2022 NBA Playoffs Thread

The Game Room
1

Here’s what the NBA Playoff Bracket looks like for 2022:

My predictions:

Western Conference Play-In

Minnesota def. Los Angeles Clippers
San Antonio def. New Orleans
Los Angeles Clippers def. San Antonio

Western Conference Round 1

Phoenix def. Los Angeles Clippers, 4-0
Memphis def. Minnesota, 4-1
Golden State def. Denver, 4-2
Utah def. Dallas, 4-2

Western Conference Semifinals

Phoenix def. Utah, 4-3
Memphis def. Golden State, 4-2

Western Conference Finals

Phoenix def. Memphis, 4-2

Eastern Conference Play-In

Brooklyn def. Cleveland
Atlanta def. Charlotte
Cleveland def. Atlanta

Eastern Conference Round 1

Miami def. Cleveland, 4-1
Boston def. Brooklyn, 4-3
Milwaukee def. Chicago, 4-2
Toronto def. Philadelphia, 4-3

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Toronto def. Miami, 4-3
Milwaukee def. Boston, 4-2

Eastern Conference Finals

Milwaukee def. Toronto, 4-2

NBA Finals

Phoenix def. Milwaukee, 4-2

2

News going into the playoffs:

Frank Vogel reportedly out as Lakers coach after three years and one title. Too bad Russell Westbrook won’t be so easy to get rid of.

Chris Finch and his entire coaching staff signed to multiyear extensions to remain with the Timberwolves.

3

Hey, remember that regular-season finale that Luka Doncic was originally not going to play in because he picked up his 16th technical foul, but it was overturned?

WELP!

There is initial optimism that it is not a significant injury.

4

I have to admit that I’m one of Those Guys who watch very little of the NBA during the regular season, but once the playoffs start, I will watch games each and every night. I suspect that it’s no accident that the playoffs start the week after the NCAA tourney concludes.

5

Bunch of savages in this town.

TO has played well this season against decent 76ers teams. Maybe we can tighten our Canadian immunization policies in time for the series?

Prefer playing the 76ers to Boston, which did better versus Toronna.

6

Hope Brooklyn takes Boston.

Was at the gym when I saw they were advertising a basketball documentary, only on some specialty channel, called Lakers: The Winning Legacy Continues. I feel for their fans, but admit the timing of this made me laugh.

7

I have a question about the play-in tournament.

When it comes to tabulating players’ statistics, does the play-in tournament fall under regular season, playoffs, or a third category?

8

From Sporting News:

And yet, when it comes to bookkeeping, the impressive statistics from these games are floating off to the side. Rather than falling under the regular season or postseason umbrella, Play-In numbers exist in their own category.

Why NBA Play-In Tournament stats don’t impact regular season, NBA Playoff numbers

The NBA Play-In Tournament takes place “after the regular season and before the first round of the playoffs,” per NBA.com. Play-In Tournament stats can’t be applied to the regular season because it has already concluded, but they also aren’t added to postseason totals because Play-In teams haven’t officially qualified for the NBA Playoffs.

So, where can one find Play-In Tournament statistics? On NBA.com, stats are broken down by “Season Type.” Under that filter, numbers can be sorted by preseason, regular season, playoffs, All-Star and Play-In.

9

Breaking news: The Clippers’ Paul George has entered health and safety protocols and will not play tonight’s play-in game against the Pelicans.

Just saw it on ESPN’s Facebook page. It’s not on their website yet.

10

Paul George has indeed tested positive for covid and will miss the play-in game.

The Warriors’ Stephen Curry upgraded to probable for Game 1 against Denver.

The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic will miss Game 1 against the Jazz due to the calf strain he suffered in the regular-season finale.

The Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen will be a game-time decision against the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in game.

11

When Trae Young is facing elimination, he becomes an absolute beast! (Not that he isn’t in general, just takes it to another level)

12

As if the Atlanta Hawks weren’t going to have enough trouble in their first-round playoff series with the Miami Heat, they may be without Clint Capela for it:

13

Raptors had a tough opener against the 76ers. Couldn’t muster much defense or force turnovers. Outplayed, though very very mediocre officiating did not help much. Still, these sort of losses tend to motivate good teams - and it is still going to be a great series, especially if Barnes is back soon. Harris and Maxey surprised.

14

The Timberwolves went into Memphis and beat the Grizzlies by double-digits.

15

I was really hoping the Nets would beat Boston. Came sooooo close.

16

Celtics’ Marcus Smart wins his first Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s the first pure guard to win the award since Gary Payton.

Miami’s Bam Adebayo decided to whinge about it, saying the reason he didn’t end up as a finalist is because the Heat weren’t on national television very much. The Heat. Right. Just one out of every four games they played all year. Also contradicting his idea: Tyler Herro and Erik Spoelstra are finalists for awards.

Luka Doncic is out for Game 2 of the Mavericks’ first-round series against the Jazz. That rescinded technical foul that permitted him to play in the regular-season finale could end up costing the Mavs their season.

17

Sixers dominated the Raptors again tonight. Embiid had 31 points in 37 minutes.

18

Embiid managed not to step on any ankles or thumbs this game. Hope he keeps up the good work?

TO has to win both in Toronto to make it a series. I hope they pull it off.

19

Without Scottie Barnes or a healthy Gary Trent, it’d be a tremendous upset.

20

“Sources” are telling ESPN that Game 4 is a realistic target for Ben Simmons’ debut with the Brooklyn Nets.

I don’t know; I think it would be a big risk putting him right into a playoff game.

The Suns’ Devin Booker is likely to miss Games 3 and 4 against the Pelicans with a mild hamstring sprain, which could be trouble considering New Orleans managed to even the series and now they’re coming home. I’d venture to say Phoenix is still the better team, though.