Khatun of the Azim Steppe
If you want a random stats to shine in conversations, he's one that highlights how utterly absurd those playoffs are.
If we get a Denver-Miami Finals, we might witness, according to Conference seeds, both the easiest path to a NBA title or the toughest path to a NBA title in League history.
In theory, the hardest road (hey there KD) is for an 8th seed to face the...
- 1 Seed in R1
- 4 Seed in SF
- 2 Seed in CF
- 1 Seed in the Finals
If the Heat were to win the title against the Nuggets, they would be one off, having faced Milwaukee (1), New York (5, the only "help"), Boston (2) and Denver (1).
Now in theory again, the easiest road is for a 1st seed to face the...
- 8 Seed in R1
- 5 Seed in SF
- 7 Seed in CF
- 8 Seed in the Finals
If Denver were to win the title against Miami, they would be one off, having faced Minnesota (8), Phoenix (4, the only "hardship"), Los Angeles (7) and Miami (8).
Unbelievable.
Role Model
Really puts into perspective how much the Heat are WILLING themselves to win.
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
That's Dr. Title, thank you!
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
While Miami has been impressive, they definitely don't have the most difficult path to the finals in NBA history; that would be the 94-95 Rockets. (The worst team among the three the Rockets beat in getting to the NBA finals had a better record than the best team the Heat will play in the playoffs; granted, both the Celtics and Bucks have slightly better records than the team those Rockets played in the finals.)
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Granted, those 95 Rockets were defending champions, and Kenny Smith has said they started the season with a bit of a champion's hangover. Had they performed the same way at the end of the season they did at the start, they might've had a higher seed.
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
Khatun of the Azim Steppe
They also added Clyde Drexler to their roster midseason if memory serves.
True enough, technically you need to be 6th or 7th seed for a shot at defeating the #1, 2 and 3 in your conference.
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They did indeed.
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
Surrounded by weirdoes
Has there ever been two sweeps in Conference finals?
Wake me up at your own risk.
Only in 1957, when they were best-of-5.
At least this was the only time besides '57 when the Conference Finals were both 3-0.
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Surrounded by weirdoes
Going full anime this game finish. Will someone enter The Zone in game 7?
Wake me up at your own risk.
Pitiable and Illegally Dumped Object
Congrats to Denver for beating Miami and earning your first ring!
I'm about as involved in sports as I am in liking them, which is like never, but it's always more fun to see teams win their championships over repeat winners.
Burning love!
Don't mind me, I'm just lurking around
Some early off season news: Michael Jordan is selling his stake in the Hornets.
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Starting this October, sports content that airs on the Turner networks (including TNT and TBS) will start airing on MAX, another property under the same ownership, and live, I believe. Relevant to this thread, that includes NBA on TNT games, and Inside The NBA.
Edited by wanderlustwarrior on Sep 28th 2023 at 1:38:05 PM
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
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That was a classic back in the day. Along with the "what does that mean, kobe bryant?" ad feat Kanye.
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All the Kobesystem ads were great. "You're welcome." "A system." "This is your last question, Tony Robbins."
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
Role Model
Kenny saying he's not a firestarter sent me STRAIGHT to the comments.
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
Khatun of the Azim Steppe
I still think this is the greatest ad fearuring an NBA player:
Also gotta say I am happy about Wemby's first five games. Hé seems to have landed on the right team. I have a vested patriotic interest in his development.
Boston and Denver look like very early Finals contenders. Dallas is so Luka-dependent it is not even funny. I have a bad feeling about the Clippers...absurd backcourt on papier, but not sure about behind the scenes
Edited by Bexlerfu on Nov 3rd 2023 at 3:25:47 PM
Role Model
I love that commercial.
James Harden just called himself "a system"...
And my mind jumped to that Kobesystem commercial...
Edited by wanderlustwarrior on Nov 3rd 2023 at 9:42:22 AM
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
Khatun of the Azim Steppe
Heh, I was talking about the Mavs being extremely Luka-dependent, went to see the box scores on the official site, and...
I mean sure, it's Q2 only, but come on...
Role Model
Dallas has always been about building off of a singular Great White Hope.
And besides, what are you gonna do, Depend on Kyrie?
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
Khatun of the Azim Steppe
I mean, you can't blame them for drafting Dirk and Luka. They're not exactly renowned for their draft acumen overall...(they didn't even draft Luka and Dirk, they traded for them instantly).
Aside from Brunson, you'd struggle to find any really good draft pick in the last 20 years. Olynyk is probably the second best...
It's night and day with San Antonio. On the same time period, if you put Wemby aside because #1 overall, they got Vassell at 11, Keldon Johnson at 29, Tre Jones at 41, Derrick White at 29, Dejounte Murray at 29, Kyle Anderson at 30...it's actually scary what the Spurs found with their late 1st round picks (they had Parker at 28 to in '01, and let's not talk about "greatest steal in the pre-Jokic era" Ginobili at 57...).
Anyways, Dallas lost, and Luka led them in points, rebounds and assists with 34/10/8.
Edited by Bexlerfu on Nov 3rd 2023 at 6:19:49 PM
Surrounded by weirdoes
Good for him, but makes you want to ask if he was subbing for two other guys or something.
Wake me up at your own risk.
Not really; there's significantly more variability to MLB results than NBA results and a lot stronger difference in team strength. A 3-0 lead in an NBA series does more to indicate the relative strength of a team than a 3-0 lead in an MLB series. You can see this in records as well; a 110-52 MLB team is historically great, while a 56-26 NBA team is very good, but nothing out of the ordinary.