Source
r/nba•
Probably_wrong_AMA

If you had to pick a team other than the Spurs, Dubs, or Cavs to come out of their respective conferences. Who would it be?

For me, in the West it is a tossup between Houston and Utah. I have been on the Utah bandwagon pretty hard the last couple months though, so I am going to have to go with them. What can I say, I have a soft spot for transcendent defensive big men.

In the East, we all know Boston, Toronto, and Washington fill the next tier after Cleveland. I don't think Toronto is as good relative to the East as they were last year, so they are out, and I don't think IT will be as effective in a seven game series as he is in the regular season (I have Boston losing to the Wizards in the second round). That leaves me to pick Washington.

Who would you guys pick?

Posted Mar 10, 2017, 2:46 PM UTC

36105
STKASRO[DAL] Yogi Ferrell•

Mavs/Heat finals is already a lock

98
Probably_wrong_AMAOPPistons•

If this happens it would restore my faith in man kind.

27
LordBaldomeroLakers•

You must be real low on man kind.

14
Probably_wrong_AMAOPPistons•

You could say that.

10
lekobe_roseRaptors•

Well he did plummet 100 feet back in 1998 when the Undertaker threw him off the cage in Hell in a Cell

2
cosmicblaze454[MIA] Dwyane Wade•

Dion Finals MVP confirmed.

10
STKASRO[DAL] Yogi Ferrell•

I mean my money is on Yogi but we can agree to disagree

10
2BlitzClippers•

First ever shared Finals MVP confirmed

7
YesWeighNoWeigh•

West: Rockets, they got James Harden and deadeye shooters everywhere.

East: Celtics, best coached team. I don't trust Scott Brooks come post-season time nor do I trust Dwayne Casey.

32
Probably_wrong_AMAOPPistons•

The reason why I picked Washington over Boston is because they will probably play in the second round. I think Wall and Beal will give IT huge problems on both ends, and Gortat will be good enough down low. I definitely wouldn't be surprised if it Boston won that series though.

15
_Royalty_[BOS] Isaiah Thomas•

You're right IT could struggle against their speed/scoring ability, but I have a ton of faith in Marcus and Avery's ability to slow them down. If we run our offense through Al and have a good night on the perimeter, we take that series. Given we're the higher seed and have the extra game at home.

5
Probably_wrong_AMAOPPistons•

I actually have Washington getting the second seed over Boston. They have a much, much easier schedule remaining, and they are only a game behind. You don't think the rebounding is going to be a huge issue in the playoffs?

-1†
TheWhiteMambas_SonCeltics•

They have a much, much easier schedule remaining

The Cs actually have an easier schedule when it comes to winning percentage, but "strength of schedule" can also be subjective based on how it's interpreted.

either way, wiz don't have a "much, much easier schedule"

8
speedy100Lakers•

you don't trust Scott Brooks but he has been to the Finals before

7
YesWeighNoWeigh•

With Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka all on the same team. They should have won the Finals but he elected to play Kendrick Perkins instead of realizing he was a liability.

3
speedy100Lakers•

The talent on Washington > Boston right now, so not sure if your arguments holds true

2
YesWeighNoWeigh•

That's great. OKC talent was superior to Miami talent in 2012 Finals too and how did that turn out?

-4
WallStar206Bullets•

Brad hasn't even been out of the first round

0
WallStar206Bullets•

People still sleeping on how good of a coach Brooks is. Stevens may be better but it isn't by as much as people think.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
whomadethisWizards•

The difference is Wall doesn't default to iso's in the clutch.

1
exasperated_dreamsSupersonics•

Rockets wizards

24
WallStar206Bullets•

The best time line. Would be a really fun series that would never happen

4
teeKAYBEPacers•

Saved

2
SEJ46Jazz•

Jazz-Raptors

16
Lovely_Rita__Spurs•

Toronto, Utah.

14
[deleted]•

Jazz - Raptors

10
weezy_fenomenal_babyRaptors•

nobody outside of Canada or Utah would watch, but that would be a great series

8
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
ZemulonRockets•

Rockets might make it out of the first round, but they would get stomped by the Jazz, Warriors, or Spurs in a second round match-up. The Rockets can beat a random shitty team during the regular season, but any halfway decent coach with time to prepare and adjust can shut down the Rockets one dimensional offense pretty easily.

7
WesleyPipezSupersonics•

Hawks/Jazz OKC/Raps Celts/Clips

4
raptorsbucketnatorRaptors•

If Lowry comes back strong as expected we are going to surprise some people. Our defense is not shit anymore and everybody knows what our offense is capable of with Kyle running it

4
EdoWaldoRaptors•

He's still running the offense as coach Lowry 😏

2
threekingmodest101Knicks•

The Thunder. I think Westbrook deserves some happiness.

4
ItsZordonCeltics•

Holy shit, can you imagine the hole in the universe that would appear if Westbrook willed his team to a championship this year?

3
LordTemp1Pacers•

I'd want to see Gordon Hayward play on the biggest stage... His team is in my opinion the 3rd best team in the western conference. I understand everyone's hyping Houston but at some point in the season you have to defend... In the East, it would have to be Boston. I don't like trust Casey at all

4
redsnake1377[TOR] Terrence Ross•

Raps or rockets.

3
BradL_13[NOP] Anthony Davis•

For me it's the Rockets. I think they have such a balanced offense with a lot of weapons and Harden is playing better than ever. Plus it doesn't hurt they have improved their defense as a team and have a great bench. I wouldn't be shocked to see them come out of the West. They have some tough matchups.

3
landon34[DAL] Steve Nash•

they have improved their defense

Uhhhhhhh

0
16sayla[MIA] Wayne Ellington•

They went from not trying to trying and being bad. That's improvement, right?

4
BradL_13[NOP] Anthony Davis•

Exactly haha

1
RIPGrantland[LAC] Corey Maggette•

Rockets and Wizards

3
quinpon64337_x•

clippers celtics

not sure about rockets

3
Mind_FcukBullets•

Clippers vs. Wizards

3
Recnepsbaby[UTA] Derrick Favors•

Guess everyone saying Rockets in this thread loves watching free throws. I'm not biased at all but fuck Houston and Moreyball. Most boring shit to watch

3
callmefishmailGrizzlies•

Boston

2
VgatvCharlotte Hornets•

Pretty much Rockets vs anybody else from the east.

2
FUTBOLBASKETBALLGUYLakers•

Washington has the most chance imo. Their starting 5 can hang with Cavs, and now they have a bench. They were always very well built for the POs anyway. Toronto improved and I am very curious to see how Lowry comes back, because they are 7-8 solid players deep now. I would give them the second best chance.

Houston is a choice I wouldn't argue against, but they would have to beat Spurs and Dubs in back to back series. If last year's OKC couldn't do it, I don't see how this Houston team can. Similarly, Jazz is a team I really like, and a team that I could see give Dubs a lot of trouble, but beating both Spurs and Dubs to get there is a much harder challenge.

2