MDWPP : Condensed Version

[MexicanMamba]

Words: 1118


I love nothing more about this league than being wrong. Dead wrong.  I also love points, and I still have a few to squeeze out.  So, here goes another installment of Mamba’s Dead Wrong Playoff Predictions in a condensed format though because I only have 5 more points to earn and, well, I’m lazy so this will be as close to 1,000 words on the dot as I can be. 
 
 
 
ROUND ONE
 
 
ALPHA!
 
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Bulls
 
 
Josh is still trying to figure out exactly how he got an unwanted playoff spot this season.  He is full of youth and even traded away most of the veterans that he had early on that would have been the right fit for a team trying to nab a tournament seat.  Les Kim has been his most impressive player, averaging roughly 23-8 with 3 blocks per game.  Talen Horton-Tucker should be the cornerstone eventually, but he isn’t ready to be that yet.  On the other side, the Nuggets have looked like the 2nd best team in the league for the majority of the season.  With the help of creative lineups, the Nuggets have spread out their best players to maximize their bench production (Cornett and Bey played starter minutes and rewarded them with starter production).  Without doing a deep look into the season series, I don’t anticipate this one going very long.
 
Nuggets in 4
 
 
(3) Kings vs (6) Timberwolves
 
Normally this where I’d find a way to pick the underdog, especially one with Delmar Lopez and Gary Loredo on it.  Kings still seem to be figuring out exactly how they should be building around a stud like Killian Hayes, where we know that Raby understands the game well.  I have no idea how much thought Raby intends to put into this round.  I’ll take the Kings until further notice as they have more top end pieces than the Wolves.  Hayes and Addington with Lewis still capable means they can attack in a more varied way than the Wolves.
 
Kings in 6
 
 
(4) Suns vs. (5) Bucks
 
As most 4/5 matchups are, this is probably the most interesting of the Alpha pairings.  The Suns did win the season series, but a few of those games were decided by razor thin margins.  Both teams are pretty deep with some explosive players, but I do really like the Suns’ home court advantage as well as their size compared to the Bucks.  Reynolds and Mitchell Robinson get to fight over who is the top player in the series, but while they do so, Asher vs Patrick Williams might be the deciding factor.  Look for tight games, but I’ll take Dangerfield’s playmaking to set-up Asher and Reynolds in ways that the Bucks come up short of toppling.
 
Suns in 7
 
 
OMEGA!
 
 
(2) Thunder vs (7) Pacers
 
I am rooting for Terry Sterner, so I’m rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Do I need to give a more thorough reason than that for picking them?  I do think there’s a couple players in Indy that can give OKC a bit of trouble, but it is nothing that I see them being unable to handle with Wade, Makur, Hintz and Terry. 
 
Thunder in 5
 
 
(3) Lakers vs (6) Pistons
 
Scott’s Tots have been a fun, exciting young group this season with nowhere to go but up.  I’d never been a super fan of Folse, but he’s definitely started to prove me wrong.  A Caruso-less Lakers roster could make this thing very interesting.  The Lakers though have paid good money and trade assets to try to make sure they can cover for such a loss in any first-round matchup.  Would I be shocked if the Pistons pulled the upset?  I would not.  However, I will go chalk here again until I see what not having Caruso looks like. 
 
 
(4) Trailblazers vs (5) Wizards
 
Well shit, I guess I am going with all of the higher seeds in round one because I think the Blazers, with back-to-back MVP, Lu Dort in tow, will run away with this one.  The Wizards getting and maintaining the 5 seed was impressive on its own, but even if the Blazers continue to be auto-piloted, its likely too much talent to lose this early. 
 
Blazers in 5
 
 
ROUND TWO
 
 
ALPHA
 
 
(1) Spurs vs (4) Suns
 
It’ll be a nice ride for the Suns, getting their first playoff series win, but the Spurs have just been a different animal this season.  Just not many ways, or teams, to outscore the three headed monster of Yan, OG and Whitley.  I’d love to see the Suns push him and make the Spurs sweat, but I have some doubts that they can.
 
Spurs in 5
 
 
(2) Nuggets vs (3) Kings
 
With Hayes, the Kings should have a good shot at pulling this one off.  It’s a talented roster, no doubt, but I trust Ryan more to make the appropriate moves to out-scheme the Kangs.  The Nuggets are also a bit deeper, which should bode well for their 2nd round fortunes. 
 
Nuggets in 6
 
 
OMEGA
 
 
(1) 76ers vs (4) Trailblazers
 
At some point I am going to have to pick a lower seed to pull an upset right?  I dunno, what better time to do it than right now, with the reigning MVP to back me up?  I can give you over 400 reasons why the 76ers better hope that they do not actually go home this early, but why not boldly be wrong?
 
 
Blazers in 7
 
 
(2) Thunder vs. (3) Lakers
 
Can I copy and paste wanting to root for Terry Sterner?  Well, I guess I kind of just did.  Really, this Lakers team probably was a bit of an under-performer considering how much effort and resources Jon put into building the roster.  Charlie has been pretty consistent in his roster building and has kept putting out a top defensive presence.  Gimme Scary Terry and friends to lock things up enough to pull it out.
 
Thunder in 6
 
 
ROUND THREE
 
 
(1) Spurs vs (2) Nuggets
 
 
Let’s get to a crazy game 7 where both teams pulls out all the stops to get a title over the other, especially considering their race to the top of the rings change for a career.  To this point, Ryan has been more engaged but last season Carlos also stayed relatively quiet before the big playoff moments and then attacked his game planning harder.  I look for more of the same, with Whitley taking control.
 
 
Spurs in 7
 
 
(2) Thunder vs (4) Blazers
 
TERRY! TERRY! TERRY! TERRY!
 
 
Thunder in 6
 
 
CHAMPIONSHIP
 
 
(1) Spurs vs (2) Thunder
 
 
Sorry Charlie (And Sterner), this roster is breaking necks.  And hearts. 
 
 
WINNER (AGAIN):
 
SPURS in 5 




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[greepleairport]

Always a fan of these. +5