

 

[Stoked]

Jazz will make the playoffs by default. Who else would pass them up? The WC is extremely weak at the bottom. A couple of sub-.500 teams could make the playoffs. The West is the new East.

It's 1 season. Let's slow down on the whole the west is the east bsuiness.

Also if the Jazz are in the playoffs it is because they earned it. It wasn't given to them or by default.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Jazz will make the playoffs by default. Who else would pass them up? The WC is extremely weak at the bottom. A couple of sub-.500 teams could make the playoffs. The West is the new East.

It's bizarre how that happened so suddenly after years of the opposite. Did anybody see this coming? How in the world did it happen? Very odd.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

It's bizarre how that happened so suddenly after years of the opposite. Did anybody see this coming? How in the world did it happen? Very odd.

It makes a lot of sense. A lot of teams in the East have been tanking for a while and are now full of talented players while the playoff teams in the West age w/ the bottom teams rebuilding or being inept. Also Warriors and Spurs only losing 8 games means there are a lot of L's to take.

*Also have to factor in the return of stars in the East from injury. Paul George makes the Pacer's a winning team and Melo's comeback helps the Knicks win some games. Also, the Nets don't own their pick, so they have no incentive to lose games and sit players.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

It makes a lot of sense. A lot of teams in the East have been tanking for a while and are now full of talented players while the playoff teams in the West age w/ the bottom teams rebuilding or being inept. Also Warriors and Spurs only losing 8 games means there are a lot of L's to take.

*Also have to factor in the return of stars in the East from injury. Paul George makes the Pacer's a winning team and Melo's comeback helps the Knicks win some games. Also, the Nets don't own their pick, so they have no incentive to lose games and sit players.

This must all be true, but I didn't hear anyone predict it in advance. As a matter of fact, I recall conversation about how the west was certain to dominate yet again this year.

 

[The Midnight]

This must all be true, but I didn't hear anyone predict it in advance. As a matter of fact, I recall conversation about how the west was certain to dominate yet again this year.

There have been more than a few surprises in both conferences:


NOR - all the injuries, AD stagnated

PHX - Morris not playing is a big hit to them, stagnated

TOR - Rise of DeRozan and Lowery

IND - Quick turnaround

HOU and MEM stagnated with old age/injuries

 

[Gameface]

This must all be true, but I didn't hear anyone predict it in advance. As a matter of fact, I recall conversation about how the west was certain to dominate yet again this year.

Me too. And it has been frustrating to hear people talk about how tough the west is. IMHO the NBA is tough. If the goal is to win a championship it really doesn't matter what conference you're in, you've got to beat the best in order to win a championship. There was never any inherent reason why the east was weaker. For several seasons they just were. But as we're seeing this year, it can change.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

This must all be true, but I didn't hear anyone predict it in advance. As a matter of fact, I recall conversation about how the west was certain to dominate yet again this year.

I predicted more of an equal conference split, I certainly didn't predict the East to be stronger in terms of top 8 balance, but I thought it would be around even.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Me too. And it has been frustrating to hear people talk about how tough the west is. IMHO the NBA is tough. If the goal is to win a championship it really doesn't matter what conference you're in, you've got to beat the best in order to win a championship. There was never any inherent reason why the east was weaker. For several seasons they just were. But as we're seeing this year, it can change.

uhh, if you get easy opponents in the first 2 rounds and get to go 4-0/4-1, that is a big advantage to a team having to go 6/7 game series every round.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

There have been more than a few surprises in both conferences:


NOR - all the injuries, AD stagnated

PHX - Morris not playing is a big hit to them, stagnated

TOR - Rise of DeRozan and Lowery

IND - Quick turnaround

HOU and MEM stagnated with old age/injuries

Morris playing/not playing has nothing to do with Phoenix winning/losing. Him simply being on the team has hurt them this year.